The Island of Silhouette forms part of the inner granitic island complex of the Seychelles Republic and is situated just 10 km off shore. Prior to 2006 no quantitative surveys had been carried out on the granitic boulder seascapes. As up to 90 % of Seychelles coral reefs were highly impacted by the 1998 bleaching event it was considered that the granitic seascape of Silhouette would be fairly barren. Surveys carried out by academic staff of the Marine Sciences group, in collaboration with the Seychelles Centre of Research & Technology – Marine Protected Areas, during 2007 however discovered a very diverse system. The size of some corals clearly indicated that some species survived the 1998 plus numerous other, climatic events. The system was also characterised by a large number of smaller colonies indicating the recovery potential of Silhouette habitat. To consolidate field surveys, controlled experimentation was undertaken to examine the physiology of “resilient” and “sensitive” species. The physiology of the two functional groups was markedly different and this annual research project aims at:
1. Understanding the mechanisms of thermal induced bleaching of resilient and sensitive coral species
2. Understanding the functional ecology of granite island coral systems and the impacts of climate change at the ecosystem level
3. The diversity and ecology of Seychelles coral reefs contrasting coralline atolls and granite boulder communities
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