01. Photographer pick: Alex Kydd
Alex Kydd is an Australian nature and travel photographer. He has a degree in Environmental Science and Marine Biology which provides him “with the knowledge to showcase the natural world and create awareness about important environmental topics.” In recent years, he has won several awards for his photography and is sponsored by Nikon Australia. His work can be found at alexkyddphoto.com and instagram.com/alexkyddphoto.
This picture was taken at the Raja Ampat Islands, which is a part of Indonesia. The coral reef in Raja Ampat is known for its biological diversity, as 537 coral species have been recorded in Raja Ampat, which is 75% of the coral species found in the entire world.
Many scientists believe that coral reefs face becoming endangered. Photo by Alex Kydd
02. Article pick: How can coral reefs deal with climate change? Get better roommates
Global warming is causing coral reefs throughout the world to struggle to survive, although there are a few types of coral that seem to have a better time adjusting to rising water temperatures. The coral that can survive climate change actually has to do with the algae that lives inside the coral reefs, as detailed in this article by NPR.
03. Book pick: Life on the Rocks
Juli Berwald is an ocean scientist and science writer based in Austin who has written a science memoir, two textbooks and “Life on the Rocks,” which came out in 2022. She has a Ph.D. in ocean science from the University of Southern California. In “Life on the Rocks,” Berwald chronicles the scientists and researchers fighting to save coral reefs from extinction, combining the science with personal memoir and the existential crisis that climate change brings.
For information about the book and author, visit penguinrandomhouse.com/books/621177/life-on-the-rocks-by-juli-berwald.
04. Video pick: What's Killing The Coral Reefs? by Atlas Pro
This video gives a good summation of the issues facing coral reefs in the modern world in a concise, digestible way. It highlights the importance of coral reefs in the ocean ecosystem, what humans have done to it, and different resources and organizations that try to save them.
Atlas Pro is a YouTuber based in New York who focuses on geography, geology, biology and ecology. His video topics range from the geography of prehistoric times to why the city of Venice was built where it was.
05. Quote of the Week
“Coral reefs represent some of the worlds most spectacular beauty spots, but they are also the foundation of marine life: without them many of the seas most exquisite species will not survive.”
— Sheherazade Goldsmith