Interview with Kaushman: Careers in conservation

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Written by: Bennath Chillingworth

From July-September 2022, I spent 6 weeks living in Mozambique while volunteering as a field assistant with Love the Oceans (LTO). LTO is a non-profit organisation that works tirelessly to support the community in Jangamo Bay in establishing a Marine Protected Area for the Inhamabane province in Mozambique. While I was there, I was lucky to have met some incredibly interesting, and boundlessly inspiring people who are exceptionally good at what they do, having made huge contributions to the industry. One of these people is @Kausman, who I was fortunate enough to cross paths with during my time in Mozambique.

Interview with Kaushman: Careers in conservation

Instagram: @kaushman

Kaush is a wildlife conservation biologist (MSc), having conducted fieldwork projects in several diverse environments ranging from South African scrubland to Maldivian coral reefs. Additionally, as a camera operator and award-nominated photographer, Kaush has worked with conservation organisation outlets such as the BBC to shed light on conservation efforts worldwide. You can find out more about Kaush on his website at https://kaush.net/. Read my interview with Kaush below where we talk about his career and achievements to give a flavour of, and insight into the world of marine conservation, and hopefully provide advice to aspiring marine biologists and conservationists of any age! And stay tuned for the sequel blog where Kaush talks about his new film ‘Peixinho’ which
was filmed while I was also out in Mozambique!

How did you get to where you are now?

“I’ve always known that I’ve wanted to work with wildlife since I was a child, I just didn’t always know in what capacity. After I finished my BSc, I went straight into doing a master’s degree in wildlife conservation. It made sense to do that in order to learn more about the techniques and practices used in the field to carry out conservation in different scenarios around the world. For my thesis, I arranged to go and research whale shark eco-tourism in the Maldives with a charity that was carrying out some amazing work. After I came back from that experience, I finished my MSc and the charity asked me back the following year to be their research assistant in the field. I spent three months studying whale sharks that year and adding to my data set from the previous year, as well as getting more into underwater photography and videography. Shortly after I returned home from that stint, the world was thrown into a pandemic, and I had a lot of time to work on my photo and video editing skills as well as to write up the data that I had collected. My initial BBC job came after applying for a few jobs and one BBC producer looked at my research background and recommended me to another producer for an upcoming documentary series that was in the works. I started as a researcher, using my science background and research skills to contact scientists and find potential stories to film.”

 

Instagram: @kaushman

What interested you most/ what did you most enjoy about your master’s course?

“The thing that interested me most was the module that we had on “Conservation Communication”.
It taught us a lot about how amazing conservation efforts in the past had gone unheard of by the masses and how important consideration messages had been missed due to them being poorly communicated and broadcast to the vast majority of people. It also underlined the importance of social media and photos/images in the present day, as tools for communicating conservation efforts and this really resonated with me as someone who already had a passion for this kind of media.”

What was your master’s thesis on?

“My thesis research focused on whale shark eco-tourism in the Maldives and the impact that it has on whale shark health. The area of the Maldives that I did my research in is one of the only places in the world where there is a year-round population of whale sharks, and this drives a huge demand for tourist excursions to swim with them. My research focused on the impacts of breaking the code of conduct rules for whale shark encounters on the sharks.

What was it like working for the BBC?

“Working for the BBC was amazing and in many ways, a dream come true. I worked as a researcher on a documentary series that is in the works at the moment. Using my science background to read papers, search for interesting animal behaviours and to talk to scientists about potentially interesting stories that we could go out and film. After a potential story was found and talked through with the team, I’d then lease with my producer and start the process of organising the shoot and the logistics of it all. It was an incredible experience and a huge learning curve about the industry. I was really lucky to have an amazingly supportive team who helped me every step of the way as I was thrown into the deep end a bit with it being my first job in the industry, but the team was just amazing.”

What are some of the proudest moments from your career so far/ moments that remind you how
much you have achieved?

