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Reef life

Images and text

by

Dave Burdick

November 2010

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Federated States of Micronesia

Northern Mariana Islands

Palau

Philippines Guam

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Flower Garden Banks

Bonaire

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This book is dedicated to my grandfather, Robert Burdick, whose passion for

photography, family, life, has inspired me and the innumerable

people who’s lives he’s touched

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Table of ContentsGuam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Federated States of Micronesia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

Palau . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Philippines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Bonaire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

Flower Garden Banks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

Australia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66

Fiji . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67

Trouble in Paradise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68

Topside . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76

6Humbug dascyllus (Dascyllus aruanus) never stray too far from the protection of the staghorn coral in the Tumon Bay Marine Preserve, Guam.

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Guam, Mariana Islands

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A school of yellowspot emperors (Gnathodentex aurolineatus) basking in the morning sun rising above the Tumon Bay Marine Preserve, Guam.

Raccoon butterflyfish in wait of a scrub-down by cleaner wrasses in the Tumon Bay Marine Preserve, Guam.

An orangefin anemonefish (Amphiprion chrysopterus) peering curiously beyond the tentacles of its host anemone (Heteractis crispa). Tumon Bay Marine Preserve, Guam.

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Manta rays (Manta birostris) gliding effortlessly through the rays of sunlight piercing the clear waters of the Tumon Bay Marine Preserve, Guam.

A pair of orangefin anemonefish (Amphiprion chrysopterus) tending their eggs at Hap’s Reef, Guam. The anemonefish blow water across the bright orange eggs, which are usually attached to a hard surface close to the host anemone, in order to oxygenate the eggs and improve their chance of hatching.

A pair of pink anemonefish (Amphiprion perideraion) rising from the iridescent purple tentacles of their host anemone (Heteractis magnifica) at Western Shoals, Apra Harbor, Guam.

A strawberry grouper (Cephalo-pholis spiloparaea) boldly standing its ground in Toguon Bay, Guam.

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A school of yellow-spotted trevally (Carangoides ortho-gramus) rush across the reef in the Piti Marine Preserve, Guam

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The large, brilliant polyps of the yellow-cup coral (Tu-bastrea sp.) extend their stinging tentacles into the dark waters engulfing the wreck of the Tokai Maru in Apra Harbor, Guam

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A colony of the coral, Pocillopora eydouxi, reaches majestically towards the nourishing sunlight bathing the waters of Asan Bay, Guam.

The pink-tipped branches of the coral, Acropora digitifera, in the shallow, wave-washed waters of the Tumon Bay Marine Preserve, Guam.

Dozens of blue-green chromis (Chromis viridis) dart frenetically between the sheltering branches of the yellow finger coral (Porites cylindrica) and the food-rich waters washing over the reef in the Piti Marine Preserve, Guam.

The stout branches of the coral, Acropora humilis, allow this spe-cies to thrive in the shallow, wave-washed waters off the coast of Cabras Island, Guam.

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Federated States of Micronesia Yap

ChuukPohnpei

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A manta ray (Manta birostris) reveals its patterned abdo-men as it engulfs the plankton-rich waters of Manta Road, Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia.

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The striking pastel colors of nephtheid soft corals greet a diver as he glides along Areu Wall, Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia.

A diver holds his camera steady in wait for the perfect shot at Pehleng Pass, Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia.

A school of blackfin barracuda (Sphyraena qenie) patrol the clear, deep waters off the reef at Pehleng Pass, Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia.

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The gape of a manta ray (Manta birostris) as it approaches in the plankton-rich waters of the channel at Manta Road, Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia.

A feather star, or crinoid, extends its arms in wait of food while perched atop the reef at Pehleng Pass, Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia.

Table corals compete for space and sunlight atop a reef at Ulithi Atoll, Yap, Federated States of Micronesia.

A coral colony growing on a gun on wreck of the Hino Maru in Chuuk Lagoon, Federated States of Micronesia.

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Reef life abounds along the vibrant wall at the world-famous Blue Corner dive site, Palau.

