• 📸: Photographer not known Black mangroves (Avicennia germinans) is one of three true mangrove species found in Jamaica, along with red and white mangroves. Black mangroves grow in muddy waterlogged soil. Waterlogged soil has little to no oxygen in it, and like all plants, black mangroves need oxygen. As an adaptation to these conditions, black mangroves have 'breathing roots' called pneumatophores, which some say look like pencils poking upwards out of the soil - to take in oxygen from the atmosphere. @dayne_buddo @franticbornemisza @mareymann @tba_21 @tba21academy @denhen_ja @fabatkinson @machel77 @nikkizofficial @officialwaynej @thirdworldband #pattyelkus #mangrove #mangroves #blackmangrove #avicennia #pneumatophores #breathingroots #tropical #coast #swamp #marsh #naturegram #wildlifejamaica
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    📸: Photographer not known Black mangroves (Avicennia germinans) is one of three true mangrove species found in Jamaica, along with red and white mangroves. Black mangroves grow in muddy waterlogged soil. Waterlogged soil has little to no oxygen in it, and like all plants, black mangroves need oxygen. As an adaptation to these conditions, black mangroves have 'breathing roots' called pneumatophores, which some say look like pencils poking upwards out of the soil - to take in oxygen from the atmosphere. @dayne_buddo @franticbornemisza @mareymann @tba_21 @tba21academy @denhen_ja @fabatkinson @machel77 @nikkizofficial @officialwaynej @thirdworldband #pattyelkus #mangrove #mangroves #blackmangrove #avicennia #pneumatophores #breathingroots #tropical #coast #swamp #marsh #naturegram #wildlifejamaica
  • 📸: Alligator Head Foundation This guy (or gal?) was skating by us during our dive this morning, and so we quickly snapped a photograph. Yellow spotted stingrays (Urobatis jamaicensis) are widespread across the Caribbean, and as their common name suggests, they tend to be pale coloured on their upper bodies, which are scattered with a network of dark spots. Yellow stingrays can readily adjust their coloration for camouflage. These round stingrays also never exceed over a foot in length. Like all other stingrays, they have a venomous spine near the base of their tail fin, and are harmless to humans, but will inflict a painful wound if accidental interactions happen. @dayne_buddo @franticbornemisza @mareymann @tba_21 @tba21academy @denhen_ja @fabatkinson @machel77 @nikkizofficial @officialwaynej @thirdworldband #pattyelkus #stingray #yellowstingray #coralreef #marine #ocean #marinelife #marineconservation #naturegram #wildlifejamaica #jamaica #caribbean #alligatorheadfoundation
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    📸: Alligator Head Foundation This guy (or gal?) was skating by us during our dive this morning, and so we quickly snapped a photograph. Yellow spotted stingrays (Urobatis jamaicensis) are widespread across the Caribbean, and as their common name suggests, they tend to be pale coloured on their upper bodies, which are scattered with a network of dark spots. Yellow stingrays can readily adjust their coloration for camouflage. These round stingrays also never exceed over a foot in length. Like all other stingrays, they have a venomous spine near the base of their tail fin, and are harmless to humans, but will inflict a painful wound if accidental interactions happen. @dayne_buddo @franticbornemisza @mareymann @tba_21 @tba21academy @denhen_ja @fabatkinson @machel77 @nikkizofficial @officialwaynej @thirdworldband #pattyelkus #stingray #yellowstingray #coralreef #marine #ocean #marinelife #marineconservation #naturegram #wildlifejamaica #jamaica #caribbean #alligatorheadfoundation
  • 📸: Anderson B. Mayfield, CCA in Fiji We know - this looks like pink cement poured on the reef, right? Admittedly, some coral scientists might describe one of the main functions of this unassuming component of coral reefs as just that. Photographed is crustose coralline algae (abbreviated CCA), and although it does not look like other well-known algae such as Halimeda or sargassum, it actually photosynthesizes in the same way. More importantly, CCA acts as the 'cement' of the coral reef complex; it fills crevices and sites of weakness - it simply holds the reef structure altogether. A reef devoid of CCA is like a house built with blocks but no cement. Another vital feature is that it provides surface for coral larvae to settle and become established on the reef. @dayne_buddo @franticbornemisza @mareymann @tba_21 @tba21academy @denhen_ja @fabatkinson @machel77 @nikkizofficial @officialwaynej @thirdworldband #crustosecorallinealgae #cca #corallinealgae #algae #coral #coralreef #marine #marinescience #marinelife #marineconservation #pink #fiji #tropical #alligatorheadfoundation #naturegram
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    📸: Anderson B. Mayfield, CCA in Fiji We know - this looks like pink cement poured on the reef, right? Admittedly, some coral scientists might describe one of the main functions of this unassuming component of coral reefs as just that. Photographed is crustose coralline algae (abbreviated CCA), and although it does not look like other well-known algae such as Halimeda or sargassum, it actually photosynthesizes in the same way. More importantly, CCA acts as the 'cement' of the coral reef complex; it fills crevices and sites of weakness - it simply holds the reef structure altogether. A reef devoid of CCA is like a house built with blocks but no cement. Another vital feature is that it provides surface for coral larvae to settle and become established on the reef. @dayne_buddo @franticbornemisza @mareymann @tba_21 @tba21academy @denhen_ja @fabatkinson @machel77 @nikkizofficial @officialwaynej @thirdworldband #crustosecorallinealgae #cca #corallinealgae #algae #coral #coralreef #marine #marinescience #marinelife #marineconservation #pink #fiji #tropical #alligatorheadfoundation #naturegram