“Landing a job at the BBC is definitely up there as that is something that I had been working at for so long. Having two of my images shortlisted in the upcoming Wildlife Photographer Of The Year was a special moment for me as well. Being an amateur photographer when I took the selected images, and it being the most prestigious wildlife photography competition in the world, I really hope that my nominations for the award can inspire others to go out and pursue their passion for photography. The other stand-out moment of the last year has to be screening of my short film about coral reefs in the cinema room of the BBC for my friends and colleagues. It was amazing to showcase my work to people who are at the top of the natural history filming industry and to get such great feedback from
them, and it really served to highlight how much progress I’d made in terms of my editing during the months and months of pandemic lockdowns.”

Interview with Kaushman: Careers in conservation

Instagram: @kaushman

I felt very inspired by the people I met in Mozambique, including Madeline StClair, Francesca Trotman, and Ines Costa, my program leader. What is it like being in such a close group of friends that are all such amazing, high-achieving marine biologists?

“It really is amazing having such talented friends like Chess and Mads, who are also incredibly supportive. Being able to collaborate so seamlessly and then also be a part of each other’s personal lives after long days at work is such a help in a field that can be extremely stressful at times. Meeting someone as passionate about the field and so accomplished at such a young age as Ines was incredible and great to meet such a nice person. The marine sector is so small, and we are all trying to achieve the same goal in conserving the oceans, it is amazing when we can work together and support each other’s projects.”

What advice do you have for young aspiring marine biologists/ conservationists such as myself wanting to get into the field when there is so much competition?

“It is a very hard industry to break into, especially at the new grad/early careers stage so you’re going to get a lot of rejections for jobs but that is just part of the process, and you can’t take it to heart. Keep applying for jobs/internships etc and try to gain as much valuable experience as you can until someone takes a chance on you. In the meantime, work on your current skillset so that you’re sharp and work on learning new skills that will make you stand out above the rest. We live in the age of the internet, where learning a new skill is just a few clicks away.”

 

Visit https://kaush.net/ for more information, and make sure you give @kaushman a follow on socials.

The most important event of the year, coral spawning.

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We are awaiting the most important event of the year, coral spawning.

Coral reefs are fragile, and we have seen a decline in reef health around the world in the past years. Coral reefs are sensitive to warmer temperatures, increased wave actions and weather events and these are all consequences of a changing climate.

 

Yet, coral reefs are resilient. Despite the challenges, the reefs around the world experience, the corals on the reef continue to reproduce and naturally recover.

Once a year a remarkable natural phenomenon takes place on the Great Barrier Reef, coral spawning. The biggest reproduction show on Earth.

When the conditions are ideal, corals simultaneously release eggs and sperm bundles into the water.

This amazing video is produced by our friend, Tiani Dun.

Long term monitoring of the reef by the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS), has shown that the majority of the Great Barrier Reef has recorded its highest level of coral coverage in over three decades. This is an indication of the widespread recovery of the biggest organism on Earth. Isn’t that just amazing? Read their annual summary report on coral reef condition 2021-22 report here. 

 

According to Dr Dean Miller, marine biologist and director of the Great Barrier Reef Legacy, a successful spawning event means the reef is in a state of recovery and repair. “In 2021, we had the best coral spawning event since 2016”.  Today, we can only wish for another astonishing and successful spawning event to bring new life and new corals to settle on the Great Barrier Reef.

This yearly event gives me hope. Despite the challenges the GBR is undergoing, there is a sign of new life on the way. Let’s cheer for that!

We can’t wait to witness this spectacular event. And hey, look out on your socials. I’m sure there will be plenty of amazing videos and photos shared by underwater photographers and lucky divers.

 

The most important event of the year, coral spawning.

Photo cred: Pablo Cogollos

The most important event of the year, coral spawning.

Photo cred: Pablo Cogollos

Reduce your Ecological Footprint: Off-Grid Living

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How could we be connected to the reef when we’re on the other side of the world, in Spain?

In March 2020, I witnessed a minor bleaching event on the southern Great Barrier Reef. My coral friends I had been visiting and falling more and more in love with every day for nearly three years, started to show signs of stress. One day they were fine, the next, they were looking a little pale.

What could I do about it, i asked myself as I floated helplessly above the (still) gorgeous reefscape?

Some corals paling during the 2020 bleaching event on the southern Great Barrier Reef

 

The truth is, no matter how many coral surveys I did, or how much data I submitted, when I saw the darling reef before me, partly paling,

“there was absolutely NOTHING I could do in that moment… except cry in my mask.”

