Today we researched if MPAs vs non-MPAs have a higher species richness and fish abundance based off number of coral species and number of fish and other organisms. We met in the morning to discuss this research project and complete a plan. Once we had our plan down to use quadrants we set off to two non-MPA sites and two MPA sites. In one of the sites we saw jellyfish (we were later informed that these jellies don’t sting). We also saw a dolphin at the last site!
In the afternoon we discussed our results and made a poster. We concluded that MPAs or marine protected areas had a higher species richness and more fish abundance. Visually Zoe and I also noticed that the non-MPAs had way more algae coverage and the coral reefs themselves seemed to look more dead. No eel sightings today.
Today we finished our parrotfish study. We concluded that parrotfish mainly eat algae. On the reef Zoe and I saw numerous stoplight parrotfish. We met as a group for most of the morning and made our poster. In the afternoon we met to walk the trails around the island. We went to “the graveyard” which is a beach full of fossilized corals and shells. We learned that these shells and corals all eventually become the limestone that forms the caves of Belize. It was really cool to see how the dead and bleached corals looked compared to the living ones that we have been seeing on the reef. We also saw several critters such as sea urchins, sea snails, a sea star, and more.
We also waded through the sea grass to see what we could find. The highlight was a huge crab and a couple fishes!
At night it was too windy for a night swim, so we dropped a light off the dock and observed and caught several things that were attracted to the light. The plankton is attracted to the light, which attracts the fish, and the fish’s predators. We were able to see glass eels (the larvae form of fish and eels that swim in open ocean), shrimp, fish, and a squid! Claire managed to catch the squid and we got to see it ink! We searched up what the glass eel was and it was a bone fish larvae.
Today was our first day of real snorkeling out on the reef. In the morning, we snorkeled right off the dock to make sure we could all comfortably swim and make sure we were comfortable with our gear. After about 15 minutes of practice, we swam out to a patch reef nearby and looked around for a bit. In total, in the morning, we were in the water for around an hour. I was surprised by how exhausting that hour was and how sore I was after. Being in the water for that long took a lot out of me. We also came out salty from the seawater and had to rinse all our gear to ensure that it wouldn’t corrode. It didn’t occur to me that that might happen but I suppose it makes sense. After rinsing our gear and doing a quick debrief, we were released for the morning.
I’m the afternoon, we took a boat maybe 10 minutes away from where we were staying and snorkeled there. It was super shallow and we had to be careful where we were swimming to avoid bumping the reef. The reef itself was super beautiful. We stopped at two locations, and they both were a host to an incredible array of fish and corals. We even saw a nurse shark and some rays! The coral itself was amazing to look at as well—after hearing all about it, I was super glad to be able to recognize some of the hard and soft corals.
The corals of Glover’s Reef atoll
I was looking for cryptobenthic fish. Because it was so shallow, I didn’t have to dive far to see them because the reef was so shallow, but I had a really hard time photographing them. Our phones were in these dry bags which protected them from the water, but underwater the touchscreen wouldn’t respond. After talking to some classmates, I eventually learned that you can open the camera app before and then just use the volume button to take pictures. I still had a bit of trouble—at one point, I accidentally took a time lapse, and then I accidentally took a slow-motion video (which caught some fish, but still). I also just had a hard time holding the camera steady and taking clear photos, and even in the clear ones it’s hard to make out the fish. Part of the problem is that they’re so small, well-camouflaged, and near the bottom.
I thought I had a cryptobenthic fish in frame when I took this picture, but I’ve lost it! Can you find it?
Technical difficulties aside, I did see some of my taxon. The most common cryptobenthic fish I could see are gobies and blennies. They’re both elongate, but gobies tend to be more streamlined while blennies are a little more round and often have . Insterestingly, I was only seeing gobies, and really only one particular genus—Elacatinus. I wonder if that’s because of the habitats or if it has to do with what I was primed or able to see. I’ll find out soon. I’m excited to see what types of experiments and tests we’ll do out here on the reef.
Today involved a lot of long rides. We left the Tropical Education Center around 9 or 9:30 and headed for the Princess Marina. The ride back to Belize City wasn’t as long as I was expecting, I think because we covered most of the distance yesterday. The restaurant this class normally eats at, right at the marina, was apparently damaged in a hurricane, so we improvised and went for lunch around 11:30 in a touristy little visitor center called Old Belize. Then we headed back to the marina and got on board. By 1:15, the boat was packed and we were off.
