Author: Christy Pattengill-Semmens, Ph.D., Co-Executive Director: Science & Engagement
Grouper Moon season is here! REEF scientists, partners from Scripps Institution of Oceanography and Oregon State University, and volunteers are gearing up for the annual field effort of the Grouper Moon Project, a collaborative research effort with the Cayman Islands Department of the Environment (CIDOE). 2022 will be the 20th year of this important project, which studies one of the largest and last known spawning aggregations of Nassau Grouper in the Caribbean. During winter full moons, thousands of grouper gather in one location for 7-10 days to spawn. Since 2002, our team has conducted groundbreaking research to study these Nassau Grouper spawning aggregations to help ensure recovery of the populations of this iconic species.
This year, we are staging field teams to Little Cayman in both January and February. While we typically focus on just one month, 2022 is considered a “split year”, meaning the full moon dates are right on the line of predicting which month will be the strong spawning month. In addition to continuing annual monitoring research, we will be hosting several live-feed videos on REEF's YouTube Channel as part of the Grouper Education Program. In 2011, with support from the Disney Conservation Fund, REEF launched the this program to engage Caymanian students and a worldwide audience in the project. This exciting initiative brings the Nassau Grouper into elementary and high school classrooms through lesson plans and the live-feed sessions connect classrooms with scientists in the field.
The Grouper Moon Project is widely regarded as one of the biggest ocean conservation success stories, due in large part to science-based, proactive legislation passed by the Cayman Islands government. To learn more about the Grouper Moon Project, see results, and find links to documentaries on the project, visit www.REEF.org/groupermoonproject. You can also keep an eye on our social media platforms for updates from the field.
Author: The REEF Team
We are excited to welcome Alexa "Lex" Bryant to the REEF Team as Conservation Science Associate. Lex joined the staff at the beginning of 2022 and is based at the REEF Campus in Key Largo. She grew up outside of Boston, where she started her marine science journey. She was certified to dive when she was 14, exploring the New England waters. Around the same time, she started working aboard the F/V Erica Lee II out of Newburyport, MA, and spent her summers teaching marine science. Lex eventually worked her way up to First Mate and started her commercial fishing career. Finding her passion in marine life, she earned a degree in Earth Science with a concentration in Ocean Science from Oregon State University in 2018. After college, she advanced her diving certifications and moved to the Florida Keys to work in the dive industry and volunteer with local conservation organizations. Lex's sense of adventure is strong, and most recently, she spent the summer of 2021 in Bristol Bay, Alaska, harvesting the wild sockeye salmon fishing run as a commercial set-net fisher. Lex will work alongside our Conservation Science Manager, Dr. Alli Candelmo, on a variety of projects, from invasive species to cutting-edge citizen science efforts. Her first project is to coordinate a multi-year study funded by NOAA using science-based solutions for improved management of the invasive Indo-Pacific lionfish. This work brings together local fishers to design, build, and deploy deep-water traps that will enable efficient removal of lionfish. When not trying to save the planet, Lex enjoys travel, paddle boarding, photography above and below the waves, and reading at a local coffee shop with her corgi, Swab. Welcome Lex!
Author: Amy Lee, Engagement and Communications Manager
The best way to get through a chilly winter? Book a dive vacation to a tropical island! Space is still available on the REEF Field Survey Trip to St. Lucia on May 7-14. We'll stay at the amazing Anse Chatanet Resort, an environmentally-conscious, luxury property with plenty of amenities and delicious food. The onsite dive operator, Scuba St. Lucia, is a REEF Conservation Partner. The entire resort is surrounded by a protected marine area, and easily accessible beach diving is available at the house reef. When not diving or snorkeling, guests can enjoy sea kayaking, jungle biking, and yoga. You can see all the trip details here.
There are also just a couple spaces left on these two upcoming trips: Roatan on June 4-11 at CoCo View Resort and Palau on June 26-July 6 on the Rock Islands Aggressor.
REEF Field Surveys Trips help you grow your knowledge of marine life in a fun, educational setting. Trips include a full dive schedule and fish ID classes. Some trips may be suitable for snorkelers as well. To register, contact trips@REEF.org or visit www.REEF.org/trips to learn more. We hope to see you on a REEF Trip this year!
