by Katie Barott, member of the Microbe Team Life on the reef is a constant battle for survival. For corals, the struggle begins as soon as the coral larva attaches itself to something on the bottom and starts to establish some space for itself. No space on the bottom is unoccupied. Every location is colonized by some kind of organism, … Read More
Check out the research in the Northern Line Island Expedition!
The Tent Brigade by Jen Smith, head researcher on the Benthic Team Prior to setting out on this expedition, I really had no idea how the Benthic Team was going to accomplish the goal we had set: performing three separate experiments at each island given no more than four days each. It seemed impossible. Now, after our fourth island, we … Read More
The Underappreciated Reef Algae
The Underappreciated Reef Algae by Jennifer Smith, head researcher on the Benthic Team The green alga Dictyosphaeria cavernosa, commonly known as green bubble algae. Photograph by Jen Smith. Coral reefs are known for their spectacular diversity and striking beauty. When most people think of coral reefs they think of the colorful coral animals themselves—the organisms that build the reef structure and … Read More