For the first time in Zanzibar, this ambitious project will

document coral spawning patterns for the dominant reef-builders in Zanzibar and other coastal areas of Tanzania, using multiple complementary approaches. In collaboration with local community and conservation partners, we aim to:

 

• Document mass coral spawning in situ for 8-10 dominant species of reef-building hard corals.

 

• Create a spawning calendar for hard corals in Tanzania, in relation to seasonal/celestial cycles (lunar phase, sunset, moonrise), and environmental factors (e.g., temp, light).

 

• Provide baseline data to empower relevant communities, resource managers, NGOs and scientists to propagate coral for restoration efforts, access coral larvae for research, and to better manage human activities that affect coral reproduction.

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