Times of the Islands Summer 2023

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green pages newsletter of the department of environment & coastal resources C.E. O’BRIEN A banded clinging crab (Mithraculus cinctimanus) hangs onto the tentacles of a giant anemone (Condylactis gigantea). cations on the distribution of red snapping shrimp and corkscrew anemone symbiosis throughout the Western Atlantic. Every species plays a greater role in its ecosystem, including our perfect pair. Unfortunately, due largely to human activity, the corkscrew anemone is under threat. Anemone populations have been found to rely on frequent recruitment, the replenishment of young anemone into the existing population to promote individual growth and sustain viable populations. Sea anemones have short lifespans, and they need to be constantly adding more individuals to their population. In Florida, researchers concluded that survival and recruitment rates of corkscrew anemones were higher among areas less impacted by humans and with cooler summer water temperatures. Rising ocean temperatures and human impact, defined as areas easily accessible to human traffic or visibly polluted with debris, pose threats to the corkscrew anemone populations. Corkscrew anemones are harvested and sold to aquariums for decorative purposes, but without further research conservation efforts and management cannot be supported. Investigating the population dynamics of the anemone is also important to understanding the implications for the shrimp symbiont. In the world of the big blue ocean, it must be nice to have a place to call home, and a companion that has your back. The symbiotic relationship between the red snapping shrimp and corkscrew anemone is a great example of obligatory mutualism in the Western Atlantic—each species benefits the other, making life in the ocean a little easier for both. As we continue to learn about these species, we can better understand how our human activity affects them and how we can better protect them. In the long run, a healthy ecosystem tends to be better for everyone involved, especially humans who call the Western Atlantic home. Overall, the fascinating relationship between the red snapping shrimp and the corkscrew anemone warrants further investigation (and perhaps its own blockbuster animated film). a For detailed article references or more information about The School for Field Studies, contact Director Heidi Hertler on South Caicos at hhertler@fieldstudies.org or visit www.fieldstudies.org. 40 www.timespub.tc
green pages newsletter of the department of environment & coastal resources Earth Day Poetry Contest Earth Day is an annual event on April 22 to demonstrate support for environmental protection. First held on April 22, 1970, it now includes a wide range of events celebrated by 1 billion people in more than 193 countries. The official theme for 2023 was Invest In Our Planet. To celebrate Earth Day 2023, the Turks & Caicos Department of Environment & Coastal Resources held an Earth Day Poetry Contest. They received many creative and thoughtful submissions, and selected the following entrants as the winners: Tyreke Glinton, age 17, H.J. Robinson High School Zavien Gardiner, age 11, Ona Glinton Primary School Pari Ochani, age 10, Precious Treasures Primary School Deep Blue Charters (Grand Turk) and SurfSide Ocean Academy (Providenciales) sponsored exciting prizes. Times of the Islands Summer 2023 41
Page 1 and 2: TIMES OF THE SAMPLING THE SOUL OF T
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Page 6 and 7: from the editor MARTA MORTON—WWW.
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Times of the Islands Summer 2023

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