GVI data to Coral Watch!

Further to our marine data collection here in GVI Mexico using the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System (MBRS) methodology, last year staff and volunteers in our marine conservation expeditions started using the Coral Health Chart from Coral Watch project.

The Chart is a simple and non-invasive method for the monitoring of coral bleaching and assessment of coral reefs health. Developed by the University of Queensland in Australia it consists on simple colour charts, like paint colour matching charts based on the actual colours of bleached and healthy corals.

Coral bleaching is due to a loss of the symbiontic dinoflagellates (algae) living within the tissue of the coral. In a healthy coral the algae supply the coral with energy (sugars and amino acids) and in turn receive products essential to their survival (ammonia and phosphate).

The data gathered using this chart is used by Coral Watch in order to show the Health of the reef in specific places through bar graphs showing colour score changes over time. The colour score ranges from 1 to 6 with 1 representing the brightest corals (ill) and 6 representing the darkest (healthy).

All the data gathered in GVI Mexico using this chart in 2009 can be checked on http://www.coralwatch.org/Results/default.aspx Or just click here and enter the word "Pez Maya", all the sites will be shown and the graphs will present in which range of colour from the scale (1 to 6) are the monitored corals. We will continue uploading the data taken by current volunteers in our Marine conservation expedions so keep checking it to see the trends!!

We hope you will enjoy it. Thank you to all the volunteers that participated gathering it and helped to make the difference.

GVI data to Coral Watch!