Friday October 7, 2016

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BelizeSearch.com
Website of the Day
WCSGloversReef.org

The Glover’s Reef Research Station is an ideal location for marine research and the only research facility within the Glover’s Reef Marine Reserve. Owned by the Wildlife Conservation Society, the station is located approximately 45 km off the coast of Belize on the Glover’s Reef Atoll, the southernmost of Belize’s three coral atolls, which supports extraordinarily high biological diversity across its 35,000 hectares. Since 1995, the station has provided a platform for scientists to conduct cutting-edge research at one of the Caribbean’s most complex and important coral reef systems.

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Websites of the Day

Elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata)

Elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata) is considered to be one of the most important shallow-water, reef-building corals in the Caribbean and was once one of the most abundant species in the area. Since 1980, an estimated 90-95% of elkhorn coral has been lost. Threats include disease, coral bleaching, predation, climate change, storm damage, and human activity. All of these factors have created a synergistic effect that greatly diminishes the survival and reproductive success of elkhorn coral. A. palmata is listed as critically endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN Red List). WCS Belize monitors the status of Elkhorn and many other hard coral and associated species at Glover's Reef and Southwater Caye Marine Reserves. These complex systems provide numerous ecosystem services including livelihood opportunities through fisheries and tourism and must be protected.

Photograph by bobsteneck.blogspot.com

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