Marine Conservation and Research Expedition SEYCHELLES FISH AND CORAL TRAINING MANUAL

Transcription

1 Marine Conservation and Research Expedition SEYCHELLES FISH AND CORAL TRAINING MANUAL Page 1 of 52

2 PLEASE READ CAREFULLY! Survey Methodology Guide (Coral and Fish Subject, All Phases)... 4 Coral Species List (Coral Subject, All Phases) Hard Coral Identification Guide (Coral Subject, All Phases) Line Intercept Transect (Coral Subject, Coral Reef Monitoring Phase) Fish Identification Guide (Fish Subject, Coral Reef Monitoring Phase) Invertebrates Identification (Fish Subject, Coral Reef Monitoring Phase) Invertebrates Identification (Coral Subject, Coral Recruitment Phase) Fisheries Identification (Coral and Fish Subject, All Phases) Recommended Reading List Page 2 of 52

3 Introduction & Contents The information contained in this training pack may all seem a bit bewildering at this stage. Do not panic! It will become clear once you arrive at camp and have a few lectures and workshops and especially when you get under the water. There is no denying that there is a lot to learn, however, you will find that studying prior to arriving in the Seychelles will make things a lot easier. You will notice that the pack has been split into a number of sections listing the information as either Coral Subject, Fish Subject or Coral and Fish Subject. Around 4 weeks before departure you will be allocated a subject of either fish or coral species to help focus your studies. In addition you will be instructed which methodology you will be using in the upcoming surveys. Certain sections are relevant for each methodology. For example if you are allocated Coral Subject on a Coral Reef Monitoring Phase, you need to learn all the Coral Identification notes, the Line Intercept Transect section and the Fisheries section. The Methodology notes provide further clarification on what is involved with each survey technique. In the meantime, a familiarity with all the material in this pack is recommended. You may want to wait until you have your allocated subject to start learning the species but having a look through them all is a good idea. Included in this pre-expedition training manual you will find: Survey Methodology Guide (Coral and Fish Subject, All Phases)... 4 Hard Coral Terminology Guide (Coral Subject, All Phases)... 5 Coral Species List (Coral Subject, All Phases) Hard Coral Identification Guide (Coral Subject, All Phases) Line Intercept Transect (Coral Subject, Coral Reef Monitoring Phase) Fish Identification Guide (Fish Subject, Coral Reef Monitoring Phase) Invertebrates Identification (Fish Subject, Coral Reef Monitoring Phase) Invertebrates Identification (Coral Subject, Coral Recruitment Phase) Fisheries Identification (Coral and Fish Subject, All Phases) Recommended Reading List Page 3 of 52

4 1 Survey Methodology Guide (Coral and Fish Subject, All Phases) Coral Reef Monitoring Phase Aims To monitor hard coral cover and diversity. To sample target fish and invertebrates across the reef. To monitor sea cucumber, lobster and octopus fisheries target species. The surveys undertaken in the coral reef monitoring phase aim to provide a picture of the overall health of the reef. The methodology focuses on four main areas: estimating percentage cover of sessile communities, particularly hard coral cover using a Line Intercept Transect technique; abundance of reef and commercial reef-associated fish species by undertaking a series of fish point counts at random across the reef; determining densities of mobile reef invertebrates, and recording coral diversity along a series of transects. The aim is to build upon existing data from previous research in the Seychelles to allow for comparison with earlier survey data and to ascertain recent trends in coral reef recovery since the mass bleaching event of Throughout the year fisheries data is collected, targeting sea cucumber, lobster and octopus abundance around NW Mahé. Coral Subject Expedition Members participating in a 5 week expedition will be asked to survey coral diversity and therefore need to learn the 47 coral genera detailed in the identification guide. Expedition Members participating in a 10 week expedition will be asked to survey coral diversity, perform line intercept transect surveys and monitor fisheries data, and therefore need to learn the 47 coral genera detailed in the Coral Identification Guide, the Line Intercept Transect section, and the Fisheries Section. Fish Subject Expedition Members participating in a 5 week expedition will be asked to survey reef fish abundance and therefore need to learn fish families and species detailed in the Fish Identification Guide. Expedition Members participating in a 10 week expedition will be asked to survey reef fish abundance, invertebrate abundance and monitor certain target fisheries species, and therefore need to learn the fish families and species detailed in the Fish Identification Guide, the Coral Reef Monitoring Invertebrate Information and the Fisheries Section. Coral Recruitment Phase Aims To monitor coral recruitment (newly settled juveniles) by recording corals in the 1-5cm size class. To sample sea urchins and other coral predators across the reef profile. To monitor sea cucumber, lobster and octopus fisheries target species. The surveys undertaken in the coral recruitment phase aim to provide a picture of reef recovery following a series of bleaching events over the last decade, particularly the mass bleaching event of The methodology focuses on two main areas: estimating hard coral recruit density; and determining densities of invertebrates that predate on coral communities. Throughout the year fisheries data is collected, targeting sea cucumber, lobster and octopus abundance around NW Mahé. Page 4 of 52

5 Coral Subject Expedition Members participating in a 5 week expedition will be asked to survey coral recruits and therefore need to learn the 47 coral genera detailed in the identification guide. Expedition Members participating in a 10 week expedition will be asked to survey coral recruits, perform invertebrate surveys and monitor fisheries data, and therefore need to learn the 47 coral genera detailed in the Coral Identification Guide, the Coral Recruitment Invertebrate section, and the Fisheries Section. PLEASE NOTE: For this methodology, only coral colonies that are 5cm or smaller will be surveyed. Hard Coral Terminology Guide (Coral Subject, All Phases) This guide serves to introduce the main coral genera that we monitor. A list of their names is included in the guide, so feel free to look at them before your arrival. The Staff on base will go through everything again in more detail, and you will receive presentations and lectures on the corals, including any local variations present in the Seychelles. Read the following sections and learn as much as you can. A basic knowledge will be easier to quickly build upon when you arrive, than if everything is new to you. The best way to learn coral is to start with their terminology, as described in the first section of this guide. The second section gives details on the particular anatomical features of each genus. What is a Coral? Coral generally refers to reef building corals of the order Scleractinia, which are commonly known as hard corals, due to their limestone skeletons. It was not until 1753 when a French biologist J.A. de Peysonell proved that corals were in fact animals rather than plants after undertaking a study in the Western Atlantic. Previously they were often mistaken for plants because of their attachment to the substrate, apparent lack of independent movement and their superficial resemblance to flora. It was the discovery of zooxanthellae; symbiotic cells found living in the flesh of corals and other reef animals that helped unravel the question of whether corals are animals or plants. All corals are classified under the Phylum Cnidaria. It is however, not just the reef building hard corals which are in this phylum, sea fans, sea whips, anemones, black corals, soft corals, jelly fish, Hydroids, Zoanthids, and Corallimorphs are also members. There are a number of common features within this Phylum: Cup-shaped body Single central opening (gastrovascular cavity), which acts as both mouth and anus Radial symmetry Ring of tentacles surrounding the mouth of each polyp Associated tentacles surround the opening and are covered with stinging cells called nematocysts used for both capturing prey and defence. Page 5 of 52

6 Coral Terminology Living tissue of the coral: The Polyp; the coral individual Coenosarc; layer of tissue connecting one polyp to the next. Polyp Coenosarc (Coenosteum runs beneath coenosarc) The Corallite (skeletal structure of the coral): Calice; the rim or opening of the corallite. Corallite wall; the raised structure surrounding the calice. Calice Wall Coenosteum; the area of skeleton between the corallites. It lies underneath the coenosarc. Septo-costae: vertical plates that radiate out from the corallite. The septa lie inside the wall of the corallite. The costa lie outside the wall of the corallite. If there is no obvious corallite wall the whole vertical plate is called the septo-costa. Page 6 of 52

7 Costa Septa Columella; formed from the inner edge of the septa forming a complex tangle of skeleton at the centre of the corallite. Paliform lobes; pillar or teeth-like projections on the inner edge of some or all the septa. Corallite Arrangement: Cerioid; corallites share walls Plocoid: corallites have own walls Phaceloid: corallites of uniform height connected at the base of their skeletal tubes Meandroid: corallites form valleys Flabello-meandroid: corallites form valleys, but valleys do not share walls. Corallite Reproduction: Intratentacular reproduction or fission; occurs when the parent corallite splits into two daughter corallites. Extratentacular reproduction; occurs when the parent corallite produces a new daughter colony by budding from one side of the corallite. Coral Lifeforms The lifeform of the coral refers to the shape it grows in. Some coral genera and species will only grow in one lifeform whilst others grow in many. The lifeform a coral takes can depend on the physical characteristics of the environment, such as the area of the reef or the depth of the water in which they are growing. Some lifeforms Page 7 of 52

8 (e.g. massive) are more resilient than others (e.g. branching) to wave action, whilst others (e.g. foliose) may allow more light to be absorbed. Branching Colonies must have second degree branching. Tabulate Spreads out horizontally to form flattened plates, like a table. Encrusting Large proportion of the volume is attached directly to the substrate, following its contours. Submassive Forms into columnar colony with knob-like sections. Digitate Like fingers (digits!). Foliose Forms into leaf-like sections, with attachment to the substrate limited to one or a number of isolated areas. Page 8 of 52

9 Massive Rounded boulder shape. Mushroom Free living. The lifeform recorded should be the one that best describes the WHOLE COLONY. Page 9 of 52

10 2 Coral Species List (Coral Subject, All Phases) Listed below are the coral families and genera which you need to learn prior to your expedition. You are required to learn the Latin names of the families/genera. The three columns on the right of each species list are abbreviations of the three main books we use, details of which can be found in the recommended reading list at the end of this training manual. The best way to learn your coral is to start studying one family at a time. First identify characteristic features for that family and then the individual genera. It is also necessary to understand and learn the biology and the different parts of the coral. Much of this will be explained in the Hard Coral Identification Handout enclosed Phylum: Cnidaria Class: Anthozoa Subclass: Hexacorallia Order: Scleractinia Genus A&S Veron* Veron** Family: Acroporidae Acropora Vol.I: Astreopora 75 Vol.I: Montipora Vol.I: Family: Pocilloporidae Pocillopora 67 Vol.II: Stylophora 68 Vol.II: Seriatopora 68 Vol.II: Family: Poritidae Porites 76 Vol.III: Goniopora 77 Vol.III: Alveopora Vol.III: Family: Oculinidae Galaxea 85 Vol.II: Page 10 of 52

11 Genus A&S Veron* Veron** Family: Euphyllidae Physogyra 97 Vol.II: Family: Dendrophylliidae Turbinaria 98 Vol.II: Family: Siderastreidae Siderastrea Vol.II: Pseudosiderastrea Vol.II: Psammocora 79 Vol.II: Family: Mussidae Lobophyllia Vol.III: Acanthastrea Vol.III: Blastomussa 87 Vol.III: Symphyllia 88 Vol.III: Family: Fungiidae Fungia Vol.II: Herpolitha 84 Vol.II: Cycloseris 83 Vol.II: Diaseris 83 Vol.II: Podabacia 85 Vol.II: Family: Astrocoeniidae Stylocoeniella Vol.II: Family: Agariciidae Leptoseris 81 Vol.II: Pavona Vol.II: Pachyseris 82 Vol.II: Coeloseris Vol.II: Gardineroseris 81 Vol.II: Page 11 of 52

12 Genus A&S Veron* Veron** Family: Pectiniidae Echinophyllia 86 Vol.II: Mycedium 86 Vol.II: Pectinia 86 Vol.II: Family: Merulinidae Hydnophora 89 Vol.II: Merulina 89 Vol.II: Family: Faviidae Montastrea Vol.III: Favia 90 Vol.III: Favites 91 Vol.III: Echinopora Vol.III: Diploastrea 94 Vol.III: Cyphastrea 94 Vol.III: Plesiastrea Vol.III: Leptoria 93 Vol.III: Platygyra Vol.III: Oulophyllia 93 Vol.III: Leptastrea Vol.III: Goniastrea Vol.III: The page numbers are from the 3 main reference books (see book list). All books are available on base for you to review. A+S - Indo-Pacific Coral Reef Field Guide by G.R. Allen and R. Steene * Veron Corals of the World by J.E.N. Veron ** Veron Corals of Australia and the Indo-Pacific by J.E.N. Veron Page 12 of 52

