This article originally appeared in SeaScopeTM, Volume 13, Summer 1996, Aquarium Systems, copyright 1996. All rights reserved by Aquarium Systems, Mentor, Ohio. Permission to reproduce is granted by the publisher to The Breeder's Registry and is not transferrable.
by Stanley D. Brown
The scientific community gathered in Panama City, Panama June 24 through 29 to participate in the 8th International Coral Reef Symposium (ICRS). The symposium was hosted by the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) and the Universidad de Panama and was held at the ATLAPA Convention Center, overlooking the Gulf of Panama and the Pacific Ocean. Opening ceremonies were quite extravagant: opening remarks were made by John Odgen, President for the International Society for Reef Studies (ISRS); the President of the Republic of Panama; and representatives for the STRI. Many of the opening speakers spoke in Spanish and the non-Spanish-speaking attendees were provided with headsets to hear translation. A small orchestra provided music for an exhibition of traditional dance.
The symposium call for papers received a large response from researchers, scientists, and students. Over 800 abstracts were received. Presentation of papers was by subject matter, eleven papers being simultaneously presented during most of the symposium. Each presenter was allotted only twenty minutes to present his or her paper and answer any questions. Plenary presentations were given two to three times per day and were longer, up to one hour. The scheduling of talks made it impossible to hear everything and often the audience was faced with the decision of which presentation to attend. Poster presentations offered a less hectic schedule and were reminiscent of a junior high school science fair, although these presentation were typically much more polished and professional. The advantage of this type of presentation is that the paper is displayed, rather than the author having to condense the material into a twenty minute presentation. The disadvantage is that the author is not always in attendance, so questions are not always answered, and the author is not readily recognizable. Everyone wore name tags, but this is not much help unless you have some description of the author, which was difficult amongst 1700 attendees!
A wide range of reef-related topics was covered. Some of them were: World Reef Status, Ecology Past & Present, Invertebrate Dispersal, Coral Biology, the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI), Coral Growth and Reproduction, Marine Protected Areas, Genetics & Biogeography, Natural Disturbances, Skeletal Records and Paleontology, and Reef Biology and Geology. A series of workshops was held on June 27 covering nine different topics ranging from pathobiology to coral reef science and management in Latin America to the International Year of the Reef 1997.
June 27 was also a day for field trips offered by the event planners, including diving and snorkeling trips to reefs on both the Pacific and Caribbean side, trips to the rain forest, fossil sites, the site of a recent oil spill, and a visit to the STRI facility and the Universidad de Panama. I participated in a snorkeling trip to reefs at the San Blas Archipelago on the Caribbean side which included a stopover at the STRI field station and at a small island, home of the Kuna, the indigenous people of the region. The people live in thatched roof huts built right out to the white, sandy beaches. There is no electricity or running water, and the inhabitants use dugout canoes, some with small outboard motors. I did spot a few antennas on some of the huts. I was told that some of the villagers own small generators and use propane powered appliances.
The reefs at San Blas are spectacular. Lettuce corals (Agaricia sp.) dominate many of the patch reefs. Closer to the lagoons and mangroves fire coral (Millepora sp.) is the dominant coral. The outer reefs host numerous fish and each smaller reef-head seems to have its own jewel-Box damsel patrolling its territory. Anemones and urchins were not seen in great numbers, nor were many gastropods or sharks observed. Other corals include Acropora, Porites, Montastrea, and encrusting and branching Gorgonians. Away from the reefheads the bottom is home to turtle grass with occasional stands of gorgonians and sponges. A breathtalking environment!
The Symposium was an overwhelming display of information, too much for any one person to comprehend or retain. The academic community demonstrated an enthusiastic willingness to exchange information. As one of a few hobby aquarists attending I was impressed by the general curiosity about how things are done, what types of systems are used, and what type of longevity and growth was observed. A common bond exists because of a mutual desire to study, understand and preserve the marine environment.