More pix at the Hantu Blog Gallery.

Read more about Swimmer Crabs

Walking crinoid 1,405 views

Dancing crinoid 2,012 views

Dancing crinoid 3,269 views


But the Razorfish at Hantu seem to attract a good deal of attention too!

Razorfish at Hantu 2,496 views

Another fish that got plenty of viewers was this video of a Pufferfish shot three years ago:

Pufferfish 6,340 views

Of course, the symbol of Hantu’s reefs, and the critter represented on the Hantu Blog’s logo outdid the Pufferfish in terms of viewer hits!

Tigertail seahorse 7,613 views

Even with that number of hits, our charismatic Tigertail seahorse was not able to attract more hits than one of the simplest creatures on the reef – the flatworm!

Giant swimming reef flatworm 11,783 views

But the video that trumped all the others, and reaped the most number of hits, can neither swim, nor relocate itself if it wanted. You can’t see its head, and it’s hardly visible on the reef. I suppose, the fact that it’s so mysterious makes it sort of attractive and mesmerizing. Who would have thought that a barnacle could gain this much attention!

Hard working barnacle 17,396 views

Though fish are one of the most prominent animals on the reef, they have grossed comparatively little attention from viewers. It is apparent that people are attracted to the things they know little about. Barnacles are not creatures you would describe as “charismatic”. These creatures are lobbed off the bottom of boats and kicked aside when they are washed up on the beach! But if we took the time to explain their behaviour and cast a fascinating light on them, surely we can give 17,000 people, a reason to observe a barnacle for 20 seconds!

Though the adults can get to a size that makes them prominent on the reef, this juvenile Serpent pteraeolidia (Pteraeolidia ianthina) sort of looks like an adult that had most of its tail lobbed off! A rather macabre visualisation, but you’ve got to admit it!

The best part of the 1st dive of this day (and not forgetting to mention my 1st dive at Hantu in over three months!) was that we encountered two large and one massive-sized Slender ceratosoma nudibranch on the reef! They may appear dull-coloured when you see them on the reef with your naked eye, but a flash of light helps us to see their real colours that gets masked out by the water and silt suspended between them and our masks.

Other nudibranchs encountered were the Blue gilled tambja (left) and Gymnodoris. We saw a few of each of these two species. They are scuttling about on the reef in quite a hurry! Wonder what they were up to. There must have been something titillating a-sniff on the reef that we were unable to detect!

In the shallower depths, and eyes relaxed on object afar, the clear horizontal visibility let divers appreciate schools of damsel fish that gathered just beneath the water surface, as well as spot other cool critters on the reef that lead rather silent lives, like this Icon Seastar (right). Speaking of echinoderms, we also saw some large Diadema sea urchins!

While waiting for the other divers to surface from their dive, I took to snorkeling around the patch reef and had lots of fun swimming through the sargassum algae, and watch small schools of fish part as I noisily kicked about on the surface. I also came across this bizarre-looking mushroom coral that looked like it has petals of a flower! How odd!

The divers and even our skipper enjoyed the fair weather last Sunday! We were very fortunate as the water conditions were less favorable just a week before! The Hantu Blog relies on the experience of a very skilled skipper who’s been working the waters of Singapore for the past 40 years! He knows every reef and rock that dots around the Southern Islands and we’re proud to have him on our team!

Divers reluctant to return to the boat, muck about the surface, watching the marine life go on down below.

For more pictures, check out the Hantu Blog Gallery.

Cindy managed to witness some cool slug behavior on the reef, like this pair of Serpent pteraeolidia doing their “meet and greet ritual”. Nudibranchs are hermaphroditic, and thus have a set of reproductive organs for both sexes, but they can rarely fertilize themselves.

Swimming crabs are the colour red to warn would-be predators that they are not so tasty. Though they are one of the smaller crabs on the reef, they are extremely skittish, and when cornered, can be very aggressive. Don’t get near their pincers!

I got really jealous when Cindy came back with this picture of a young Winged pipefish. Pipefish get their name from the peculiar form of their snout, which is like a long tube, ending in narrow and small mouth which opens upwards and is toothless.

A relative of the pipefish and the mascot of Hantu’s reef, is the Tigertail seahorse, here in a bight yellow variation.

