Introduction to R2R

[mrgster5]

I wish I lived in WPB so I could see this first hand and help out. Great work!

 

[GrapevineReefs]

Welcome to Reef2Reef the work you do is inspiring!

 

[tbrown3589]

Welcome! I think it's cool that you guys do coral adoptions!

 

[CenlaReefer]

Glad to see you on R2R. I especially appreciate your coral restoration efforts!

 

[reefplant221]

Thank you for putting effort into saving the reefs! Welcome to Reef2Reef

 

[Sippiku]

Welcome to R2R and thank you for your dedication to enriching the minds of our younger generations!

 

[Patrick Lyles]

Welcome to r2r. Looking forward to learning more about your wonderful work

 

[Collinslice]

Welcome to the forum! Keep doing that amazing work

 

[PuffersMadeMeDoIt]

Welcome to R2R! Thanks for saving the favias <3 Let me know if you need any help out in the Vegas desert!

 

[Matt79]

Welcome to Reef2Reef & thank you for your hard work

 

[tatorswife]

Welcome to R2R!!! Awesome information on your site!! You guys do awesome work!! Welcome again

 

[iliketheletterb]

Welcome. Thank you for your conservation efforts and education you are providing to our future generations.

 

[reefrun]

You’re doing such important work! Thank you for saving the reefs do my son can enjoy them when he grows up!

 

[mfollen]

Welcome to R2R, thank you for your work and educating the community. Looking forward to your updates

 

[rbourgeois64]

Hello R2R community,

We would love to introduce ourselves to this wonderful community.

We are the Reef Institute and our mission is coral conservation through education, research and restoration. We are a small organization on a large mission to save the ocean.


A Little About Our Mission:

Scientists estimate that 50 -80% of all of the oxygen we breath comes from photosynthetic algae in the ocean. Much of this is produced specifically by the zooxanthellae algae living in the tissues of coral. No matter where you live in the world coral, affects your livelihood. For those of us on the Atlantic coast of the United States, our coastlines are directly effected by our coral reefs. The Florida Reef Tract is 365 miles long, running from Dry Tortugas National Park off the coast of the Key West, north to Martin County. As the only barrier reef along the coast of the continental US it creates not only a habitat for literally millions of animals, but a wall of protection from waves and storm surge. It is estimated that this track breaks into patch reefs, and then deep sea reefs up to the northern US. Unfortunately, our coral is suffering greatly. As one scientist once said, “We don’t even know the full extent that coral protects us and the rest of the ocean.”

This is why the Reef Institute sees the importance of protecting our coast, along with educating the next generation on how to best care for the fragile reefs is vital.

View attachment 1974310View attachment 1974311




Our Research:

On the research side, we are a part of the Florida Coral Rescue Project. Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease, was first discovered in 2014 and along with other environmental factors, has caused Florida coral reefs to decline to only a 3- 5% survival rate. We are the first holding facility to be given corals that have intentionally survived this disease zone. Our organization is also the only non zoo, museum or university to be part of this prestigious project. Additionally we are the only holding facility for Favia fragum, and are holding one of the largest single colonies currently rescued. Our other research projects include work with artificial reefs, and a large coral monitoring project in Palm Beach County, Florida

View attachment 1974303View attachment 1974305View attachment 1974306View attachment 1974307View attachment 1974308View attachment 1974309



Our Focus on Education:

For us, our research and education walk hand in hand. Educating the next generation on how to best care for the fragile reefs is vital. We offer many opportunities from outdoor classrooms to distance learning online. Working with the classroom teachers, we reinforce science concepts as students discuss marine science, and see live animals while we facilitate lessons.

View attachment 1974312 View attachment 1974313



We would love for you to check out our website! We are excited to get to know hobbyists! Our board members, Executive Director, marine scientists and marine veterinarian will be on Reef2Reef to interact, learn, and help in any way we can. Some of our staff and board members are active hobbyist and are members to R2R community also. We are grateful for this community and can’t wait to get to know you! We are looking to offer some free virtual education to help you see our coral, and get to know us for both adults and kids very so

 

[rbourgeois64]

Hello R2R community,

We would love to introduce ourselves to this wonderful community.

