Cool Graphs and other News from the Beach

-At the Maru we have been conducting underwater population and biodiversity surveys for the past 7 months.  Twice a month we have gone down and done line transect surveys at two different sites.  Below is a graph made from some of the data we have collected.  The Y-axis shows the absolute and relative abundance of target species during each survey which are arranged chronologically on the X-axis.  Next we will try and find any relationships between this survey data and the weather and water quality monitoring data that we have also been collecting.  Stay tuned.

-The Maru also just applied for a grant from the Paul V. Loiselle Conservation Fund of the American Cichlid Assoication in order to train up to Malawians from Fisheries Department of Mzuzu University in underwater observation techniques using SCUBA and cichlid fish identification.  Wish us luck!


-Male Mylochromis mollis (see the youtube video below) are just starting to get their flashy breeding colors out around Kande Island in preparation for wooing all their dull female counterparts into cozy little breeding craters.  It makes for quite a show.

- Our lazy Sunday afternoon Korean BBQ up at the Zoo in Mzuzu was a big success.  Thanks to all the people who showed up and to Bernhard from Chipungu Coffee for supplying us with two beautiful little pigs.  We roasted one on spit and buried the other one in ground cooking it Maori style. 


- We've put up a small photo gallery at the Maru's website.  Check it out at here

Cool Graphs and other News from the Beach