13 3 Hard Coral Identification Guide (Coral Subject, All Phases) (V = page numbers in Veron; Corals of Australia and the Indo-Pacific. VV = pages in Veron; Corals of the World. A+S = page numbers in Allen & Steene.) Text in BOLD highlights key features of the individual genera. WORKSHOP 1 Family: Acroporidae (V p91 VV vi: p61) Background: Very diverse and abundant species rich family of reef building corals. Found on most reefs often in shallower waters. Lifeforms: Branching, Tabulate, Encrusting, Submassive, Digitate, Massive, Foliose. Appearance: Corallites (except Astreopora) are small, columellae are poorly developed. Genus: ACROPORA (V p VV vi: p A+S p71-75) Background: Largest genus of hard corals and the main builders of most coral reefs. There are 2 reasons why they are so successful: 1) most species have light skeletons that allow them to grow quickly and overcome their neighbours & 2) They have an axial corallite, which has the job of budding new corallites. Due to this axial corallite, growth is in a co-ordinated fashion. Acropora are the preferred food of the crown-of-thorns starfish and badly hit by bleaching, disease and storms, but recovery can be fast if conditions are suitable. 182 known species. Location: This genus dominates most of the upper reef slopes where the water is clear and shallow. Lifeforms: Branching, Tabulate, Digitate, are the most abundant, and Encrusting or Submassive are rarer. Appearance: Small, separate corallites (quite cylindrical); 2 types: axial and radial. Polyps are usually extended only at night. Rapidly growing branch tips are usually pale-coloured because the algae have not had time to saturate the newly forming tissue of the polyp. Juvenile or encrusting colonies may not have an axial corallite. They can be identified by the appearance of radial corallites; small and cylindrical with a very small calice. Species example: Acropora formosa (VV vi: p204) ASTREOPORA (V p VV vi: p A+S p75) Lifeforms: Massive, Encrusting, Foliose. Appearance: Corallites are cavernous and conical with short, numerous, neatly spaced and disjointed costa (dashes). The corallites are of varying sizes as if some have grown faster than others. 1-4mm in diameter. Columellae are deep-seated and compact with large, rounded calices. Foliose colonies are bifacial. Polyps are extended only at night. In juvenile colonies the corallites may be quite small but the calices are still large in comparison to the size of the corallites. Species example: Astreopora myriophthalma (VV vi: p442) MONTIPORA (V p VV vi: A+S p69-70) Background: Second-largest coral genus in terms of species, but a lot of the species are inconspicuous. Lifeforms: Submassive, Foliose, Branching, Encrusting. Page 13 of 52

14 Appearance: Corallites are the smallest of all corals and appear almost structure less. Random ridges and bumps with corallites nestled between. Calices are about 0.5mm in diameter and often widely spaced. Very bumpy. Polyps are usually extended only at night. Species example: Montipora verrucosa (VV vi: p138) Family Pocilloporidae (V p69 VV vii: p23) Background: Pocilloporids (along with Acropora) are early colonisers to denuded reefs. They are amongst the most common corals. Location: Common and abound on healthy upper reef slopes exposed to strong wave action, also found in deep water and in lagoons. Lifeforms: Submassive, Branching. Appearance: Corallites are immersed to conical, small, have well-developed columellae and neatly arranged septa. In high-energy environments, colonies tend to be small with thick, stubby branches, however in deeper more sheltered water, branches are thinner and more open. Genus: POCILLOPORA (V p70-79 VV vii: p24-45 A+S p67) Background: Pocillopora are hardy, widespread and common. Lifeforms: Branching, Submassive. Appearance: Colonies covered with wart-like growth/nodules, called verrucae. Corallites are immersed with calices of 0.5-1mm in diameter and appear as dark spots on the verrucae and coenosteum. Polyps are usually only extended at night. Species example: Pocillopora Verrucosa (VV vii: p28 A+S p67) STYLOPHORA (V p84-85 VV vii: p56-65 A+S p68) Background: Colonies branching, without verrucae. Widely distributed because one species Stylophora pistillata grows everywhere even on drift wood and spawn en route. Lifeforms: Branching, Submassive. Location: Found on the reef flat, slopes and lagoons. Appearance: Branches with blunt ends becoming thick and submassive. Coenosteum is quite rough due to the corallites being hooded. These hoods arch over the upper edge of the corallites. Corallites are about 0.5mm in diameter. Polyps are only extended at night. Species example: Stylophora subseriata (VV vii: p60) SERIATOPORA (V p80-83 VV vi: p46-55 A+S p68) Background: Colonies branching, without verrucae. Lifeforms: Branching. Branches fine and smooth often with tapering tips. Location: Found on reef flats and lagoons. Appearance: Corallites in obvious neat rows along branches, corallites sometimes appear like black dots. Calices are mm in diameter. Colonies form compact bushes. Branches about 5mm in diameter. Polyps are only extended at night. Remarkable modifications can be made by gall-crabs; these resemble clasped hands at the end of the branch tips where the female lives. Species example: Seriatopora hystrix (VV vii: p48) Page 14 of 52

15 Family: Poritidae (V p215 VV viii: p275) Background: This family includes some of the most important reef-building corals. Lifeforms: Massive, Submassive, Branching, Foliose, Encrusting. Appearance: Corallites have a wide size range but are usually compacted with little or no coenosteum. Genus: PORITES (V p VV viii: p A+S p76) Background: Very small corallites. Nevertheless they form some of the largest of all coral colonies, some near-spherical giants reaching 8m in height. With average growth rates of about 9mm per year, such colonies may be nearly 1,000 years old, among the oldest of all forms of animal life. Lifeforms: Massive, Encrusting, Submassive, Foliose, Branching. Appearance: Corallites are small, hexagonal, immersed, with calices less than 2mm in diameter and filled with septa. Corallites share walls. Looks smooth and appears solid. Polyps are usually extended only at night. Polyps hardly emerge from the corallites. Christmas tree worms mainly live in Porites sp. Species example: Porites lutea (VV viii: p287) or Porites cylindrical (VV viii: p332) GONIOPORA (V p VV viii: p A+S p77) Background: Colonies may be many meters across. Generally aggressive corals. They do not have sweeper tentacles but polyps sometimes become enormously extended (over 40cm) and attack any other coral within reach. Therefore it is unusual to see other corals growing up close to a Goniopora species in a natural situation. Colonies have separate sexes. Location: Most commonly found in turbid water protected from strong wave action. Lifeforms: Mainly Submassive or Massive, sometimes Encrusting. Appearance: Individual polyps are long and fleshy and are normally extended day and night. They have 24 tentacles at the end of each polyp. Calices are rounded to hexagonal and 1-5mm in diameter. Different species have polyps of different shapes and colours. Polyps retract promptly if disturbed; wafting over the colony with your hand will cause the polyps to retract revealing the skeleton. Very similar to Alveopora which only has 12 tentacles. Species example: Goniopora lobata (VV viii: p354) ALVEOPORA (V p VV viii: p A+S p77-79) Background: Very similar to Goniopora in behaviour and appearance but Alveopora only have 12 tentacles. Location: Uncommon and occurrence on the reef is unpredictable. Different species like different habitats e.g. turbid water protected from wave action or clear water on reef slopes. Lifeform: Mainly Submassive or Massive, sometimes Encrusting. Appearance: Individual polyps are large and fleshy and are normally extended day and night. Each polyp has 12 tentacles that often have swollen knob-like tips. Calices are rounded or hexagonal. Polyps retract promptly if disturbed. The nervous stimulation that causes retraction is transmitted to neighbouring polyps and this wave of contraction usually spreads out over the whole colony. Species example: Alveopora allingi (VV viii: p384) Page 15 of 52

16 Family: Oculinidae (V p363 VV vii: p95) Appearance: Each polyp is a circle of delicate sabre-like septa surrounded by an outer circle of softly coloured translucent tentacles, which usually have white tips. Corallites are solid walled tubes linked together by smooth solid coenosteum. Genus: GALAXEA (V p VV vii: p A+S p85) Background: Colonies may be of enormous size and usually vary in shape according to local conditions, and sometimes boring organisms. Location: Thrives in turbid water, especially around inshore fringing reefs. Lifeforms: Encrusting, Submassive, Massive. Appearance: Corallites are distinct and rise at least 2mm or more; tubular corallites. Each corallite has a diameter from 1.5-8mm and are about 2-3mm apart. Septa are strongly exsert and if wafted nothing will retract. Columellae are weak or absent. Species example: Galaxea fascicularis (VV vii: p108) Family: Euphyllidae (V p543 VV vii: p67) Lifeforms: Massive, Encrusting. Appearance: Widely spaced septa. Corallite walls are of similar structure. Genus: PHYSOGYRA (V p VV vii:p92-93 A+S p97) Background: (physa = air bubble + gyrus = circle). Common in protected habitats, such as crevices and overhangs. Lifeforms: Massive, Encrusting. Appearance: Difficult to see the skeleton, which is mostly constructed of thin blade-like plates. Septa are prominent and smooth edged. The corals are covered by a mat of swollen bubble-shaped vesicles and pointed tentacles. Tentacles extended during the day and can be retracted fairly readily if disturbed. Vesicles do not retract readily. Closely packed and not as large as other genera in this family. Species example: Physogyra lichtensteini (VV vii p92) Family: Dendrophylliidae (V p561 VV vii: p385) Lifeforms: Submassive, Foliose, Encrusting. Appearance: Corallites are prominent and well spaced with a smooth coenosteum. Genus: TURBINARIA (V p VV vii: p A+S p98) Background: Among the most varied of all corals. Location: Generally common in a wide range of habitats and may form conspicuous colonies several metres in diameter. Lifeforms: Submassive, Foliose, Encrusting. Appearance: Corallites are round, immersed to tubular. Rounded corallites are separated from each other and distinct and may be bifacial or unifacial. They often protrude 1-15mm, the corallites are usually 1.5-3mm in diameter with wide walls. Polyps, except for those of Turbinaria peltata, are usually extended only at night. No granules or bumps between on the coenosteum; smooth. Quite well spaced corallites. Species example: Turbinaria peltata (VV vii p390) Page 16 of 52

17 WORKSHOP 2 Family: Siderastreidae (V p267/590 VV vii: p133) Background: Regular star-like arrangement of the calices and septa. Corallites have poorly defined walls formed by thickening of the septo-costae. Genus: SIDERASTREA (V p590 VV vii: p ) Background: Uncommon. Lifeforms: Colonies are usually Massive or Encrusting. Appearance: Corallites are crowded, regular and have shared walls. They are rounded or geometric and deep with a diameter of 2-4mm. Septa are clearly visible as fine lines that fuse into fan like groups towards the columella; they have fine saw like teeth. Species example: Siderastrea savignyana (VV vii p139) PSEUDOSIDERASTREA (V p VV vii: p ) Background: Uncommon. Lifeform: Colonies are Encrusting to Massive. Appearance: Corallites share gently sloping walls, are 3-6 mm in diameter and are usually uniform brown in colour. Septa are evenly spaced, closely packed and orientate down towards a tiny columella, fusing into fan like groups. They have fine, saw-like teeth and acute edges. Species example: Pseudosiderastrea tayami (VV vii p134) PSAMMOCORA (V p VV vii: p A+S p79) Lifeforms: Massive, Submassive, Foliose, Encrusting. Appearance: Corallites are very small and shallow. Walls are indistinct. Hard to tell where corallites are. Calices are closely packed measuring about 1-2mm in diameter. Septa are closely packed and visible as thin lines running between adjacent calices. Polyps are usually extended only at night. Species example: Psammocora digitata (VV vii: p154) Page 17 of 52

18 Family: Mussidae (V p391 VV viii: p3) Background: Skeletal structures are solid. Lifeforms: Massive, Encrusting, Submassive. Appearance: Corallites and valleys are large. Usually recognised easily; they have heavily constructed skeletons with large teeth or lobes on the septa. Polyps are usually thick, fleshy and colourful. The polyps often obscure the skeletal structure. Polyps are extended at night. Genus: LOBOPHYLLIA (V p VV viii: p38-51 A+S p87-88) Background: By far the most common Mussid. Usually found on all but the most exposed reef slopes. Lifeforms: Submassive, Encrusting, Massive. Appearance: Colonies are phaceloid to flabello-meandroid. Corallites are 1-4cm in diameter but maybe larger and are separated by a gap of 0.5-2cm. Each corallite makes a complete lobe. Septa are large with very long teeth. Polyps are only extended at night. Tentacles usually have white tips. Corallites are at the end of long columns. The stalks vary in length; up to 20cm or more. Fleshy in appearance. Species example: Lobophyllia hemprichii (VV viii p44) ACANTHASTREA (V p VV viii: p12-31) Background: Only one common Acanthastrea species on most tropical reefs. Lifeforms: Massive, Submassive, Encrusting. Appearance: Colonies are cerioid to sub-plocoid. Corallites have thick, fleshy polyps which obscure the underlying skeletal structure. The walls are fleshy and covered in pinnules. Corallites are either circular or angular in shape. Polyps are thick-walled and are extended only at night. More colourful than other mussids. Species example: Acanthastrea echinata (V p 406) BLASTOMUSSA (V p VV viii: p4-7 A+S p87) Background: Uncommon Lifeforms: Massive, Submassive, Encrusting. Appearance: Septa slope gently to the corallite centre and have lobed teeth. Tentacles have fleshy mantles extended during the day, often forming a continuous cover, obliterating the colony structure underneath. Septa usually occur in two cycles with only one reaching the poorly developed columella. Polyps are only extended at night. Species example: Blastomussa merleti (VV viii p4) SYMPHYLLIA (V p VV viii: p52-63 A+S p88) Background: Fairly common with some species having the largest valleys of all corals. Lifeforms: Encrusting, Massive. Appearance: Colonies are meandroid and either flat or dome shaped. Walls are thick and fleshy with a pronounced ridge that runs along the top of the walls. Septa are large with long teeth (similar to Lobophyllia). Valleys are wide. The corallites run along the valleys but the ridges are more obvious and will be what you notice. Species example: Symphyllia radians (VV viii p58 A+S p88) Page 18 of 52

