The Transect Line – May/June 2018
Healthy Kelp Forests Seen on Big Sur Expedition

Ten sites were successfully surveyed along the Big Sur coast of California this month. The kelp forests appeared healthy with abundant kelp and appropriate populations of sea urchins. We even saw a sunflower star, a species that was once common but today is rarely seen.


Environmental DNA (eDNA) is Promising New Tool for Marine Ecosystem Monitoring


Relying on the fact that all organisms leave trace amounts of their DNA in the environment, novel molecular techniques offer promising tools to monitoring marine ecosystems in real time. Given how easy it is to collect and filter seawater samples, PhD candidate Zack Gold imagines a future where eDNA samples are collected up and down the California coast to keep better track of our vital marine ecosystems- all with just a scoop of water.


New Facebook Group Brings Together Tropical Reef Checkers

Interested in Reef Check’s tropical program? Join the Tropical Reef Check Group! This Facebook group is a way for tropical Reef Checkers and EcoDivers to connect and communicate, as well as share photos of Reef Check dives, trainings and activities. Visit us at: facebook.com/groups/tropicalreefcheck


Santa Marta Reef Check 2018 Expedition Brings Together Colombian Divers

For a second year, Corales de Paz hosted a monitoring expedition of Colombia’s coral reefs, bringing together 30 divers from all over the country to evaluate the reefs in the Santa Marta Bay and the National Natural Tayrona Park. Important observations included the atypical presence of Sargassum and the low prevalence of the white plague coral disease.


Reef Check Well-Represented at Asia Pacific Coral Reef Symposium

The 4th Asia Pacific Coral Reef Symposium was recently held in Cebu, Philippines and featured participation from Reef Check Philippines, Taiwan, Japan, China, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia.


Concordia International School Celebrates 10 Years with Launch of 3rd Project in Thailand

Young divers from Concordia International Schools in Shanghai and Hanoi began Concordia’s third, five-year Marine Research Project in the Andaman Sea, launching a new program in Koh Lipe, Thailand. Project goals are to provide Reef Check with longitudinal data from reefs off Thailand’s coast, develop students into active global citizens, and guide them to become ecologically responsible adults.


To ensure delivery, please add our e-mail address newsletter@reefcheck.org to your address book. Thank you.
Reef Check, 13723 Fiji Way, Ste B2, Marina del Rey, CA 90292 USA
www.ReefCheck.org