The Reef Resilience Network’s podcast, Reef Exchanges, features conversations between Network team members and experts from around the world. Each episode featu...
Vertical Connectivity with Camille Kaczmar and Dr. Jessica Bellworthy
As climate change threatens tropical coral reefs with warming waters, the search for areas where water temperature remains relatively cool during warming events has become a critical area of research. One avenue of research—known as the Deep Reef Refugia Hypothesis—is investigating whether mesophotic coral ecosystems can provide sanctuary for tropical corals facing warming sea surface temperatures. A key aspect of the Deep Reef Refugia Hypothesis is vertical connectivity—how larvae and genetic material move between shallow and deeper reefs. In this episode, Camille explains the context for why mesophotic reefs and vertical connectivity are relevant for reef resilience, and Dr. Bellworthy walks us through research she conducted to test the Deep Reef Refugia Hypothesis in the Gulf of Aqaba. Visit mesopotic.org to learn more about mesophotic ecosystems.
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Getting Started with MPA Enforcement with Sunny Tellwright
In this episode, Henry Borrebach and Kristen Maize from the Reef Resilience Network are joined by Sunny Tellwright, Program Manager for Ocean Technology & Innovation at Conservation International, to discuss MPA Enforcement.MPA Enforcement, better understood as Monitoring, Control, Surveillance, and Enforcement (MCS&E), can be critical to effective coral reef management efforts, and many members of the Reef Resilience Network have identified enforcement as an area where they need more training and support. To address these needs, the Network, in partnership with Blue Nature Alliance and in close collaboration with WildAid, is developing a suite of online resources (including this Reef Exchanges episode, a webinar, case study, and online toolkit) for marine managers on MPA Enforcement. During this episode, Sunny provides an overview of the core concepts behind MCS&E, including how context-dependent and people-powered MCS&E systems are, while also touching on nuances and key considerations for managers to keep in mind as they being to scope their own MCS&E systems.
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Making the Case for Nature-Based Wastewater Solutions with Rob McDonald
In this episode, Henry Borrebach and Kristen Maize from the Reef Resilience Network are joined by Rob McDonald, Lead Scientist for Nature-based Solutions at The Nature Conservancy, to discuss Nature-based Solutions for managing wastewater pollution. Nature-based Solutions provide an alternative to traditional gray infrastructure by using natural processes to capture and treat contaminated water before discharging it into the ocean or waterways. Wastewater can have negative impacts on coral reefs and human health, primarily through transporting pathogens, nutrients, and contaminants into the ocean. It is estimated that 80% of wastewater globally is discharged into the environment without any treatment at all. In addition to introducing Nature-based Solutions and how they combat wastewater pollution, Rob helps us work through how marine managers can make the case for Nature-based Solutions. These tips can be used to build support for Nature-based Solutions with your colleagues, partners, funders, and others, helping to implement low-cost, long-term solutions to wastewater pollution with lasting multiple benefits for us all.
The Reef Resilience Network’s podcast, Reef Exchanges, features conversations between Network team members and experts from around the world. Each episode features an in-depth discussion around a new development in marine science and management. You can listen to episodes below, or where ever you get your podcasts.
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