They’re called flatworms, but the name does little to describe them apart from the fact that they were, well, flat! Finding a flatworm on the reef can be as exciting as spotting a brilliant nudibranch. As these pictures as testament, flatworms come in an array of colours that may include texture and intricate patterns. Flatworms are from the Phylum Platyhelminthes, and are the simplest of the worm group. It is soft-bodied, unsegmented, has no skeleton no body cavity, and no specialized Circulatory system and Respiratory system. They have a combined digestive/excretory system – taking food in and getting rid of wastes through the same opening, like sea urchins and sea cucumbers! They also have a central nervous system and a simple brain to co-ordinate their well developed muscular system.

But being flat means most can’t ’swallow’ their prey. Instead, the pharynx (a part of the gut) is pushed out through the mouth. The pharynx engulfs the prey outside the worm’s body. Or digestive juices are injected into the prey and the resulting liquefied meal is then sucked up. Most flatworms don’t have an anus and they spit out indigestible bits through the mouth. The mouth of a flatworm is on the underside of the body, in some, towards the centre or the back end of the body. Flatworms are also very delicate and tear easily when handled. So please avoid touching them.

Flatworms are usually more active when it is dark when they busily slide about with elegant ruffles of their body edges, or even swim by undulating their thin bodies. Most are about 1cm long or less, although some ‘monster’ species 8-10cm long are also commonly seen. There are also countless minute free-living flatworms that live among sand grains.

Flatworms come in a bewildering variety of colours and patterns! Some of these colours are due to the colour of the prey they have eaten, showing through their gut. Those with bright colours that contrast with their surroundings probably serve as a warning of their distasteful nature. Flatworms can contain powerful toxins. Others have colours and patterns that blend with the background.

Some flatworms have tiny tentacles over their heads. Most of the commonly seen flatworms only have pseudotentacles on their heads, a pair of ear-like structures made out of folded edges of their bodies. I’ve always found these pseudotentacles incredibly fascinating! Even though they are not real tentacles like those of a snail.

Read more about marine flatworms

To see more pictures visit the Hantu Blog Gallery

Image: Tamara Shopsin and Jason Fulford

December 26, 2009
The New York Times

For the many disappointments of the recent climate talks in Copenhagen, there was at least one clear positive outcome, and that was the progress made on a program called Reducing Emissions From Deforestation and Forest Degradation. Under this program, key elements of which were agreed on at Copenhagen, developing countries would be compensated for preserving forests, peat soils, swamps and fields that are efficient absorbers of carbon dioxide, the primary heat-trapping gas linked to global warming.

This approach, which takes advantage of the power of nature itself, is an economical way to store large amounts of carbon. But the program is limited in that it includes only those carbon sinks found on land. We now need to look for similar opportunities to curb climate change in the oceans.

Few people may realize it, but in addition to producing most of the oxygen we breathe, the ocean absorbs some 25 percent of current annual carbon dioxide emissions. Half the world’s carbon stocks are held in plankton, mangroves, salt marshes and other marine life. So it is at least as important to preserve this ocean life as it is to preserve forests, to secure its role in helping us adapt to and mitigate climate change.

Sea-grass meadows, for example, which flourish in shallow coastal waters, account for 15 percent of the ocean’s total carbon storage, and underwater forests of kelp store huge amounts of carbon, just as forests do on land. The most efficient natural carbon sink of all is not on land, but in the ocean, in the form of Posidonia oceanica, a species of sea grass that forms vast underwater meadows that wave in the currents just as fields of grass on land sway in the wind.

Worldwide, coastal habitats like these are being lost because of human activity. Extensive areas have been altered by land reclamation and fish farming, while coastal pollution and overfishing have further damaged habitats and reduced the variety of species. It is now clear that such degradation has not only affected the livelihoods and well-being of more than two billion people dependent on coastal ecosystems for food, it has also reduced the capacity of these ecosystems to store carbon.

The case for better management of oceans and coasts is twofold. These healthy plant habitats help meet the needs of people adapting to climate change, and they also reduce greenhouse gases by storing carbon dioxide. Countries should be encouraged to establish marine protected areas — that is, set aside parts of the coast and sea where nature is allowed to thrive without undue human interference — and do what they can to restore habitats like salt marshes, kelp forests and sea-grass meadows.

Managing these habitats is far less expensive than trying to shore up coastlines after the damage has been done. Maintaining healthy stands of mangroves in Asia through careful management, for example, has proved to cost only one-seventh of what it would cost to erect manmade coastal defenses against storms, waves and tidal surges.