This is when I realised how truly CONNECTED everything is. How what we do on land, anywhere in the world, can impact coral reefs. So, what actions can we take to dissipate such extreme human impacts on the climate? I’m rolling with the “extreme” rather than “little” changes option, and have set out to discover, LIVE and share more of these solutions. Having just spent two weeks on an off-grid farm in Spain, below I share my exploration and learnings of some ways I can further reduce my ecological footprint.

Beautiful views from my bedroom on the farm

The Yurt, where I slept on the farm.

Here are 4 key areas I lived and learned about to reduce my footprint.

1. ENERGY

We had solar panels and storage batteries. Totally off-grid, there was no mains power or water supplies to the property. Totally self-sufficient (and free from crazy electricity price hikes!!!). I not only appreciated every bit of charging power, every little light, and a (sometimes) working fridge, but also learned lots about electricity capture and storage: cells, currents, converters, you name it. Life school, very valuable knowledge and skills to have.

Solar Panel Setup

2. WATER

“Did you know that 90% of the cost of plastic bottled water is the cost of the bottle itself? Think about it: bottled water companies don’t make water, they make plastic bottles!!”

Creating plastic bottles requires energy and oil, then they need to be transportes to a store where thirsty people can buy them. Let’s not even start to talk about the tiny percentage of plastic water bottles that actually get recycled! Enough ranting, you get my drift!

My first day on the farm, I helped set up a solar hot water system from an old recycled panel and storage system. We were able to fill up a lovely bucket of hot water to scrub our grubby selves at the end of a long hard day of work. We also set up a new water tank, excavating the ground with digging tools to ensure the tanks would capture rainwater redirected from the roof.

  • No running water on the property meant showering “birdbath” style (with a bucket), a very specific dish washing strategy and close-to-essential teamwork to simply wash your hands!
  • We collected supplies of precious drinking water from a fountain in town (that ran down and was captured directly from the clean mountain streams!).

“Drinking Water”

Collecting Drinking Wate

3. DIET

90% of our food on the farm came from the work of our own hands, or at least locally. We bought a little rice, lentils and pasta – basic staples to compliment all the wonderful fresh produce we grew and harvested ourselves. We had mediterranean veggies galore: eggplants, capsicums, tomatoes, chillies. We feasted on melons and persimmons (a deliciously sweet mediterranean fruit something like a cross between a mangoe, plum and very juicy sweet tomatoe!). Sure, it didnt all look as perfectly squeaky clean, blemish-free and shiny as the “food” you find at the supermarket, but goodness the tomatoes REALLY tasted like tomatoes!!

Olives were harvested to pickle and make our own olive oil, and almonds banged off our trees to munch on and make almond milk. What a dream! Have you ever seen what almonds look like straight off the tree? Do you know the origins of what you eat?

Freshly Harvested Almonds



I had the bizarre reflection of how crazy it was to be SO excited about collecting all of our food with my bare hands. I realised how disconnected I have been to the source of my tucker my whole life. Here, there were no pesticides, no heavy machinery, no processing belts, no factories, no big trucks to transport supplies to the shops, and of course, no plastic packaging!!! Organic and fresh, from farm to table (and on many occasions from farm to mouth!!!).

4. WASTE

We of course composted all of our food waste, but that’s not all! We pooped into a dry composting toilet, and even our own poop was used as a valuable fertiliser (feel free to cringe if you like, but then take a moment to think about how much water and energy is wasted flushing and processing human waste!).

Dry Composting Toilet, built with 100% recycled materials

Dry Composting Toilet and Water Capture & Storage System

All kinds of building materials, old cupboards, windows, planks, pipes and pallettes that people had thrown out as “waste” soon became our treasure.

Sure, you might be thinking “WOW, that IS pretty extreme, I definitely couldn’t imagine myself living that way”. Even if you don’t choose to make any changes, I hope this sparks some reflection or ideas for some of the little (if not extreme) changes you can make in your every day life to feel more connected to your self, nature, food, water and everything we are so lucky to have readily available at our fingertips. 