19 Family: Fungiidae (V p317/591 VV vii: p233) Background: Generally free-living (unattached) corals found on reefs are fungiids. Some genera are attached as juveniles. Common. Known as mushroom corals. At least partially mobile. Often removed by divers. Lifeforms: Mushroom, Encrusting, Foliose. Appearance: Corallites are among the largest of all corals. Septo-costae radiate from the mouth on the upper surface (as septa) and from the centre of the under surface (as costae). Genus: FUNGIA (V p VV vii: p A+S p83-84) Background: (fungus = mushroom). Most abundant and widespread of the Fungiids. Location: Usually found below the depth of strong wave action. They are especially common on the slopes of fringing reefs, many species can be found together. Lifeforms: Mushroom, Encrusting. Appearance: Short tapering tentacles, which are widely spaced. They are usually extended only at night and are readily retracted if disturbed. All species have wide slit-like mouths. Septa have large or small pointed teeth which give a serrated appearance. Sometimes raised in the middle. Oval or elongated. Juveniles are encrusting until they detach from the substrate and become free living. Species example: Fungia danai (VV vii p262) HERPOLITHA (V p VV vii: p A+S p84) Background: Colonies may be larger than 50cm and become very heavily calcified. The heaviest of all the free-living corals. Lifeforms: Mushroom. Appearance: Elongate, with an axial furrow that may extend to the ends. Several centres. Polyps are only extended at night. Septa are discontinuous and alternate. Sometimes Y shaped. Species example: Herpolitha limax (VV vii p292) CYCLOSERIS (V p VV vii: p A+S p83) Background: (kyklos = circle + seris = lettuce). Free-living. Can right and uncover themselves. Seldom found in any habitat other than on flat sandy substrates between reefs. Only one common species. Lifeforms: Mushroom. Appearance: Flat or dome-shaped, circular or slightly oval in outline, with a central mouth. Fairly small; about 10cm. Smaller species are flat, larger ones are domed. Septa are thick with fine teeth, but look smooth, thicker than Fungia and with fewer teeth. Polyps are usually extended only at night. Fine tentacles cover the upper surface of the disc. Species example: Cycloseris cyclolites (VV vii p236) DIASERIS (V p VV vii: p A+S p83) Background: Free-living. Uncommon but where it does occur, it does so in large numbers, either spread over the ocean floor or aggregated in patches. Usually found on flat sandy substrates between reefs. Lifeforms: Mushroom. Appearance: Discs, flat composed of several fan-shaped segments, with a mouth situated at the point of divergence of the segments. Reaches about 6cm in diameter. Septa are thick with blunt teeth resembling rows of granules. Species example: Diaseris fragilis (VV vii p248) PODABACIA (V p VV vii: p A+S p85) Background: Colonies are attached. Found in most reef habitats but is seldom abundant. Page 19 of 52

20 Lifeforms: Mushroom, Encrusting, Foliose (unifacial). Appearance: Attached by a base and grows upwards in a strong plate-like or foliose fashion. A central corallite is sometimes distinguishable. Calices measure 3-5mm in diameter and may be inclined towards the outer plate margin of the colony. Polyps may be extended day or night. Species example: Podabacia crustacean (VV vii p310) Page 20 of 52

21 WORKSHOP 3 Family Astrocoeniidae (V p65 VV vii: p3) Background: Small family which is largely made up of fossil corals. Genus: STYLOCOENIELLA (V p66-67 VV vii: p4-8) Background: Little is known about this genus. Lifeforms: Submassive, Encrusting. Appearance: Corallites are immersed, circular with irregular pimples. The coenosteum is covered with large pointed coenosteum styles which are almost as numerous as the corallites. Often dark in colour. Species example: Stylocoeniella armata (VV vii: p4) Family: Agariciidae (V p287 VV vii: 169) Background: Early colonisers following environmental disturbances. Location: Mostly uncommon on reef flats or slopes exposed to wave action, but are often found on protected reef slopes and are common in lagoons. Lifeforms: Massive, Submassive, Encrusting, Foliose. Appearance: Agariciids have very fine tentacles that are seldom extended during the day. Corallites are immersed with poorly defined walls formed by thickening of septo-costae. Septa are continuous between adjacent corallite centres. They are closely packed. Genus: LEPTOSERIS (V p VV vii: p A+S p81) Background: They are usually uncommon. Location: Found in shaded parts of the reef, such as overhangs and caves. Lifeforms: Foliose, Encrusting. Appearance: Most species have a delicate leafy appearance, usually unifacial: corallites just on one side of the leaf. Corallites have poorly defined walls. They are small shallow depressions with a central columella, usually separated by ridges and interconnected by fine septo-costae. Calices are 2-5mm in diameter. Corallites are more widely spaced than Pavona. Species example: Leptoseris mycetoseroides (VV vii: p213) PAVONA (V p VV vii: p A+S p80-81) Background: Can be divided into 2 groups; leafy species and non-leafy species. Lifeforms: Massive, Submassive, Encrusting, Foliose. Appearance: The leafy species can be distinguished from Leptoseris by the fact that the corallites are on both sides: bifacial. Additionally, corallites are more tightly packed than for Leptoseris. Corallites have poorly defined walls. Corallites are interconnected by prominent septo-costae. Can form very large colonies. Immersed calices are round, polygonal or oval and 2-3mm in diameter. Except for Pavona explanulata, polyps are extended only at night. Species example: Pavona decussate (VV vii: p194) PACHYSERIS (V p VV vii: p A+S p82) Lifeforms: Colonies are Foliose and unifacial, to Branching and bifacial. Location: Occur in areas such as the edges of surge channels. Appearance: Branches are usually highly contorted. The surface is a series of concentric ridges parallel with the margins. Distance from mid-ridge to mid-ridge is usually 3mm. Septo-costae are fine, even, compacted and run perpendicular to the ridges. Corallites lie in the valleys. Colonies look very neat, regular or geometric. Extended polyps have never been observed day or night. Species example: Pachyseris speciosa (VV vii: p228) Page 21 of 52

22 COELOSERIS (V p VV vii: p221 A+S p81-82) Lifeforms: Massive. Appearance: Colonies are either rounded or hillocky. Corallites share walls and do not have columellae. Looks like the septo-costae join together from one edge of the corallite to the other. The septa are evenly spaced with a slight gap between them. The tops of the walls are rather flattened. Calices are 2-5mm in diameter. Septa are easy to see, not too many crammed in; they are neat and look sharp. Polyps extended only at night. Species example: Coeloseris mayeri (VV vii p221) GARDINEROSERIS (V p VV vii: p A+S p81) Location: Likes walls and under overhangs in clear water. Lifeforms: Colonies are Massive to Encrusting, sometimes with Foliose margins. Appearance: Corallites have poorly defined walls but are separated by acute ridges so that each corallite or group of corallites is at the bottom of a neat excavation. The walls are several mm high. Septa run from one calice to the next and are fine and even in size. Polyps are rarely extended and only at night. Species example: Gardineroseris planulata (VV vii p222). Family: Pectiniidae (V p371/592 VV vii: p321) Lifeforms: Foliose, Encrusting, Submassive. Appearance: Polyps are thick, fleshy and usually colourful. Polyps only extended at night. Corallites do not have definite walls. Genus: ECHINOPHYLLIA (V p VV vii: p A+S p86) Lifeforms: Encrusting, Foliose, Submassive. Appearance: Calices are round or oval in shape, immersed or tubular. Septa are numerous. Corallites are scattered in a pattern of concentric rows, are prominent and often separated by a gap of several mm or more. Corallites may be elevated several mm above the surface. They are not strongly inclined towards the outer margins and the coenosteum is pitted at the commencement of new septo-costae. Polyps are extended only at night. Species example: Echinophyllia aspera (VV vii p324) MYCEDIUM (V p VV vii: p A+S p86) Background: A common and fairly unique species. Lifeforms: Encrusting, Foliose. Appearance: Corallites are strongly inclined towards the corals edge. Corallites are well spaced, crowded in places with diameters ranging 5-15mm; sometimes they protrude 3-4mm from the surface. Costae are perpendicular to the margins and run all the way to the edges. Species example: Mycedium elephantotus (VV vii p344 A+S p86) PECTINIA (V p VV vii: p A+S p86) Lifeforms: Foliose, Submassive. Appearance: Colonies have valleys with high thin walls of a uniform height (up to 5cm high and a few mm wide). Valleys are often as short as they are wide. Most valleys can be traced from the colony margins to the centre. Corallites are generally very small and widely spaced over the coral surface. There is little or no columella. Polyps are rarely extended. Species example: Pectinia lactuca (VV vii p350 A+S p86) Page 22 of 52

23 Family: Merulinidae (V p427/594 VV vii: p363) Lifeforms: Branching, Foliose, Encrusting, Submassive, Massive. Appearance: Genus have own distinguishable characteristics. Genus: HYDNOPHORA (V p VV vii: p A+S p89) Background: Easily distinguished from all others by the conical hydnophores that cover the colony surface. Common Lifeforms: Massive, Submassive, Encrusting, Branching. Appearance: Presence of hydnophores formed where sections of common wall between corallites intersect and develop into conical mounds. Polyps are usually extended at night (except for a couple of species). Chiselled appearance. Species example: Hydnophora exesa (VV vii p370) MERULINA (V p VV vii: p A+S p89) Lifeforms: Foliose or Branching. Often different growth forms in one colony. Appearance: Horizontal and vertical plates. Valleys are short, straight and spread fanwise then divide. Septa are closely packed. They radiate from the colony centre on flat surfaces but are highly contorted on branches. Flat surfaces often have concentric growth lines. This coral has a variety of pale colours, usually pink or pale brown. Species example: Merulina ampliata (VV vii p378 A+S p89) Page 23 of 52

24 WORKSHOP 4 Family: Faviidae (V p443/595 VV viii: p85) Background: Faviidae is the biggest in terms of number of genus and ranks next to Acroporidae in number of species and overall abundance in most reef habitats throughout the Indo-Pacific. Colonies range from massive domes several meters in diameter to inconspicuous fist-sized growths. Lifeforms: Massive, Branching, Foliose, Encrusting, Submassive. Appearance: Corallites are separated in some species, but in others they are joined to form valleys. Septa, paliform lobes, columellae and wall structures, when present, all appear to be structurally similar. Septal structures are simple, and walls are composed of thickened septa. Genus: MONTASTREA (V p VV viii: p A+S p93-94) Background: Daughter corallites are predominantly formed by extratentacular budding. Lifeforms: Massive, Submassive, Encrusting. Appearance: Corallites are plocoid (polyps have separate walls) and monocentric. Corallites are circular and separated from others by a slight gap. Corallites are elevated and are about 6-8mm in diameter. Paliform lobes are usually formed at the inner ends of the septa. Like Favia but septa are more defined and sharper looking. Species example: Montastrea serageldini (VV viii: p213) FAVIA (V p VV viii: p A+S p90) Background: The Favia species are the most common corals found in shallow-water communities that are not dominated by Acropora. Strictly night-time feeders. Reproduction is predominantly done by intratentacular division (fission). Location: Communities are found on different types of reef flats and also around fringing reefs and similar places where water is often turbid. Lifeforms: Massive, Submassive, Encrusting. Appearance: Each corallite projects slightly above the colony surface but not as much as Montastrea and has its own wall. Separate walls give the impression of there being a valley between each corallite, slight gap or groove. Septa are typically even in size and shape. The columella is often a different colour than the wall. Reproduces by intratentacular reproduction. Species example: Favia speciosa (VV viii p108) FAVITES (V p VV viii: p A+S p91) Background: Feed at night and are similar to Favia. Location: Common in shallow-water habitats, especially some reef flats and fringing reefs where the water is often turbid. Lifeforms: Massive, Submassive, Encrusting. Appearance: Adjacent corallites share common walls. Paliform lobes are absent or poorly developed. Corallites are typically similarly sized with septa that are even in size and shape. The columella often has a different colour than the wall. Species example: Favites halicora (VV viii: p144) ECHINOPORA (V p VV viii: p A+S p94-95) Location: Occur in a wide range or environments. Page 24 of 52