The discussions in Copenhagen have opened the way for all countries to improve the management of oceans and coasts to harness their immense potential to mitigate climate change — especially over the next decade, while the world’s politicians, scientists and engineers develop longer-term strategies for stabilizing the atmospheric concentration of greenhouse gases.

In their continuing negotiations on climate change, nations should now make it a priority to produce a single map of the world that documents all the different types of coastal carbon sinks, and identify the ones that are in most immediate need of preservation. New studies should be undertaken to better understand how best to manage these areas to increase carbon sequestration. Then, following the example of the forests program, it will be possible to establish formulas for compensating countries that preserve essential carbon sinks in the oceans.

We urgently need to bring the ocean into the agenda alongside forests so that, as soon as possible, we can help the oceans to help us.

Once again, Blog volunteer Jimmy Goh returns from a trip at Hantu Island with some fascinating macro insights into local seas. What a lovely perspective of these usually skittish animals! (Above: Ornate goby)

Though slugs are easier to photograph because they are slower than gobies, you rarely get to see them doing something different that can make a picture (and observing them!) more exciting. You can see how the Starry mouthed Bornella (left) gets its name – in this photo, its star-shaped oral tentacles are clearly visible. Known to be more active at night, these ornate-looking nudibanches are also popular with divers because they are known to be able to swim by flexing its long body from side to side.

With this clear a view of its head, you also notice that its conical rhinophores are protected in sheaths on top of the head, giving the Bornella its bizarre appearance.

Bornella nudibanches have been observed and documented throughout Singapore shores.

Other nudibranches observed during this dive, such as the Polka dot nudibranch and the Slender Ceratosoma below.

On to bigger things, here’s a closeup of a cuttlefish. As Ria Tan, author of Wild Factsheets says, “Although better known as seafood, these delightful creatures are equally delicious to observe, with their colour changes and busy behaviour.”

Cuttlefish eyes may seem completely different from ours but they are actually similar in construction to human eyes! Although color-blind, the cuttlefish has two of the most highly developed eyes in the animal kingdom. It can see well in low light and can also detect polarized light, enhancing its perception of contrast. While we humans reshape our lenses in order to focus on specific objects, the cuttlefish moves its lenses by reshaping its entire eye. Also, the cuttlefish’s eyes are very large in proportion to its body and may increase image magnification upon the retina, while the distinct “W”-shaped pupil helps control the intensity of light entering the eye. (Source: NOVA)

Sawtooth shrimp are poorly studied due to their elusive nature. In local waters, they appear to have a seasonal presence. They are always found on coral whips or gorgonian corals. They get their name from the long, serrated nose. Other common names include Needle shrimp, Sawblade shrimp, or Whip shrimp. It has been photographed extensive by underwater photography enthusiasts in the tropical Pacific, but less information is available about their behaviour and how they interact with the environment or other organisms. It’s a privilege to have such a beautiful and exotic creature in local waters.

Though these two individuals look very different at first glance, they are actually the same species Hippocampus comes. Though this seahorse is common to local waters, it is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Redlist of Endangered Species. It is primarily threatened by coastal development.

Because they share the same range areas, Hippocampus comes is most often confused with Hippocampus kuda.

Though it not often that you get to photograph a pair of these seahorses together, they are known to occur in pairs on coral reefs.

The Tigertail seahorse is a symbol of local reefs. It is a favourite with divers and we hope to continue encountering them on our reefs for many many many more years to come!

To view more pictures from Jimmy’s dive, visit our Gallery.

The effects of ocean acidification on corals are particularly concerning since one quarter of all marine species depend on coral reefs for homes, nurseries, feeding grounds and spawning sites

Ocean acidification is the process caused by increasing man-made carbon dioxide emissions, by which the oceans are becoming more acidic.

When carbon dioxide enters the ocean, it combines with seawater to produce carbonic acid, which increases the acidity of the water.

Rising carbon dioxide emissions, primarily from the burning of fossil fuels for energy, has led to a 30 per cent rise in ocean acidity from pre-industrial levels, as measured by a fall of 0.1 units in the pH of ocean surface waters.

If carbon emissions growth continues at the current rate, the pH of ocean surface water will fall 0.2 units by 2050, lower than at any time in the last 20 million years. By the end of this century, the pH will have fallen 0.4 units from its natural level – close to a doubling of ocean acidity. The change is happening 100 times faster than at any time in the history of the planet.

