Piner High School STEAM Certificate

SPARQ Planetarium - Coral Reef Adventure

Ilene Gutierrez

Presentation Topic: SPARQ Digital Theater - Coral Reef Adventure

Presenters: Mac Gillivray Film, Featuring Howard and Michele Hall
Date: Thursday, April 11, 2024

Presentation Summary:
Howard and Michele Hall, professional underwater cinematographers, set off on a
10-month expedition across the South Pacific to explore and document some of Fiji’s endangered
coral reefs. The special coral reef biomes in Fiji have survived for more than 60 million years
and remain in tact, yet they suffer from problems such as ocean warming, overfishing, and
saltation.
As explained in the presentation, diversity strengthens coral reefs and creates more
survival systems. Corals take the form of flowering plants and stones, but all corals are animals.
Along with this, it was important for me to have learned that the largest living structures in the
world, coral reefs, are built by small animals. Cooperation between corals, fish, and other
organisms sustains life in coral reefs. Without fish, coral reefs die; in return, hard corals located
near the surface of the reefs produce limestone that provides homes and hiding places for fish.
This cooperation is similar to that of the Gobi Fish and Bulldozer Shrimp, which work together
to stay protected against predators and create homes. Helper algae are also an essential part of a
coral reef biome; they produce sugar, which is the primary source that gives corals the energy to
build reefs.
Throughout their expedition, Howard and Michele are contacted by Reece, an inhabitant
of an island in the Pacific Ocean, who seeks their help to find the causes of the damaged biomes
in his native coral reefs. Together, the three explore the local coral reefs and document their
temperatures and loss of species. They discover the cause of the damage in the reefs, and realize
it was due to ocean warming, saltation, and foreign fishing fleets that have overfished Reece’s
native coral reefs. To further understand these causes, Michele and Howard also explore
surrounding islands in the Pacific Ocean, such as the Great Barrier Reef. They compare the
differences between the healthy biomes of the Great Barrier Reef and Reece’s damaged native
reefs. In the Great Barrier Reef, several species of animals, such as the potato cod, gobi fish, and
bulldozer shrimp, were found thriving in the oceans waters; unlike in Reece’s reef.
In addition, they contacted local scientists, such as Richard Pile, to explore the deep
waters of the Barrier Reef to research and capture information on any unknown species.
Although their main goal was to see how protection from overfishing has helped coral reefs
thrive, In this expedition, Richard and Howard dove 350 feet below the reef and faced pressures
12 times greater than normal. Both divers had to complete their research while also taking
precautions to prevent them from getting little or too much oxygen that could essentially kill
them or cause them to get decompression sickness, also known as the bends. However, both
researchers soon left after discovering a dozen new fish species. They then return to Reece’s
home island with their newly found information, where he explains that coral reefs can be found
worldwide, but Fiji is the soft coral capital of the world.
Coral reefs are not only a vital part of fish life, but they are also necessary for Pacific
Islanders, like Reece and his community. Over 300 million people rely on fish from reefs, along
with food and for medicinal purposes. Coral reefs also protect tropical coasts from high tides and
large underwater predators. Additionally, chemical compounds from coral reefs provide reliefs
from chronic pain, ease child birth and even extend the life of age patients. In hospitals, doctors
use calcium carbonate that comes from coral, to mend broken bones and restore health.

Questions:
I also have a few questions: How has the creation of new coral reefs evolved over time?
How have Pacific Islanders like Reece learned to take care of their reefs from saltation?
Why was the river blocked off from running fresh water to Reece’s native coral reefs?

Reflection:

After getting a further understanding of the importance of Coral Reefs and the work of
Howard and Michele Hall, I was left both amazed and inspired. I learned about the immense
significance of coral reefs to both sea life and humans, as they provide homes, food, medicinal
compounds, and much more. Several aspects of this presentation made me thing about past
experiences where I wanted to pursue a career in marine biology. This film made me realize the
lives that are at risk if coral reefs fail to thrive due to problems of saltation, ocean warming, and
overfishing. In addition, Howard and Michele’s provided information on Coral Reefs in their
film further enhances my knowledge on Pacific Islanders and their jobs of protecting
surrounding sea life and coral reefs. It was also interesting for me to have learned about the
precautions that need to be taken before diving in deeper parts of the ocean. Although I probably
wouldn’t agree to dive in the deepest, darkest depths of the ocean, it was amazing seeing people
who are both fascinated and excited to do so. I found it impactful how people are taking the
initiative to research and explore damaged coral reefs to sustain healthy ones and restore those
who are destroyed.

STEAMIFY:

Coral Reef Haiku Poem:

I provide shelter

Colorful and full of fish

I’m a coral reef