Hello, I’m Bob Snowden, an aquarist at the PPG Aquarium. I’m writing this update from the Caribbean island of Curaco, where I’m part of a team working on conserving and restoring endangered coral reefs.
The project, called SECORE (SExual COral REproduction) is an ongoing non-profit initiative that combines the knowledge of top aquarists and leading scientists from around the world.
Joining me from the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium are Ashley Kidd, an aquarist and our dive safety officer, and zoo photographer Paul Selvaggio.
We are here to observe the once-a-year spawning of some very important reef-building corals - the Caribbean elkhorn coral (acropora palmata) and the Caribbean staghorn coral (acropora cervicornis). This coral is typically found in the Florida Keys, the Bahamas and the Carribbean islands. These varieties are both listed as critically endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red list of endangered species. Since 1980, populations have declined by up to 98% throughout their range from disease outbreaks, with losses compounded locally by hurricanes, increased predation and bleaching.
Today Ashley and I worked with the team on preparing some of the lab set-ups. I did a presentation on past SECORE research in Rincon, Puerto Rico, and we listened to presentations by local organizations, researchers, and aquarium professionals. Paul set up his camera rigging and tested his photography skills on the reef.
Tomorrow, we continue preparing for the big event – the coral spawning. This event only happens once per year in either August or September and we’re all looking forward to the spawning in the hopes that we can fertilize another generation of corals to add back to the reef.
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Good job, keep up the good work and good luck with the spawning.
Niki
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