Yesterday was another big day. We completed our rapid assessment work. That makes three sites at 30 meters and three sites at 20 meters where we conducted our detailed studies. The work goes beyond routine descriptive monitoring because we also quantify the condition of corals, and the number and sizes of coral "recruits." Coral recruits are the juveniles of the population and represent the next generation, or more accurately the potential for the next generation of corals on the reef. Another way to think of the juvenile corals is that they represent the "seed bank" from which new adults may emerge. It takes a lot of time to locate and identify these juvenile corals; some are smaller that the nail on your pinky finger. Plus, it's tough to identify corals when they are this small. We also measure the sizes of the adult corals (maximum diameter, height, and second diameter). Combined, the juvenile and adult size data provide a "coral census." We want to know who's on the reef, how big they are, where they're located (shallow to deep), and their condition. The condition measurements include estimates of living and dead tissue, and the cause of recent coral death if it's unambiguous. It takes hours and hours to get all this work done.

The power of our approach is based on the fact that we do this work at a lot of different sites, through the Keys. So far, we have 80 sites from south of Miami to Key West. This means that we can begin to get a regional picture of reef condition. Our goal is to test hypotheses about factors that affect the condition of reefs, not just at Conch Reef, but throughout south Florida. We know that reefs in the upper Keys experience a different set of conditions than reefs in the middle and lower Keys. The middle Keys are affected by Florida Bay and the lower Keys see a stronger Gulf of Mexico influence. Our work is already demonstrating regional patterns in species distributions that were previously unknown. Further, our program includes sampling strategies that are specifically designed to evaluate whether or not the "no take" management strategies in the Sanctuary Preservation Areas cause changes to the reef. Other investigators are studying fish populations in the protected areas too. All of our data will be used to help sanctuary managers produce a state-of-the-reef report in the next two years.

That said, we really don't need a whole lot more study to know that coral reefs in Florida are in bad shape. The big question is to determine whether or not there are things managers can do to improve the condition of coral reefs. The Sanctuary Preservation Areas are a great start, because we expect to see more and larger fish as a result of the no-take regulations. But, there are things happening regionally and globally that are difficult to address at the local level. Things have happened in recent decades that would totally blow people away if they could see them, but reefs are underwater and "out of sight" means "out of mind." By comparison, in the northeast United States two tree diseases have reshaped landscapes - Chestnut Blight and Dutch Elm Disease are well known. In Florida and the Caribbean several diseases have ravaged corals and other marine species much worse that Chestnut Blight or Dutch Elm Disease did to our forests and boulevards. But few outside the marine science community have probably ever heard of "whiteband disease," blackband disease," or "white plague." These are coral diseases that have devastated species of coral throughout the Caribbean and Florida - reshaping the way coral reefs look and function. A disease killed nearly all individuals of one type of sea urchin on coral reefs throughout the Caribbean in the 1980s. Some might argue that the loss of sea urchins is a good thing. After all, they had sharp spines and were a pain. However, they were also major grazers and helped keep algae in check. Now they're gone (but making a comeback in some places - after more than a decade). Only a handful of marine scientists are trained or funded to study coral diseases. Hundreds (and probably more) study tree diseases. A recent tree disease outbreak in Californian made national headlines. Unfortunately, coral reefs die and few people notice or care. Funding to study diseases on coral reefs is nearly absent. Why?

I can only believe that part of the problem is related to poor public relations. There are few advocates for the oceans, and even fewer for coral reefs. Jacques Cousteau was effective, but since him nobody has taken up the banner in a way that reaches the public. The Discovery Channel plays 24 hours a day and important environmental messages get lost among the noise - and the hype. There is good reason to believe that coral reefs are sensitive indicators of environmental change, both locally and globally. The fact that we are losing coral reefs at an alarming rate is cause for worry. We are changing the chemistry of our coastal oceans and reefs are paying the price. Global warming has increased the temperature of our oceans, a small but significant amount. Coral reefs are especially sensitive to increased temperatures above what they typically see in the summer.

What does it all mean?

It means that we are at risk of losing one of the most spectacular ecosystems ever seen on this planet, in your generation. Sure, some reefs are doing OK and others are in fact thriving. But not in Florida. There are all sorts of reasons to explain away what's happening in Florida as some natural response to conditions that don't have anything to do with people, and you would be partly right. But you would be partly wrong too. That's why it's so important to be responsible about how we use and manage our reefs in Florida. We can do things to recover fisheries. We can do things to improve water quality. We can do things to manage different user groups in a compatible way (that is diving and fishing). All of these things are happening in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. If we are lucky, our grandchildren will see something of the reefs we have today.

Enough of the soapbox.

You might guess I had a bit more time today to write? After finishing up yesterday Steve and I shifted gears for this morning's dive. I started my gastropod collections and Steve continued his fish surveys. We're up to 135 species of fish seen on this mission; Steve Gittings is conducting daily reef surveys. So far we have recorded new species on every dive. The gastropods will be sent to the Sunderlund's - world experts - for identification. I've also continued my reef cleanup, where I pick up rope and fishing line that's tangled and abandoned on the reef. This morning I came back with a large mesh bag that was stuffed full. I could come back with a dozen full mesh bags if that's all I did on a dive. The reefs really take a beating from fishing gear and anchors that snag the bottom.

As we move into our final days I have to say that I'm feeling pretty good. The skin "funk" has thankfully spared me, so far. Assorted cuts and scrapes aren't getting any worse. In fact, all the pain seems to disappear as soon as the dive starts. Only to return when showering after each dive. It's perhaps surprising, but the things that most limit us in Aquarius are not technical or scientific. Rather, earaches and skin problems can put an end to comfort and even in some cases diving, when they get too severe. Hibiclense works OK and our eardrops are pretty good, but the funk still strikes and ears still get sore. So, if there are any skin specialists or doctors out there with creative ideas about how to take care of skin and ears under pressure and the constant assault of the sea and humidity, drop us a line. You will be our hero.