Fluorescence Imagery for Rapid Estimates of the Distribution and Abundance of Coral Recruits

There is a need for improved techniques for investigation of coral recruitment and survivorship. Fluorescence has the potential to be an enabling technology to extend the study of recruitment to smaller (more recently settled) specimens in natural habitats. Our objectives are to: create a novel, more versatile underwater light source for stimulating fluorescence; determine the capabilities and limitations of fluorescence approaches under realistic field conditions; and investigate approaches to applying fluorescence investigation in the daytime and on three- dimensional surfaces. The new light source will be constructed from components that enable simple, rapid switching between excitation wavelengths. We will use the new prototype and existing lights to conduct a field investigation comparing fluorescence technologies with conventional approaches to coral recruitment studies. We will survey approaches to daytime fluorescence imaging and to imaging of three-dimensional surfaces to determine the best approaches to overcoming these significant challenges to practical application offluorescence techniques.