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coral reefs

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Sunscreen chemicals, marine life and you: A handy visual guide

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Two free divers gaze at a large grouping of corals.

New buoy in American Samoa opens a window into a changing ocean

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NOAA, the National Park Service and other partners launched a new buoy to measure ocean carbon dioxide concentrations and other data in Fagatele Bay in the National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa.

Scientists embark on new field season to study coral reef ecosystems

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Blue trevally (Caranx melampygus), ornate butterflyfish (Chaetodon ornatissimus), and starry-eyed parrotfish (Calotomus carolinus) over a coral reef off Maui.

U.S. Coral Reef Task Force to meet in Washington, DC

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National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa is home to the only true tropical reef in the National Marine Sanctuary System! Here in the reefs surrounding Aunu'u Island, a few pink anemonefish nestle into an anemone.

Remote coral reefs in better condition than those near human populations in U.S. Pacific

December 13, 2018

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Corals at Pagan Island, an uninhabited volcanic island in the Mariana Islands archipelago in the Pacific Ocean, seem to have fared much better than other areas. Here is a close-up of an Acropora coral, typically more susceptible to bleaching events, which appears to be doing just fine.

It's #CoralsWeek at NOAA

December 3, 2018

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View of a coral reef just below the waterline in Midway Atoll, Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument.

No safe haven for coral from the combined impacts of warming and ocean acidification

November 16, 2018

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Before and after images of heat-stress related coral bleaching in American Samoa, in the tropical Pacific.

NOAA awards over $8.3 million to advance coral reef conservation science and management

November 8, 2018

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Pillar coral (Dendrogyra cylindrus) is rare in the Florida Keys. One of the grants announced today will aid restoration of Pillar coral in Florida.

Infographic: How does climate change affect coral reefs?

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Coral bleaching at Lizard Island on the Great Barrier Reef, March 2016.

These veterans have a mission: This time, it’s fighting for coral

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Divers perform coral restoration in Puerto Rico at the end of February 2018. In just one day of the mission, 110 corals were reattached — mostly Orbicella annularis and some brain corals, ranging from 20-50 centimeters in size.

International Year of the Reef shines spotlight on value, health of planet's coral ecosystems

February 22, 2018

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Coral reef colonies near Jarvis Island.

Teachers: Highlight corals in your classroom during this International Year of the Reef

February 22, 2018

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The forereef benthic community at Swains Island in American Samoa is dominated by an assemblage of plating Montipora and branching cauliflower coral (Pocillopora meandrina).

Why are some coral reefs dying?

December 7, 2017

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A NOAA Coral Reef Ecosystem Program diver attempts to record audio and visual data on a rare aggregation of the Green Bumphead Parrotfish (Bolbometapon muricatum) at Wake Atoll in the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument.

How coral savvy are you? Build your knowledge during #CoralsWeek

December 4, 2017

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Healthy coral found in the waters of American Samoa.

From the classroom to the field: Sea Grant transforms environmental education in Puerto Rico

November 29, 2017

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Puerto Rico Sea Grant educator, Angela Ferra, gives a lecture about field instruments to measure meteorological factors

NOAA and partners assess Hurricane Irma damage to Florida coral reefs

October 25, 2017

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A liveaboard dive boat allowed scientists to remain at sea during the rapid assessment mission in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.

Video: The coral reef economy is bigger than you think

October 2, 2017

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Corals are home to millions of species. Humbug dascyllus (Dascyllus aruanus) and multibar goatfish (Parupeneus multifasciatus) are commonly seen in the shallow reefs and lagoons of American Samoa.

U.S. Coral Reef Task Force to host biannual meeting in Fort Lauderdale, Florida

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A colorful coral reef teeming with fish.

Top 10 photos from the 2017 Pacific Coral Survey Expedition

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While at Jarvis in 2017, researchers surveyed these coral reef communities and assessed the recovery potential from the thermal stress that caused the coral to bleach.

NOAA discovery of green deep-sea sponge shows promise for cancer research

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A golf ball-size green sponge was discovered in 2005 by NOAA Fisheries coral biologist Bob Stone. Cancer researchers find promise in deriving new treatments from the sponge.

Scientists document coral loss – and slow signs of recovery – in the Central Pacific

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Coral reef colonies near Jarvis Island.

Every Full Moon video: Watch the 5-part series 'Coral Comeback'

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A colorful coral reef teeming with fish.

U.S. Coral Reef Task Force meeting in Washington, D.C.

February 16, 2017

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The forereef benthic community at Swains Island in American Samoa is dominated by an assemblage of plating Montipora and branching cauliflower coral (Pocillopora meandrina).

Scientists examine temperature history of global coral reefs

December 19, 2016

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Extensive stand of severely bleached coral at Lisianski Island in Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument (Hawaii) documented during an August 2014 NOAA research mission.

Hawaiian deep coral reefs reveal unique species

October 4, 2016

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Mesophotic coral ecosystems, such as this one found at 230 feet in Maui's 'Au'au Channel, are populated with many of the same fish species found on shallow reefs.

Hawaiian deep coral reefs home to unique species and extensive coral cover

October 4, 2016

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Kure Atoll, the northernmost reef in the Hawaiian archipelago, hosts mesophotic reefs with the highest level endemic species, or those unique to a specific location, found in any marine ecosystem on Earth.

Watch rare footage of corals spawning at night

September 16, 2016

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This is what it looks like when corals spawn.

Scientists discover new deep-reef species in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument

September 6, 2016

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Pete Basabe’s Butteflyfish (Prognathodes basabei Pyle and Kosaki 2016) at a depth of 180 feet off Pearl and Hermes Atoll, Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.

How to map Caribbean coral reefs in 21st-century style

August 11, 2016

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technology & innovation

NOAA Ship Nancy Foster.

VIDEO: Repairing the reef in West Hawaiʻi

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habitat restoration

In West Hawai’i, a NOAA Habitat Focus Area, NOAA is partnering with The Nature Conservancy, local communities, government agencies, non-profit organizations and businesses to restore habitat and improve coral reef health along with other natural and cultural resources.

National Coral Reef Management Fellowship

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NOAA Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary is one of the largest live-bottom reefs of the southeastern United States.

Reefs to Rivers Teacher Workshop

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The smaller creeks and streams in Metro Atlanta flow into the larger rivers throughout Georgia. These teachers are learning about these connections through a hands-on teacher workshop called Rivers to Reef.

Coral reef ecosystems

School in great numbers at Rapture Reef, French Frigate Shoals, Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Monument

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Marine Life Education

Scientists: Climate change poses bleaching risk to Australian coral reefs

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Turtle and bleached coral on Heron Island, Australia.

Coral reefs: Essential and threatened

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Healthy coral reefs, like this one in Swains Island in American Samoa, support an impressive array of marine life.