Farmer Damsels and Turf Algal Patches

Patch of thick turf algae cultivated on dead coral skeleton.

When Farmer Damselfishes (Stegastes sp.) settle down in and around coral outcrops, they peck away coral polyps, and starts cultivating thick turf algal patch on the coral skeleton. As a results these territories of Farmer Damselfishes are mainly composed of turf algae, macro-algae, detritus, invertebrates and variety of microbes (bacteria etc.).

 

Spot the Farmer Damselfish
(click to view enlarged image)

Salp

Salp 

(Family: Salpida)

Location: Laamu Fonadhoo 

Date: October 2017

Turtle Trade in Sri Lanka and Maldives (by BBC)

Video by SLETP

Coral Bleaching (Maldives, 2016) - P1

Location: North Kaafu Atoll (Helengeli area eastern rim)
Depth: 5 m depth
Date: 11 April 2016
Bleached %: 16% ± 1.87

Location: North Kaafu Atoll (Helegeli area eastern rim)

Depth: 5 m depth 

Date: 11 April 2016

Bleached %: 16% ± 6.96

Spider Shell

Arthritic spider shell (Dhivehi name: Raakani)
Location: Lhaviyani Atoll
Date: September 2015

Baby Valla

A baby Valla only a few days old sitting on a beach. Little does it know that it is losing its home for people that are going to pay to sit on the beach. 

What is an Endheri?

"Kaley heevanee kalhu endheri gandeh hen" you may have come across this (very racist!) phrase while growing up in the Maldives. The common english name for Endheri is also Black Coral. Despite its association with the color black, not all Endheri are black, some occurs in shades of brown, and other appear white. Endheri occurs in a wide variety of shapes (e.g. small bushes, large fans), and can be observed under ledges, caves and reef slopes. They are able to survive in places with limited sunlight because, unlike most corals they aren't associated with algae for nourishment. In fact Black corals  feed by catching zooplankton in the water using their tentacles.

Common name: Black Coral
 Species: Antipathes sp.
Location: Lhaviyani Atoll
Date: 10 September 2015