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Science Projects on the Caribbean Reef

The Meso-American Caribbean Reef (MACR) system is the largest of its kind in the Americas. The atolls, barrier and fringing reefs are home to a diverse array of marine wildlife and large beds of sea grass. The eco-region extends about 450 miles from the northern tip of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula to the Cochinos Cays off the north coast of Honduras. The Barrier Reef of Belize has the largest concentration of reefs in the complex.

Corals
- Coral reefs support the most biologically diverse ecosystems of all the marine biomes. The structural foundation of the habitat is formed by the coral animals. A science project focusing on the animals could examine their feeding habits and diets. Corals could be raised in a saltwater aquarium for closer observation. The unusual spawning habits and reproductive cycle of the corals is a rich area for research and study. The mechanics of how the animals build a reef could be studied in depth.
Invertebrates
- Cataloging and studying the many species of invertebrate organisms would make an interesting reef project. A mini-reef could be maintained in a saltwater aquarium for close study of the behavioral patterns of the animals. Sponges are some of the most colorful and abundant of the reef's inhabitants. There are many kinds of echinoderms that dwell in the Caribbean Reef that could be raised in an aquarium for study. Dried starfish and sea urchins can be collected for anatomy study.
Threats
- At the beginning of the 21st century reef systems around the world have been growing slowly or are starting to die off. Large areas of the Caribbean Reef have been lost to bleaching, a type of coral disease. A scientific study could be conducted to enumerate and analyze the causes of threats and their possible prevention. The effects of water pollution on the reef from tourism, coastal development and agro-chemical runoff can be studied as well as the effects of hurricanes and natural sedimentation.
Fish
- The fluctuating levels of different fish populations could be studied. Students can postulate reasons for the decline of certain fish species. Unsustainable fishing practices, degradation of the skeletal reef habitat and global warming can be investigated as correlates of the fish de-population. The overall integration of the fish with the rest of the reef and how they interact as a unit can be studied. For instance, the balance of the system can be upset by a decline of parrot fish, which keep algae under control.

Nature