Exploration Note Summary:

Help your students discover how scientists measure the growth of organisms that can live for over 1,000 years with this first-person account from the ECOGIG mission. This reading follows researchers on the E/V Nautilus as they use the ROV Hercules to deploy a custom-built “stainer” chamber around deep-sea octocorals in the Gulf of America. Students will learn about the innovative use of calcein, a fluorescent dye that stains coral skeletons to provide direct measurements of their incredibly slow growth rates. This resource is an excellent tool for teaching marine biology, engineering design, and the real-world challenges of conducting research in the deep ocean.

Download this engaging story to bring the science of coral conservation and deep-sea exploration into your classroom.