25 Lifeforms: Foliose, Branching, Submassive, Encrusting or a mixture. Widely varying growth forms. Encrusting plates may develop branches and these may develop more plates higher up. Appearance: Corallites are distinct and plocoid (separated by several mm), 2-7mm in diameter. Corallites may be irregularly spaced. Septo-costae are granulated and run in rows perpendicular to the margins, reaching all the way to the corals edge. Species example: Echinopora lamellosa (VV viii p254) DIPLOASTREA (V p VV viii: p A+S p94) Background: Only one, very recognisable species; Diploastrea heliopora. Dense skeleton seldom penetrated by boring organisms or grazed by fish. Even the Crown of Thorns starfish is reluctant to feed on it, which may be why colonies may attain large sizes, larger than any other Faviid. Shallow to medium depths common. Lifeforms: Encrusting, Massive. Appearance: Polyp cups form projecting, tapering cones about 1cm in diameter, with radiating ridges on their sides. Polyp cups are not separated, but they are quite regular and geometric with large columella. No other species has the radiating ridges on the polyp cone. Species example: Diplastrea heliopora (VV viii p230) CYPHASTREA (V p VV viii: p A+S p94) Lifeforms: Massive, Submassive, Encrusting. Appearance: Corallites have their own walls, with calices less than 3mm in diameter and slightly elevated by less than 3mm. Prominent costa occurs just on corallite walls. Coenosteum between raised circular corallites is covered with random granules. Species example: Cyphastrea serailia (VV viii p242) PLESIASTREA (V p VV viii: p ) Background: Occurs in most reefs environments. Lifeforms: Massive, Encrusting. Appearance: Corallites are rounded and plocoid with paliform lobes. The corallites do not extend high off the coenosteum and are irregularly spaced and sized, however they are typically very small <3mm. Species example: Plesiastrea versipora (VV viii p226) LEPTORIA (V p VV viii: p A+S p93) Background: Often called brain coral. Lifeforms: Massive, Submassive, Encrusting. Appearance: Septa have a neat orderly arrangement, are uniformly spaced plus equal size. Mid-ridge to mid-ridge distance seldom less than 3mm or more then 5mm. Ridges 2-3mm deep and run parallel to each other, but they can also form complex mazes. It is hard to find the end of the valleys, plus valleys are often thinner than Oulophyllia and Platygyra. Species example: Leptoria Phrygia (VV viii p204) PLATYGYRA (V p VV viii: p A+S p92-93) Background: Often called brain coral. Location: Commonly found on upper reef slopes, back reef margins and on reef flats. Lifeforms: Massive, Submassive, Encrusting. Appearance: Corallites are rarely cerioid, commonly meandroid. U-shaped valleys. Valleys are about 3-9mm wide. Septa are exert by several mm with sharp and ragged Page 25 of 52

26 margins. Similar to Oulophyllia and Leptoria. Shallower and longer valleys than Oulophyllia: higher, sharper walls and shorter length valleys than Leptoria. Valleys and ridges are different colours (usually brown or green). Species example: Platygyra daedalea (VV viii p190) OULOPHYLLIA (V p VV viii: p A+S p93) Background: Often called brain coral, but not as much as previous 2 genera. Lifeforms: Encrusting, Massive. Appearance: Colonies are monocentric to meandroid, composed of large valleys with widely spaced septa. Paliform lobes are usually present. Short discontinuous meandering valleys deeper and broader than Platygyra and Leptoria. Mid-ridge to mid-ridge distance is about 1-2cm. Depth of the valleys ranges from 5-10mm. Septa are slightly exert. Species example: Oulophyllia crispa (VV viii p196) LEPTASTREA (V p VV viii: p ) Lifeforms: Massive, Encrusting. Appearance: Costae are poorly developed or absent. Septa have inward-projecting teeth which vary in size and width. Has a rough/spiky appearance. Corallites are closely packed yet can be irregularly spaced. Species example: Leptastrea purpurea (VV viii p236) GONIASTREA (V p VV viii: p A+S p91-92) Background: Goniastrea species are very commonly found on inter-tidal flats of fringing reefs. They are very tough corals. Lifeforms: Encrusting, Submassive, Massive. Appearance: All species have corallites with a regular neat appearance. Corallites are crowded with shared walls. The paliform lobes are well developed. In cerioid colonies, calices are 3.5mm in diameter and 4 to 6 sided. Meandroid colonies may occur. Septa clearly alternate and are thin. Species example: Goniastrea retiformis (VV viii p162) Page 26 of 52

27 Coral Glossary Ahermatypic - without symbiotic algae (zooxanthellae); non reef building. Axial corallite - the corallite that runs down the centre (or axis) of a branch, forming the branch tip. Almost always seen in Acropora spp. Axial furrow - the groove along the top of Fungiid corals. Bifacial - corallites occur on both sides of a leaf like structure (i.e. foliose corals). Calice - the opening of the corallite, bounded by the wall. Cerioid - a type of colony formation where polyps share common walls. Coenosarc thin layer of tissue running over the coenosteum, connecting neighbouring polyps. Coenosteum - the skeletal matrix around corallites. Columellae - skeletal structures at the centre of corallites. Coral polyp - an animal composed of fleshy tissues and a skeleton. The body is tube shaped, closed at one end, with a mouth encircled by tentacles at the other end. Corallite - the skeleton of an individual polyp. Corallum - the skeleton of a coral. Costae - radial elements of corallites situated outside the corallite wall. Cycles of septa - radial elements occurring in set sequences of size (i.e. 6 primary, 6 secondary, 12 tertiary, etc). Exsert - projecting above the surrounding structure. Flabello-meandroid - colony formation where valleys are elongate and have separate walls from other valleys. Free-Living - corals not attached to the substrate (i.e. Fungia). Immersed corallite - do not protrude from the coenosteum; imbedded in the coenosteum. Hermatypic - with symbiotic algae (zooxanthellae) present in the polyp tissue; reef building. Hydnophores conical structures on the coenosteum. Mantle - fleshy disc extended by certain species when tentacles are retracted. Meandroid - colony formation where polyps form valleys. Monocentric - with one columella centre per corallite. Paliform lobes - large, vertical teeth situated above the inner margin of septa. Pinnules - small spiky projections. Phaceloid - corallites of uniform height which are connected at the base of their skeletal tubes (i.e. Galaxea). Plocoid - Corallites have their own walls. Radial Corallites-corallites situated on the sides of branches as opposed to axial corallites that run down the centre of branches. A term typically used in defining Acropora. Septa - radial elements of corallites situated inside the corallite wall. Septo-costae - radial elements of corallites. No clear wall may be present separating the septa from the costa. Styles or Spinules - tiny to small spines on the coenosteum. Unifacial - corallites occur on one side of a leaf like structure (i.e. foliose corals). Verrucae - mounds on the coenosteum that are larger than the corallites, as seen in Pocillopora. Vesicles - water filled bubbles covering the surface of the colony, which hide the skeletal structures underneath. Page 27 of 52

28 Global Vision International 4 Line Intercept Transect (Coral Subject, Coral Reef Monitoring Phase) Dead Coral DC = Any area of hard bare substratum with visible corallite structure, this is recently dead and will be white to dirty white. Dead Coral with Algae DCA = Any area of hard bare substratum with visible corallite s structure covered in algae. This coral is still standing and intact, the skeletal structure can still be seen under the algae. Acropora Branching ACB = At least 2 degrees of branching. Acropora Encrusting ACE = Usually the base-plate of immature Acropora forms. Similar to encrusting Non-Acroporas but with axial corallites and radial corallites. Acropora Submassive ACS = Robust with knob or wedge-like forms, like columns. Acropora Digitate ACD = There is no 2 degree branching, resembles fingers in shape and length. Acropora Tabulate ACT = Forms horizontal flattered plates, like tables with a single trunk underneath. The flattened plate is made up of lots of small branches. Non-Acropora Branching CB = At least 2 degrees of branching. Non-Acropora Encrusting CE = Coral follows the shape of the rock or substratum that it grows over. The major portion is attached to substratum. Non-Acropora Foliose CF = Coral is attached at one or more points, and has a leaf-like or plate-like appearance. Some of the corals with this lifeform have been given common names such as Cabbage Coral. Non-Acropora Massive CM = This lifeform is a solid boulder or mould. The name massive does not necessarily relate to the size of the colony. Non-Acropora Submassive CS = This lifeform tends to form small to large columns, knobs, or wedges. Non-Acropora Mushroom CMR = This is the solitary, free-living coral lifeform of Fungiidae. Non-Acropora: Pocillopora genus CPC = This is a distinctive genus. Colonies are covered with wart-like growths, called verrucae. Pocillopora are hardy, widespread and common. Always either branching or submassive. Growth form is according to environmental conditions and geographical location. Heliopora (Blue Coral) CHL = Blue coral is in the Octocorallia subclass. The outer surface is relatively similar to fire coral, minus the hairs. Internally the skeleton is blue. Colonies form vertical plates/columns grey or green with tiny white polyps. Millipora (Fire Coral) CME = Mustard colour with a white edge. The colony is covered in tiny, hair-like polyps that extend through thousands of pinhole-sized pores. They have powerful nematocysts on the tentacles of the tiny polyps. Tubipora (Organ Pipe Coral) CTU = (Tubipora musica) Subclass of Octocorallia. Can often be confused with flower soft corals. Organ pipe corals have a hard (red) skeleton with tiers of organ pipe like tubes. Each tube contains a polyp with 8 feathery-like tentacles. They will quickly retract into their skeleton when disturbed and the red skeleton can be observed. Wafting will help with identification. Soft Corals SC = Soft corals do not secrete an outer skeleton but have an internal one consisting of numerous small calcareous (limestone) particles called sclerites embedded in the coral s fleshy tissue. These give the body support but allow it to remain soft and flexible. Colonies are made up of a large number of identical polyps connected by the fleshy tissue. Each polyp has 8 feathery tentacles that are concealed within the fleshy body when retracted. Most contain zooxanthellae. Different lifeforms: Tree, Deadman s fingers, Leather, Pulsing, Flower. Sponges SP = Sponges have the least complex body structure of all multi-celled creatures. They are immobile and their surface is covered with tiny pores through which water is drawn for feeding and respiration. There is an amazing diversity in colours and lifeforms of sponges. The Page 28 of 52

29 Global Vision International best way to identify organisms as sponges is to learn the different lifeforms that they grow in: Barrel: look like open top barrels, with brownish exterior surface that is rough. Mainly on the outer forereef near the drop off. More common in the Caribbean. They can get very large. Tube: generally found in a cluster of tubes joined together at the base. Relatively smooth exterior and a board colour range. Vase: narrow at the base and wide at the excurrent opening with thin, stiff walls that are rough in texture. Branching: cluster of tube-like structures that are joined together and branch from the base. Encrusting: follows the contours of the substrate to which it is attached. It has numerous small excurrents and incurrent pores that frequently occur in distinct patterns (veins). Rope: Long thin branching and erect. Have rows of pores on close inspection. Can be confused with sea rods. Elephant ear: Fan shaped upright sponge. Lumpy: Has no distinct shape and does not fall in any of the other categories. Zoanthids ZO = They are in the hexacorallia subclass. Often referred to as carpeting anemones but they are typically smaller and colonial. Each individual polyp is interconnected by tube like structures. They incorporate debris from the surrounding area into their body walls to make it more substantial and to give support. They come in many forms and the 2 main ones are either as discs or in encrusting forms. When wafted each polyp will close like eyelids shutting. Corallimorphs CO = Also in the hexacorallia subclass. They are flattened disc shaped animals which resemble anemones. The upper surface is covered with a bed of tiny tentacles. Other - OT = This category includes: Tunicates/Ascidians/Sea squirts, Bryozoans, Clams, (see above). Also Anemones: Solitary organisms, commonly attached to the hard substrate by a sticky pad on their base, and they have many tentacles around their mouth. Plus Gorgonians: 8 feathery tentacles like soft corals but have a rod-like central core and fused spicules that give them their strong, flexible stem, attached to the substrate by a single holdfast base; includes sea rods, sea whips, sea plumes, and sea fans. See pages , in A+S. Algae; Algae Assemblage AA = This consists of more than one species of algae. Algae; Coralline Algae CA = This is usually red coralline algae and encrusts over the rocks and helps cement the reef together. Algae; Halimeda HA = Halimeda algae are frequently the most conspicuous plants on the coral reefs. Individual plants consist of branching chains of flatterned or cylindrical, leaf-like brittle segments. This is a green calcified algae. Algae; Macroalgae MA = Weedy/fleshy browns, reds, etc. This includes e.g. the brown fleshy algae Lobophora, Padina, Sargassum, Turbinaria and the red/brown branching algae e.g. e.g. Dictyota, Galaxaura, Amphiroa, Jania. Algae; Turf Algae TA = Lush filamentous algae, often found inside damselfish territories. Abiotic: Sand S = Coarse sediment (diameter > 1mm). "Grainy" when disturbed. Abiotic: Rubble R = Any area of loose bedrock or hard substratum, unconsolidated coral fragments. Abiotic: Silt SI = Fine sediment (diameter < 1mm). "Milky" when disturbed. Abiotic: Water WA = Fissures deeper than 50cm. When laying the tape there may well be areas which fall away, like crevices where the tape will not be laid, this would be recorded as water. Abiotic: Rock RCK = Any exposed area of hard, bare substratum without visible coralline structures. The rock within many of the areas being surveyed is granite. Other (missing data) DDD = This will be used if there has been any unaccounted for areas along the tape. Page 29 of 52