The boat ride was beautiful if a little bumpy. Once we got past the reef crest it was even getting a little air. The view off the boat was beautiful and we passed tons of little islands. There was even a point where we weren’t able to see land at all, in any direction. The breeze made it feel cool on the boat, also, which was nice. After two and a half hours, though, I was glad to be back on dry land. I was a bit sore from sitting and starting to feel a little queasy so I was grateful to see Glover’s and step onto the dock.
Bye, Belize City!Hello, Glover’s!
The island was really beautiful. Almost immediately, we saw tons of new amazing birds and fish. I was most impressed by the frigate birds, which sort of drift lazily instead of flapping their wings most of the time. I also saw a pelican fishing which was neat—it would repeatedly fly up a ways and then swoop down to snatch fish from the water. There were tons of fish as well—bonefish were very common and we even saw a nurse shark. On the island, there were also tons of coconut palms to see, along with mangroves in certain places. We also got to see a ton of little hermit crabs and some larger land crabs, which were a treat and very cute. I haven’t ID’d any cryptobenthic fish yet—those are the little ones that live around reefs—but I think we’re going out to the reef tomorrow, so I’ll probably have more to share then.
Hi! Today was our travel day from the Tropical Education Center to Glover’s Reef. We started by busing over to Belize City. We then headed over to lunch in old Belize city. Along the way you could see the environment change from jungle to forest to safari to mangroves and finally to coast. From there we took a boat ride to Glovers! It was about a two hour boat ride and we got to see go along the reef and then cross it to open ocean. There was a point where you couldn’t see land in any direction! We then arrived at Glovers where we got a brief introduction and settled in. The island is beautiful. We then did presentations and went to bed!
Today we made the journey from the Tropical Education Center to Glover’s Reef Research Station, and wow—it already feels like we’ve entered a whole new world. We hit the road around 9 AM, grabbed a quick lunch, and headed to the marina by 12:30. From there, the real adventure began.
The boat ride out to the station is absolutely stunning. The water changes color beneath us—from a soft, teal blue to a deep, almost navy shade, then back to that dreamy turquoise. As we crossed the barrier reef, the boat slowed way down—the water there is super shallow and crystal clear. It feels surreal to be moving over such vibrant, living water.
We’ve just settled in at Glover’s, and it’s beautiful. Palm trees sway in the wind, the ocean is all around us, and already I’ve seen hermit crabs wandering around during the day. Tonight, huge land crabs made an appearance under the moonlight—something tells me they own this place after dark.
Can’t wait to see what tomorrow holds. If today’s any sign, it’s going to be unforgettable.
Today’s general agenda: Glover’s Reef Research Station —> Belize Airport —> Houston, TX —> Los Angeles, CA
TFB is Yes Bueno! Bye Glover’s!
And just like that, we’re back on the boat, but this time we’re headed to the airport. It’s hard to imagine that in two short weeks, I was able to have an experience I will cherish for a lifetime. It feels like yesterday we were trying sour sop juice for the first time at Cheers. There are so many inside jokes and cool findings that I could not include in these blog posts. If you want to hear more of this amazing adventure and see more pictures, I will gladly respond through my email bw19@rice.edu.
Now back to traveling shenanigans! As always, my airport journey would not be so smooth-sailing. My duffle bag actually ripped apart and some of my clothes came out. I also forgot to put my hot sauce souvenir back into my check-in luggage and almost had to throw them away when I went through security again. On the plane, however, this cute baby sat next to me, which made everything well worth it.
Lastly, I wanted to take the opportunity to thank my family for giving me this opportunity to take the course. I am incredibly fortunate to experience Belize and work with such great professors and classmates. This trip helped me better understand not just tropical field biology but also who I am as a person. turns out..I am talkative? “not necessarily in a bad connotation way”
Today’s general agenda: Project Marine Debris —> Coconuts! —> lion fish dissection
Our final project involves a little giving back to Glover’s Reef Research Station. We were looking at marine debris around the research station. Essentially, we turned beach clean-up into a research project! We wanted to examine which area of the island would have the most trash and what material makes up for all the trash we collect.
