Newswise — Coral reefs are the most productive and diverse marine ecosystems in the world, yet drastic coral declines in the Caribbean region over the last 25 years have threatened this vital resource. Earthwatch Institute is assembling one of the most powerful social forces in the U.S. to address this issue: teenagers.
Next July, the first full team of teenagers will participate on Earthwatch's Bahamian Reef Survey project, investigating the impact of environmental changes and disease on coral biodiversity. The project is one of several featured in the film, A Year on Earth, airing on Discovery HD Theater February 18.
"Working with teenagers is very rewarding," said John Rollino, senior ecologist at Earth Tech, Inc. and principal investigator of Bahamian Reef Survey. "Through their participation on the project, we are fortunate to play a part in educating the next generation of scientists on the challenges facing a unique and ecologically and economically important ecosystem."
Earthwatch teams working with Rollino and colleagues on San Salvador, Bahamas, have collected data on the changing coral reef over the last 14 years. For instance, they have documented the decline of elkhorn and staghorn corals, once the most important reef-building species throughout the Caribbean, by an estimated 90 percent. These corals were listed as "threatened" under the U.S. Endangered Species Act in June 2006.
Starting in 2007 Earthwatch teams working with Rollino, including the new teen team, will be looking at the reef's diverse fish species and their use of reefs with different coral assemblages. They will also take on the physical repair of the reefs. Rollino reports seeing some new growth of endangered elkhorn and staghorn corals, so teams will track any recovery and assist in collection of samples to determine genetic relationships.
"To borrow a word from the adolescent vernacular, I and my research staff are "stoked" to have the opportunity to lead a teenage team in the field this summer," said Rollino. "For many of the teens this may be their first time away from home, in a foreign country. They may be seeing a coral reef up close for the first time. I believe their experience will be further enhanced knowing that they are participating in a scientific research project studying the coral reef ecosystem."
The teen team on Bahamian Reef Survey is just a small part of Earthwatch's effort to reach a broader range of participants in 2007. There will also be students gaining hands-on experience in environmental issues on projects in Belize, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Trinidad, Costa Rica, Brazil, England, and the U.S., as well as family teams at several sites.
A Year on Earth chronicles the adventures of three American teens who join Rollino in the Bahamas, and several other Earthwatch research projects around the world. Together, they discover how ordinary people can make a difference in the most pressing environmental issues of our time. The award-winning documentary will be broadcast on Animal Planet, Earth Day, April 22, at 6 PM. For more information, go to http://www.earthwatch.org/film. A music video based on footage from the film can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2J54uv3zMxA
Earthwatch teams will return to the Bahamas to help Rollino and his colleagues in and February 2007. For more information about Earthwatch's Bahamian Reef Survey project, go to http://www.earthwatch.org/expeditions/rollino.html
For information about the July teen team, go to http://www.earthwatch.org/site/pp.asp?c=dsJSK6PFJnH&b=2232651
Earthwatch Institute is a global volunteer organization that supports scientific field research by offering members of the public unique opportunities to work alongside leading field scientists and researchers. Earthwatch's mission is to engage people worldwide in scientific field research and education to promote the understanding and action necessary for a sustainable environment.
Please include the web site url for Earthwatch Institute (http://www.earthwatch.org) in any story based on this release so that your readers can find out more.
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