How will ocean acidification affect marine life?

Ocean acidification leads to a reduction in the amount of carbonate ions in the water. Many marine animals need carbonate ions for the calcium carbonate required to form skeletons and shells. This will affect their development and ability to reproduce – ultimately threatening their populations.

Species under the most immediate threat include corals, crabs, lobsters, clams and oysters.

Falling numbers of less well-known species, like pteropods – tiny swimming snails – have significant effects further up the food chain. Pteropods are important sources of nutrition for many types of fish, whales and birds in polar and sub-polar regions.

The effects on corals, already highly sensitive to their environment, are particularly concerning, since one quarter of all marine species depend on coral reefs for homes, nurseries, feeding grounds and spawning sites.

This equates to nine million marine species, including four thousand species of fish. OCEANA forecasts the mass extinction of corals in both tropical and cold waters this century, if carbon emissions growth continues unchecked.

How will ocean acidification affect humans?

Further declines in fish and shellfish stocks will impact an important source of protein for millions of people. In 2006, fish provided more than 2.9 billion people with at least 15 percent of their average animal protein intake.

The livelihoods of the world’s 47.5 million fishermen will also be adversely affected. The fishing industry is estimated to employ a further 120 million people, supporting 8 per cent of the world’s population.

What can be done to prevent this?

The cause of ocean acidification is man-made carbon dioxide emissions, produced mainly by the burning of fossil fuels for transport (cars, buses, trains, ships, planes), by some industrial processes, and the production of electricity (coal, oil and gas power plants).

The level of man-made carbon dioxide emissions is typically given by measuring the concentration of carbon dioxide in the Earth’s atmosphere. This is currently 385 parts per million.

The ‘tipping point’ for coral reefs – when they will die and be unable to
recover – will come when carbon dioxide concentrations reach 450ppm. At current rates of growth, this will happen by middle to end of this century.

To return the oceans to normalcy will require stabilization of carbon dioxide concentrations at 350ppm or less. This means reducing global carbon dioxide emissions by 80-90 per cent by 2050. This can only be achieved by a massive shift away from fossil fuels to alternative sources of energy (wind, solar).

Source: Ecologist

Rising carbon emissions could hit fish stocks around the world

Previous studies have focused on the impact of acidification on coral reefs but not other marine organisms

Commercial fishing in the northern hemisphere will be devastated by rising carbon emissions, according to the first major study into the impact of ocean acidification.

A report by the marine NGO Oceana, presented to delegates at the Copenhagen Climate talks this week, has highlighted how higher acidity disrupts all marine organisms abilities to grow, reproduce and respire.

The worst affected countries, based on current fish catches, consumption, the importance of coral reefs and projected level of acidification in their coastal waters, are expected to be Japan, France and the UK. The United States and China are also expected to suffer.

Population collapse

‘Its not far fetched to talk about really dramatic physiological effects as a result of acidification’ said Mike Hirshfield, Oceana’s Chief Scientist and the report’s author.

‘The evidence isn’t all in the impact on fish, but everyday we get a new piece of information that suggests we could see population collapse as a result of acidification,’ he said.

Hirshfield presented his findings at Copenhagen alongside a group of commercial fishermen.

‘They are not our usual allies but they are concerned about the effect that acidification might have on their livelihoods.’

Erling Skaar, a Bering Sea Crab fisherman from Alaska said: ‘We could be facing a question of having resources or having no resources in a very few years if they keep dumping more carbon in the oceans.’

‘We don’t know the time line, but we don’t want to find out that it’s too late,’ he said.

Carbon emissions

The report says that atmospheric carbon dioxide levels would need to be stabilised at 350ppm to protect the oceans from rising carbon dioxide levels. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, this would entail an 85 per cent reduction in emissions below 2000 levels by 2050.

‘We are already seeing real problems now at 380ppm; we know that 450ppm is definitely too high,’ Hirshfield said.

Dr. Rajenda Pachauri, chairman of the IPCC, highlighted ocean acidification as a serious consequence of CO2 emissions in his opening remarks in Copenhagen.

However a 180-page draft negotiating text only contained the word ‘acidification’ once and the word ‘ocean’ nine times.

‘Land based effects of climate change often take priority over the oceans but we need to get the message out about acidification,’ said Hirshfield.

