So what was out there, and why? JL
May 17, 2015
So what was out there, and why?
JL
A common purpose – to help discover the health of the Maldives
Training at Baros and Embudhoo
Atolls - A special case
•This theory was finally proved in 1953 at Eniwetok atoll in the Marshall Islands, when a test boring through the reef hit volcanic rock at 1283 metres.
Eniwetok atoll
Inshore house reef
You learned what one of these was for
Biyadhoo an inshore reef
Low coral cover, even in shallow
What a contrast! (Biyadhoo to Ellaidhoo)
Ellaidhoo and Orimas Faru
Ellaidhoo and Orimas Faru
Go south (Angaga)
Angaga house reef
Angaga house reef
Go East (Vilamendhoo)
Healthy corals in shallow reef
But indications of disease, bleaching and excess nutrients
But in <1% of the coral population
The clean table tops of south Ari – are they ‘weeds’, or important for reef growth?
Table and branching Acropora dominate in more sheltered conditions
Reflected in outstanding coral recovery
site depth 1997 ('98 for Vilm) 2012 % bleaching
Ellaidhoo housereef3m 50.63 33 NA
12m 34.38 21 NA
Angaga northeast3m 49.38 61 NA
12m 26.88 46 NA
Angaga southwest3m 30.63 / 58.75 43 NA
12m 21.25 / 59.38 60 NA
Vilamendhoo*3m 5.63 48 / 61 85
10m 6.88 26 90