珊瑚和解项目
珊瑚是令人着迷的动物，可以通过产卵和无性地通过破碎来繁殖。在莫桑比克，科学家正在研究珊瑚产卵，尤其是这些小珊瑚幼虫落在礁石上，以深入了解珊瑚礁的长期健康。
珊瑚spawning and the recruitment of coral larvae is an important indicator as to whether or not the reef will be viable in the long-term. How many corals settle and survive into adult colonies can help determine if the coral reefs are in decline or will continue to thrive.
如果礁石有大量的成年殖民地，但没有接受新的婴儿珊瑚，随着时间的流逝，它可能会下降。预计具有更高和解率的礁石将继续增长。
当珊瑚产卵时，鸡蛋和精子会形成一个配子（受精卵），该配子生长成微小的珊瑚幼虫。这些幼虫可能会在当前的礁石上飘落，从它们起源的地方定居，或者它们可以定居在父母殖民地附近。一旦建立，幼虫将变成一个单一的珊瑚息肉，该息肉继续成长为珊瑚菌落。
The connectivity (the distance each larva travels) between reefs is important for genetic diversity. Corals with mixed genetics can be resilient to environmental threats like climate change and genetic diversity can safeguard against diseases which could wipe-out large areas of reef.
David Glassom博士from the University of Kwazulu-Natal studies coral settlement and coral spawning in Mozambique. With the help of NGO’s, Scientists and Dive Lodges Dr. Glassom created the珊瑚和解项目在2016年。
(C) and bottom (D) surfaces of tiles. Circling each with a pencil helps to count them precisely.
Settlement Tiles
To study coral settlement, teams at eight sites in Mozambique deploy rough unglazed ceramic tiles on the reef in the hopes that baby corals will settle. After 12 weeks, the tiles are removed from the ocean and bleached to remove the soft tissue and biofouling organisms to expose the microscopic coral skeleton.
Each coral species has a distinct skeleton which can determine its species from a single polyp stage. The single polyp skeletons are 1-2mm across, and the use of a microscope or magnifying glass will help identify each species.
The Coral Settlement Project in Mozambique examines recruitment on eight sites on the Mozambique coast, from Ponta Do Ouro in the south to the northern province of Cabo Delgado. Settlements patterns are then compared between reefs and between latitudes. However, it is still too early in the study to draw conclusions from the results.
在哪里定居
It is important the larvae find the right conditions to settle, or the larvae will be unable to grow into a new coral. Coral larvae prefer pink and white, the color of coralline algae, and a healthy reef. Tiny larvae have the ability to游泳短距离找到合适的栖息地；但是，在退化的礁石上，他们可能永远找不到家。
On degraded reefs, corals and rocks are often overgrown by algae and the substrate could be silty or mucky. When this happens baby corals may never find a suitable place to settle and, even if they do, the newly settles coral can be quickly overgrown by algae.
通过衡量礁石上的和解率，可以开始确定珊瑚礁再生的整体健康和能力。具有更高定居率和更大连通性的礁石向健康的弹性礁信号。
我们很想知道这项研究的结果，我们将在几个月内提供更多信息时进行跟进。
The Coral Settlement Project would not be possible without: The marine biology research station on Inhaca Island (EBMI), which is part of Eduardo Mondlane University, Lurio University in Pemba,Nuarro Lodge，Zavora Marine Lab和Gozo Azul在Ponta的潜水会做URO。有很多个人和其他潜水行动以不同的方式提供帮助，但太多了。