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Palau, Micronesia

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A colorful reefscape at Ngecherong reef, Palau.

A diver hangs above the abundant reef life at Blue Corner, Palau.

Divers descend into the cavernous depths of the Virgin Blue Hole, Palau.

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Often overlooked, small reef creatures such as this necklace sea star (Fro-mia monilis) at Lighthouse Channel, Palau, can display brilliant colors and intricate patterns that rival larger reef inhabitants.

A broadclub cuttlefish (Sepia latimanus) standing its ground on the outer reef of Kayangel Atoll, Palau.

A rare glimpse at the coy, yet flamboyantly-decorated mandarinfish ((Synchiropus splendidus) in Mandarinfish Lake, Palau.

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A broadclub cuttlefish (Sepia latimanus) standing its ground on the outer reef of Kayangel Atoll, Palau.

Colorful hard and soft coral abound along the wall outside the popular dive site, Blue Hole, in Palau.

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Unique, diverse coral communities can be found around the base of some of Palau’s rock islands, such as the community pictured below from Nikko Bay. Researchers continue to study some of these coral communities because of their apparent re-sistance to damage by exceptionally warm water temperatures.

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The silhouette of an Acropora coral on the outer reef of Kayangel Atoll, Palau.

Dozens of giant clams (Tridacna gigas) populate the shallows of the site appropriately named Clam Gardens, Palau.

A stunning array of hard corals greet adventurous divers at Kayangel Atoll, in the northern reaches of Palau.

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A lone jellyfish (Mastigias sp.) hovers weightless in between the penetrating rays of afternoon sunlight in Jellyfish Lake, Palau.

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A snorkeler pauses to get a closer look at a jellyfish in Jellyfish Lake, Palau.

Millions of jellyfish populate Jellyfish Lake in Palau

A snorkeler eases his way through the swarm of harmless jellyfish, in Jel-lyfish Lake, Palau, carefully avoiding damage to the delicate creatures.

Anemones have recently invaded Jellyfish Lake, feeding on the now defenseless jellyfish

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Philippines

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A pair of coleman shrimp (Periclimenes colemani) sheltered by the poisonous spines of the fire urchin (Asthenosoma varium) on a reef in Anilao, Batangas, Philippines.

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While many nudibranchs, a.k.a. “sea slugs,” are small and inconspicuous, some, such as this Nembrotha kubaryana spotted during a night dive at Apo Island, Phil-ippines, are relatively large, colorful and can often be seen out in the open. The nudibranchs pictured to the left (top: Chromodoris magnifica; middle: Flabellina exoptata; bottom: Halgerda batangas) are also conspicuous nudibranchs com-monly encountered by divers on reefs in the Philippines.

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The delicate, flower-like polyps of a xeniid soft coral in Anilao, Philippines, extend into the dark water in wait of food drifting by with the current.

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A diver approaches a magnificent anemone (Heteractis magnifica) and its resident pink anemonefishes (Amphiprion peridaion) on a reef at Apo Island, Philippines.

A clown anemonefish (Amphiprion ocellaris) shows off its stunning pro-file while amongst the protective tentacles of an anemone in the Tubod Sanctuary, Siquijor, Philippines.

The odd-shaped warty frogfish (Antennarius maculatus) rests on an old car wreck along a sandy slope off the coast of Dauin, Philippines.

A photogenic pair of orange-banded pipefish (Doryrhamphus pessilif-erus) pose on a sandy slope in Dauin, Philippines.

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A diver explores the gorgeous reefscapes of Apo Island, Philippines.

A clown anemonefish cautiously investigates the intruder on a reef at Anilao, Philippines.

A diver approaches a thicket of staghorn coral inhabited by a school of colorful anthias at Apo Island, Philippines.

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A vibrant reefscape at Paliton Wall, Siquijor, Philippines.

A pair of clown anemonefish with their host anemone (Het-eractis magnifica) on a reef at Apo Island, Philippines.