 

“As I travel around, I am astounded by how many people think the reef is dead, and I am on a mission to share the truth about the health of the reef (as witnessed with my own eyes!) as well as awareness of how crucial it is that we take many little (or extreme, if you so wish!) actions to change the fate of the natural world (coral reefs included)!

Sustainable fisheries are the #1 supporter of marine ecosystems!

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Sustainable fisheries are the #1 supporter of marine ecosystems!
This short article will describe how.
Written by: Jaimee Joiner

By 2050, it’s predicted that there will be around 2 billion people on this planet.

That’s a lot of people! And with more people comes more mouths to feed. The production of food to meet this growing population is problematic and seafood may have a huge role in tackling this issue. Not only is seafood nutritious and an environmentally efficient animal-based protein, but more and more people are starting to love and enjoy it.

Seafood production by wild marine fisheries has been increasing over the past 70 years. This increase has predicted the need to supply this growing population with yummy seafood as a readily accessible protein alternative. Although, fisheries must ensure that catch rates of wild fish are sustainable as the resilience of our marine ecosystems and coastal communities depend on sustainable fisheries!

So how are sustainable fisheries the #1 supporter of marine ecosystems?

Sustainable fisheries are those that regulate harvest rates to ensure fish populations stay happy and healthy. Government fishery agencies have a huge role in managing fish populations through stock assessments and ensuring legal limits are maintained.

Sustainable fisheries are the #1 supporter of marine ecosystems!

photo cred: Natalie Lobartolo

In short, fishery management strategies such as minimum legal size limits and spawning closures are reliant on adequate knowledge of species biology and ecology.

Whilst completing my Honours thesis at the University of Queensland, I have come to appreciate the importance of research and management. Primarily, it assists to regulate and ensure up-to-date knowledge of species. For the past year, I have been conducting research on pearl perch (a very tasty fish) and reviewing their management strategies across Queensland waters. It always surprises me how effective fishery management consistently starts with accurate scientific information about fish and fisheries.

Even if you live far away from a beach or a coastline, fisheries may still be an important part of your life! And everyone can do their part to ensure our fisheries stay sustainable.

Thinking about having seafood for dinner? Make sure you try and shop sustainably when it comes to your fish. ‘But how do you know if your seafood is sustainable?’ you ask. The best way is to check out GoodFish, Australia’s Sustainable Seafood Guide. Check it out here: https://goodfish.org.au/

 

Are you like me and enjoying making the most of a sunny day to fish for your own dinner? Make sure you adhere to state limits regarding fish size and seasonal restrictions. For more information on current catch limits within Queensland have a look at the government’s website: https://www.qld.gov.au/recreation/activities/boating-fishing/rec-fishing/rules/limits-tidal 

 

Here’s to keeping our fishies happy, well into the future!

Sustainable fisheries are the #1 supporter of marine ecosystems!

photo cred: Natalie Lobartolo

 

Wanna have more interesting reads about the importance of reef systems? And how you can help them from home, and travel with minimal impact? Visit our blog page for weekly updates!

Shifting the perspective on seagrass meadows

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The ‘charisma’ gap – shifting the perspective on seagrass meadows

written by: Bennath Chillingworth

The ‘charisma’ gap – shifting the perspective on seagrass meadows

Photo cred, instagram: @an_bollenessor

 

Public concern can often drive for greater protection of marine habitats. However, public perceptions and
general awareness of seagrass meadows are lacking in comparison to other marine systems, and
they receive less attention in the media. Therefore, a lingering challenge for seagrass conservation is
public unfamiliarity. For example, the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area (GBRWHA) is famous
for its coral reefs, but a lesser-known fact is that the area also hosts one of the world’s largest
seagrass meadows!

Seagrass meadows have repeatedly been described as ‘uncharismatic’ compared to coastal habitats such as coral reefs, and it is thought that this might have implications for their protection.

Indeed, while coral reefs are often a point of attraction for many tourists, seagrasses are sometimes actively
removed as they seemingly disrupt the ‘pristine’ aesthetic of white sandy beaches and turquoise
waters.