Author: Madalyn Mussey, Education and Outreach Program Manager
Discover marine conservation with a REEF Ocean Explorers Education Program – where learning is an adventure! Our programs inspire and engage participants in immersive, hands-on learning and exploration. Programs feature marine conservation, biology, ecology, citizen science, invasive species, and service learning. We offer programs for schools, scouts, families, teachers, travel groups, and colleges. REEF Ocean Explorers Education Programs include:
Discovery Programs: Interactive classroom or field-based programs, these are ideal for groups that prefer a single-day program or want to incorporate REEF programming into a broader travel itinerary. Offered as virtual or in person sessions.
Expeditions: Full service multi-day travel learning programs in international and domestic destinations. In addition to customized educational content, packages can be tailored to include acommodations, diving, snorkeling, kayaking, animal encounters, and other activities.
Virtual Field Trips: Interactive field trip simulations with engaging lesson plans and activities to give students experiences and connections to the marine environment without leaving the classroom. Students explore what life is like as marine scientist by creating research trials and completing field journals.
Coming Soon: Virtual High School Case Studies: Created for cross-curricular access, case studies can be used as a mini-unit or a standalone lesson for Biology, Environmental Science, Speech, and Engineering courses. Themes include invasive lionfish removal and endangered Nassau Grouper preservation.
For more information or to get involved, contact explorers@REEF.org or call 305-852-0030.
Author: Amy Lee, Engagement and Communications Manager
We are excited to welcome our Spring 2022 Marine Conservation Interns to REEF! As a part of our team, they will assist with Oceans Explorers Education Programs, outreach events like lionfish derbies, and daily operations around the REEF Campus. They are:
Leslie Nguyen graduated from San Jose State University, where she earned a B.S. in marine biology. In college, Leslie was a member of the marine biology laboratory, where she studied the ecology of tropical coral reefs in Maui. She also volunteered in the animal husbandry department at the Marine Mammal Center, where she interacted with elephant seals and California sea lions, and also realized her passion for marine conservation. She looks forward to sharing her love for the ocean through education and community outreach with REEF. She hopes to eventually start her own nonprofit organization that is aimed towards inspiring, educating, and supporting the next generation of minorities in marine biology and conservation.
Sarah Siddoway earned a B.S. in biology from the University of Utah. She developed a love for environmental outreach while working for Utah's Hogle Zoo, and has also interned with BioEYES, where she taught science lessons to children. During school she worked on a research project studying bird-window collisions on campus, which introduced her to the field of citizen science. After graduating, she continued to volunteer for many local citizen science projects, including monitoring kestrel boxes, conducting raptor surveys, and creating beaver dam analogs. Sarah hopes to one day work for a marine conservation nonprofit, doing either research or outreach. She is excited to combine her passions for citizen science, environmental outreach, and conservation during her internship with REEF.
Our interns are a virtal part of REEF and we couldn’t accomplish our work without them. For more information about the Marine Conservation Internship or to apply for an upcoming semester, visit www.REEF.org/internship.
Author: Sierra Barkdoll, Citizen Science Program Lead Intern
Introducing the REEF Conservation Challenge: a brand new way to dive into citizen science, meet other fish enthusiasts, and have fun learning about ocean life and REEF programs. It's easy and free to participate. Earn exclusive, collective stickers by completing conservation-oriented challenges, like attending a Fishinar or conducting a REEF survey. This month, we’re highlighting the Volunteer Fish Survey Project challenge. To complete this challenge, conduct a REEF survey in any of our 10 survey regions and submit it to REEF’s database, then fill out the form online to request your sticker(s)! For more information or to get involved, visit www.REEF.org/conservationchallenge.
Author: Sierra Barkdoll, Citizen Science Program Lead Intern
REEF's online programs are free and open to everyone! Here's what is coming up in the next several weeks:
Into the Blue Book Club Meeting
Thursday, January 13, 8pm EST
Click here to register.
We will be discussing Spineless: The Science of Jellyfish and the Art of Growing a Backbone by Juli Berwald. Juli will be joining our virtual book club meeting for a Q&A session. Whether you have finished the book or not, all are welcome to attend.
Fishinar: Weird St. Vincent Fish
Thursday, January 20, 8pm EST
Click here to register.
St. Vincent is known for its strange locals... underwater locals that is! A popular spot for muck diving, this Fishinar will teach you how to ID some of the unusual fishes hidden in the muck and around the island.
Drawing Fish for Beginners
Thursday, February 3, 8pm EST
Click here to register.
