Corals– tiny animals that form structures so large they can be seen from space– provide food and habitat for a quarter of all marine life. Half a billion people worldwide depend on coral reef ecosystems for their food and livelihood. Yet, corals worldwide are facing unprecedented threats.

Marine ecologist Dr. Adrienne Correa is studying corals in the waters around the South Pacific island of Moorea. Through her research, she hopes to better understand how corals form symbiotic relationships with algae and other microscopic organisms that affect their survival. 

Scott speaks with Dr. Correa during her research expedition to this remote South Pacific Island, where she witnessed incredible natural phenomena and gained new insights into corals and their symbiotic partners.

Correa Lab: owlnet.rice.edu/~ac53/

 @adriennescorrea and @correalab

Gump Research Station: moorea.berkeley.edu. 

This episode of Wild World was produced by 3Wire Creative with support from Lindblad Expeditions and the Rice Alumni Traveling Owls. Visit alumni.rice.edu/travelingowls or expeditions.com to get more information about their trips to the South Pacific and other destinations and to book your cabin for the experience of a lifetime.

https://wild-world.captivate.fm/traveling-owls

Mentioned in this episode:

Next week we travel to Brazil to find ants!

Lindblad Expeditions

The Rice Alumni Traveling Owls program offers exciting intellectual itineraries to destinations across the globe. Traveling Owls trips serve as a catalyst for lifelong learning and strengthen bonds between Rice University alumni and friends. You don’t have to be a Rice alum to participate in Traveling Owls programs. Visit alumni.rice.edu/travelingowls to see a list of upcoming trips.

Rice Traveling Owls

Lindblad Expeditions