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A Rediscovery Of Coral Reefs The sky was packed with stars, and the sea was warm and inviting.
When the crescent moon dived in the black velvet sea, we jumped into
the darkness. For five weeks in late August and early September 2005, life aboard the White Holly was a non-stop research "circus," as the researchers called it in journal entries.  
While the coral experts measured coral growth with digital cameras and waterproof pencil and paper, fish experts nearby meticulously counted species across 25-meter transects. The microbiologists collected seawater and conducted water chemistry analyses in a former storage room aboard the White Holly converted to a high-tech laboratory. This went on from 7 a.m. to midnight, every day. They dived, logged data, addressed equipment issues, discussed research strategies, prepared for the next day's explorations, and finally slept before doing it all over again. Dinner conversations largely covered the marine life witnessed on that day's dives -- from algae growth to the behavior of curious sharks--and tantalizing new species being discovered. "We didn't have the most comfortable berthing, we certainly were not eating copious amounts of wonderful food," said Sandin. "Our resources were adequate but not over the top. But the one thing that was phenomenal during that cruise that I'm always going to appreciate is the good spirit and enthusiasm of everyone on our research team. That's what brought it through." "Satisfying our curiosity is what makes us scientists," said Sala, who recently left Scripps but continues to be involved with Line Islands research. "Why are we scientists? It's because we have this innate curiosity like children. We were all like children on that boat discovering the world." The team's goal from the start was to develop a multifaceted biological picture of coral reefs and do so with such methodical detail that systematic changes to the ecosystems could be tracked along the slope of human disturbance. The interdisciplinary nature of the team paid dividends immediately. Algal specialists compared notes with the bacterial specialists, who checked information with coral specialists. Nuances of each researcher's specialty initially led to communication problems. Yet it didn't take long for things to change. Easels and drawing paper were used to draw pictures and diagrams emphasizing why a researcher believed one island's system looked different from another's. By the end of the first week, Sandin saw a common language being developed.  
In the end, the researchers logged more than 1,000 hours of diving over 800 dives. They surveyed more than 100 sites and recorded data on nearly 1,000 different species. Never before had researchers painted such a comprehensive portrait of coral reef ecosystems. Almost immediately after the journey concluded, the researchers began piecing the data together, looking for clues about the big picture and the mechanisms behind it. Out of the volumes of data collected, a single coherent story emerged. In five weeks we have lived the equivalent of several lives. We went
back in time, to that place where humans were only a dream. We
rejuvenated ourselves. Besides the science, we collected memories
and learned about possibilities for the future of our oceans. Next month:In part two of "Paradise Redefined" find out what the researchers are discovering from their journey to the Line Islands. Their analysis and results are helping to reshape scientific views about the processes underlying marine food webs. New ideas are emerging about how coral reefs can withstand and rebound from harmful influences, leading to important conclusions about marine conservation and ways to preserve marine resources for the future. To learn more about the Line Islands Expedition and read the full daily entries, see: http://scripps.ucsd.edu/lineislands. |
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:: © 2009 Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego. All Rights Reserved.
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