Ocean Art Competition 2019 Second Runner-Up: Nicholas More's Underwater Masterpiece
In the heart of West Papua, Indonesia, a snorkelling expedition uncovered a fascinating find in the Blue Water mangroves of the Nampele Islands, Misool, Raja Ampat. The expedition, equipped with a Nikon D500 Camera, Nikon 10.5mm Fisheye Lens, Nauticam NA-D500 Housing, and Dual Inon Z330 Strobes, revealed the presence of a unique soft coral species.
This particular soft coral, known as the Mangrove Soft Coral, is characterized by the presence of tiny, spiny skeletal elements called sclerites instead of a rigid calcium carbonate skeleton seen in hard corals. The colony forms can be fan-shaped, whip-like, bushy, or encrusting, often brightly colored in hues such as purple, red, or yellow.
During the expedition, red soft corals (Dendronephthya sp.) were found growing attached to the roots of red mangrove trees (Rhizophora mangle) beneath a mangrove forest canopy. The unique setting provided a picturesque backdrop for the vibrant corals, with the mangrove forest canopy casting dappled sunlight onto the water.
While Raja Ampat is renowned for its extraordinary coral diversity, the specific identification of the mangrove-associated soft coral species at Nampele Islands is not detailed in the sourced articles. Further specialized field studies or taxonomic surveys would be necessary to provide the exact species name and comprehensive morphological or genetic characteristics.
Despite the lack of detailed taxonomic information, the Mangrove Soft Coral's presence in the Blue Water mangroves of Nampele Islands contributes significantly to the complex ecology of mangrove habitats in the Raja Ampat region. Soft corals in mangrove ecosystems, like those at the Nampele Islands, are typically adapted to the unique environmental conditions of mangroves—such as variable salinity and shaded waters—and provide shelter and habitat complexity for diverse marine life.
In a fortunate turn of events, the expedition resulted in Nicholas winning a 9-night dive package and a 10% discount for a companion with Critters@Lembeh and Lembeh Resort. The expedition, however, did not involve any encounters with saltwater crocodiles.
[1] Source: MarineBio Conservation Society, Soft Corals, https://marine.bio/news/soft-corals/
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