Reef Exchanges

On this episode, we are joined by Daniel Toledo-Rodriguez, master’s student at the University of Puerto Rico, and Dr. Nilda Jimenez from the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources. Daniel and Nilda talk about their recent work looking into invasive soft coral species that have been found in Puerto Rico’s coral reef ecosystems. From collecting samples and conducting genetic testing to conducting outreach with local dive shops, Daniel and Nilda discuss the actions they’ve been taking to marshal the resources and time needed to rapidly address invasive soft corals.

Eutrophication, species die-offs, and overfishing herbivorous fish and urchins have led to faster-growing algae in many areas of the Caribbean, preventing corals from recruiting and recovering from disturbances. In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Alwin Hylkema, Associate Professor of Coastal Ecosystem Restoration at Van Hall Larenstein University and Wageningen University. Alwin describes his work restoring local sea urchins to the reef, and the potential for combining herbivore restoration with coral reef restoration through “tandem restoration” that can improve outcomes across a reef system. You can read a summary of Restoration of herbivory on Caribbean coral reefs: are fishes, urchins, or crabs the solution? at reef resilience dot org.

In this episode, originally recorded for the 2025 Coral Reef Restoration Mentored Online Course, we speak with Suki Leung at the University of Queensland Marine Spatial Ecology Lab. Suki joins course mentors Margaux Hein and Caitlin Lustic to discuss methods and approaches for rubble stabilization in coral reef areas, an often crucial step in preparing an area for coral restoration activities. Many potential restoration sites have been damaged or degraded to the point that they no longer provide suitable habitat for coral settlement or growth. Whether through rubble stabilization or installing artificial reefs, physical restoration techniques are literally foundational practices for effective coral reef restoration. 
The opinions that Suki expresses are hers alone and not those of The University of Queensland or Reef Restoration & Adaptation Programme (RRAP).

As a part of Bleaching Awareness Month, led by our partners with the Coral Reef Alliance and International Coral Reef Initiative, we check in with longtime friend of the Network, Dr. Steve Schill. Steve talks with Henry and Annick about the process of going from using a small drone affixed with a digital camera to survey reefs to operating a fixed-wing surveillance drone that can monitor hectares of reef area in a single day’s work. As the frequency and severity of coral bleaching events increases, having the ability to conduct rapid reef monitoring enables managers to make timely and effective decisions.

Description: In response to the excitement and interest across the Network in MERMAID after our webinar on the topic earlier in 2025, we invited Dr. Emily Darling, Director of Coral Reef Conservation and Co-Founder, MERMAID, back to the network to talk with us a little more about how she developed the MERMAID platform. Emily brings along Shinta Pardede, Marine Science Unit Manager with the Wildlife Conservation Society in Indonesia, who tells us more about her experience using MERMAID in the field. Access this free guide to learn more about how to use MERMAID.