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Up one level Geographical Database for photos, videos, GPS Coordinates, news, and project descriptions. » Curacao Reef Ball Projects and Photos » portimariproject » monitoring » September 2007 Monitoring

September 2007 Monitoring
Matt Schikore from Iowa City visited Portamari in September 2007 and snapped these photos of the Reef Balls, he was accompanied by his wife, Amy Parker who sent us the photos.. They are post hurricane and demonstrate how non-coral surfaces are often cleaned by the sandblasting effects of major storms. These clean areas are ideal for natural settlement of this year's coral spawn. Her comments: "Given that it's my first time seeing a real-life Reefball, I thought they looked great. Healthy looking brain and fire coral, I think a few small sea rods --this was a few days after Hurricane Felix blew over, so unfortunately we didn't catch any coral spawning as planned. The Sergeant Majors were particularly fond of the balls. :)"

Male Sergeant Major with his purple egg patch on side of reef ball Damselfish (Sergent Major) protecting egg cluster (purple on upper Reef Ball). Usually, damselfish like to spawn on the smooth inside surface of a Reef Ball...usually just after deployment when it is the most clean. In this case, the damselfish is taking advantage of the relatively clean surface of the reef ball produced by the sandblasting effiect of the recent hurricane. 9/6/07 2:23 PM

Damselfish (Sergent Major) protecting egg cluster (purple on upper Reef Ball). Usually, damselfish like to spawn on the smooth inside surface of a Reef Ball...usually just after deployment when it is the most clean. In this case, the damselfish is taking advantage of the relatively clean surface of the reef ball produced by the sandblasting effiect of the recent hurricane.

Reefball colony Another full cluster picture. Herbavore is grazing on the algae colonizing the post storm cleaned sections of the Reef Balls. 9/6/07 2:23 PM

Another full cluster picture. Herbavore is grazing on the algae colonizing the post storm cleaned sections of the Reef Balls.

Reefball colony (see reefball.org) Sergent Majors are hunting for breeding locations. They love fresh clean substrates because the effort to make a clean patch for their eggs is reduced. In fact, we have had deployments of new Reef Balls were every single Reef Ball is laid with Sergent Major eggs within 48 hours! 9/6/07 12:59 PM

Sergent Majors are hunting for breeding locations. They love fresh clean substrates because the effort to make a clean patch for their eggs is reduced. In fact, we have had deployments of new Reef Balls were every single Reef Ball is laid with Sergent Major eggs within 48 hours!

Reefball up close Good view of the surviving hard corals. Only the encrusing and brain coral varieties survived the storm. 9/6/07 2:23 PM

Good view of the surviving hard corals. Only the encrusing and brain coral varieties survived the storm.

Reefball with Brain and Fire Coral growth Male and female Sergent Majors cruising for a nest location. 9/6/07 12:59 PM

Male and female Sergent Majors cruising for a nest location.

Reefballfinlesspg Some sponges and coraline algaes also remained on the Reef Balls. 9/6/07 12:59 PM

Some sponges and coraline algaes also remained on the Reef Balls.

lopro Mustard Hill corals survived well. 9/6/07 12:59 PM

Mustard Hill corals survived well.

Small reefball with Mustard Hill, Brain, and Fire Corals Lo Pro sized Reef Ball with corals. 9/6/07 2:23 PM

Lo Pro sized Reef Ball with corals.

Reefballs with coral growth Nice view of the corals on the Reef Balls 9/6/07 2:23 PM

Nice view of the corals on the Reef Balls

Sergeant Majors show off Reefball colony View of the Sergeant Majors. 9/6/07 12:59 PM

View of the Sergeant Majors.

Reefballs Cluster of Reef Balls 9/6/07 2:23 PM

Cluster of Reef Balls

Reefball.org Cluster of Reef Balls just after storm. Note the loss of a soft coral in the foreground and relatively clean surfaces except where there is hard corals. 9/6/07 2:23 PM

Cluster of Reef Balls just after storm. Note the loss of a soft coral in the foreground and relatively clean surfaces except where there is hard corals.

hiresegglaying 9/6/07 2:23 PM


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