30 Global Vision International 5 Fish Identification Guide (Fish Subject, Coral Reef Monitoring Phase) This guide serves to introduce some of the main fish families that we monitor. The main families are included in some detail, and the smaller families will be taught when you arrive in the Seychelles. A list of their names is included at the end of the guide, so feel free to look at them before your arrival. Learn as much as you can before you arrive, it will make the whole training process a lot quicker. The Staff on base will go through everything again in more detail, and you will receive presentations and lectures on the fish, including any local variations present in the Seychelles. Read the following sections and learn as much as you can. A basic knowledge will be easier to quickly build upon when you arrive, than if everything is new to you. The following is an introduction to the main fish families you will be studying, and a list of the species you need to know within each family. Common names for fish vary from place to place so please learn the common names on this list, rather than those in the books. The same Latin name is always used for the same fish, no matter where in the world you are, so they are useful for reference but don t worry about learning them. The three columns on the right of each species list are abbreviations of the three main books we use, details of which can be found in the recommended reading list at the end of this training manual. The best way to learn fish is to start with their general anatomy, as described in the first section of this guide. The second section gives details on the particular anatomical features of each family. After you are familiar with the basics of each family, use this guide, along with whichever book is available to you to start learning the individual species. Basic Fish Anatomy Learning the basic anatomical features of each fish family is important to be able to distinguish between similar looking families, such as Emperors and Snappers, and essential for telling apart the different species within those families. When you read the section dealing with the families themselves, refer back to this section for an explanation of the anatomical terms used. Fins: may be raised or lowered. Used for propulsion and streamlining. Caudal; the tail fin. Can be forked with two lobes, notched or have a straight border. The border is the edge running along the end of the fin, and the margins are the upper and lower edges of the fin. Dorsal; the fin along the back. Can be continuous or two part, with a fore-dorsal (usually spiny, with membranes between each dorsal spine) and a rear dorsal (normally soft looking and flexible). Anal; the fin running along the underside of the body, from below the caudal fin, towards the ventral fins. Dorsal Fin (two part) Rear Dorsal Fore Dorsal Lateral Line Pectoral Fin Caudal Fin (tail) Nape Terminal Mouth Gill Cover Caudal Peduncle Anal fin Ventral fin Ventral; a pair of fins on the underside, below the head. Pectoral; one either side, just behind the gill cover. Page 30 of 52

31 Global Vision International Body parts: some body parts have the name that you would expect - the eye, mouth, underside and cheek - but some parts have more specialised names. Caudal Peduncle; the region where the caudal fin attaches to the body. The thinnest part of the fish. Gill Cover; behind the cheek, a plate of hard scales that covers the gills which can be opened, or flattened against the body. The area in front of this is the head, and behind is the body. Mouth; may be terminal (at the very front), or the snout may protrude above, or the chin below it. Nape; the forehead. Lateral line; a line, especially obvious in silver fish, which extends from the top of the gill cover to the upper region of the caudal peduncle. Markings: like a chameleon, some fish are able to rapidly change their markings. This is called crypsis, and can make it difficult to use markings to reliably identify fish with this ability. You will learn more about this when you arrive on base. However, the vast majority of fish have at least some markings that will help identify them to species level. Stripes; thick horizontal markings. Bars; thick vertical markings. Bands; thick diagonal markings. Lines; thin markings of any orientation. Spots; large, circular marking. Speckles; small, circular marking. Blotches; markings with no defined pattern. Scales; regular speckled pattern, with one speckle on each scale. Saddles; wide markings along the upper area of the fish, which taper into points resembling triangles, pointing down. Spot Blotches Saddles Bars Bands Stripes Butterflyfish (Chaetodontodae spp.) Lines Scales Speckles Disk shaped body Concave nape Protruding lips Anatomy Small (generally about 15cm/6ins long) and disc shaped, Butterflyfish are a common sight on the reef. They show distinctive markings which are virtually all a variation of black, yellow and white patterns. Their lips protrude from the front of their faces. The entire nape is concave and conclusively distinguishes them from Angelfish. Behaviour Normally found in pairs as they find life partners when they reach adulthood. They tend to flutter around the reef eating algae and other marine flora. Occasionally they shoal, particularly the Bannerfish Butterflyfish (Heniochus spp.). Latin Name Common Name A+S Humann Collins Chaetodon spp. Chaetodon trifascialis Chevroned ,3 Chaetodon falcula Saddleback ,3 Page 31 of 52

32 Global Vision International Chaetodon meyersi Meyers ,4 Chaetodon xanocephalus Yellow-headed ,10 Chaetodon lineolatus Lined ,1 Chaetodon melannotus Black-backed ,5 Chaetodon auriga Threadfin ,8 Chaetodon trifasciatus Indian Redfin ,1 Chaetodon kleinii Klein s ,9 Chaetodon lunula Raccoon ,1 Chaetodon vagabundus Vagabond ,7 Chaetodon zanzibariensis Zanzibar 58,3 Chaetodon bennetti Bennett s ,2 Chaetodon triangulum Triangular 19 61,4 Chaetodon merensii Merten s ,6 Chaetodon interruptus Indian Ocean Teardrop 20 58,1 Chaetodon guttatissimus Spotted ,3 Chaetodon citrinellus Speckled ,4 Hemitaurichthys spp. Hemitaurichthys zoster Black Pyramid ,8 Forcipiger spp. Forcipiger sp. (Big) Longnosed ,1+2 Heniochus spp. Heniochus acuminatus Longfin Bannerfish ,1 Angelfish (Pomacanthidae spp.) Single, continuous dorsal fins Pomacanthus Centropyge Convex nape Overall rounded shape Cheek spine Anatomy There are two main genera in the Angelfish family; Pomacanthus and Centropyge. Pomacanthus spp. are medium sized fish, around thirty centimetres long when mature, and display bright colours and spectacular patterns. Centropyge spp. are smaller and less colourful, but more common. All Angelfish have a cheek spine extending across the gill cover towards the rear of the fish, a single continuous dorsal fin and convex napes, useful for distinguishing them from Butterflyfish. Behaviour Pomacanthus are generally solitary or found in pairs, and behave in a similar manner to Butterflyfish, swimming over the reef eating algae off the substrate. Centropyge are much more reclusive, spending their lives in a small territory. They always make their homes near cover that they can retreat to if they get spooked. If a diver gets too close they will hide, which makes them difficult to monitor. Latin Name Common Name A+S Humann Collins Pomacanthus spp. Pomacanthus annularis Blue-ringed ,5 Pomacanthus Semicircle ,6 semicirculatus Pomacanthus imperator Emperor ,2 Apolemichthys spp. Page 32 of 52

33 Global Vision International Apolemychthys Three Spot ,1 trimaculatus Centropyge spp. Centropyge flavicauda White-tailed Pygmy 34 69,5 Centropyge multispinis Brown Dwarf 34 69,3 Centropyge bispinosus Dusky ,7 Pygoplites spp. Pygoplites diacanthus Regal ,1 Surgeonfish (Acanthuridae spp.) Extendable, very sharp keel Steep nape and protruding lips Obvious gill cover Anatomy Surgeonfish are easily recognisable by their extremely sharp keel which sticks horizontally out of either side of their caudal peduncle. This is extended involuntarily when their caudal peduncle brushes against anything, and is as sharp as a surgeon s knife, which is the origin of the name. They are fairly round, thin fish with steep napes leading to a small pointed mouth and a very obvious, rounded gill cover. Behaviour Usually found in loose aggregations swimming across the reef eating algae off the substrate and often in the same group as intermediate phase Parrotfish. They swim using their pectoral fins and their caudal fin. Latin Name Common Name A+S Humann Collins Acanthurus spp. Acanthurus nigricauda Black Streak ,1 Acanthurus triostegus Convict ,9 Acanthurus lineatus Striped ,1 Paracanthus spp. Paracanthus hepatus Palette ,12 Ctenochaetus spp. Ctenochaetus binotatus Two-spot Bristletooth ,9 Ctenochaetus strigosus Gold-ring Bristletooth 126,11 Ctenochaetus striatus Lined Bristletooth ,8 Naso spp. Naso lituratus Orange-spined Unicornfish ,1 Zebrasoma spp. Zebrasoma desjardinii Indian Sailfin Tang ,3 Zebrasoma scopas Brushtail Tang ,4 Page 33 of 52

34 Global Vision International Grouper (Serranidae spp.) Wedge shaped pupil Large mouths with upturned lips Rounded fins Anatomy Cigar shaped bodies, with large heads relative to their body size and large, rounded fins make Groupers quite recognisable. They have large mouths with upturned lips, which make them look quite grumpy. Their pupils are wedge shaped, sloping down towards the lips. Locally, they vary in size from the Black Tipped Grouper, which can be as small as 10cm/4ins, to large Black Saddle Groupers and Potato Groupers, which can grow to over a metre long. Behaviour Groupers are generally slow moving, but are capable of quick bursts of speed. When opened rapidly, their large, upturned mouths draw in water, along with small fish and crustaceans that get caught in their concentric rows of teeth, which they swallow. They are normally found in caves, under over-hangs or in crevices in rocks, hanging just off the bottom or in the smaller species, resting on the bottom. They are generally shy and will move off if a diver gets too close. Latin Name Common Name A+S Humann Collins Plectroplomus spp. Plectroplomus laevis Saddleback ,3 Plectrolpomus punctatus African Coral Cod 29,9 Aethaloperca spp. Aethaloperca rogaa Redmouth ,1 Anyperodon spp. Anyperodon Slender ,2 leucogrammicus Epinephelus spp. Epinephelus fasciatus Blacktipped ,11 Epinephelus Blue-and-Yellow 26,4 flavocaeruleus Epinephelus White - spotted ,7 caeruleopunctatus Epinephelus tukula Potato ,2 Epinephelus merra Honeycomb ,1 Cephalopholis spp. Cephalopholis miniata Coral Hind ,1 Cephalopholis sonnerati Tomato ,9 Cephalopholis argus Peacock ,11 Cephalopholis urodeta Flagtail ,6 Variola spp. Variola louti Yellow-edged Lyretail Parrotfish (Scaridae spp.) Very round pupil in centre of very round eye Page 34 of 52

35 Global Vision International Thick caudal peduncle Teeth fused to from hard Swim using large beak Anatomy pectoral fins Parrotfish are very common and may be confused with wrasse, which also swim using their pectoral rather than their caudal fins. They are generally cigar shaped and change colour as they age, making them difficult to identify to species level. They are unique in having fused teeth that form a hard beak that they use to bite off lumps of coral on which they feed. This is the easiest way to distinguish them from Wrasse, which have lips. They range in size from tiny juveniles to huge Bumphead Parrotfish which can grow to over 1.3m/4ft. Behaviour Each large, colourful male has a harem of smaller, plainer females. Parrotfish are sequential hemaphrodites; when the male dies, the largest female changes sex, grows and takes over as the dominant male. The smaller females tend to form aggregations, whereas the larger males lead a more solitary lifestyle. They are seen all over the reefs in the Seychelles and at all depths. Bumphead Parrotfish, which we monitor specifically as megafauna, usually stay in groups of at least three or four, but schools of up to fifty have been seen. All other Parrotfish are monitored only as Scaridae sp. A few local examples are included below, just learn them as Parrotfish. Latin Name Common Name A+S Humann Collins Scaridae spp. Scarus niger Swarthy ,3 (Ceto) Scarus bicolor Bicolour ,2 Scarus (clorus) sordidus Bullethead Bulbometopon spp. Bulbometopon muricatum Bumphead ,1 Wrasse (Labridae spp.) Single continuous dorsal fin Fairly obvious lips with prominent canines Swim using large pectoral Anatomy fins rather than caudal Very similar looking to Parrotfish, Wrasse can be distinguished by having lips, rather than beaks. Wrasse come in a huge variety of shapes, sizes and colours. For this reason not all Wrasse species are monitored individually, howerer a sound knowledge of their subfamilies is important. They all have sharp canines, a single, continuous dorsal fin, relatively thick lips and a thick caudal peduncle. Behaviour Wrasse behave similarly to Parrotfish, and are even more abundant. Smaller species tend to hide in coral colonies, whereas larger ones are normally quite bold and swim over the reef. They use their Page 35 of 52

