Pillar corals (Dendrogyra cylinderus) on the Belizean reef have been decimated. These corals appear most devastated by the rising ocean temperatures. If this species is made extinct we also lose this genera in the Caribbean, since this is the only species in the genus Dendrogyra. The good news, or should we say less bad news, is that some coral species seems to be dealing with the temperature rise, at least that which has already occurred, pretty well.
Other quick notes:
Lots of remoras hang on parrotfish.
Parrotfish are fun to watch.
Porcupinefish are my new favorite fish.
The Web Burrfish is my new favorite fish.
Baitfish are my new favorite fish.
Trunkfish are my new favorite fish, oh wait, that was my old favorite fish. Hmm...
Spaghetti worms are all over the protected reef, once you know what to look for they seem to pop up everywhere.
Marine Protected areas (MPA) work. In comparing reefs sites outside and inside the MPA setup by the country of Belize the difference is clean. Within MPAs corals are in better shape, fish diversity is greater. Fish, in general, are larger, and there are more of them. Large schools are not uncommon. Sharks are more bountiful. Invertebrates thrive as well, everything from sponges to Flamigo Tongue snails are more common with Marine Protected Areas.
Notes from student presentations.
Mayan culture was diverse, and spectacular in lots of ways. not as much human sacrifice occurred as depicted by popular tales. Mayans tattoo’d their faces and maybe no other place on their bodies. Mayans thought pain was sacrificial and thus cut their ears (men only it seems) and an offering.
Ambergris Caye is mostly sand, a little loam, and a tiny bit of clay.
A tropical tree forms a bio diverse set of micro habitats including the canopy, the sun canopy, and the forest floor.
There are at least 300 species of bird that live in or visit Belize. Some awesome ones are the brown boobie, ringed kingfisher, magnificent Frigate bird, Laughing Gull, Keel Billed Toucan, Ring King Fisher, Royal Flycatcher.
Orange icing sponge helps coral prevent invasion by other sponges; this is yet another example of symbiotic relationships found on the reef.
One more bit on Mayans: Burning incense was central to the culture. Burned in clay pots, made just for this.They had Drug rituals using hallucinogenic mushrooms or Underworld mushrooms.
Octopuses are amazing: Can mimic moving or stationary organisms (the mimic of moving objects is not instinctual). They learn. How to get away from predators: hide, ink, swim, use barrier/shield. Some octopuses are venomous, some poisonous, some both.
Take home message: This planet holds so much that can fascinate, enthrall, and allows us to bathe in its beauty. We need to keep creating protected habitats both Marine Protected Areas, and terrestrial conservation needs to be a priority to save the earth.