Coral is the cradle of marine biodiversity. Scientists estimate that a total of more than one million species of plants and animals are associated with the coral ecosystem.
Today major threats such as climate change, carbon emissions and human activities are having a major impact on the reefs.
TARA OCEAN FOUNDATION, THE OCEAN IN THE 21ST CENTURY
The Tara Ocean Foundation has been working to protect the environment and promote scientific research since 2003, using the schooner Tara as a platform. For 15 years Tara has been traveling all the oceans of the planet. The boat left her home port of Lorient on May 28, 2016 to crisscross the Pacific Ocean from east to west and from north to south. On board, an interdisciplinary team of scientists is examining in a new way the biodiversity of coral reefs and their evolution in the face of climate change.
CORAL = ANIMAL, VEGETABLE AND MINERAL
A coral reef is a living structure formed by polyps resembling small jellyfish in an inverted position, the mouth surrounded by tentacles on top. The lower part of the polyp is a skeleton that forms the foundation of coral reef construction. As polyps multiply and their calcareous skeletons grow, the coral colonies develop into huge structures.
Tara: a boat built for the poles exploring tropical regions (2017-09) by François Aurat / Tara Expeditions FoundationTara Ocean Foundation
Coral reefs: builders of the ocean
Coral colonies develop slowly, at a rate of 1 cm per year depending on the species. A reef can reveal thousands of years of history. Their structures vary and can evolve towards several forms of reefs -- the fringing reef, the barrier reef and the atoll.
Coral, cradle of marine biodiversityTara Ocean Foundation
Coral reefs: reservoirs of life, protection for the coasts, and source of wealth
These incredible underwater structures act as a nursery for fish, thus providing an essential source of protein for the global diet.
Reefs are also real living barriers which protect the coasts and their inhabitants from storms and cyclones.
Every year, nearly 1 million people enjoy the reefs through leisure activities
TARA PACIFIC: A UNIQUE EXPEDITION INTO THE HEART OF CORAL
The scope of this expedition is exceptional. It aims to study the entire Pacific Ocean, where more than 40% of the planet's coral reefs are concentrated. Such an approach has never been accomplished at this scale.
Tara Pacific: the first coral survey on the scale of an entire ocean. (2016-05-10) by La Niak StudioTara Ocean Foundation
Tara Pacific: the biggest coral survey ever accomplished by Maeva Bardy / Tara Expeditions FoundationTara Ocean Foundation
- 40 archipelagos studied using identical protocols, then compared
- 40,000 samples collected over a 2-year period
- 70 scientists on board from 8 different countries
- 26 partner institutions & research laboratories
TARA PACIFIC: THE BIGGEST CORAL SURVEY EVER ACCOMPLISHED
- Study the biodiversity of coral reefs, from their genome to the ecosystem - Understand the health of coral reefs in the specific context of climate change - Explore the capacity of resistance, adaptation and resilience of these habitats in the face of climate change - Contribute to developing applications for tomorrow's medical research
Tara Pacific, state-of-the-art sampling methods (2017-05-22) by Sarah Fretwell - Michel Flores / Tara Expeditions FoundationTara Ocean Foundation
From the gene to the ecosystem
The specificity of this expedition is to allow researchers to characterize the genetic identity of the reef's biodiversity, including bacteria, viruses, fish, algae and coral. Analysis of this information will help us understand how coral and surrounding organisms can adapt, or not.
Tara Pacific: a unique eco-systemic approach to studying coral reefs by Agence DatchaTara Ocean Foundation
TARA PACIFIC: A UNIQUE ECOSYSTEMIC APPROACH TO CORAL REEFS
Beneath the surface by Yann Chavance / Tara Expeditions Foundation, Pete West / Bioquest Studios / Tara Expeditions Foundation, and François Aurat / Tara Expeditions FoundationTara Ocean Foundation
Immerse yourself in a Tara Pacific sampling session via this interview with Emilie Boissin, scientific coordinator, and Rebecca Vega, microbiologist at the University of Oregon.
The DNA of coral (2017-09-12) by Loic MenardTara Ocean Foundation
The DNA of coral
Tara is equipped with a brand-new type of DNA sequencer, the MinION, to help biologists and chemists identify different species. A jewel of technological innovation smaller than a smartphone.
