Plans to wrap up ACEP’s Phase II will occur in 2011. The following projects were awarded funding and have been in progress since the beginning of Phase II in 2007.
Natal Bight
This project’s objective is to investigate the physical oceanographic and geological processes, the importance of fluvial versus oceanic imports, as well as biodiversity and ecosystem aspects of the KwaZulu-Natal Bight.
Coral Coring
This project means to sample and analyze the coral core of the Sodwana coral reef system in order to find out decadal variations in sea surface temperature, climate and geochemistry.
Agulhas Current
This project hopes to better understand the Agulhas Current on South Africa’s east coast and how it affects the Natal Bight and Agulhas Bank.
Biodiversity
The major focus of this project is to study the coelacanth – narrowing in on ecology, biodiversity, and population estimates. It will also look at the energy flows, trophic interdependencies and habitat mapping of Sodwana Bay. The project’s data will be used to develop the conservation plans for the area.
Genetics
This project will hone in on the different species in the area and look for patterns of diversity and underlying processes that promote species diversification and structure in the area.
Environmental Education
Creating and promoting awareness of opportunities in marine science in South Africa is the main focus of this project.
Conservation Planning
To create management and conservation programmes for the marine living resources in South African waters by collecting spatial data on local diversity patterns and processes and then analyzing them for conservation planning needs.
Database
GIS databases will be generated from the research data ACEP has collected to date.
