New Species Discovered in French Frigate Shoals
On October 8, a group of researchers set sail from Honolulu aboard NOAA's research vessel the Oscar Elton Sette en route to French Frigate Shoals, the largest atoll in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. The crew included taxonomists, marine biologists, oceanographers, dive specialists, and photographers—all eager to document the species that team in the waters that surround the shoals.
The expedition was one of discovery. The researchers were tasked with collecting and identifying the many small plants and animals that inhabit French Frigate Shoals' reef environment.
French Frigate Shoals (or Kanemiloha'i in Hawaiian) consists of a 20-mile crescent-shaped coral reef, a dozen sandy islets, and a lone peak—La Perouse Pinnacle—the only hint of the shoals' vocanic origin. It is among the most remote and pristine coral reef habitats in the world and is now protected as part of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine National Monument.
During the 12-day expedition, the team collected, classified, named, and discovered. New species of purple sea stars, hermit crabs, sea cucumbers, reef brachiopods, coral, and sea squirts were among the creatures documented during the trip. And best of all, they described their work in journal entries that are packed with stunning images and are a joy to read:
- Days 1–3: En Route to French Frigate Shoals
- Day 4: First Day of Field Operations
- Day 5: The Perfect Shot
- Day 8: New Species
- Day 9: Habitats and Their Inhabitants
- Day 10-12: New Species, New Records
- Final Days: Rubble Dreams
Here's an exerpt from the the last journal entry, written by NOAA's NWHI Marine National Monument Educational Coordinator, Andy Collins:
There is something extremely peaceful about scuba diving along a stretch of sand and rubble, moving at less than a snails pace, examining every hole in the surface, every tiny piece of algae or sponge, with only the sound of my breathing. It is a sort of trance state, a meditation upon the ocean’s bottom, and the bounty of life that covers every centimeter of rubble, or the tiny burrows in the sand. ~ Andy Collins, 'Rubble Dreams'
I've been pouring over these journals for hours this evening, dreaming of being able to explore such a place and see so many fascinating creatures.
Notes:
1. The images shown in this article were obtained here and here. They are courtesy of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine National Monument, Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuge, the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands State Marine Refuge, and NOAA's Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center in accordance with permit numbers NWHIMNM-2006-015, 2006-01, 2006-017, and DLNR.NWHI06R021 and associated ammendments.
2. Census of Coral Reefs is a project aimed at gaining more knowledge of the species that inhabit coral reef ecosystems. That knowledge can then be used to better protect reef ecosystems. CReefs also hopes to improve the sharing of scientific research about coral reefs. And through that sharing, they hope to enable the protection of reef ecosystems on an international scale.
Find out more:
- French Frigate Shoals (Hawaiian Atolls)
- New Species Found On the CReefs Expedition to French Frigate Shoals (Creefs)
- Census of Marine Life (COML)
- Trove of New Species at French Frigate Shoals (Honolulu Advertiser)
Top: Photo © Joel Martin / NOAA. This image illustrates the soft tail of the hermit crab without its shell. Bottom: Photo © Gustav Paulay / NOAA. A species of Dardanus hermit crabs which is potentially undescribed; this is one found in shallow habitats.
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