36 Global Vision International canines to dig in the substrate for small crustaceans and invertebrates. sequential hermaphrodites. Like Parrotfish, they are NB Even though not all the wrasse below are monitored, familiarity with the subfamilies is essential so you will be tested on all the following species. Latin Name Common Name A+S Humann Collins Cheilinus spp. Cheilinus undulatus Humphead ,1 Cheilinus tribolatus Triple-tail ,3 Cheilinus fasciatus Red-breasted ,2 (Oxy) Cheilinus Cheeklined Splendour ,6 diagrammus Thalassoma spp. Thalassoma lunare Crescent ,6 Thalassoma hardwicke Six-bar ,8 Halichoeres spp. Halichoeres hortulanus Checkerboard ,1 Anampses spp. Anampses meleogrides Yellowtail ,1 Cheilio spp. Cheilio inermis Cigar ,1 Epibulus spp. Epibulus insidiator Slingjaw ,1 Hemigymnus spp. Hemigymnus fasciatus Barred Thicklip ,1 Hemigymnus melapterus Black-edged Thicklip ,2 Novaculichthys spp. Novaculichthys taeniourus Rockmover ,7 Coris spp. Coris aygula Clown Coris ,1 Labroides spp. Labroides sp. Cleaner sp Bodianus spp. Bodianus diana Diana s Hogfish ,2 Bodianus axillaris Axilspot Hogfish ,4 Page 36 of 52

37 Global Vision International Sweetlips (Haemulidae spp.) Blunt snout, steep nape Large, thick, full lips Anatomy Sweetlips get their name from their large lips. They appear similar to Snappers, but have a blunter nape and are generally slightly smaller, with more complex patterns on their skin. Behaviour By day, Sweetlips tend to lurk in crevices and small caves, rarely being seen in the open. At night they hunt crustaceans, and are a lot more active. They do not school, but several individuals may be found in the same area because of its suitability as an environment in which to rest. For example, in an area with little cover, a cave would be a great place for a Sweetlips to rest, so several may take advantage of it at the same time without interacting with each other at all. Latin Name Common Name A+S Humann Collins Diagramma spp. Diagramma pictum Silver ,1 Plectorhinchus spp. Plectorhinchus orientalis Oriental ,1 Plectorhincus gibbosus Gibbus ,8 Plectorhincus picus Spotted ,10 Plectorhincus Gold-spotted ,8 flavomaculatus Plectorhincus schotaf Somber 48,6 Snapper (Lutjanidae spp.) Single dorsal fin, higher at the front Notched tail Blunt snout, terminal mouth Triangular head, rectangular body with flat underside. Anatomy Snappers are small to medium sized fish, which when fully grown range from 20cm/8ins to over a metre/3feet from the mouth to the end of the caudal fin. Generally, they have a fairly flat underside, and their canines may be seen when they open their mouths. A single, continuous dorsal fin runs along the back. Their tails are notched, but not fully forked. Sometimes confused with Emperors, their eyes are lower set and the eye sockets do not protrude. Behaviour May be single, in small groups or large shoals, where the smaller species tend to be polarized (such as the Longspot Snapper, Lutjanus fulvilflamma) and the larger ones tend to be unpolarized (eg. Black Page 37 of 52

38 Global Vision International Snapper, Macolor niger). Most species of Snapper are nocturnal feeders, catching smaller fish and crustaceans. During the day, they are also commonly found sheltering under overhangs. Latin Name Common Name A+S Humann Collins Lutjanus spp. Lutjanus bengalensis Bengal ,2 Lutjanus rivulatus Bluelipped ,10 Lutjanus kasmira Bluelined ,1 Lutjanus gibbus Paddletail ,2 Lutjanus bohar Twinspot/Red ,8 Lutjanus argentimaculatus River/Mangrove Jack ,9 Lutjanus fulvus Flametail ,4 Lutjanus monostigma Onespot ,10 Lutjanus vitta Brownstripe ,7 Lutjanus russelli Russell s ,11 Lutjanus sebae Red Emperor ,8 Lutjanus fulviflamma Longspot ,8 Macolor spp. Macolor niger Black ,5 Aprion spp. Aprion virescens Green Jobfish ,2 Emperor (Lethrinus spp.) Eye high up on head with protruding eye socket Upper lip extends over lower lip Rounded underside Anatomy Often confused with Snappers, Emperors are a similar size and shape. The three principal differences are the Emperor s more rounded underside, their eyes being higher up on the head, with the eye sockets protruding further than Snappers, and their upper lip extending over their lower lip. They also have the ability to perform crypsis, being able to rapidly intensify a series of dark brown horizontal and vertical markings along their body. Behaviour The behaviour of Emperors varies with each species. For example the Big-eye Emperor will hang a few metres off the bottom, only moving when a threat appears, whereas Red-ear Emperors are a lot busier and rarely stay still. In general the larger the Emperor, the less active they appear. Latin Name Common Name A+S Humman Collins Lethrinus spp. Lethrinus erythracanthus Yellowfin ,9 Lethrinus harak Thumbprint ,1 Lethrinus mahsena Mahsena 53,3 Lethrinus nebulosus Blue-scaled ,7 Lethrinus olivaceus Longnosed ,10 Lethrinus lentjan Pink-ear ,2 Lethrinus variegatus Variegated Found in more specialised books provided on base Lethrinus obsoletus Orange Striped ,6 Lethrinus rubrioperculatus Red-ear ,11 Page 38 of 52

39 Global Vision International Lethrinus xanthochilus Yellowlip ,13 Gymnocranius spp. Gymnocranius grandoculis Blue-lined Large-eye ,6 Monotaxis spp. Monotaxis grandoculis Big-eye ,1 Triggerfish (Balistidae spp.) Distinctive diamond shaped body Fore-dorsal spine may be locked in place Eye very high on large head Anatomy Triggerfish have a distinctive shape, with a diamond shaped body, and their eyes high on their head. They look similar to some Filefish, but are fatter, generally shorter and have the ability to lock their dorsal spine in place, whereas Filefish cannot. Behaviour They swim in a similar fashion to boxfish and puffers a sort of sculling motion using their dorsal, anal and pectoral fins. They are generally shy and will hide when divers approach. However nesting Titan Triggerfish (Balistidae viridescens) are aggressive towards divers if they stray into their territory and can give a nasty nip. Latin Name Common Name A+S Humann Collins Balistidae spp. Balistidae conspicillum Clown ,4 Balistidae viridescens Titan ,6 Balistapus spp. Balistapus undulatus Orange-stripe ,5 Odonus spp. Odonus niger Redtooth ,1 Rhinecanthus spp. Rhinecanthus aculeatus Picasso ,8 Sufflamen spp. Sufflamen fraenatus Bridled ,11 Sufflamen bursa Scythe ,3 Sufflamen chrysopterus Flagtail ,1 Page 39 of 52

40 Global Vision International Rabbitfish (Siganidae spp.) Spiny dorsal with venomous tips Forked tail Mouth protrudes from middle of head Anatomy Rabbitfish bear a passing resemblance to Surgeonfish, but on closer inspection there are several very obvious differences. They lack Surgeonfish s sharp keel on the caudal peduncle. Also their mouths protrude even further, and are higher up on the face, and they have a spiny, rather than a soft dorsal fin, which has venomous tips to each spine. Their tails are often forked, as opposed to the majority of Surgeonfish, who have notched tails. Behaviour Normally found in pairs, Rabbitfish float over the reef eating grasses and algaes. They are fairly slow, casual swimmers but are capable of quick bursts of speed. Latin Name Common Name A+S Humann Collins Siganus spp. Siaganus argenteus Forktail ,4 Siganus stellatus Honeycomb ,10 Siganus corallinus Coral ,1 Siganus puelloides Blackeye ,11 Other Families You can look at the rest of the fish if you feel so inclined, but you will be taught about them by the staff on base, so concentrate on the families above. When you arrive on base you will have a full review of all the fish through a series of several lectures, but do what you can before you arrive. Good luck! Latin Name Common Name A+S Humann Collins Caesio/Pterocaesio Fusilier Holocentridae Soldier and Squirrelfish Cheilodipterus macrodon Tiger Cardinalfish 262 Mullidae Goatfish Zanclus cornutus Moorish Idol ,1 Tetraodontidae Pufferfish Diodontidae Porcupinefish Carangidae Jack/Trevally Scombridae Tuna and Mackerel Sphyraenidae Barracuda Priacanthidae Bigeye Synodontidae Lizardfish Pinguipedidae Sandperch Ostraciidae Box/Cow/Trunk Monacanthidae Filefish Cirrhitidae Hawkfish Nemipteridae Bream Kyphosidae Drummer Gerreidae Mojarra Recommended Reading; Page 40 of 52

41 Global Vision International Indo-Pacific Coral reef Field Guide by G. R. Allen and R. Steene (A+S) Reef Fish Identification, Tropical Pacific by G. Allen, R. Steene, Paul Humann, Ned Deloach (Humann) Coral Reef fishes: Indo-Pacific and Caribbean by E. Leisks and R. Myers (Collins) PLEASE NOTE: Some of the fish listed above are not recorded during the survey dives. You will however be examined on them during PowerPoint and underwater tests as they may be confused with similar target fish. Further information on target species will be provided during the methodology presentation when you arrive at base. Page 41 of 52

42 Global Vision International 6 Invertebrates Identification (Fish Subject, Coral Reef Monitoring Phase) Introduction There is one role on our Coral Reef Monitoring Surveys which collects data on invertebrates. This handout covers the different creatures you will be surveying. The two main books to study from are The Indo-Pacific Coral Reef Field Guide by G.R. Allen and R. Steene which is on the recommended reading list and Marine Life of the Maldives by N. Coleman. Pages numbers for both these books are included in this handout. These books are also at camp. Phylum Annelida: Class Polychaeta: Worms Polychaeta can be found in almost every sub-tidal habitat. They inhabit inter-tidal areas down to abyssal depths, and in many soft bottom areas are the most common forms of life. As worms are very vulnerable to predation, many have evolved lifestyles and armor to enhance their chances of survival. Some species construct tubes of calcium carbonate, sand grains or mucus in which to live; others bore into coral. Feather Duster worms: These are also known as fan tubeworms and are in the family Sabellidae. They live permanently in tubes, which are wedged in coral or buried in the bottom. The graceful feeding tentacles trap small food particles and envelop them in sticky mucus, conveying them to their mouth. If a predatory fish bites off the tentacles, the worm is unable to feed, but they regenerate in a few days. The light sensitive tentacle tips can detect shadows and cause the tentacles to retract instantly. See page 130 in A+S and 118 in Coleman. Christmas Tree worms: Family Serpulidae. Young worms settle on coral heads and secrete a tube that kills the underlying polyps. New coral growth quickly surrounds the tube. Meanwhile the worm occupant secretes additional tube material to keep pace with the coral. The worm lives permanently in its tube. Only the brightly coloured, feather-like feeding tentacles, used to snare planktonic organisms, protrude. The tentacles arrange themselves into circles that decrease in size towards the end of the crown. The appendages are light and pressure sensitive and quickly withdraw into the tube. Each worm has a twin set of spirals. See page 130 in A+S and page 122 in Coleman. Spaghetti worms: Family Terebellidae. These white string-like objects are connected to a worm that lives in a tube manufactured from sediments. They function as feeding tentacles, conveying tiny bundles of fine sediment to the worm, which lives well hidden deep below the surface. The strands reach up to a metre or more in length but are quickly retracted if touched do not touch! See page 131 in A+S and page 123 in Coleman. Phylum Platyhelminthes: Class Turbellaria: Flatworms Flatworms are for the most part wafer-thin, bilaterally symmetrical creatures that appear to glide over the substrate. There is a head with simple sense organs, including simple tentacles and eye spots, visible under a microscope. Flatworms have no external gills (unlike most nudibranchs) but some have marginal tentacles sensory folds at the head end that may contain eyes, and other species may have dorsal tentacles issuing from the back near the head. Pages in Coleman and in A+S. Anthropoda: Crustacea This group is incredibly diverse with regards to size, shapes, colour and lifestyles. The crustacean body is composed of segments, although they may be hidden by the hard outer crust, which they outgrow periodically as they continuously grow throughout their lives. Another typical feature is the jointed limbs with internal muscular attachments, capable of movement in all directions. The majority of crustaceans seen on coral reefs are known as decapods; Latin for 10 legs. Shrimps (often called prawns), lobsters and crabs are all prominent members of this group. They form an integral part of the food chain, being actively hunted by larger predators, mainly fishes. Shrimps: This is a very diverse group. They live in a variety of habitats including coral reefs, rocky reefs, rubble, seagrass meadows and burrows in sand, under rocks, in caves, under Page 42 of 52

