ADOPT A CORAL
Engage in a first of its kind research study on coral growth and resillience with Mineral Accretion Technology.
THE STUDY
Phase two of the coral project around Fregate Island is a research study led by Julie Pezin, a marine biologist master student from the Côte d’Azur University, France. She will publish all results and findings in her master thesis around summer 2023.
The research aims to compare different durations of electrification to allow the Mineral Accretion Technology to be even more sustainable by using the least amount of electricity whilst still benefiting from the positive effects on corals. Julie and the conservation team on Fregate will compare four different setups: 10 structures are electrified all day, while 10 only for 12hrs during the day, another 10 for only 12hrs during the night and the last 10 structures will serve as control group, not receiving any electrical stimulation. On each reef structure, 4 coral fragments of 4 different coral species are randomly distributed.
The team will closely monitor survival rates, growth rates, their resilience and recovery during seasonal heat waves as well as algae settlement on the structures. Supportive data will be provided by the recently installed smartbuoy from Sofar, which measures and records live surface and bottom temperatures, wave heights & direction as well as wind strength & direction.
BE PART OF IT
You can participate in this promising research project and actively make a difference by donating either a complete coral dome structure or just partially covering it with corals.
A small donation to plant a coral fragment and support the NGO‘s work is also possible.
The donations will directly go to the Fregate Island Foundation, the non-profit organization contributing to the conservation & preservation of Fregate Island.