A crinoid and soft coral perched atop a coral bommie provide shelter for a small school of anthias and damselfishes at Paliton Wall, Siquijor, Philippines.

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Despite the dazzling colors and patterns decorating these flatworms (top: Pseudoceros lindae; left: Pseudoceros ferrugineus; right: Maiazoon orsaki) they often escape the gaze of divers, who often unknowingly pass over these common inhabitants of Philippine reefs in search of turtles, sharks, and other large reef creatures.

A sea turtle casually glides across the shallow reef in the sanctuary at Apo Island, Philippines.

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A lush reef community shared by hard corals, soft corals, crinoids, and countless other reef animals and plants at Apo Island, Philippines.

Crinoids, such as those pictured from Apo Island, Philippines, prefer current-swept reefs, where they can be found perched atop outcroppings gathering food floating by in the water column.

Numerous, plush nephtheid soft corals in the shallow waters of a reef at Apo Island, Philippines.

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A pharaoh cuttlefish (Sepia pharaonis) on a sandy slope at Dauin, Philippines, moves away from the diver while keep-ing a watchful eye on the peculiar visitor.

47A thimble-sized octopus clings to a diver’s fingertip near Anilao Pier, Philippines.

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A decorator crab (Cyclocoeloma tuberculata) covered by numerous corallimorphs (relatives of anemones) on a reef off the southern coast of Siquijor, Philippines.

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A red-spotted porcelain crab (Neopetrolisthes maculatus) crawling over the short tentacles of its host anemone, Anilao, Philippines.

An emperor shrimp (Periclimenes imperator) hitching a ride on the back of a large nudibranch (Ceratosoma gracillimum), Anilao, Philippines.

The translucent body of a glassy shrimp (Periclimenes magnificus), Anilao, Philippines.

A hairy sponge crab (Lauriea siagiani) hiding in the folds of its host sponge, Anilao, Philippines.

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A brittle star (Ophiothrix suensonii) atop an iridescent purple tube sponge, Bonaire, Netherland Antilles.

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Bonaire, Netherland Antilles

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A diver swims past an azure vase sponge (Callyspon-gia plicifera) on a reef in Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles.

A diver inspecting the massive propeller on the wreck of the Hilma Hooker, Bonaire, Netherlands Antillies.

A snorkeler approaches a colony of the endangered elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata), the branches of which host dozens of smallmouth grunts (Haemulon chrysargyreum), Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles.

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54The aptly-named flamingo tongue cowry (Cyphoma gibbosum) on a gorgo-nian, Bonaire, Netherland Antilles.

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A french angelfish (Pomacanthus paru), Bonaire, Netherland Antilles.

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A small school of large, prehistoric-looking tarpon swim over a reef lush with gorgonian soft corals, Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles.

A field of sea fans in the shallow waters off the northern coast of Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles.

A spotted cleaner shrimp (Periclimenes yucatanicus) hiding within the protective tentacles of the bulb-tipped anemone (Condylactis gigantea), Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles.

A large reef octopus stealthily makes its way across the reef in search of crustaceans, molluscs, and other tasty reef creatures, Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles.

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A queen angelfish (Holocanthus ciliaris) with its stunning colors make it one of the most beautiful fish in the Caribbean, Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles.

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A trio of azure vase sponges (Callyspongia plicifera), Bo-naire, Netherlands Antilles.

Numerous smallmouth grunts (Haemulon chrysargyreum) hiding beneath the robust branches of elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata) Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles.

A corkscrew anemone, Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles.

A young sea turtle slowly makes its way across a shallow reef off the coast of Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles.

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Flower Garden Banks,Gulf of Mexico

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A hingebeak shrimp (Rhyncocinetes rigens) on a star coral (Montastrea foveolata), Flower Garden Banks, Gulf of Mexico.

62The large polyps of the coral, Montastrea cavernosa, Flower Garden Banks, Gulf of Mexico.

A diver floats above the massive coral colonies of the Flower Garden Banks, Gulf of Mexico.

A large fire worm (Hermodice carunculata) patrolling the reef at night in search of unsuspecting prey, which can include small fish, Flower Garden Banks, Gulf of Mexico.

