You mentioned - 80m. Why can’t corals live deeper than this ? quite simply because their symbiotic algae need light for photosynthesis. Below that there is not enough light. however, at greater depths, right down as far as the ocean abysses, at depths of several kilometers, other kinds of corals that do not possess zooxanthellae can be found. Such corals are called « ahermatypic » as opposed to the reef constructors at the surface (hermatypic). They manage to build what are incorrectly called « deep-sea reefs » that are « bioconstructed ». The term"reef" is inappropriate because the word’s meaning is an obstacle on the ocean’s surface. Have our islands’reefs been well studied and are they wellunderstood ? The first descriptions of coral reefs date from the 19 th century and early 20 th century, but in reality it is only after WWii that in-depth research began. It was not until 1969 that the first coral reef researchers – around fifty of them – gathered for the first international conference and the creation of an international association. The most recent « reef » congress was attended by more than 2,500 research scientists. For our islands the first descriptions date from the start of the 20 th century with l-G seurat and the zoology laboratory on rikitea in the Gambier islands, who visited and published work on many atolls in the Tuamotu, like Marutea. since 1965, research on our islands reefs has multiplied. ! Il/'TL L- ; v c-LS'LL-Lt Stay connected during your Tahitian Adventure ! 30MINS" 30MINS 1 - INTERNATIONAL CALLS 30J41131-leal-Ke11114:1131 LOCAL CALLS 305-1-**itee NATURE There must be more than 3,000 published scientific articles. The Tiahura reef in Moorea has been a focus of study for over 300 scientists and is known worldwide thanks to the work of criobe, that you mentioned at the start of the interview. it can be said that French Polynesia’s reefs are relatively well known, even if there are stillatolls that have not been studied. But what is the broader significance of this research ? i was coming to that, researchers work within a cultural, economic and social context. Understanding helps us to better manage and the researchers participate and are committed to establishing marine protected areas, combating pollution, and creating laws… But they can only provide their opinion, the final decisions are political. The Society Islands, Tuamotu and part of the Australs have flourishing reefs, why is this not the case in the Marquesas and Rapa the southernmost of the Austral Islands ? as you know, during the last ice age sea level was around 140m lower than it is currently. The polar ice caps lockedup a large part of the world’s water as ice. When the ice melted, around 14,000 years ago, the sea-level rose. We have been in an interglacial period these last 14-millennia, with sealevel rising to its current level. in the society and Tuamotu islands the corals continued to grow and, as their skeletons accumulated, the reefs kept pace with the rising water level. 2 2 B DATA GB*eAM. r 5 000 F 42  € Ready ? FliR TRI-liTi (1) Up to 30 mins international calls Initial credit valid for 15 days Check our sales conditions on www.vodafone.pf 79