While it is no bad thing that coral reefs receive so much attention (and rightly they should!) – I ask
myself, why is it that seagrasses might be perceived as ‘uncharismatic’ or ‘less worthy’ of protection
than the reef? The general personification of a marine ecosystem as ‘charismatic’ might seem rather
strange, but it made me question – What makes an ecosystem more or less charismatic than
another? In fact, what makes an ecosystem ‘charismatic’ at all?

The ‘charisma-gap’ simply highlights a disconnect between scientific information and the public, but more importantly, reflects the value of improving this communication to better inform people about seagrass ecosystems.

Photo cred: Natalie Lobartolo

Some ‘charismatic’ facts about seagrasses:

  • The presence of seagrass meadows increases habitat complexity and provides a source of food and shelter for other animals.
  •  Seagrasses support much higher biodiversity than unvegetated areas, attracting rare and beautiful marine creatures e.g., the Dugong (sea cow), green sea turtles, as well as endangered seahorses.
  • They slow down water movement, aiding in coastal protection.
  • Seagrass plays a crucial role in climate change mitigation through the long-term storage of carbon in their
    roots and sediments.
  • Support nursery grounds for baby fish and invertebrates, which seek refuge in seagrass meadows and go on to complete their adult lives on adjacent coral reefs.
  • Act as water filters by trapping harmful microbes and pollutants, preventing the spread of waterborne diseases.

Read more about why protecting seagrass is vital to building resilience to climate change.

Photo cred, instagram: ramonarobbinsreynolds

Photo cred: Benjamin L. Jones

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The ‘charisma’ gap – might be more important than we think, 

and shifting the perspective on seagrass meadows, could lead to positive change. 

A new seagrass discovery that made a lot of recent media headlines is – “The Largest Plant on Earth”
which has been found off the Western Australian coast in Shark Bay. Researchers had been trying to
estimate the number of plants that made up this meadow – and the answer? JUST ONE! Over the
last four millennia, a single seagrass seed has expanded 180km across Shark Bay, now covering an
area three times the size of Manhattan – officially crowned the world’s largest plant!

Why not share this fun fact with friends and family to help spread some seagrass charisma!

The ‘charisma’ gap – shifting the perspective on seagrass meadows

Photo cred, instagram: @michele_roux

 

Wanna have more interesting reads about the importance of reef systems, how you can help them from home, and how you can travel with minimal impact? Visit our blog page for weekly updates!

 

The ‘charisma’ gap – shifting the perspective on seagrass meadows

The special relationship between the clownfish and anemones

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Ever since “Finding Nemo”, we’ve collectively fallen in love with the cute little anemonefish, also known as clownfish. Nemo and his dad are Ocellaris clownfish, bright orange with white stripes, and that’s probably the one you think about when you think of a clownfish. But there are over 30 different species of anemonefish, and they come in different shapes and colours.

Did you know that all anemonefishes begin their lives as males?  Once they grow bigger, the oldest and largest adult will switch sex and become the dominant egg-laying female of a group.

What all clownfish have in common is their choice of home. The anemone.

The anemones are cnidarians, they come in all different shapes and colours. And some of them make a perfect home for the anemonefish.

The anemones have tentacles coated in nematocysts, which makes them sting when in contact with other animals. However, when an anemonefish is ‘moving in’, they acclimatise and develop a covering layer of mucus on their bodies. The mucus acts as a shield against the stinging cells.

This phenomenon has created a beneficial relationship between the clownfish and the anemone.

Have you ever dived on a reef and had a closer look at these buddies? If so, you might have noticed that the anemonefish is quite protective. They don’t appear as scared at all and don’t hesitate to defend their home. The anemone and the fish benefit from each other as they exchange protection against predators.

The anemone also benefits from its residents by eating their food scraps and on top of that, they are getting their tentacles cleaned from parasites.

The relationship these two animals have evolved, is an amazing demonstration of how nature creates connections for survival amongst different creatures. 

Is this something we can learn from?

We make new discoveries every day about how we benefit and rely on the functioning of different ecosystems, such as the rainforests, the savannahs and of course, our coral reefs (read more about ecosystem services from coral reefs here: https://reefconnect.com.au/coral-reefs-and-ecosystem-services/).
We must do everything we can to maintain these ecosystems healthy and functioning for our own health and survival.