‘For a lot of people who may be sceptical about the weather and warming issues, acidification is a completely separate line of evidence. It’s simple chemistry,’ he said.

Source: Ecologist

Even though the seahorse is the slowest fish in the ocean, they can make surprisingly quick getaways if they wanted to! They can fold their bodies away into holes, or turn their backs to you and slip away though a crack! But Cindy here manges to get a great shot of its profile! On the left is a Flase scorpionfish. It’s “flase” because it actually is related to groupers! They rarely swim away when approached because their defense is to stay motionless and blend in with it’s background, like scorpionfishes! So they are esy to get close to and to photograph. At least 3 colour varieties of this fish have been observed in Hantu waters.

Other little critters Cindy came across the reef included Flabellina nudibranches, more Marine flatworms, and a Black-margined Glossodoris nudibranch. Looks like the macro function of her camera is working quite well! Now if we can only find you some Doto nudibranches to photograph!

Last Sunday, a full boat of veteran and brand new divers to local waters, took to the sea with the Hantu Blog dive guides. Despite the onset of the monsoons, the weathered stayed fair and sunny all through the day. Reportedly, the underwater visibility was also very accommodating, which made the first dive into Singapore waters for some first timers a little more comfortable! I might give a huge Thank You to volunteer dive instructor Jimmy Goh for once again sharing his experience of Pulau Hantu with us by taking the effort to take these wonderful photographs while guiding newbie divers (it’s a big effort!). Jimmy’s photos have been featured on the blog several times, and have received a lot of positive comment from our readers. So to his favour I have to admit that if you’re wondering why the pictures in this post look a little different from his pictures in earlier posts, it’s because he’s using my camera, which is an inferior model to his! (Above: Slender Ceratosoma nudibranch)

What’s funny about Jimmy and the Ceratosoma nudibranch is that although he’s been diving local waters for more than half a decade now, he only finally saw these unique sea slugs recently. They’ve always managed to elude him. Though you’d think a creature such as this would stand out on the reef, it does infact resemble a sponge when you’re looking at it underwater. (Above: False clown anemonefish)

Little critters need big eyes to spot! Phyllidia sea slugs (above left and center) can grow up to palm-sized adults, they start out as little crawling slugs, or, depending on the species, into tinsy tiny larve that float about in the water (veliger, or planktonic larve) until they eventually grow the body parts they need to hold on to the reef and feed themselves. The center photo shows a young slug that is still relatively “2-dimensional” resting or feeding on a leaf of sargassum seaweed. As they get older their bodies develop into the more “3-dimensional” body shape that you see in the adults (above left). Take note that the two slugs in the above row are not the same species. (Above right: Allied cowrie on coral whip)

Jimmy manages to take a mood shot of a school of Silver moonies (above left). If you look closely you might also spot some rabbitfish! These Silver moonies began their life journeys as juveniles that live in brackish water (mix of salt and freshwater, usually near mangroves). Silver moonies are shoaling fish that need to be in groups of at least three. Although this is a black and white pictures, going by their name you can sort of guess their colour – they’re silver! Their dorsal fins have a yellow/blackfish tinge. They swim really fast and when you’re in the middle of a school as their swimming from one point of the reef to another, it can be an exhilarating experience! They’re also known as Diamond fish for Silver batfish. As you might be able to tell from the photo above, these fish are vertically flattened (unlike stingrays for example which are horizontally flattened). This physical attribute is what gives them their latin name Monodactylus argenteus. Being really flat, from the front, the fish looks like a stick! ‘Mono’ means ‘one’ and ‘daktylos’ means ‘finger’. Source: Wildfacts

Although Jimmy didn’t manage to get any photos of seahorses this weekend, he did manage to surface with at least one picture of a Syngnathid, like this very well camouflaged rubble pipefish!

Related links: Regular Hantu Blog diver joined us for this dive! Read her blog!

