Project “Connected by the reef – Te firi a’au”, initiated and coordinated by the NGO Tama nō te tairoto
This groundbreaking project aims to conduct a worldwide observation of the spawning of the coral species Porites rus, coordinated from their home base in Tahiti.
Context and Objective
Over the past three years, the dedicated team and numerous observers have collected 426 observations across 18 different islands. These efforts have demonstrated that Porites rus spawns predictably and synchronously on the same day, from French Polynesia to La Réunion Island. However, a question remains: Is this synchronization valid on a global scale?
Porites rus is found in coral reefs throughout the Pacific and Indian Oceans, extending to the Red Sea. The goal of the “Connected by the Reef – Te firi a’au” project is to mobilize observers globally to witness the spawning of Porites rus on the same day. By doing so, the aim is to determine the geographic limits of this synchronization and answer a key question: Are our coral reefs connected?
Detail of a worldwide observation
The spawning season for Porites rus begins in November, peaking in January. Accordingly, the team have selected Saturday, January 18, and Sunday, January 19, 2025, depending on time zones, for their grand global mobilization event “Connected by the Reef – Te firi a’au.”
This phenomenon could be observed in over 47 countries and territories, including:
- Costa Rica, Panama, Nicaragua ;
- French Polynesia, Hawaii Islands, Kiribati Islands, Cook Islands, Samoa, American Samoa;
- Fiji, Tonga, Wallis and Futuna, Vanuatu, New Caledonia;
- Marshal Islands, Micronesia, Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Papua New Guinea, Australia;
- Palau, Japan (southern islands), Taiwan, Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Singapore, Sumatra;
- Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, Sri Lanka, India, Maldives, Seychelles, Madagascar, Tanzania, Reunion Island;
- Kenya, Somalia, Djibouti, Yemen, Sudan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and more.
Call for participation
NGO Tama nō te tairoto are seeking to mobilize observers residing near coral reefs to map the presence of Porites rus worldwide and verify the synchronization of this coral’s spawning. The NGO Tama nō te tairoto will coordinate the activities and data from global observers from Tahiti and will share the results shortly after the event. By joining, you will contribute to a vital scientific endeavour that could reshape our understanding of coral reef connectivity.
Source: Press Release