A prototype called “Hyperdiver” (2016-09-23) by David Hannan / Ocean Ark Alliance / Tara Expeditions FoundationTara Ocean Foundation
Hyperdiver, coral on the scanner
During the Tara Pacific expedition, the prototype of an underwater scanner called HyperDiver used a hyperspectral camera to map the reefs. Hyperdiver provided vital information on the biodiversity of these zones of coral.
Over many days and dives, the device recorded a whole library of life. These photos are being analyzed in a completely automatic way.
Tara Pacific, targeted studies by Noëlie Pansiot / Tara Expeditions FoundationTara Ocean Foundation
Discoveries in marine biodiversity
During the Tara Pacific expedition, the schooner is exploring very remote reefs whose biodiversity is virtually unknown. In the archipelago of Wallis and Futuna for example, the team carried out a complete inventory of underwater biodiversity. An earlier inventory was only partial and dated back to the 1970s.
Shikine, Ocean acidification laboratory (2017-04-13) by Noëlie Pansiot / Fondation Tara ExpeditionsTara Ocean Foundation
Tara Pacific, targeted studies
Ten sites are being studied for their local particularities where natural conditions make it possible to extrapolate the evolution of the reefs. For example in Japan, regions with very low pH caused by volcanic CO2 sources give us an opportunity to study responses of biodiversity to an acidified Ocean, as it will be in 2100 if we do not reduce our emissions of CO2.
CORAL BLEACHING: A MAJOR THREAT
Warming of the ocean is a major threat to the reefs. An increase of less than 1°C for a few weeks may be sufficient to cause coral bleaching. The loss of colour is the result of separation between the animal (the polyp) and the algae (zooxanthella) that gives it food and energy.
Global Warming of the Ocean or El Niño? (2017-10-04) by Photo libre de droitsTara Ocean Foundation
Global warming and El Niño
We can no longer consider episodes of rising temperatures only occasional, like the El Niño cyclical phenomenon. Today there is a global warming of the ocean, in addition to very hot summer seasons. The greater the increase in water temperatures and the longer the exposure to these higher temperatures, the greater is the bleaching phenomenon.
Coral tomorrow?
Scientists are predicting profound changes in coral reefs over the next 2 decades. Today's abundant species are those for which the current conditions are ideal. In the future, the environment will become favorable for the development of other species. In this context of upheavals, organisms develop their capacity to adapt. This is called “species turnover”.
CORAL, architect of the seabed (2016-09-23) by NASA - GSFC - LaRC - JPL, MISR TeamTara Ocean Foundation
Tara Pacific: understanding the complexity of coral reefs
Data collected during the Tara Pacific expedition will help answer major questions regarding the health of coral reefs in the specific context of climate change.
Tara, ambassador for the oceans (2006-06) by Francis Latraille / Tara Expeditions FoundationTara Ocean Foundation
EXPLORE TO UNDERSTAND
SHARE FOR A CHANGE
Thanks to the Tara Pacific expedition, we are discovering the hidden diversity of coral and can better understand its ability to adapt to climate change.
Today, the Tara Ocean Foundation continues and intensifies our actions. To move forward, we need everyone's help. The Tara Ocean Foundation remains independent, functioning entirely thanks to the generosity of our donors and sponsors.
To move forward, we need the help of everyone because the Tara Ocean Foundation remains independent. We operate thanks to the generosity of our donors, essential sponsors of our actions.
Every donation counts and allows our work to continue. To support the Tara Ocean Foundation:
donate.fondationtaraocean.org
HELP US TO ADVANCE RESEARCH AND PRESERVE THE OCEAN
The Tara Ocean Foundation would like to thank the photographers and illustrators who made this exhibition possible:
PHOTOGRAPHS
Francis Latreille
Pete West / Bioquest Studios
Francois Aurat
Pete West
Maeva Bardy
Yann Chavance
Sarah Fretwell
Michel Flores
Loïc Menard
David Hannan
Noëlie Pansiot
NASA
ILLUSTRATORS
Datcha
LaNiak
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