Cleaning stations are an incredible, natural phenomenon that occur on coral reefs. During its day to day life, a fish will build up parasites, dead skin, and mucus on it’s body. To clean themselves fish, like a Nassau grouper, will pull up to a cleaning station where smaller fish like gobies, wrasses, shrimp and other small marine life literally eat these parasites and dead skin off the body of a larger fish. It is a lot like a car wash! This is an amazing example of a mutualistic relationship where all species involved benefit. The larger fish gets cleaned while the smaller organisms get a meal. Cleaning stations can be found just about anywhere on a coral reef, but on the spawning aggregation, they are often found in and around large barrel sponges. Click on this link to see some video of a cleaning station that was taken just yesterday on Little Cayman: Cleaning Station

Hello Everyone!

Today, we had our first Grouper Education livestream! I want to thank all the classrooms that were able to join us. Your support and engagement are critical to the success the project. Especially, I would like to thank all the teachers for going the extra mile to make this happen. We all appreciate you so much! If you were unable to attend today’s livestream, you can view it anytime on REEF’s YouTube page. Today’s livestream highlighted a number of scientists working on the project and some incredible footage of the spawning aggregation here on Little. You can watch them here: Spawning Burst 1 Spawning Burst 2

Also, on today’s livestream, we talked a bit about sharks on the aggregation. We definitely see them out there and sometimes they’re able to get ahold of a Nassau, but these are some tough fish. Take a look at this grouper, affectionately known as Lucky, who clearly had a bite taken out of him in the past, but he healed and continues to show up on the aggregation each year! Amazing!

Lucky, the Nassau Grouper 

Remember to tune in for our second livestream tomorrow at 10:30am. Go Grouper Moon!

Hello Everyone!

Nassau Grouper are truly a unique and beautiful fish. Something that really makes them stand out is their ability to change color. Much like an octopus, the Nassau Grouper can change their color in the blink of an eye. Grouper change their color for a number of reasons, such as camouflage. The Nassau can make itself lighter or darker to better blend in with its habitat.  Another purpose of its color changing behavior is for communication. The Nassau will often change its coloration when it encounters other Nassau, to let them know they see them. How cool is that?!

Here is a graphic showing the different color phases of the grouper:

Color Phases!

Hello Everyone!

Grouper Moon 2024 is off to a great start! The team of researchers have all arrived on Little Cayman and are busy counting fish and collecting all kinds of data.

Each day this week, I will be posting interviews, behind-the-scenes photos, videos and more here on the education blog! You can also leave questions or comments on any of my posts and I will respond promptly.

One of the graduate students joining the project this year is Janelle Layton. Yesterday, she was on a dive on Little Cayman and spotted an amazing fish that she caught it on video. Can you identify this beautiful fish? Check out the video below. If you think you know the name of this fish species, leave it in the comments below!

Mystery Fish?!

Check back tomorrow when I will begin posting videos from the Nassau Grouper aggregation!

Go, Grouper Moon!

Todd