Dr. Shore, Bella, and I picked up a total of 700+ pieces of trash. We found everything from plastic bottles, toothbrushes, Crocs, etc.. We found mostly plastic and styrofoam debris. our group even found part of a metal fan. Knowing we were at such remote location, I was terribly shocked by how much trash that accumulated on the island. Trash can travel so far that even places that are seemingly untouched can be affected by it.
My biggest takeaway is that the effects of trash on our environment can often feel very distant and removed. I certainly feel that way sometimes.A plastic bottle goes into the recycling bin..then that gets taken somewhere…and then somewhere.. and the poof! no longer on your mind. I encourage you all to try cleaning up the beach at least one time to better understand how trash can impact our environment, and, hopefully, we can work towards more sustainable practices. A shameless plug: bring your own drinkware to Rice Coffeehouse!
Picking up Marine Debris
In just six short days on Glover’s Reef, I was able to get more than 60 bug bites from mosquitoes and sandflies. On the flip side, we also got to eat some invasive lionfish and drink some coconuts. At the dinner table, we talked about what would be the first thing we were going to do once we got home. Some people said they would pet their cats, dogs, or possums, and I know I will be taking a *hot* shower for sure.
Lionfish cevice! This invasive species is delicious
Today’s general agenda: Project “surchin” for urchin —> presentations —> night snorkel
Ready.. Set… Go!
In thirty minutes, each group wanted to find the most urchins. Our research project today focuses on urchins and how urchin communities might look different in Marine protected areas (MPA) and non-marine protected areas. MPA are places where fishing is restricted or prohibited. The idea is that understanding the urchin community can allow us to better understand the herbivores that live in those reefs and the overall health of reefs. In total, there were primarily five urchins we were looking for: the reef urchin, slate pencil urchin, western sea egg, long-spiked urchin, and rock-boring urchin.
close-up of a long-spiked urchin
We would find these urchins in all types of crevices. After time was up, we would bring these urchins back to the boat and measure their lengths. Don’t worry- we later sprinkled them back onto the reef. Because we were so fixated on urchins, I was not able to find spot any sponges. Luckily, we had one last time to snorkel, which is the night snorkel!
The majority of the afternoon was pretty much free time. I chose to spend my time on the dock, observing the ocean from the best spot on Middle Caye. I also had the opportunity to talk to Dr. Solomon, Kelsey, and Dr. Shore about future plans and reflect on the trip itself. I walked away the dock feeling more excited about the future than ever.
All suited up for the last snorkel!
As our final snorkel this trip, we brought our dive lights and jumped into pitch-black water. I looked up and saw a sky full of stars, and I looked down a saw a spotted eagle ray quietly swim pass us. What a view! I felt like the luckiest person that day. My camera skills significantly decline in the dark, but I was able to take a somewhat artistic photo of another branching vase sponge (C. vaginalis) at night. The blur is *most definitely* intentional.
“artistic” photo of branching vase sponge at night
Today’s general agenda: MPA and non-MPA reef transect —> fore reef —> presentations
I woke up to yet another beautiful sunrise, and I can’t help but wonder whether I am on Glover’s Reef Research Station or Glover’s Reef Resort…then the mosquito and sandflies bites kick in. The waves were quite calm this morning, so we got suited up and immediately hit the water. We continued our research project by exploring another patch reef within the Marine Protected Area and one outside of the area.
Welcome to Glover’s Reef Resort (?)
Anna and I once again rolled out our transect tape and starting taking data points using our quadrats. When we were collecting data for our second reef, our transect tape happened to go beyond the edge of the patch reef. We ended up having to dive deep into the ocean a few times to collect data. As we dove further down, I felt the thermocline and how cold the water became.
Because weather can be so unpredictable, in the afternoon, we quickly headed to the fore reef, which is the area right outside of the reef crest, to observe the drop-off. I could not believe my eyes when I saw the drop-off because I was literally staring deep into the abyss. We saw a ray swim across the ocean floor and a nurse shark on the sea floor as well.
In the sponge department, we got to see some incredible sponges! Javier pointed out the yellow tube sponges and Amanda pointed out the barrel sponges. These sponges were hard to spot at first, but, once I saw them, I could not take my eyes off them. They look just like the pictures when I searched them up, but they look more beautiful in person.
