Glover's Reef Marine Research Station
James A Powell
jpowell at btl.net
Sat Oct 26 19:07:22 EDT 1996
Glover's Reef Marine Research Station
Belize, Central America
Wildlife Conservation Society
P.O. Box 2310
Belize City, Belize
Tel: 501-2-33855
FAX: 501-2--31963
E-mail: jpowell at btl.net
Please take a look at our WWW page at: http://www.une.edu/glover/glovindx.html
Glover's Reef atoll and marine reserve is located approximately 50 km off the coast of central Belize. It
is considered to be one of the most pristine and important coral reef sites in the Caribbean. Due to the
isolation of Glover's Reef atoll, there is little influence from coastal sedimentation or pollution. It is
considered to be one of the most ideal sites in the world to conduct coral reef research (Dahl, MacIntyre
& Antonius. 1974. A comparative survey of coral reef research sites. In: Marie-Helene Sachet and
Arthur Dahl. Atoll Research Bulletin. 172: 37-75.). Consequently, the Wildlife Conservation Society
(WCS) in cooperation with the Government of Belize has established a permanent research station at
Middle Cay located on Glover's Reef. WCS along with the Government of Belize would like to invite
scientists and graduate level students who are interested in working at Glover's Reef to contact James
Powell at jpowell at btl.net for more information.
The marine reserve at Glover's Reef atoll is a major component of a general comprehensive program
for coastal zone management for Belize, Central America. In a broad sense the reserve was
established to maintain ecological processes, preserve genetic diversity, achieve sustainable yields of
its resources through wise management of species and their habitats, maintain natural areas for
education and research and provide social, and economic benefits through ecologically sensitive
recreation and tourism. Keenly aware of the need to protect this world class resource, the Wildlife
Conservation Society (WCS) purchased the island of Middle Cay, situated at the southern end of the
atoll, for the purposes of providing a marine park headquarters for the Government of Belize and to
establish a marine research field station. WCS has completed construction of this facility and now
provides a base of operations for park rangers and scientists alike.
WCS's over-arching mission is to provide for the long-term conservation and protection of Glover's Reef
atoll. To accomplish this goal, WCS is working in close collaboration with the government of Belize to
develop a coordinated research and management program for the atoll. WCS's primary responsibility in
this partnership is scientific research. In the coming years, we hope that the research on Glover's Reef
atoll will lead to a better understanding and management of this coral reef. The Comparative
Investigations of Tropical Reef Ecosystems (CITRE) program identified Glover's Reef as the most
preferred site in the Caribbean for "long-term, multi-disciplinary, multi-institutional investigation of coral
reef ecosystems" (Dahl, MacIntyre & Antonius. 1974. A comparative survey of coral reef research sites.
In: Marie-Helene Sachet and Arthur Dahl. Atoll Research Bulletin. 172: 37-75.). The authors reported,
"In contrast to the other reefs surveyed in the Caribbean area, Glover's Reef atoll appears to offer the
greatest variety of reef types, and the optimum reef development in terms of population density and
species diversity of reef corals and associated organisms". In addition to Glover's Reef, Belize's
extensive barrier reef is 30 km away.
The WCS research station on Glover's Reef atoll is located on Middle Cay. The present facility includes
a ranger station and visitor's centre, a dry laboratory and work area, dining and cooking facilities (meals
are provided) and housing for eight scientists and/or students. There are boats, air compressor and
SCUBA tanks for researcher support. Aquarium facilities are available. The station is
completely self- sufficient with full-time electricity (110 vac) provided by a complementary system of
wind and solar power. Fresh water is available through a de-salination plant and
rain-water catchment. Refrigeration is available. Toilet facilities are state-of-the-art pollution-free,
containment composition type. One aim of the station is to utilize non-polluting and energy efficient
technology. WCS invites any scientists or students interested in using the Glover's Reef Research
Station to please contact: Glover's Reef Marine Research Station, P.O. Box 2310, Belize City, Belize
or Tel. 501-2-33855 or fax 501-2-31963. E-mail messages can be sent to: jpowell at btl.net.
--
James A. Powell
Director
Glover's Reef Marine Research Station
P.O. Box 2310
Belize City, Belize
Tel./Fax 501-233855
Middle Cay tel: 501-148474
E-mail: jpowell at btl.net
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