More photos at the Hantu Blog Gallery

You won’t believe what Hantu Blog divers saw in and around Pulau Hantu recently! Blog volunteer dive instructor Jimmy Goh plunged into the very clear local waters twice this month. A surprise for this time of the year! Jimmy visited the islands of Hantu and Jong, which is just a few hundred meters away from Pulau Hantu. Armed only with a camera and a macro lens, and scouring the reef along with 20 other pairs of eyes, here’re just some of the gorgeous critters they spotted out on the reef! (Above from left: Allied cowrie on Whip coral, Chromodoris nudibranch, Bornella nudibranch, Tambja nudibranch, and Long snout pipefish aka. Stick pipefish)

The animals in these photographs may appear very conspicuous because of their bright colours, when when you’re staring at the reef, their brilliant colours serve as a form of camouflage for them, and they magically disappear. Jimmy has a real knack for finding little critters – a good skill to have when you’re diving in Singapore waters, because the reefs here are all about its dazzling macro life! I suspect that Jimmy took the above picture of the crinoid in the hope that reviewing the photo back home might yield the discovery of a crinoid shrimp! No luck this time, though he’s spotted a few before! (Above from left: Crinoid, Phyllidia sea slug, Chomodoris nudibranch, Doto nudibranch)

To trip to the reef is complete without seeing some fish! (Above from left: Rubble pipefish, Tomatoclown anemonefish)

Despite their unassuming names, Flatworms are as exciting a find as nudibranches are! Several of the flatworms encountered on local reefs have colourful and intricate patterns on their bodies. Their flat bodies enable them to swim in the water by flapping the membrane of skin that fringes their bodies. Watching a flatworm swim can be very mesmerising. But if you are on a night dive and you think you see a flatworm in midwater, look again before swimming up to it! At night, swimming fireworms can resemble flatworms! While flatworms are harmless to humans, fireworms can deliver a very nasty sting! (Above from left: Marine flatworm, Goniopora coral, Tigertail seahorse)

More photos at the Hantu Blog Gallery

Increasing urbanisation in Singapore has resulted in extensive replacement of natural habitats with man-made habitats. A good example is the artificial seawall, that has becomes a ubiquitous feature of the coastline. Being vertically very steep, and structurally quite simple, this compressed intertidal region represents a very stressful habitat that does not support the kind of diversity expected at the seashore. One explanation for the paucity of life on seawalls is the absence of a wide range of microhabitats. The aim of this study is to test whether complex concrete tiles attached to seawalls can enhance their biodiversity. Understanding how to improve the value of seawalls as surrogates of natural habitats is important for intertidal biodiversity conservation on modified shorelines.

The tiles are arranged in blocks of three that comprise a “simple” tile (all sizes, spacing, and depths equal), a “complex” tile (sizes, spacing and depths variable, but with the same mean values as the simple tile), and a “control” (the same material as the seawall: granite). The blocks are attached to steel frames that in turn are fixed to the seawall or substrate. Eight frames have been arranged at 1.3m below the high tide mark (the “intertidal” set), there are also another eight frames fixed to the substrate at the foot of the seawall (the “subtidal” set). They will now be left in place for a few months while colonisation is monitored. At the end of the experiment, all the tiles and frames will be removed.

This project is funded by the Singapore-Delft Water Alliance (SDWA) and is part of a larger endeavor to improve biodiversity on Singapore’s seawalls. The Principle Investigators are Dr Peter A. Todd, Marine Biology Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, NUS and Dr. Tjeerd J. Bouma, Netherlands Institute of Ecology, Centre for Estuarine and Marine Ecology. This particular stage is being led by one of Peter’s Honours students, Lynette Loke, who designed the tiles and played a major role in their construction and deployment. The frames were fixed in place from land at very low tide and involved a lot of lugging materials and tools from the jetty to the site (e.g. each tile weighs about 15kg and there are 48 of them)!

The study is a good example of how much fun (!), and interdisciplinary, marine biology can be; from the ecological underpinnings (simple vs complex habitats), the use of algorithms to design the tiles, converting those designs into CAD/CAM drawings that were then used to CNC mill the “master” tiles, which in turn were used to make rubber molds that the concrete tiles were cast from. Sourcing the materials and building the granite control tiles; designing the steel backing plates and frames and their mountings; and organising the permissions, workforce, boats and all the other logistics of the deployment. Of course, there is also a strong experimental design and statistical foundation to the study; there are a number of reasons why there are 48 tiles, each further divided into four designs, and why they are fixed to the seawall in the way they are. Finally, back to the biology, there will be plenty of identification and quantification of the organisms that come and inhabit the tiles.

Celebrate the joy of the season with Mother Nature herself by giving something back to the planet while sharing it with a loved one. It’s also something that’s different, unexpected, doesn’t come with wrapping paper, and that will last much more than just a day!

Put down a coral reef in Southeast Asia on your holiday shopping list this year!