Achievement Report Curieuse April 2017

Report Title
Curious About Curieuse Corals.

Objective
Increase scientific knowledge and baseline data on the health of
ecosystems on Curieuse Island.
o Continue to collect data on the flora and fauna of Curieuse Island.
o Provide project partners with an ongoing assessment of the health
of ecosystems and flora and fauna of Curieuse Island.
Increase awareness of GVI Seychelles projects and the ecological value of
the Curieuse Island National Park in-country.
o Promote ongoing GVI projects to partners and interested parties.
o Increase conservation value for Curieuse Island by continuing to
improve the scientific and cultural importance of the islands unique
biodiversity and environment.

Summary

GVI Curieuse doesnt currently run any long-term projects investigating coral
species and the problems they face. However, recently coral spotted in an
unexpected location known as the Turtle Pond caught the attention of one of
our interns. Intern Catherine Forsyth noticed apparently healthy and thriving
coral there and took on the task of investigating its extent as her personal
project. She aimed to create a list of coral species and all together fourteen
species were identified within the turtle pond, many being known early
colonisers in disturbed areas, suggesting the beginning of recovery. This project
is a great achievement, both personally for Catherine and for GVI Curieuse as it
shows the scientific research base is able to continue expanding our work,
contributing to the existing knowledge of the local biodiversity.

Report

Globally coral reefs are suffering from a variety of threats, one of which is the
rise in ocean temperatures caused by climate change which has caused
substantial coral bleaching, something that can be seen in many places
throughout the Seychelles. Curieuse Island lies within a Marine National Park
(MPA) and hosts a number of habitats, including surrounding coastal waters
containing various species of coral. We at GVI Curieuse havent done much work
with coral in the past and still do not currently run any long-term projects
investigating these species and the problems they face. However, recently coral
spotted in an unexpected location caught the attention of project members and
in particular one of our interns.

The area of Curieuse in question is known as the Turtle Pond, a pool that was
walled-off originally to breed turtles in, an ultimately unsuccessful venture. Over
the years the protection this wall afforded the area from wave action has allowed
a mangrove forest to establish and expand on the coastal land. However the
2004 boxing-day tsunami destroyed a large portion of the wall, leaving much of

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the fallen rock inside the pond, and we often use this location for our shark
surveys. It was here that intern Catherine Forsyth had noticed the presence of
apparently healthy and thriving coral and decided to take on the task of
investigating the extent of its presence here as her personal project. By doing
this she aimed to compile a list of the coral she found, and hoped to identify
them, if possible to species level.

In order to study coral species richness here Catherine conducted systematic

snorkels and a boat survey of the pond, photographing any coral she found and
subsequently analysing and identifying it as accurately as possible. Although
identification proved challenging, altogether six coral families were identified
(Acroporidae, Agariciidae, Faviidae, Fungiidae, Pocilloporidae, and Poritidae), and
within these 8 genera were found (Acropora, Montipora, Pavona, Favia, Favites,
Fungia, Pocillopora, and Porites). All together fourteen species were identified
within the turtle pond, many of which are known to be early colonisers in areas
effected by disturbance and degredation, suggesting that the once greatly
disturbed area is beginning to recover. This study not only discovered healthy
coral, but also the establishment of young ones, meaning that we may have the
right to be cautiously optimistic that coral having suffered from damage as well
as bleaching elsewhere in the Seychelles, is capable with the correct park
management, of recovering also.

Although the study is still in its early stages and faced various limitations (e.g.
poor visibility, limited identification knowledge and resources and drawbacks
caused by the practical surveying methods), it is very much hoped that future
interns may develop the project further. In the future it has been suggested that
it may be useful to also investigate species diversity and distribution, as well as
comparing those coral species found both on the inside and the outside of the
damaged sea wall. This project clearly has great scope for the future and has
been a great achievement, both personally for our intern Catherine and for GVI
Curieuse as it shows that as a scientific research base we are able to continue
expanding our work, contributing alongside our partners to the existing
knowledge of the local biodiversity.

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The interest of GVI in corals on Curieuse Island came at a very fortunate time as
The Earthwatch Institute were present in the country undertaking their annual
coral reef work with their own scientists, students and volunteers. GVI were
fortunate enough to be invited to their Coral Reef Ecology workshop and
networking session on nearby Praslin and a few of our team were able to attend
and learn more about the work already being conducted on our island as well as
getting to meet team members from relevant organisations throughout the
Seychelles. Hopefully any future scientific evidence GVI can collect regarding
the coral species found in Curieuses waters, combined with the work of The
Earthwatch Institute can be presented to our partners, namely the Seychelles
National Park Authority (SNPA) and used in the development of MPA
management plans. It is hoped one day that the work we are doing here on
Curieuse can help in improve the protection that the island is afforded, one day
ultimately increasing its status to a biosphere reserve.

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