Fun on the Forereef

Things on the backreef have been in full swing the past week, and now the focus is on the forereef! For the first run, I was once again directing while free diving... which was an adventure in itself. 

Placing algae segments on high points of
bommies on the forereef

It was absolutely beautiful both days that we were on the forereef, and we took full advantage of the sunshine on the boat between deploying and collecting algae! The parrotfish, actually most of the fish, on the forereef are HUGE and super active! 

This morning, I was able to dive, and I think it was successful! We are looking at how/if feeding rates change near and away from structure. Unfortunately, there isn't much "structure" since the cyclone hit Moorea last year, but we have made it work! As of this afternoon, the weather has turned for the worst, with high winds and high seas. Here, they call it a "maramu" when the winds from the south get really bad, making it almost impossible to get back into the bay with a boat once you've left it! The wind is pretty incredible to experience, but hopefully it passes, so we can continue our work!

Around the World, and Beyond

Lunch stop half way "around the world"

Where do I even begin? Saturday, we went "around the world". Well, we just went around the whole island by boat, and collected algae from each of six LTER sites that have been monitored for the past five years. It was a gorgeous day, and was awesome to see different parts of the island from the water! We took turns collecting from the back reef, the reef crest, and the fringing reef at each site. For lunch, we stopped at a shallow back reef, where the water was so insanely clear! It was a long day, but was so nice to explore other reefs on the island.

This view never gets old...

I am still waiting for the corals to spawn... the new moon is tomorrow, so it's looking like they will not spawn this month, but we will see!
As far as herbivory goes, my assays have been going really well! The wind has finally calmed down this week, and has made it much easier to go out and do things by myself. The past few transects have been in a part of the reef, where apparently all of the exciting creatures like to hang out! Some of the group have suggested that I am the "mega fauna whisperer". I don't know about that, but I do know that I have seen some amazing things!!

Sunday was just the beginning... as I swam to set out a new transect, I could hear an odd grinding sound and saw a cloud of sediments in the pavement between some coral bommies. I thought at first that it was just a bunch of goat fish stirring up the rubble, but was soon completely breathless as I found myself watching a round sting ray as it was feeding!!! That explained the grinding, and it seemed to be not the least bit concerned with my presence, as it continued to dig in the rubble while I watched in awe! Later, I saw two huge sea turtles, which I had yet to see in Moorea, and are rare on the back reef! I also saw huge triton trigger fish, snappers, and hundreds of needlefish. I didn't think things could get any better, but I was so wrong!

School of convict tangs from my camera left out to capture grazing

Yesterday was probably the best day EVER! Again, I encountered the triton triggers and black tips, and thought I had seen all that there was to see on the back reef. As I was finishing collecting my algal setups, I looked up to see two dark shadows coming toward me. They were too large to be reef sharks, and too dark in color to be round sting rays. As they came closer, my eyes focused through the suspended particles, and I froze... not with fear, but in utter amazement! Swooping in right in front of my face were two of the biggest eagle rays I have ever seen!! I didn't even know they could get that big! The largest one had about a four foot wingspan, and a body like a tank! They were so beautiful, and I was blown away by how gracefully they glided through the water. I never would have expected to see eagle rays in the back reef, let alone so close, and so huge!! It was incredible to watch them, and they came so close! I wish I had had my camera, but it is something I will never forget. Today, I ran into another turtle, and must have really spooked it because I swear I had no idea turtles were capable of such speeds! I see at least three black tip reef sharks every day, and they have now become no more threatening (possibly even less threatening) than the reef fish. I can't believe I still have almost two more weeks!