Coral reefs provides important ecosystem services

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Nature and our ecosystems are amazing, we can all agree on that, right? However, have you heard about an ecosystem service before? It is explained as the benefits that humans can obtain from the natural environment just by existing.

Therefore, the Great Barrier Reef is a perfect example of an ecosystem that provides us with overflowing benefits with all the ecosystem services it provides us. Firstly, let’s break it down and explain what ecosystem services actually are.

 

 

Ecosystem services can be divided in three categories:

Poster cred: Wildlife Conservation Society

The social. First of all, we can literally spend weeks, months, or even years, exploring the over 900 islands. Our favourites are activities like SCUBA diving, sailing, island-hopping, snorkelling, the list can go long. I think we can all agree to the fact that the reef contributes to human well-being. Many of us find places along the reef where we feel a sense of home, where we can reconnect with ourselves and nature.

 

The economic. The Great Barrier Reef is valued at $56 billion!!! Crazy numbers!  These numbers are summarised by tourism, recreation, commercial fishing and scientific research. Over 90% are related to tourism and recreational activities. Many people’s livelihood along the Queensland coast is dependent on the reef. Want to read more? Click here: https://www.barrierreef.org/the-reef/the-value

 

The environmental. As the largest living organism in the world, the reef is such an important ecosystem for the health of the ocean and the planet. The reef provides habitat for organisms and marine species we rely on for food and medicine production. The reef assists in fixing greenhouse gases like carbon and nitrogen. And the reef provides an entire system with its marine inhabitants to help with nutrient recycling. How amazing?

 

 

Photo cred: Natalie Lobartolo

 

Have you ever thought about how the Great Barrier Reef provides us protection?

You may not think about it when you’re standing on shore looking out to the coral sea and you can’t see the reef with your own eyes. But on a larger scale, the reef actually has a quite important role in terms of coastal protection.

The structure of the Great Barrier Reef acts as a buffer between the open ocean and the coastline.  What that means in terms of protection of the coastline is that the reef is the first to take on larger storms, cyclones and waves. As a result of the buffer, the energy flow is dissipating before it reaches the shore. That is a game changer for preventing loss of lives, property damage and coastal erosion.

Coastal areas are for all of these amazing benefits highly inhabited. We love to live near the ocean for the lifestyle it has to offer. In Australia, this is evident with more than 85% of the population living within 50 kilometres of the coast.

 

But without the reef, would the coastline be the same?

Coral reefs evidently provide important ecosystem services.

In conclusion, if the functioning of the reef is decreasing, so are all the benefits we draw from it. Coral reefs provides important ecosystem services after all. Are we dependent on the social, economic, and environmental benefits the GBR provides us?

Looking after our beautiful reef is now more important than ever!

The reef needs us, and we also need the reef!

 

 

THE BLEACHING NOBODY HEARD ABOUT…

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In the early months of 2020, there was a lot going on in the world. Things were changing. Catastrophe was looming. Headlines were saturated with news of just one thing. COVID set the scene for a new status-quo, and life as we know it was being transformed. 

Whilst the whirlwind of unexpected change was sweeping across the planet, a quiet yet disturbing shift was happening below the surface too. As the world went into lockdown, reefs were being knocked about by warming sea surface temperatures. Just as the paling face of an ill patient loses its colour, corals were slowly but surely paling too. 

The reef was unwell; its fate uncertain.

Even if we – as humans – are able to fight a disease, illness takes time to recover from. If there is not enough time between recovery and the moment you’re faced with another challenge, your resilience and ability to fight that disease might be affected. These parallels are as much true for our own health as that of the reef. 

Luckily – at least this time – impacts of the warming were not prolonged, reefs were able to recover, and mortality was minimal.

So the question here is, was COVID enough of an excuse for most people to hear absolutely nothing about the reef and the challenges it was facing?

“Is human health the most important thing we need to care about?”

Of course if we are not in a good way ourselves, we can’t care for anything else. However, if we employ a sustainable mindset, would looking after and connecting to nature be – in and of itself – congruent with looking after our own health?

What impact could caring more for our planet have on our ability to live healthy, prosperous and fulfilling lives?

