Pacific coral bleaching
Over the past few years, islands in tσ↕δhe Pacific Ocean havλ↔γ✘e experienced unusual sea warming du±αring the longest-ever recordα<±©ed global coral bleachingσ& event. Before the coral bleaching event, Jarvi €s Island had extensive coral cov↓er. According to preliminary surveys in 2015 anβ♥δ<d 2016, most coral colonies →are dying from coral bleachi∏∞→ng. On Jarvis Island ☆☆"in 2017, researchers su☆♦↕rveyed these reef communities and ♣≥assessed the coral's potenπ tial to recover from heat stress thatφ∑& causes coral bleaching.
Humphead Parrotfish
This giant humming parro★φ∞↔tfish is an amazing fish that can live ₹ ♥for 40 years, grow to be 4 feet lon ∞g and weigh 100 pounds. When largeγ☆ numbers of fish congregate t☆≠o spawn during the lun>εar cycle, they use their bulging h♣☆☆eads to ram the heads of '×<other fish in a competitive confrontation. On∏¥£σ the first day on Wake Island, the res>>earchers saw many humming parrotfish. The hummiβα'πng parrotfish has been attack∞"∑↓ed by heavy fishing activitieα→∞s across much of its range ₹♣and is now considered globally rare by the In₽ternational Union for Co∞÷Ωnservation of Nature&#&✔↓↑39;s Red List of Threatened®Ω≥≥ Species.
life on the reef
On the east side of Agrih♥↓δan Island, an octopus was spα↓'otted by divers and f÷★ell off a rocky reef.±' All life on coral reefs i↕γs important, includin₹ ≤g this intelligent invertebrate. ✘πThese mesmerizing creatureε→π s can quickly change color to blen$♠φd in with their surrou♣♠ndings, making them h©×¶♠ard to find.
Crown of thorns starfish→δ
Scientists have discovered numerous crown-of-thor≈™↑αns starfish on Alamagen Island. These s" piny invertebrates feed on coral✘γ™ tissue. In this image, the st★♠σarfish leaves only the skelet§α¥on of Acropora in its wake. If they are in larΩβ≥≥ge numbers, they can ≠ wreak havoc on coral reefs, but if they are i™n small numbers, they are also a ★βεnatural key component of coral r∑±σeef ecosystems.
rare scene
In an extremely rare scene cap♠↔∞¥tured on the island of Farallon σ♠de Pajaros, scientists have discovered the ↕γ₩female angelfish after completing a s•"urvey of the fish. There are hardly any pub$₽βlished articles on this species✔$ other than blogs by aquariu∑γm enthusiasts. Some have ®∞☆described it as endemic to the Ogas&≈γawara and Osgawara islands in southe<&rn Japan, although the researchers discovered ¶∞♥γthe fish during an expedition in the↑ Mariana Trench Marine National Reserve.
Submarine crater
Undersea volcanic vents ≈↑γnear Maug Island release carbon dioxide ga∞"≠§s, which causes the surroundin₽"≠&g ocean to acidify—a local example of↔¥& how carbon dioxide emissions in ≈←our atmosphere are c•÷ausing global climate →←λchange and ocean acidification. Maug's carπ©≠♣bon dioxide vents are right nexσπ∑↔t to coral reef ecosys"₹tems, allowing scientists✔₩' to see the future of these ecosyst¶☆ems, along with changes in the ocean's chem<φ ical environment that naturally changes.
Bubble coral
Despite their bubble-like appearance, th∏"ese vesicular corals, also known as &€↑↕$quot;bubble corals," are actually s¥∞tony or hard corals.☆★✘ Its tissue is soft and bubble-like, and iβ£t actually hides its hard bones under the ¶∞'bubble-like soft tissue.
Colorful nudibranchs
Autonomous reef monitoring structureε ₩s have found many be€←εautiful creatures, including this nu₹ ∞™dibranch.
Healthy coral
The coral on Koh Phangan appears to be doing ★£€much better than othe♥δr areas hit hard by the recent global coral b₩$ leaching event. Here's aδ®™ close-up of staghorn co♠←$™rals (often more susceptib€• le to bleaching events) looking go• δod.
sand star
If you look closely at the ♠±↑sand, you'll sometimes find "stardust÷," or the skeletal remains of ±±✔a star-shaped foraminifera, tiny Ω↔single-celled organisms that φare an important part of the ocean's food∏↑☆ chain.
