Between September 15, 2012 – October 13, 2012 the Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation conducted a research mission to Society Islands, French Polynesia as part of the Global Reef Expedition. The research focused on coral reefs surrounding the islands of Mopelia, Scilly, Bellinghausen, Tupai, Huahine, Raiatea/Tahaa, Maiao, and Tetiaroa. The objectives of the mission were to: 1) identify and characterize shallow marine habitats and develop habitat and bathymetric maps: 2) evaluate the composition, structure and health of coral reefs using a standardized assessment protocol; 3) evaluate the effects of environmental stressor on coral health; and 4) measure ocean chemistry (pH) and effects on coral growth. Researchers from IRD and DIREN also 1) conducted surveys of commercially important invertebrate resources (gastropod molluscs, giant clams and sea cucumbers); 2) evaluated population genetics of the black lipped pearl oyster (Pinctada margaritifera); 3) conducted a sponge inventory and collected samples for genetic verification and chemical compounds; and 4) evaluated turtle nesting beaches. You may download the full Society Islands Field Report below.
