Coral Reef Research Program at Sea

As part of the scientific team of the Planetary Coral Reef Foundation, the crew of PCRF's ship gather data during intensive underwater studies as they continue to assess the health and vitality of coral reefs around the world.  Observations are collected to add to the PCRF databank of impressions from reefs around the world.

  
A soft coral garden in Rinja Island, Malaysia

Over 100,000 coral colonies have been analyzed around the world, each probed individually with the Vitareef methodology for their current state of health. These studies have been carried out since 1995 in Egypt, Oman, the Maldives, the Seychelles, Kenya, Indonesia, Vietnam, the Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, Polynesia, Fiji, Tuvalu, Phoenix Islands, Cook Islands, Mexico, and the Great Barrier Reef. Sites in the Solomon Islands, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea have been monitored over time.

The study of each reef comprises four major data gathering missions:

• Vitareef data on at least 2,000 coral colonies on the reef, identified to genus
• Video/Photo Transects & Pointcount on at least 5 x 20 meter 2-banded transect lines
• Identification and population counts for corals, fishes and indicator invertebrate species
• Global Position System Tracking of the reef contours.
• Satellite Study of Karang Kapota, an Atoll in Indonesia

Please view our on-line data from study sites around the world.

The crew of PCRF's research vessel is made up of a team of voluntary officers and students taking part in a nine month seamanship training program.  A great part of the training program is devoted to learning to dive and gaining sufficient understanding in coral reef ecology and biology in order to take full part in a PCRF reef study.  Students learn how to identify corals and fish, how a coral feeds, grows and reproduces and how to ascertain the health of a coral colony specifically and a reef in general.  By their own observations and interactions, they learn how the local community affects or protects its aquatic treasures.

   
Divers prepare for an investigative dive in the
Trobriand Islands, Papua New Guinea

Results from these studies are sent to PCRF head office in California and at the College of Charleston.  These data sets are available for analysis to graduate students - please contact PCRF for more information.