Research

The Buccoo Reef Trust is enhancing people's knowledge through the following research projects:

• Tobago Coastal Ecosystem Mapping Project - In partnership with the Coral Cay Conservation this project is developing habitat maps that highlight invertebrate, fish, algae, marine plant and coral diversity as well as human impacts and coral diseases on Tobago's reefs, while providing training and conservation education opportunities for the local Tobago Population.

• Coral reef monitoring - In partnership with the University of the West Indies this project evaluates how runoff (sediment, nutrient and freshwater inputs) influences coral reef communities, trophic pathways and coral growth. this work supports the objectives of the Integrated Watershed and Coastal Area Management project.

• An Assessment of Coral Reef Health and the Impact of Ocean Acidification - In partnership with the US Geological Survey this pilot project is evaluating the effects of global warming on coral reef habitats and the physiology of corals. This pilot project will serve as a model of how to assess coral refs throughout the world respond to our changing environment.

• Opportunities are available for local and international university students to conduct marine related research at the Trust.

Habitat map of the Buccoo Reef                                                    Researcher filming video transect

Volunteers learning coral classification                                                            Coral Cay Conservation volunteers and local scholars

University student collecting data on coral colony                                           Conducting surveys of diseased corals