Talk About Corals in Dark Places

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The public is invited to a talk at the Tauese P Sunia Ocean Center at 11 this morning concerning the Mesophotic Coral Ecosystems  otherwise  known as the coral reef twilight zone, deep coral reef, or the area of coral reef where light becomes dim.

The coral reef twilight zone is generally considered the area of coral reef between 100 and 500 feet. In this area, it is too deep for recreational divers and often too shallow for expensive submersible and remotely operated vehicles to explore.

Because of these difficulties, this area has mostly been over looked.

In American Samoa, these areas have only had minimal attention except for some brief surveys conducted by the late Dr. John Rooney.

Dr. Rooney’s research showed that corals were not only present in some areas, but they may even be common as well.

The importance of understanding these ecosystems is further highlighted by NOAA’s recent listing of endangered corals in American Samoa and elsewhere in the Pacific.

Tony Montgomery, a Ph.D. Student at the University of Manoa and the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology and David Pence, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Environmental Health and Safety Office – Diving Safety Program Department recently started a project to examine the coral species presence below 130-feet around Tutuila.

The Research Team is currently conducting surveys around Tutuila and Aunu’u, and plan to survey the Fagalua/Fogama’a and Aunu’u Sanctuary Management Areas.

This morning they will present information about their project and show recent video footage of the areas and corals they are finding on these unique surveys.

You are invited their talk at 11 this morning at the Tauese P Sunia Ocean Center.

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