  • 📸: James Holloway If you've gone snorkeling near Jamaican coral reefs, you would have likely encountered the small tropical fish in the photograph. It is called a sergeant major (Abudefduf saxatilis) - named for their bold stripes that can be compared to those traditionally worn by sergeants in the military. Their colour depends on the fish's stage in life, and also where it inhabits around the reef; these fish display a lighter colour if they live near sandy bottoms, and a darker coloration when near reef crevices. These fish generally swim in small groups but during nesting periods and for protection from predators, the small groups will come together to form large schools. @dayne_buddo @franticbornemisza @mareymann @tba_21 @tba21academy @denhen_ja @fabatkinson @machel77 @nikkizofficial @officialwaynej @thirdworldband #sergeantmajor #abudefduf #tropical #tropicalfish #reeffish #coralreef #marine #marinelife #marineconservation #wildlifejamaica #naturegram #jamaica #caribbean #alligatorheadfoundation
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    📸: James Holloway If you've gone snorkeling near Jamaican coral reefs, you would have likely encountered the small tropical fish in the photograph. It is called a sergeant major (Abudefduf saxatilis) - named for their bold stripes that can be compared to those traditionally worn by sergeants in the military. Their colour depends on the fish's stage in life, and also where it inhabits around the reef; these fish display a lighter colour if they live near sandy bottoms, and a darker coloration when near reef crevices. These fish generally swim in small groups but during nesting periods and for protection from predators, the small groups will come together to form large schools. @dayne_buddo @franticbornemisza @mareymann @tba_21 @tba21academy @denhen_ja @fabatkinson @machel77 @nikkizofficial @officialwaynej @thirdworldband #sergeantmajor #abudefduf #tropical #tropicalfish #reeffish #coralreef #marine #marinelife #marineconservation #wildlifejamaica #naturegram #jamaica #caribbean #alligatorheadfoundation
  • One of our ambassadors, the ever graceful @nikkizofficial, getting in a snorkel this morning with the team, while reef surveys were being carried out. Come down to AHF and snorkel in our bay too, as part of our new watersports centre. Check our highlights called Water Sports for more details! #Repost @nikkizofficial (@get_repost) ・・・ A little ackward 🤷🏾‍♀️ on the water with @alligatorheadfoundation while they survey the corral reef I observe via snorkel. Check instastories for more @franticbornemisza @mareymann @dayne_buddo @fabatkinson @nikkiznewz #OceanConservation
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    One of our ambassadors, the ever graceful @nikkizofficial, getting in a snorkel this morning with the team, while reef surveys were being carried out. Come down to AHF and snorkel in our bay too, as part of our new watersports centre. Check our highlights called Water Sports for more details! #Repost @nikkizofficial (@get_repost) ・・・ A little ackward 🤷🏾‍♀️ on the water with @alligatorheadfoundation while they survey the corral reef I observe via snorkel. Check instastories for more @franticbornemisza @mareymann @dayne_buddo @fabatkinson @nikkiznewz #OceanConservation
  • 📸: Tihansky and Rogers, USGS As we mentioned in a previous post, red mangroves have prop roots - specialised roots that grow from the trunk and branches of the tree downwards into the water, ensuring that the red mangrove stands tall when it comes into contact with wave energy. Beneath the surface of these red mangrove roots - whether at Alligator Head Foundation, or anywhere in the wild - lies an invaluable habitat for an array of marine and estuarine organisms. Prop roots act as nurseries and provide protection for several species of fish, as well as various species of sponges, barnacles, oysters (as seen in aggregates in the photograph), sea squirts, sea anemones and other invertebrates. #redmangroves #rhizophoramangle #mangroves #mangrove #proproots #marinelife #marineconservation #oysters #fish #seaanemone #mangroveforest #alligatorheadfoundation #jamaica #naturegram #wildlifejamaica #caribbean @franticbornemisza @dayne_buddo @mareymann @denhen_ja @fabatkinson @machel77 @officialwaynej @nikkizofficial @thirdworldband
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    📸: Tihansky and Rogers, USGS As we mentioned in a previous post, red mangroves have prop roots - specialised roots that grow from the trunk and branches of the tree downwards into the water, ensuring that the red mangrove stands tall when it comes into contact with wave energy. Beneath the surface of these red mangrove roots - whether at Alligator Head Foundation, or anywhere in the wild - lies an invaluable habitat for an array of marine and estuarine organisms. Prop roots act as nurseries and provide protection for several species of fish, as well as various species of sponges, barnacles, oysters (as seen in aggregates in the photograph), sea squirts, sea anemones and other invertebrates. #redmangroves #rhizophoramangle #mangroves #mangrove #proproots #marinelife #marineconservation #oysters #fish #seaanemone #mangroveforest #alligatorheadfoundation #jamaica #naturegram #wildlifejamaica #caribbean @franticbornemisza @dayne_buddo @mareymann @denhen_ja @fabatkinson @machel77 @officialwaynej @nikkizofficial @thirdworldband