Treasure Reef: Revealing the Hidden Creatures of Coral Reefs

Abstract

Under the oceans, scientists estimate that there are hundreds of thousands of sea creatures yet to be discovered. These hidden animals can be found in the open ocean, in deep trenches at the bottom of the sea, and in coral reefs. In tropical coral reefs, hidden animals include tiny fish, crabs, octopuses, sea snails, starfish, slugs, and other mysterious animals that are hard to see. These mysterious animals can help us better understand how coral reefs function. But how can we study what we cannot find? Scientists working along the east coast of the Red Sea in Saudi Arabia are using two new methods to bring these hidden creatures from the reef to the laboratory. Like detectives, these researchers are finding, describing, and learning about the roles these tiny animals play in keeping coral reefs healthy. We protect what we know, so the race is on to find and preserve the Red Sea’s biodiversity.