Maui-based artist Maggie Sutrov loves helping people form a deeper connection with the natural world through drawing and painting. During this beginner-friendly session, she will teach us how to draw some of our favorite fishes. No artistic knowledge is necessary, just enthusiasm!
Author: Janna Nichols, Citizen Science Program Manager
Welcome to the Citizen Science Corner, our quarterly feature to acknowledge those who recently reached a milestone in our Volunteer Fish Survey Project. We are celebrating those who moved up an Experience Level in October, November, or December 2021.
Experience Level Advancements
REEF Experience Levels are a way for divers and snorkelers to measure their fish ID knowledge along with their surveying experience. From beginner to expert, you'll find plenty of resources and friends to help you along the way. Experience Levels 2, 3, 4, or 5 are achieved through submitting a certain number of surveys and passing a fish ID test. For more info, visit www.REEF.org/experiencelevels.
Let's hear it for these REEF members who have improved their fish ID skills!
All listed below are Level 2 unless otherwise noted.
California (CAL)
- Max Arseneault - Level 3
- Anita Brooks
- Anna Pearson
- Douglas Behner
- Fred Hill
- Greg Beadle
- Kevin Patterson
- Mandy Mathews
- Martha Ornelus
Hawaii (HAW)
- Todd Cliff - Level 4
- Mike Snow - Level 3
Indian Ocean/Red Sea (IORS)
- Anna Bowker
- Janet Clayton
- Jeannette du Preez
- Kannathasan Abimannan
- Naomi Down
- Sarah Martin
- Valentina Barzakova
Pacific Northwest and Alaska (PNW)
Tropical Eastern Pacific (TEP)
Tropical Western Atlantic (TWA)
- Maddie Brownfield - Level 5 (REEF Lead Intern)
- Sierra Barkdoll - Level 5 (REEF Lead Intern)
- Summer Huber - Level 5 (REEF Lead Intern)
- Susan Lokey - Level 5
- Eric Vanderlaan - Level 4
- Ani Baquedano - Level 3
- Carrie Neal - Level 3
- Dylan Heppell - Level 3
- Alice Owen
- Andrew Hotchkies
- Beth Mueller
- Brid van der Meiden
- Carol Risdall
- Catherine Purcell
- Celia Smith
- Charlotte Moll
- Dewi Bernsen
- Doug Ward
- Ed Benjamin
- Ed Schrikkema
- Emily Boll (REEF Intern)
- Isabelle Petty
- Jessica Nolte
- Leo van der Meiden
- Loralee Byrnes
- Luciana De Lima
- Maksim Sotnikov
- Marianna Maddalena
- Mark Barnby
- Martine Boerlage
- Mary-Beth McCormack
- Megan Olson
- Melinda Ward
- Michelle Sayre
- Nathan Greenslit
- Robby Arundel
- Scott Heppell
- Stuart Sayre
Super Surveyor Challenge 2021
We finished up 2021 with a bang! 107 REEF volunteer divers and snorkelers dove into the challenge and earned the title of Super Surveyor by conducting and submitting at least 25 REEF surveys during the year. Our dive hoods are off to these excellent citizen scientists making a difference!
To view all their names, go to www.REEF.org/supersurveyor.
Author: The REEF Team
Meet our first Fish of the Month for 2022, the Black Brotula (Stygnobrotula latebricola)!
Survey Regions: The Black Brotula is found in Florida, The Bahamas, and throughout the Caribbean, as well as Brazil. These areas are part of REEF's Tropical Western Atlantic (TWA) survey region. Click here to see a TWA distribution report for this species. Of all the locations in the TWA region, St. Vincent and St. Lucia (both REEF Trip destinations in 2022) have the highest TWA sightings frequencies for this species. Spaces still remain on the St. Lucia trip on May 7-14, 2022 - consider joining us later this year!
Size: They grow to about 8 cm, which is just over 3 inches.
Identifying Features: Black Brotulas can be blackish-brown or black in color. They have a rounded head and jaw profile and an elongated body with continuous dorsal and anal fins. Their body becomes ribbonlike towards the rear, ending in a pointed tail.
Fun Facts: Black Brotulas live deep in crevices and caves. When they do venture into the open, they may act as cleaners for larger fish and eels. They are also viviparous, which means they bear live young, rather than oviparous, or egg-laying, like most other fish. They may occasionally be seen in pairs.
Thanks for reading, and stay tuned for our next Fish of the Month.
Photos by Paul Humann.
