Elkhorn Coral in La Parguera, Puerto Rico
Funded by the NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program, the online database facilitates a variety of coral reef research, management and educational opportunities. More than a thousand new digital images were added to the searchable database providing high resolution digital photographs of fish, hard and soft corals, hydroids, sea grass, sponges and other invertebrates, vertebrates and algae, which can be directly downloaded via the Internet.
"These new photographs are an additional component to a larger database providing public access to fish and habitat data for the Caribbean, and are the result of long-term research activities that have been conducted jointly with our federal, territorial and academic partners," said Tom McGrath, database developer for NOAA Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment. "NOAA is hopeful others in research and reef management, and the public at large will enjoy the benefits of such an expansive visual display of our nation's off-shore habitats."
Green Moray in La Parguera, Puerto Rico
Coral reefs are some of the most biologically rich and economically valuable ecosystems on Earth. Corals contribute to the food supply, jobs and income, coastal protection and other important services to billions of people worldwide. Yet they are threatened by an increasing array of impacts from overexploitation, pollution, habitat loss, invasive species, diseases, bleaching and global climate change.
Rapid decline and loss of these valuable, ancient and complex marine ecosystems have significant social, economic and environmental consequences in the United States and around the world. NOAA helps coastal communities, managers, scientists and other partners to understand and sustainably manage coral reef ecosystems.
Photos courtesy of NOAA.
