RAJA AMPAT - THE CORAL TRIANGLE
The Coral Triangle is one of the last places on this planet where coral is still relatively healthy and
colorful as well as abundant, with nearly 600 species of reef-building corals. It is recognized
and referred to as a “global center for marine biodiversity”. The more or less triangular tropical
location includes the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia and Papua New Guinea. In 2024, accompanied
by my fiancé Andrea, I visited a spectacular part of the triangle called Raja Ampat, (formerly called
Irian Jaya). The name Raja Ampat is translated as “4 Kings,” referring to the once-upon-a-time
rulers of four of the larger islands in the chain. The photos here, while taken with a relatively simple, inexpensive camera (Olympus Tough TG5® - see the French Polynesia section for a description), will
attest to the beauty of Raja Ampat. Rather than mostly taking close-ups of the fish as I usually do, I
was soon captivated by magnificent views of the coral. To capture the detail, I shot in the Raw mode.
colorful as well as abundant, with nearly 600 species of reef-building corals. It is recognized
and referred to as a “global center for marine biodiversity”. The more or less triangular tropical
location includes the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia and Papua New Guinea. In 2024, accompanied
by my fiancé Andrea, I visited a spectacular part of the triangle called Raja Ampat, (formerly called
Irian Jaya). The name Raja Ampat is translated as “4 Kings,” referring to the once-upon-a-time
rulers of four of the larger islands in the chain. The photos here, while taken with a relatively simple, inexpensive camera (Olympus Tough TG5® - see the French Polynesia section for a description), will
attest to the beauty of Raja Ampat. Rather than mostly taking close-ups of the fish as I usually do, I
was soon captivated by magnificent views of the coral. To capture the detail, I shot in the Raw mode.
A coral reef community is an entire ecosystem of a wide variety of interacting species, including a couple thousand
reef fish, sharks, and sea turtles that feed in and find shelter here. Many corals are plantlike in appearance, but they are actually colonial invertebrate animals of the phylum Cnidaria, related to jellyfish and sea anemones. The “colony” is made up of thousands of polyps that act as a single organism.
reef fish, sharks, and sea turtles that feed in and find shelter here. Many corals are plantlike in appearance, but they are actually colonial invertebrate animals of the phylum Cnidaria, related to jellyfish and sea anemones. The “colony” is made up of thousands of polyps that act as a single organism.
Healthy reef-building corals act symbiotically with single-celled algae called zooxanthellae living in their tissue. The coral provides the algae with a home and nutrients from its metabolic waste and the algae in turn In this remarkable symbiotic relationship, the coral provides the algae with a home and nutrients for photosynthesis (in the form of ammonium from its own metabolic waste) and, in return, the algae provides the coral with food (to supplement the food it filters out of the seawater). It is these extra nutrients that enable the coral to build reefs by depositing calcium carbonate over a long period of time. The symbiotic relationship also adds color to the coral – and for us, beauty as well.
Here’s a thriving coral community. The problem in recent times has been climate change - warming the water and stressing the coral. The warm water also absorbs more CO2, making it more acidic, which interferes with the coral forming hard skeletons. Then there’s chemical pollution from agricultural runoff as well as plastic pollution. When reef-building corals get stressed, they expel the symbiotic algae, resulting in a loss of food and color – coral bleaching! The coral isn’t dead but it is not healthy, and reproduction slows dramatically. The coral community also suffers and the number of species in the ecosystem is significantly reduced.
Thus far the Coral Triangle has fortunately avoided serious coral bleaching, at least for the time being. There are several theorized reasons why this area remains relatively healthy, as its topography, location, and geological history are unique and complex. It is certainly less exposed than other regions that have suffered coral bleaching, especially the Great Barrier Reef. The Triangle is not just a reef system; it is a complex area that includes volcanic regions as well as mangrove forests. The protection extends to the marine larval stages that most species go through, very important to the region’s health and extreme biodiversity. The Coral Triangle also has a stabile geological history, with the flora and fauna here evolving without the disruptions of ice ages and falling water levels/ drying seas. There are several other theories as conservation-related research in this special area is vital to the future of the Coral Triangle, which is beginning to be threatened, especially by destructive fishing. Fingers crossed
Known as the “Amazon of the Seas”, the Coral Triangle supports huge schools of reef fish,
giving us views like this most days snorkeling at Raja Ampat.
Even the soft corals offer protection for its inhabitants. This little guy couldn’t ask for a better
network of whiplike corals to hide in.
network of whiplike corals to hide in.
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In addition to the corals, Sea Anemones also offer protection to several fish species, including our friend Nemo, a
Clown Anemone Fish (one of several related species). Due to their plantlike appearance, the Sea Anemone is
named after the terrestrial Anemone flowering plant; it is an invertebrate animal, a cousin of the corals, although
it is not a colonial animal. For self-protection and for feeding as well, it has toxic stinging cells, for which Nemo has evolved an immunity in its mucus covering (amongst other adaptations). There is a dynamic symbiotic relationship
that works in ways other than protection; Clownfish and Sea Anemones provide food to each other, including a
healthy exchange of waste products. Doesn’t seem to hurt their beauty; I never seem to stop taking Nemo shots!
Clown Anemone Fish (one of several related species). Due to their plantlike appearance, the Sea Anemone is
named after the terrestrial Anemone flowering plant; it is an invertebrate animal, a cousin of the corals, although
it is not a colonial animal. For self-protection and for feeding as well, it has toxic stinging cells, for which Nemo has evolved an immunity in its mucus covering (amongst other adaptations). There is a dynamic symbiotic relationship
that works in ways other than protection; Clownfish and Sea Anemones provide food to each other, including a
healthy exchange of waste products. Doesn’t seem to hurt their beauty; I never seem to stop taking Nemo shots!
This centered one above and the matched pair below are Tomato Clown Fishes
Vain as we are, sometimes we can imagine the fish is smiling.
Of course, the Coral Triangle is also home to many
sea creatures we know and love
sea creatures we know and love
Cephalopods are a group of molluscs (shelled creatures) represented by the octopus, cuttlefish, chambered nautilus, and the squid (shown above). In Raja Ampat we had several great sightings of cuttlefish (below). They have an internal shell called a cuttlebone; it is filled with a gas mixture that the cuttlefish uses for buoyancy control. Being a shell, cuttlebone is rich in calcium carbonate and often fed to birds as a dietary supplement.
The cephalopods have sophisticated color-changing abilities to match
their background (using pigment cells
called chromatophores) as seen in these cuttlefish photos.
their background (using pigment cells
called chromatophores) as seen in these cuttlefish photos.
We were able to get good looks at a Titan Triggerfish (above)
and a Porcupine Puffer (below).
and a Porcupine Puffer (below).
This is my first closeup with a remora (or suckerfish) which uses the oval area above its head to suck on
to a manta ray or a shark and get a ride while cleaning parasites off the skin of their “chauffeur”.
to a manta ray or a shark and get a ride while cleaning parasites off the skin of their “chauffeur”.
It sure looks like feathery plant. At first I thought it was a feather star, related to sea stars. But when
I looked it up, turns out it’s a marine feather duster (tube) worm, a filter feeding Annelid. Most
gorgeous worm I’ve ever seen.
I looked it up, turns out it’s a marine feather duster (tube) worm, a filter feeding Annelid. Most
gorgeous worm I’ve ever seen.
The giant clams are just beautiful in so many ways - their colors, shape and texture. Once again, as
with the corals, it is the symbiotic algae that produce these striking colors –
another sign of good health in the Coral Triangle.
with the corals, it is the symbiotic algae that produce these striking colors –
another sign of good health in the Coral Triangle.