Notes from the field: Line Islands

This is a blog post by Levi Lewis, a PhD student in our lab, that follows his diving experience at Kingman Reef in the Line Islands. “Getting it at Kingman Reef” By Levi Lewis “Okay, I get it.”  Dr. Sandin (fish team) was wondering what I thought of my first dive on Kingman Reef, one of the most remote and … Read More

Notes from the Field: Hawaii

This is a blog post from Emily Kelly, a PhD student in our lab, following her current research in Hawaii. —————————————————— I’ve just returned from three months of diving and running experiments in Maui (what a great job!) and as I sit in my San Diego office pouring over datasheets, I miss the daily tropical diving and stolen underwater moments … Read More

Battle Zones

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

Halimeda opuntia

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

The Past, Present, and Future of the Reefs at Fanning Atoll

To a Paleo-Benthic, today’s coral reefs are rich in clues about their past and offer hints as to their future. Atolls such as those that make up the Line Islands are built of the dead skeletons of corals, foraminifera, and calcifying algae. Beneath the deep layers of marine skeletal debris is the old, extinct volcano that gave rise to the … Read More

A Most Useful Useless Reef

Gray reef shark at Kingman. Photograph by Jen Smith.

Learn about Kingman Reef as we follow the Northern Line Islands Expedition with the latest posts from the field.

Follow the Northern Line Islands Expedition!

Sixteen scientists from three continents and one island are gathering in the Northern Line Islands with one purpose in mind—to increase our understanding of coral reef health and decline. Follow Dr. Smith and her collaborators on this expedition via their blog. The adventure begins on October 24th!

The Smith Lab

The Smith Lab is focused on understanding how humans impact marine ecosystems in both tropical and local environments, as well as developing strategies for restoring these environments for future generations.