Aquarium Researchers Measure Impacts of El Nino On Some of the World's Most Isolated Coral Reefs

WHAT: Last August, New England Aquarium researchers traveled to some of the world’s most isolated coral reefs in the in the Central Pacific to measure the impact of the warming El Nino on the coral reef health. They also tagged hundreds of sharks, assessed the impact of shipwrecks on the surrounding marine habitats and looked for climate change indicators around the Phoenix Islands Protected Area (PIPA).

PIPA is an archipelago of extremely remote coral reefs in the Central Pacific Ocean where the international dateline meets the equator. The New England Aquarium has been involved with PIPA since 2000 and was instrumental in getting it designated one of the world’s largest marine protected areas. Located more than 1,000 miles southwest of Hawaii, the area is far enough away from the rest of the world that it is able to act as a natural climate change laboratory since many other human impacts are less prevalent. Aquarium researchers are better able to monitor for signs of coral reef damage and resilience due to rising water temperatures.

WHO: The New England Aquarium’s 2015 Phoenix Islands Expedition Team - Randi Rotjan, PhD, Associate Research Scientist, Julie Cavin, DVM, Associate Veterinarian, and Peter Gawne, Senior Aquarist - will share highlights, impressions and research findings from the trip as they work to preserve this irreplaceable ecosystem.

WHEN: The free lecture takes place Thursday, May 19 at 7 p.m.

WHERE: New England Aquarium’s Simons IMAX Theatre, Central Wharf, Boston, Mass.

REGISTRATION: Pre-registration is encouraged at: http://support.neaq.org/site/Calendar?id=106447&view=Detail

THANKS: The Aquarium’s series of free lectures, films and discussions is made possible by the generous support of the Lowell Institute.