Keep posted to hear about two of Natalie’s favourite corals in the Lady Musgrave Lagoon: Lumpy and Bumpy, and the fascinating story of overcoming challenges… Coming shortly!
Happy Marine Biologists

Marine Biologist for a Day School Holiday Program

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Reef Connect have put on a Marine Biologist for a Day School Holiday Program where local kids have had an awesome time exploring beaches and rockpools.

Last Wednesday and Thursday, we set out to discover more about marine turtles, beach biodiversity and intertidal rocky shores.

Turtle Beach Activities

Kids spent the morning searching for “turtle food” on the beaches (algae, seagrass, jellies, crustaceans, sponges and corals). We learnt more about how turtle morphology – that is, the shape of their beaks, for example – reflect their typical diets.

After delving into a few more features of turtle biology and how this varies between species, we used important skills in teamwork, collaboration and communication to build a sand turtle. A biologically accurate one of course!

 

Green Turtle Creations

Green Turtle Creations

Shoreline Biodiversity Exploration

We explored the shoreline, bringing to life bits and pieces that we’ve probably all seen before, but may not have taken a closer look at. We learned how to identify evidence of all the different life forms in the area such as molluscs (gastropods/marine snails, cephalopods/cuttlefish, bivalves/clams and pipis), algae, hard and soft corals, marine sponges, and coastal vegetation.

What could this be?

What could this be?

Rocky Shore Adaptations & Food Chains

Finally, it was time to head over to the rockpools where we learned about adaptations to harsh and changing conditions and how the creatures we find there fit into the intertidal rocky shore food chain.

Learning about Coral Skeletons & Chitons

Learning about Coral Skeletons & Chitons

Celebrating with Marine Biologist for A Day Certificates

At the end of the session, everyone received a certificate of achievement for becoming a “Marine Biologist for a Day”!

 

Happy Marine Biologists

Happy Marine Biologists

Well done everyone, we can’t wait for the next one!

Marine Biologist for a Day

At Reef Connect, we have made it our mission to inspire and educate young and old about the fascinating ocean world and how we can all do our part to protect it.

Don’t miss the next opportunity to get your kids involved in this unique learning opportunity! Check the Marine Biologist for Day School Holiday Program page or sign up to be the first to hear about future events.

For more images and to leave a review, head to our Facebook page.

The “WAR ON WASTE” According to Coral Reefs

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The war on waste has become a hot topic in recent times… but how does it relate to coral reefs?

Ever wondered why that coral reef you visited looked like a bunch of (albeit very beautiful) lifeless rocks, when you expected it to be a vibrant and flowing paradise?

A big reason for that could be that most corals are nocturnal – meaning they extend their polyps into the water column to feed at night.

Corals create a unique symbiotic relationship with a microscopic algae called “zooxanthallae,” so it makes sense to take advantage of this photosynthesis to obtain their energy during the day, and to extend their polyps to feed (by catching particles in the water column) at night.

Night time is when coral polyps are feeding, and also trying to take over new territory. Have you ever witnessed or heard about Coral Reef Wars?

Coral Reefs and the War on Waste

Everything may look gorgeous, harmonious and tranquil, but it’s a harsh world down there. Coral reefs take up less than 0.01% of the ocean floor, yet are home to almost 25% of all marine life. That’s a whole lot of ocean creatures fitting into a very itty bitty space!

As so many creatures are living in such close quarters on coral reefs, it means there is fierce competition for both space and resources. Corals will extend their stinging tentacles in warfare against their neighbouring corals, attempting to take over as much valuable real estate as they can get their hands – or tentacles – on.

If coral reefs support so much life, you’d think there are plenty of nutrients, wouldn’t you? Well, coral reefs are actually a bit like deserts in the way they are low in available nutrients and all the good stuff marine life are looking for.

We say “available” nutrients because there are not a lot of free nutrients just hanging around waiting to be used. Coral reefs are the best recyclers on the planet! Nothing goes to waste and all resources, once used, seem to find another life, or be useful to another creature in their lives. There’s a lot of eating, pooping, eating poop and pooping out the eaten poop. All of these processes are constantly happening on repeat! If only we could learn how to recycle all of our resources on land so efficiently, we’d be well on our way to tackling the war on waste!