Marine Educative Area "Generation 8" : Discovery of coralligenous

Over the past few weeks, the CM2 students of François d’Assise – Nicolas Barré School studied tropical reefs. On Friday, January 30th, they visited the AMPN to refocus on their Marine Educational Area (MEA) and discover the coralligenous, an iconic ecosystem of the Mediterranean. 

The AMPN and Thalassa Marine research & Environmental awareness introduced them to the many similarities between tropical reefs and the coralligenous. Both are built by living organisms, host exceptional biodiversity, and are particularly vulnerable to human pressures. 

The students then discovered the presence of the coralligenous in their MEA on certain deep rocks. They also learned that massive mortalities have been observed during heatwave episodes, notably in 2022, highlighting the fragility of this habitat in the face of climate warming. 

The session continued with the observation of green sea anemones (Anemonia viridis) in aquariums, which helped students better understand the anatomy and feeding habits of cnidarians. They also had the opportunity to handle samples from the coralligenous, including fragments of red coral, a gorgonian skeleton and even a lobster molt. 

The students were amazed by the discovery of this rich and little-known habitat. Aware of its vulnerability, they became even more motivated to imagine and propose conservation actions. 

Program supported by the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation and the Government of Monaco.

Photo credit : AMPN