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May 2010 E-Current

E-Current
May 2010

In this Issue: Photo Contest Winner • Going Big in the Blue • Invasion of the Lionfish • Shipping Threatens the Great Barrier Reef

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Feature Location: Hawaii
Naso Tang (Naso lituratus)
The Naso tang, whose bright orange lips have earned it the common moniker "lipstick tang," is a member of the surgeonfish family. Like all surgeonfish, Naso tangs have scalpel-like spines near the base of their tails that they can deploy for protection. However, whereas most surgeonfish have just one set of these protective spines, Naso tangs have two. Naso tangs can also change color rapidly and dramatically depending on their mood and environment. This Naso tang was photographed in Hawaii, where coral reefs support more than twenty species of surgeonfish. Learn more about our programs in Hawaii »

Help the Reefs Quick Tip
Pictures are often worth a thousand words, and we are always looking for high-quality photographs from coral reef locations. If you're a photographer—amateur or professional—please let us know if you'd be willing to share some of your photographs with us. We love both underwater and topside shots!
More on our site »

Coral Reefs in the News

Moray Eels: The Most Cosmopolitan of Reef Fish, but Why?
Source: ScienceDaily

Reef May Not Recover for 20 Years
Source: The Press Association

Belize Declares All-Out War on Venomous Invading Lionfish
Source: The Reporter

Turtles Killed 'In Millions' by Fishing Gear
Source: BBC News

Great Barrier Reef Oil Disaster Fear from Stricken Ship
Source: BBC News

More News...

Spine-Cheek Anemonefish (Premnas biaculeatus), Wakatobi, Indonesia by Matt Grace

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	Photo Contest Winner Announced! Congratulations to Matt Grace from Encinitas, CA, who is this month's winner of the E-Current Photo Contest. Matt's image of a spine-cheek anemonefish in its colorful anemone home beautifully highlights the important symbiotic relationships that have developed on coral reefs. Click below to download Matt's image as your desktop wallpaper and learn more about the photo contest. Download the photo »

	Going Big in the Blue Though they may be easy to see in person, the ocean's largest creatures can be quite tricky to capture well on film. In this month's photo tip column, photographer Jeff Yonover shares strategies for taking arresting images of large marine animals. Read the story »

	Invasion of the Lionfish As if the Caribbean's coral reefs weren't under enough stress already, the relatively recent introduction of lionfish to the area threatens to wreak havoc on struggling reefs. Lionfish are voracious predators, consuming anything that will fit in their mouths, and they have no natural predators in the Caribbean. That's why people are doing their best to step into that role. Removing lionfish from the reef is a tricky business, but CORAL's Valentine Rosado is helping out in Belize. Read the story »

	Shipping: A Dual Threat to the Great Barrier Reef On April 3, a tanker carrying coal from Australia to China crashed into Australia's Great Barrier Reef, causing extensive long-term damage to a wide section of the reef. The accident has brought to light broader environmental concerns—beyond the immediate impact the ship has had on this particular reef, its fossil fuel cargo will spell trouble for reefs all around the world. Read the story »

* Photo Credits and Notes:
Banner Photo: Christmas Tree Worm, Roatan, Honduras
Photographer: Planeta Azul
Large Center Photo: Spine-Cheek Anemonefish (Premnas biaculeatus), Wakatobi, Indonesia
Photographer: Matt Grace
Left Side Photo: Naso tang (Naso lituratus), Hawaii
Photographer: Jim Tolonen

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May 2010 E-Current

Coral Reefs in the News

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