Marine Biology Summary, Earthwatch Team 1 2008

Summary of Marine Biology work carried out

by Mandy Hengeveld (Acting Marine Biology PI)

Reef Check surveys:
Wreck only:
 Gosei
 Kiyosumi

Grouper on Kiyosumi Maru (Photograph by Mandy Hengeveld)

Wreck and adjacent reef:
 Upside Down Zero
 Emily Flying Boat
 Myrt aircraft
 Yamamoto Gun Boat

Coral growth rate monitoring:
 Gosei
 Yamamoto Gun Boat

Marine Biology and Corrosion Surveys:
 Fujikawa Maru
 Shinkoku Maru
 Tonoas Dock Boat
 Yamamoto Gun Boat

Preliminary findings show a number of Crown of Thorns on the Fujikawa Maru, as well as evidence of dynamite fishing.

Reefs adjacent to the Emily Flying Boat, the Myrt aircraft and the Upside Down Zero have suffered from a fair amount of damage also, possibly due to storm damage or fishing impacts.

Fish populations around the Gosei Maru, Fujikawa Maru and Kiyosumi Maru appear healthy, however several of the other sites are missing many of the larger predatory/food fish populations such as Grouper and Snapper.

Lionfish on Kiyosumi Maru (Photograph by Mandy Hengeveld)