Objective: Science

Coral reefs are sometimes called the rainforests of the ocean, full of whimsical creatures that fill specific and often surprising ecological niches. But, like rainforests, on land, coral reefs all over the world are under siege.

Picture a coral reef with colorful fish flit between coral knobs, hiding in the crevices of branching coral. A manta ray glides by, majestically flapping its wings. But in one corner, small patches of green seaweed called macroalgae are beginning to grow. They start out small, but soon cover the coral colonies, gradually cutting off their access to light. Eventually the once vibrant seascape resembles a bumpy lawn of fleshy macroalgae carpeting the strangled coral.

Healthy reef seascape in Palau with low
macroalgae growth. Photo by Hannah Barkley

Unfortunately this sad story is repeating itself around the world, especially in the Caribbean. On this expedition, we hope to collect samples that will help us investigate what may be causing the decline in coral reef health here. People often think of tropical seas as warm and delightful places to swim, but they are actually a very hard environment for marine organisms. Corals have adapted to the low nutrient levels found in the tropics by working together with their symbiotic algae to cycle nutrients efficiently and eke out every bit of energy from their surroundings.

In contrast, macroalgae usually have far more trouble growing in these conditions. However, if the environment becomes more hospitable for macroalgae they can outcompete the corals, gradually overrunning the coral reef. Macroalgae do play a role on the reef by providing food for herbivorous fish, so they aren’t all bad, but it’s important that all the inhabitants of the reef live in balance rather than one tipping the scales and taking over at the expense of the others.


It would be great if scientists could pinpoint one factor that favors macroalgae over corals. Unfortunately, it looks like there are a lot of factors, some of which are very difficult to address. Extra nutrients entering the reef through fertilizer runoff or human waste, as well as the decline of herbivorous fish can give macroalgae a leg up.

Reef in Taiwan with macroalgae overgrowing corals.
Photo by Tom DeCarlo

In the Caribbean, disease has also wiped out some of the faster-growing corals, and killed off sea urchins that eat macroalgae. Given this foothold, macroalgae can take advantage of additional opportunities, such as disease, nutrient input, or overfishing of their predators to grow unchecked. In addition, stresses like rising temperatures and ocean acidification make it harder for corals to keep themselves ahead of macroalgal growth.

Many of these processes are related to human activity, but there are also natural impacts on coral reef ecosystems. My team is interested in how natural climate swings can also affect reef health. On this expedition, we will collect as many corals as we can from many sites in the Caribbean to investigate coral health in the context of natural climate variability. Here we go!

-Alice Alpert