We are the Reef Institute and our mission is coral conservation through education, research and restoration. We are a small organization on a large mission to save the ocean.


A Little About Our Mission:

Scientists estimate that 50 -80% of all of the oxygen we breath comes from photosynthetic algae in the ocean. Much of this is produced specifically by the zooxanthellae algae living in the tissues of coral. No matter where you live in the world coral, affects your livelihood. For those of us on the Atlantic coast of the United States, our coastlines are directly effected by our coral reefs. The Florida Reef Tract is 365 miles long, running from Dry Tortugas National Park off the coast of the Key West, north to Martin County. As the only barrier reef along the coast of the continental US it creates not only a habitat for literally millions of animals, but a wall of protection from waves and storm surge. It is estimated that this track breaks into patch reefs, and then deep sea reefs up to the northern US. Unfortunately, our coral is suffering greatly. As one scientist once said, “We don’t even know the full extent that coral protects us and the rest of the ocean.”

This is why the Reef Institute sees the importance of protecting our coast, along with educating the next generation on how to best care for the fragile reefs is vital.

View attachment 1974310View attachment 1974311




Our Research:

On the research side, we are a part of the Florida Coral Rescue Project. Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease, was first discovered in 2014 and along with other environmental factors, has caused Florida coral reefs to decline to only a 3- 5% survival rate. We are the first holding facility to be given corals that have intentionally survived this disease zone. Our organization is also the only non zoo, museum or university to be part of this prestigious project. Additionally we are the only holding facility for Favia fragum, and are holding one of the largest single colonies currently rescued. Our other research projects include work with artificial reefs, and a large coral monitoring project in Palm Beach County, Florida

View attachment 1974303View attachment 1974305View attachment 1974306View attachment 1974307View attachment 1974308View attachment 1974309



Our Focus on Education:

For us, our research and education walk hand in hand. Educating the next generation on how to best care for the fragile reefs is vital. We offer many opportunities from outdoor classrooms to distance learning online. Working with the classroom teachers, we reinforce science concepts as students discuss marine science, and see live animals while we facilitate lessons.

View attachment 1974312 View attachment 1974313



We would love for you to check out our website! We are excited to get to know hobbyists! Our board members, Executive Director, marine scientists and marine veterinarian will be on Reef2Reef to interact, learn, and help in any way we can. Some of our staff and board members are active hobbyist and are members to R2R community also. We are grateful for this community and can’t wait to get to know you! We are looking to offer some free virtual education to help you see our coral, and get to know us for both adults and kids very soon!

 

[rbourgeois64]

Amazing work, thank y!

 

[TN_Huskymama]

Welcome to R2R! Great work on the education you are providing not only to adults but school age kids as well! It seems that most marine education in schools is only taught in schools close to a beach, but I am sure reaching out to kids in non-beach areas will be very interested as well!

 

[smiilez33]

Welcome to R2R!! Welcome to R2R.,,thank you for all education on our reefs and efforts to save them !!!!

 

[The Reef Institute]

Welcome to R2R! Could you tell us some more about the "Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease" which is destroying the Florida corals? It sounds like something we generally refer to here as STN (Slow Tissue Necrosis). It seems to happen when something in our tanks goes out of wack and seems to be linked to a bacterial imbalance.

Have you isolated the cause in Florida? Could it be rising ocean temperature, pollution due to runoff, or something purely natural?

SCTLD is a pathology that a bunch of scientists and marine biologists are working tirelessly to identify the cause of. We know certain antibiotics can stop it (at least temporarily) but the agent is unidentified and likely complex and a coinfection. Underlying human causes are likely involved but again, we can't say for certain. Currently we are seed banking and just recently exploring reproducing susceptible with resilient lineages and amplification of resistant lineages as a workaround.