Florida's Reef Building Corals
Click on any photograph on this page to view a large version.
U. S. Geological Survey (USGS) divers taking a coral core sample with
an underwater coring device. Hoses connected to a hydraulic pump in the
boat drive the drill (yellow) made from a converted impact wrench. Garden
hose provides sea water to lubricate drill bit and remove rock cuttings.
This device was developed by the USGS and has been used since 1975 to take
cores of rocks and reefs in the Florida Keys and elsewhere.
Bleached elkhorn coral (white area) has lost its color due to
environmental stress. Bleaching that continues for several weeks can be
fatal to the coral.
Black-band disease on brain coral (Diploria strigosa).
Core sampling of a large star coral in the Northern Bahamas. This
coral is a major-reef building species and is also found in the Florida
Keys.
Return to Title Page
Return to Corals Page
U. S. Geological Survey (USGS) divers taking a coral core sample with
an underwater coring device. Hoses connected to a hydraulic pump in the
boat drive the drill (yellow) made from a converted impact wrench. Garden
hose provides sea water to lubricate drill bit and remove rock cuttings.
This device was developed by the USGS and has been used since 1975 to take
cores of rocks and reefs in the Florida Keys and elsewhere.