43 Global Vision International ledges. Due to the variety of habitats their food ranges from algae, to detritus and may include plankton, fish tissue, sea stars and scavenged material. See pages in Coleman or pages in A+S. Mantis shrimps: These are actually non-decapods. These large (up to 30cm), colourful creatures are often seen shuffling across the bottom. They are voracious predators of other crustaceans, small fishes, as well as molluscs and worms, using powerful claws to smash their victim s shell. Mantis shrimps have a long flat body with a short carapace and 8 appendages, 6 legs and variously modified raptorial claws. See pages in Coleman or page 139 in A+S Crabs: Several thousand different kinds of crabs occur throughout the world s oceans. Crabs can walk, run, crawl, clamber, swim, dig, burrow and scurry depending on their type. Although some species have evolved into incredible bizarre examples, they all retain the same basic body form. The body is encased in a carapace with a reduced abdomen folded under as an abdominal flap housing sexual organs. Most have claws known as chelae, some are exaggerated in size and are used for defence, to capture prey, attract females and repulse other males. Crabs live from the shore down to the bottom of the deepest oceanic trenches and are found in most habitats between. See pages in Coleman and pages in A+S. Mollusca: It is difficult to define a typical mollusc but the majority has a calcareous shell. The shell offers a measure of protection from voracious mollusc predators of which there are many. The shell also prevents drying of the delicate internal organs, this is of particular importance to animals that live in the shallows and could be caught out by the tide. Not all molluscs have a shell. Another key feature for most molluscs is a large muscular foot. Mollusca: Gastropods (shells) Most of their body is hidden within their shells; this offers protection from predators. Aside from the shell the only other body part usually seen is the muscular foot. When disturbed the foot is completely retracted and in some shells there is a solid trapdoor or operculum that completely covers the appendage. An organ called the mantle lines the inner surface of the shell. Gastropods are best encountered in places dominated by rubble, dead coral and sand, and rarely on live coral. Murex sp.: These beautiful shells are delicately sculptured and frequently have spiky projections. The circular aperture is equipped with a horny operculum that seals up the shell when the animal withdraws inside. Murex shells are predators of other mollusc species and barnacles. See page 180 in A+S and in Coleman Conch/Strombs: They are usually seen in sand or rubble patches on coral reefs. The margin of the shell aperture is widely flared in the adult stage of the species. It has a claw-like, horny operculum that can be used as a lever to upright itself if the shell is flipped onto its back. See page 174 in A+S and pages in Coleman Cowrie: Cowries have a bilobed mantel that completely envelops the shell. Usually seen in caves or underneath slabs of dead coral but may also be out in the open. Generally hunts at night on the bottom in search of prey; sponges and benthic organisms. Surprisingly little is known about the feeding habits of cowries. See pages in A+S and in Coleman Triton: The triton trumpet is one of the few known predators of the Crown-of-Thorns starfish. They also eat other sea stars. Collectors heavily prize the shell and many traditional cultures use the shells as a form of calling people to meetings etc. They can grow to 50cm. See page 180 in A+S and page 141 in Coleman. Cone Shell: Cone shells live on or under sandy surfaces or under rocks and coral boulders. They have a characteristic conical shape with an elongate aperture that is protected by a small, horny operculum. The tongue-like radula is equipped with harpoon-shaped teeth that contain poisons used to stun and kill small fish prey. The venom is very potent and capable of causing human fatalities. The venomous sting is employed via a highly manoeuvrable, forceful proboscis. See pages in A+S and pages in Coleman. Drupella sp.: Close relation of the Murex shell and is similar in shape although a lot smaller and lacking in the elongate spines. These small (3cm) shells can cause significant damage by grazing on corals. See page 180 in A+S and 145 in Coleman. Page 43 of 52

44 Global Vision International Topshell/Turban shell: The underlying shell of this species has a beautiful pearly lustre and is used for making jewellery and buttons. The shell has a distinctive conical shape with a broad, rounded base. When the animal withdraws into its shell, the opening is covered by the operculum, a door-like membrane. Generally found beneath dead coral slabs and rocks on intertidal reef and out in the open feeding on algae-covered rock in deeper water at night. See page 172 A+S and page 129 in Coleman. Helmet: Very popular with collectors and sometimes fashioned into ornaments. They have a very robust shell that is virtually predator proof. Their habitat consists of extensive clean, white sand. It is frequently buried during the day with only the tip of the shell showing through the sand. It actively hunts at night for food, mainly sea urchins and sand dollars. See page 169 in A+S and 138 in Coleman. Mollusca: Bi-valves As the name suggests bivalves are composed of 2 separate halves. When closed the valves protect the animal from most enemies except for example some predatory fishes that crunch the entire shell with powerful jaws. Most reef species attached themselves to the bottom or burrow into sand, rock, coral or wood. Bi-valves are usually filter feeders. Micro-organisms and other food particles are trapped by mucus on the gills and passed into the mouth. Oyster: These are oval shaped molluscs, famous for pearl and mother of pearl; they can come in a couple of different forms see page 170 in A+S and in Coleman. Clam: The 2 shells are held together by a ligament and strong muscles, which control the opening and closing movements. A pair of openings in the fleshy mantle facilitates water movement through the gill chamber. Giant clams can grow up to 1.5m and are reputed to live up to 200 years. They possess microscopic algal cells, zooxanthellae, in their exposed mantles. The algae produce most of the essential food for its host. The mantle also contains light and pressure sensitive spots that cause the shell to quickly close. See page 171 in A+S and pages in Coleman. Mollusca: Nudibranch These animals are commonly known as sea slugs. Unlike other gastropods, most of the species lack a shell and they use their foot-like appendage to slowly crawl over the surface of the reef in search for food. Nudibranch s gills are visible as feathery structures on their backs. Most species also have a pair of antennae on top of their head. Nudibranchs tend to have toxins in their flesh or it is generally distasteful. Most predators who try eating a nudibranch will not repeat the experience. The bright colours that nudibranchs display act as a reminder of the fact that they are not good to eat. See pages in A+S and page 152 in Coleman. Mollusca: Cephalopods The name cephalopods means head-foot, which is basically, all that they consist of. Cephalopods have the most highly developed nervous system of all the invertebrates, their vision being highly adapted and almost similar to that of humans. Propulsion of the cephalopods is by jet locomotion, where water is forcibly expelled from the mantle cavity. Cuttlefish: They have a stout body and 10 appendages encircling the mouth, which are much shorter than seen in the squid and the octopus. They are often seen hovering off the bottom quite often below the hulls of boats. They are easily approached. They are characterised by a mantle bristling with appendages and warts, it can change its outer pattern and colour. They feed mostly on fish and crustaceans. See page 207 in A+S and page 183 in Coleman. Squid: Characterised by having 10 appendages that encircle the mouth. They are generally elongate and lack the internal shell found in their close relations the cuttlefish. See page 208 in A+S and pages in Coleman. Echinoderms: Echinoderms are a very important group of animals that occur only in the marine environment and are largely bottom dwellers. The most obvious feature is the radial symmetry of the body made up of 5 Page 44 of 52

45 Global Vision International repeated sections. There are many different forms, but all have a hard internal skeleton of small calcareous plates (ossicles). These plates may be flexible (as in sea stars) or fused into rigid shell (as in sea urchins). The ossicles often have spiny projections. Echinoderms also have a water vascular system consisting of fluid-filled canals, a unique feature of this phylum. Tiny tube feet/sucker-like pods are a part of this system and are used for locomotion and capturing food. Those members of the Echinodermata who possess distinctive arms are able to regenerate lost arms if the central body disc and one arm remain. Generally the shape and the colour of the body are utilized for the identification. Echinoderms: Sea stars Sea stars have an obvious radial symmetry. Most characteristically have 5 arms although some species may have more. The body actually consists of 5 duplicated segments, each with the same internal organs. Crown of thorns: (Acanthaster planci) Voracious predator of Scleractinian corals. It has rays all of which are covered in spines, which can cause painful wounds. The Triton Trumpet shell eats them. See page 216 in A+S and page 254 in Coleman. Cushion Sea Star: (Culcita sp.) - Feeds on a variety of organisms including algae, bottom detritus and the polyps and flesh of some corals. The appendages of the cushion star are indistinct, causing this sea star to look like a cushion. Others: See pages in A+S and pages in Coleman Echinoderms: Brittle stars The name is derived from words meaning, serpent-tail-like, referring to the shape of their arms. There is no replication of the internal organs, just a single set in the central disk. The tube feet on the very long flexible arms lack the suckers seen in the sea stars. Brittle star arms are thin and spiny looking, radiating from a circular, central body (disc). These are very fragile and break if handled. See page 225 in A+S and pages in Coleman. Echinoderms: Feather stars Known as Feather stars because of their long feathery arms, which tend to project upwards from their disc shaped body. They have specialized attachment organs known as cirri with which they adhere to the bottom. As opposed to the sea stars and the brittle stars, the mouth is situated on the upper side rather than the lower side, because feather stars filter their food from the water rather than from the bottom. Crinoids can have varying numbers of arms, anywhere from 5 to 200. The side branches, which come off of these arms, are covered in sticky pinnules, which aid the crinoids in catching food. They are primarily nocturnal, although it is not unusual to see them during the day. See page 223 in A+S and pages in Coleman. 7 Echinoderms: Sea urchins Rather than having projecting arms, the sea urchins are a round to oval shape and usually possess spines. They have a body enclosed in a test or shell consisting of closely fitting calcium carbonate plates. This is armed with numerous spines, which in many species are toxic. The spines are attached to the test by a type of ball and socket joint and are highly mobile. Along with the tube feet, they help the urchin to move, as well as defend it from predators. They tend to be nocturnal. Most sea urchins live on rocky shores, on hard surfaces or on sand flats. They can be found in the Inter-tidal zone or in deeper waters. Long spine: (Diadema sp.) The spines of these urchins are very long and can inflict a painful injury to divers if touched. The spines are longer than the size of the body. See page in A+S and in Coleman. Mathae s Sea Urchin: (Echinometra sp.) This is a rock boring species which thrives in rugged conditions, coral and rocky reefs. These urchins can be brown, pink, green or purple, but the spines always appear to have a white circle of beaded tubercles around the base. Short spine: (Echinothrix sp.) Can sometimes be banded (Echinothrix calamaris) or totally black (Echinothrix diadema). The spines are not as long as the Diadema sp., as a rule the spines are no longer than the width of the body. Pencil Urchin: Much more active at night. Although small and secretive this species has a very decorative pattern on the dorsal surface and the thick column-like spines are grooved at the tips with rows of tubercles running down the spines. Page 45 of 52

46 Global Vision International Flower Urchin: (Toxopneustes sp.) This is a very distinctive species and easily recognized by its beautiful flower-like pedicillariae. It has been known to cause the death of 3 divers. Cake Urchin: Rocky and coral reefs, plus rocky shores, rubble and seagrass meadows. Seen in depths between 0-25m. This genus has a number of colour variations. The pattern of wider body spaces (5) between the spines is a reliable visual feature. The colour of the papillae in the five wider body spaces and the five smaller ones may be purple, black, brown, red or green. This genus may sometimes have debris on its spines. Page 46 of 52