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A giant green moray (Gymnothorax funebris) extends from its lair to investigate the approaching diver, Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles.

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A scrawled cowfish (Lactophrys quadricornis), Stetson Bank, Gulf of Mexico.

A school of look-downs (Selene vomer), Stetson Bank, Gulf of Mexico.

A blue angelfish (Holocanthus bermudensis), Stetson Bank, Gulf of Mexico.

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Great Barrier Reef, Australia

A rare encounter with a large school of humphead parrotfish (Bolbometopon muricatum) approaching a reef from the deep blue waters of the lagoon, Ribbon Reefs, Great Barrier Reef, Australia.

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A magnificent garden of staghorn and plate corals in the shallow, sunlight-bathed waters off the coast of Taveuni, Fiji.

Taveuni, Fiji

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Trouble in ParadiseThere is much beauty to experience on the reefs of today, but many reefs are but a glimmer of what they were even just a few decades ago — clearly there is trouble in paradise. For hundreds of years people have derived nourishment from reefs, have been protected from the terrible force of storms, and have earned income from the bounty and beauty offered by reefs. But even as human societies gain so much from coral reefs, many of our activities directly or indirectly impact their health.

Local-scale activities such as fishing and development to global-scale impacts such as climate change affect the productivity of reefs, threatening those communities dependent on reefs, and even jeopardizing the long-term survival of coral reefs as we know them. The pho-tos presented in this section are intended to highlight visually the various threats to the viability of coral reefs.

A reef - heavily impacted by sedimentation and other stressors - with few living corals remaining, Asan, Guam.

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A thicket of bleached staghorn coral (Acropora pulchra) in the Tumon Bay Marine Preserve, Guam.

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71A plume of sediment-laden water slicing through the clear waters of the reef near Anae Island, Guam.

Coarse sediment accumulating on the hori-zontal plates of Porites rus, Guam.

A reef in the Achang Reef Flat Marine Preserve that is clearly impacted by sediment-laden water discharging from a nearby river, Merizo, Guam.

A large, old Porites colony near Anae Island, Guam, exhibiting significant partial mortality, likely a result of sedimentation.

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A guide uses his fins to rest on top of a coral head while observing his customers in the Tumon Bay Marine Preserve, Guam.

A dive guide instructs her customers to grab a hold of a large coral head while feeding vienna sausages to fish in the Piti Bomb Holes Marine Preserve, Guam.

James felt the need to carve his name into a living coral colony, Hap’s Reef, Guam. Shame on you James.

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A monofilament net wrapped around a Pocillopora colony, Guam.

A boat resting on a shallow reef along the northwestern coast of Guam.

A tire resting on the hard skeleton left behind by the soft coral, Sinularia, Piti Bomb Holes Marine Preserve, Guam.

The anchor and chain from a boat of an otherwise reputable dive operator, dropped on a reef with a large amount of coral, Western Shoals, Guam.

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A crown of thorns sea star (Acanthaster planci) perched atop coral colony on which it is feeding, Achang Reef Flat Marine Preserve, Guam.

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Corals being overgrown by the aggressive encrusting sponge, Terpios hoshinota, Hap’s Reef, Guam.

Living corals, partially covered by the golden noodle algae (Chrysocystis fragilis) struggling to survive on a degraded reef in Toguon Bay, Guam.

An advancing black band disease front on a faviid colony at Tanguisson Pt., Guam.

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Topside

Byron Bay, Australia

Rock Islands, Palau

Shark Island, Chuuk

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Salt flatsBonaire, Netherland Antilles

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Corals exposed at low tideTumon Bay, Guam

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Forbidden IslandSaipan, Northern Mariana Islands

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Lavena Coastal WalkTaveuni, Fiji

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Nan MadolPohnpei, FSM

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View from The VillagePohnpei, FSM

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Kayangel AtollPalau, Micronesia

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Pura Tanah LotBali, Indonesia

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Wainibau FallsTaveuni, Fiji

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Love, Dave