UC Santa Barbara 2022

@reefcheckfoundation

We’re on the ’gram! Follow us today for an even deeper dive with a social connection.

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May 25

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Washington people! Do you love kelp? Our friends at Puget Sound @restorationfund have launched Kelp Spot, a new community-powered iNaturalist project focused on monitoring bull kelp throughout Washington waters and the Salish Sea.⁠
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By using the iNaturalist app, anyone can help document where bull kelp is growing by uploading observations and photos.⁠
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These community sightings will help scientists and restoration teams:⁠
🌊 Track seasonal kelp growth⁠
📍 Monitor the appearance and decline of kelp beds⁠
🗺️ Build a collaborative map of bull kelp across the region⁠
🔍 Identify areas that may need additional monitoring or restoration support⁠
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Continued monitoring and community data collection help provide a clearer picture of how kelp forests are changing over time, especially as they face growing environmental pressures.⁠
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The more observations collected, the stronger the data becomes. Citizen science plays a huge role in conservation, and even a single photo can contribute valuable information to long-term restoration efforts.⁠
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How to get involved:⁠
1️⃣ Create an iNaturalist account⁠
2️⃣ Join the Kelp Spot project⁠
3️⃣ Upload your bull kelp observations whenever you’re out exploring!⁠
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Make sure to tag us in your kelp adventures and help spread the word!⁠
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📸: @sageonophotography⁠
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#kelpforest #CitizenScience #PugetSound #oceanconservation #oceanlover ...

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reefcheckfoundation

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May 22

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Our volunteers understand this feeling of satisfaction.⁠
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Around the globe, Reef Checkers put on their scuba gear, jump in the water, and collect reef health data. Taking action is the biggest antidote to climate anxiety.⁠
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And hope is the result of taking action. ⁠
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It’s especially easy when you get to witness little miracles like baby bull kelp growing in a region previously overrun by urchins. ⁠
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Never heard of urchin barrens? Learn more on our profile. If you believe in our mission, check out volunteer options and donate today.⁠
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#KelpForest #ScubaAddict #OceanConservation #ReefRestoration #ClimateChange ...

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reefcheckfoundation

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May 20

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The latest coral reef data from Reef Check is now live on @aqualinkorg making reef monitoring data more accessible than ever before!⁠
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Through this partnership, Reef Check’s global database of 17,700+ coral reef surveys is now integrated with real-time environmental data, including:⁠
🌊 Ocean temperatures⁠
🪸 Heat stress + bleaching alerts⁠
📸 Reef imagery over time⁠
🛰️ Satellite observations and smart buoy data⁠
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Also... It’s completely FREE and open to the public, helping scientists, conservationists, divers, and ocean lovers better understand what’s happening beneath the surface in real time.⁠
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Seriously, go to the site, click on a reef site and select “EXPLORE,” scroll to “Survey History,” and click “VIEW DETAILS” to access the full dataset.⁠
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Every interested ocean lover can track changing reef conditions worldwide, and this accessibility is what makes science even more powerful.⁠
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📸: @kogia_org⁠
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#Aqualink #CitizenScience #CoralReefs #OceanConservation #MarineBiology ...