47 Global Vision International 8 Invertebrates Identification (Coral Subject, Coral Recruitment Phase) Introduction There is one role on our Coral Recruitment Surveys which collects data on invertebrates. This handout covers the different creatures you will be surveying. The two main books to study from are The Indo- Pacific Coral Reef Field Guide by G.R. Allen and R. Steene which is on the recommended reading list and Marine Life of the Maldives by N. Coleman. Pages numbers for both these books are included in this handout. These books are also at camp. Mollusca: It is difficult to define a typical mollusc but the majority has a calcareous shell. The shell offers a measure of protection from voracious mollusc predators of which there are many. The shell also prevents drying of the delicate internal organs, this is of particular importance to animals that live in the shallows and could be caught out by the tide. Not all molluscs have a shell. Another key feature for most molluscs is a large muscular foot. Mollusca: Gastropods (shells) Most of their body is hidden within their shells; this offers protection from predators. Aside from the shell the only other body part usually seen is the muscular foot. When disturbed the foot is completely retracted and in some shells there is a solid trapdoor or operculum that completely covers the appendage. An organ called the mantle lines the inner surface of the shell. Gastropods are best encountered in places dominated by rubble, dead coral and sand, and rarely on live coral. Drupella sp.: Close relation of the Murex shell and is similar in shape although a lot smaller and lacking in the elongate spines. These small (3cm) shells can cause significant damage by grazing on corals. See page 180 in A+S and 145 in Coleman. Mollusca: Bi-valves As the name suggests bivalves are composed of 2 separate halves. When closed the valves protect the animal from most enemies except for example some predatory fishes that crunch the entire shell with powerful jaws. Most reef species attached themselves to the bottom or burrow into sand, rock, coral or wood. Bi-valves are usually filter feeders. Micro-organisms and other food particles are trapped by mucus on the gills and passed into the mouth. Clam: The 2 shells are held together by a ligament and strong muscles, which control the opening and closing movements. A pair of openings in the fleshy mantle facilitates water movement through the gill chamber. Giant clams can grow up to 1.5m and are reputed to live up to 200 years. They possess microscopic algal cells, zooxanthellae, in their exposed mantles. The algae produce most of the essential food for its host. The mantle also contains light and pressure sensitive spots that cause the shell to quickly close. See page 171 in A+S and pages in Coleman. Echinoderms: Echinoderms are a very important group of animals that occur only in the marine environment and are largely bottom dwellers. The most obvious feature is the radial symmetry of the body made up of 5 repeated sections. There are many different forms, but all have a hard internal skeleton of small calcareous plates (ossicles). These plates may be flexible (as in sea stars) or fused into rigid shell (as in sea urchins). The ossicles often have spiny projections. Echinoderms also have a water vascular system consisting of fluid-filled canals, a unique feature of this phylum. Tiny tube feet/sucker-like pods are a part of this system and are used for locomotion and capturing food. Those members of the Echinodermata who possess distinctive arms are able to regenerate lost arms if the central body disc and one arm remain. Generally the shape and the colour of the body are utilized for the identification. Page 47 of 52

48 Global Vision International Echinoderms: Sea stars Sea stars have an obvious radial symmetry. Most characteristically have 5 arms although some species may have more. The body actually consists of 5 duplicated segments, each with the same internal organs. Crown of thorns: (Acanthaster planci) Voracious predator of Scleractinian corals. It has rays all of which are covered in spines, which can cause painful wounds. The Triton Trumpet shell eats them. See page 216 in A+S and page 254 in Coleman. Cushion Sea Star: (Culcita sp.) - Feeds on a variety of organisms including algae, bottom detritus and the polyps and flesh of some corals. The appendages of the cushion star are indistinct, causing this sea star to look like a cushion. Others: See pages in A+S and pages in Coleman 9 Echinoderms: Sea urchins Rather than having projecting arms, the sea urchins are a round to oval shape and usually possess spines. They have a body enclosed in a test or shell consisting of closely fitting calcium carbonate plates. This is armed with numerous spines, which in many species are toxic. The spines are attached to the test by a type of ball and socket joint and are highly mobile. Along with the tube feet, they help the urchin to move, as well as defend it from predators. They tend to be nocturnal. Most sea urchins live on rocky shores, on hard surfaces or on sand flats. They can be found in the Inter-tidal zone or in deeper waters. Long spine: (Diadema sp.) The spines of these urchins are very long and can inflict a painful injury to divers if touched. The spines are longer than the size of the body. See page in A+S and in Coleman. Mathae s Sea Urchin: (Echinometra sp.) This is a rock boring species which thrives in rugged conditions, coral and rocky reefs. These urchins can be brown, pink, green or purple, but the spines always appear to have a white circle of beaded tubercles around the base. Short spine: (Echinothrix sp.) Can sometimes be banded (Echinothrix calamaris) or totally black (Echinothrix diadema). The spines are not as long as the Diadema sp., as a rule the spines are no longer than the width of the body. Pencil Urchin: Much more active at night. Although small and secretive this species has a very decorative pattern on the dorsal surface and the thick column-like spines are grooved at the tips with rows of tubercles running down the spines. Flower Urchin: (Toxopneustes sp.) This is a very distinctive species and easily recognized by its beautiful flower-like pedicillariae. It has been known to cause the death of 3 divers. Cake Urchin: Rocky and coral reefs, plus rocky shores, rubble and seagrass meadows. Seen in depths between 0-25m. This genus has a number of colour variations. The pattern of wider body spaces (5) between the spines is a reliable visual feature. The colour of the papillae in the five wider body spaces and the five smaller ones may be purple, black, brown, red or green. This genus may sometimes have debris on its spines. Page 48 of 52

49 Global Vision International 10 Fisheries Identification (Coral and Fish Subject, All Phases) Echinoderms: Sea cucumbers Sea cucumbers or Holothurians are sausage-shaped animals commonly observed on sand bottoms. Branched tentacles, that are connected to the water vascular system and can be opened and closed for feeding, surround the mouth. Its skin is usually thick and leathery, although some species have a thin, almost transparent skin. The embedded calcareous ossicles or spicules give the skin a gritty texture. Most species feed on the rich organic film that coats sandy surfaces. These living conveyor belts ingest large amounts of sand as they slowly crawl over the bottom. The edible, organic material is digested as the sand particles pass through the straight, tube-like digestive tract. The processed sand is then expelled from the anus, leaving a characteristic trail on the bottom. Several species spurt sticky, toxic threads from the anus when threatened or roughly handled. Others can expel their internal organs to divert the attention of predators. See pages 247 in A+S and pages in Coleman. Lollyfish: (Holothuria arta). Body and tentacles entirely black, often coated in sand. Common on shallow reef flats and sand or rubble bottoms. Also frequent on seagrass beds. Concentrations from 50 to over 300 per 100m 2. Elephant Trunk: (Holothuria fuscopunctata). Common on shallow reef flats and sand or rubble bottoms. Also frequent on seagrass beds. Darker dorsal side with mottling appearance and numerous slits across the body. The slits look like it has been cut. White teatfish: (Holothuria fuscogilva) Brown with ventral part of body white, often a mottled dorsal colouration. There are teats (which have no function) on the side of their body. Black teatfish: (Holothuria nobilis). Coral reefs, rocky reefs or sand but often prefers sand covered hard substrate than just sand. Usually found between 3-10m depth. Stout shaped. Often buried or covered with fine sand. Very characteristic teat like protuberances along the edge of the ventral surface. They are black with white teats. Pentard: (Holothuria sp.) Variegated pattern/mottled on dorsal surface with a white belly. Fished by local fishermen but as yet this cucumber does not have a true taxonomy done on it. Bohadschia sp.: Open sand or seagrass beds. Seen in open or practically buried. If disturbed they eject sticky white threads (cuvierian organs) from anus. They range in colours of brown, often with eye patterns all over. Smooth appearance, but often with debris on surface. Pearlfish live up their anus. Actinopyga sp.: They have a variable colour range of browns, and sometimes have a white ventral side. 25 or more mouth tentacles. The outer body is densely covered with tube feet. Sticky. There are 5 teeth at the mouth. Stichopus sp.: They feed by way of extendible mouth tentacles tipped with soft, sticky pads, which pick up bottom detritus. Body covered by papillae. Shed parts of body when attacked. Squared edges/ends. Prickly Redfish: (Thelenota ananas) This is the largest and bulkiest species, getting up to 60 cm. It has a squarish body with numerous projections from it. The firm pointed dorsal papillae make it easy to recognize. Fleshy growths provide shelter for several symbiotic organisms including scale worms, shrimps, and brittle stars. They are a bright orange but sometimes greenish colour in deep water, and pink, red, or brown in shallow water. Each papillae is about 2-3cm long. Royal: (Thelenota anax) Can be massive and with its red reticulated pattern is fairly simple to identify. It has a kind of rectangular shape. Graeffe s/flowerfish: (Pearsonothuria graffei) Vary in colour from a basic light green to a light brown. Its feeding behaviour involves the intake of sediments and small animals caught up in the soft, sticky catching pads of its feeding tentacles. This species is active during the day. Mollusca: Cephalopods The name cephalopods means head-foot, which is basically, all that they consist of. Cephalopods have the most highly developed nervous system of all the invertebrates, their vision being highly adapted and Page 49 of 52

50 Global Vision International almost similar to that of humans. Propulsion of the cephalopods is by jet locomotion, where water is forcibly expelled from the mantle cavity. Octopus: They have 8 arms/legs covered in suckers. Octopus totally lack an internal shell. They can be found hiding in a hole that has clam and crab shells scattered about the entrance. They are very difficult to identify to species level. They can change colour quickly and dramatically. Most reef octopus species have a very short life span that ranges from about 1-3 years. See pages and 185 in Coleman. Anthropoda: Crustacea This group is incredibly diverse with regards to size, shapes, colour and lifestyles. The crustacean body is composed of segments, although they may be hidden by the hard outer crust, which they outgrow periodically as they continuously grow throughout their lives. Another typical feature is the jointed limbs with internal muscular attachments, capable of movement in all directions. The majority of crustaceans seen on coral reefs are known as decapods; Latin for 10 legs. Shrimps (often called prawns), lobsters and crabs are all prominent members of this group. They form an integral part of the food chain, being actively hunted by larger predators, mainly fishes. Spiny/Rock Lobsters: These are well known throughout the tropics where they form the basis of major fisheries. As adults these animals are fairly large (40cm) with a cylindrical-shaped carapace, a pair of long spiny antennae and eyes that are high on the head and protected by large curved spines (rostral horns). The powerful muscular abdomen has downward pointing curved spiny plates along the edges and the tail is broad and strong. They usually live in caves, under coral heads or tabulate corals. They are nocturnal and can be seen more actively at night when they are hunting. They usually all have unique colour patterns and bodily characteristics. See pages in Coleman and 149 in A+S. Page 50 of 52

51 TRAINING MANUAL 11 Recommended Reading List General Reference Books Allen, G.R. & Steene, R. (1994). Indo-Pacific Coral Reef Guide Paperback This is a good book giving a broad overview of the main marine creatures you will learn about and see underwater; from fish and coral to other invertebrates, sponges and algae. There are details about the different groups of creatures at the start of each chapter; but no individual descriptions on the species themselves. Coral Allen, G.R. & Steene, R. (1994). Indo-Pacific Coral Reef Guide Paperback Veron, J.E.N. (2002). Corals of the World Hardback approx. 70 At the moment there are very few hard coral identification books at a reasonable price to recommend. The Indo-Pacific Reef Guide is the main one but as mentioned above it covers a wide area and in limited detail. The photos in this book are NOT suitable for in detail coral identification. Corals of the World is a stunning book and quite the best coral reference book for the Indo-Pacific. It is a very large three volume compendium of all corals. Unfortunately, this book is not particularly practical for the backpack and some people may find the price above their budget. We do have a well loved copy at camp. Fish Allen, G.R., Steene, R., Humann, P. and Deloach, N. (2003). Reef Fish Identification: Tropical Pacific, New World Publications. Paperback Lieske, E. & Myers, R. (2001). Coral Reef Fishes (Collins Pocket Guide) Paperback Allen, G.R., Steene, R. (1994). Indo-Pacific Coral Reef Guide Paperback The Reef Fish Identification: Tropical Pacific book is an excellent fish identification book covering fish by families and giving very detailed descriptions to accompany photos of each species. Different photos are included when there are colour variations or different life phases. We recommend this book as your primary purchase for fish identification. The Collins Pocket guide gives a description of the fish behaviour, size and range; however, there is no comprehensive description of the physical appearance and the pictures of the fish are drawings and not photos. As mentioned before, the Indo-Pacific Coral Reef Guide is a good book, covering many areas including fish, but it lacks species descriptions. There is a copy of each of the above books on camp and it is very important to study different books; however it will be to your advantage to have your own copy of at least one of these recommended books. We also have a few additional books at camp which cover the few species that are not in the recommended books. Some of the books can be purchased on the website or you may try some of the other popular online bookstores. Please allow plenty of time for online orders to be processed, it is not uncommon to wait 6-8 weeks for delivery as these are often special order books. GVI will select a subject for you to concentrate on about 4 weeks prior to your expedition starting. This will either be fish or coral. It is therefore only necessary for you to purchase the relevant book(s) for your allocated subject. The benefit for both volunteers and the project of learning your allocated species lists beforehand cannot be emphasised enough. You will be tested at the base and need to attain a pass rate of 95%, to ensure the species monitoring is accurate. Page 51 of 52

52 TRAINING MANUAL For further information, or an informal chat to answer any queries, please feel free to contact us Europe W: E: T: +44 (0) High Street St Albans Herts United Kingdom AL3 4ED North America W: E: info@gviusa.com T: Newbury Street Number 4 Boston MA USA Page 52 of 52 Australasia W: E: info@gviaustralia.com T: Suite 1412, 227 Collins Street Melbourne VIC 3000 Australia