Map the Giants

Calling All Aspiring Scientists! Are you a student pursuing a BSc., MSc., or PhD in Life and Earth Sciences? We’re offering 2 scholarships for our exclusive Scientific Expedition in the Maldives from 3–10 May 2025 aboard the Liveaboard White Wave Maldives. This experience includes: ✅ Hands-on fieldwork to discover and study giant coral colonies ✅ Mentorship from industry-leading experts ✅ Accommodation and meals One slot is reserved for Maldivian nationals, so don’t miss your chance! 📅 Apply now—the deadline is January 30, 2025. 📥 Download the program and application details via the link in our bio. Let’s explore, learn, and make a difference together! #MapTheGiants #GiantCorals #Corals #CoralReef #Unimib #SaveCoralReefs #SaveTheCorals #SCUBA #Maldives #MarineConservation #MarineBiodiversity #ReefResilience #CoralConservation

The giant corals we are studying are not the first ever reported in the literature. In fact, there are a few examples of very large colonies being found across the ocean in recent and quite old literature... From very large 𝘗𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘴 in American Samoa, to ones in Australia, Taiwan, and Japan... we are always on the look for these old guardians of our ocean.  A report by Brown et al. (2009) identified what was thought to be one of the largest and oldest coral, Big Momma, in American Samoa with its 6m of height and 42 of circumference. A study a few years later (Coward et al. 2020) identified more giants 𝘗𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘴 around the very same Ta’u Island which is part of a National Marine Sanctuary: a Porites 22.4m across, 8m tall, and with a circumference of 69m.  Around the Eastern coast of Australia, Smith et al. (2021) reported field measurements for another giant 𝘗𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘴 measuring 10.4 in diameter, 5.3m in height and 31m in circumference. And just a few weeks ago a huge 𝘗𝘢𝘷𝘰𝘯𝘢 𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘷𝘶𝘴 from the Solomon Island stretching 34.1 m by 32 m. What more is hiding out there? #giantcorals #mapthegiants #monumentalcorals #resilientreefs

A short video to show you how easy is to contribute to our project! Just a few clicks to upload data and photos. Here the steps: 1) Spot a Giant: If you encounter a coral colony larger than 5 meters, you've found a Giant! 2) Collect some data: 3) Share Your Discovery: Visit www.mapthegiants.com and submit your findings, including: - Location and GPS coordinates - Size class (over 5 meters) or measurements - Growth form (massive, encrusting, etc.) - High-quality photos. Send us the videos via mail! #MapTheGiants #GiantCorals #Corals #CoralReef #Unimib #SaveCoralReefs

🪸 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺’𝘀 𝗴𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘁 🪸 Until now, we have mostly relied on entries from our fellow citizen scientists, often wishing for the chance to see one of these giants for ourselves. Finally, in November, we had the opportunity to conduct a mini-expedition in Faafu Atoll, where the MaRHE Center is located. Over the course of three days, we explored some of the nearby reefs and made some incredible discoveries. Here the first one: a massive 𝘛𝘶𝘳𝘣𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘢 sp. coral colony measuring 11 meters across, with a 35-meter perimeter, and standing 6 meters tall. This discovery is a testament to the resilience and beauty of our oceans—but also an awakening reminder of what’s at stake. How many more giants like this exist in the world’s oceans? Where are they? And can we afford to lose them before we even know they’re there? 𝗪𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗹𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱. 𝗝𝗢𝗜𝗡 𝗨𝗦 —𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝗝𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟯𝟬, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 #MapTheGiants #GiantCorals #Corals #CoralReef #Unimib #SaveCoralReefs #SCUBA #Maldives #MarineConservation #MarineBiodiversity #ReefResilience #ScientificExpedition Simone Montano,Federica Siena, Jacopo Gobbato, Luca Fallati, Inga Dehnert, Alessandro Gabbiadini

𝗠𝗮𝗽 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀® 𝗦𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 We are pleased to announce the launch of the first Map the Giants® Scientific Expedition by MaRHE Center. The expedition aims to discover and study some of the largest coral colonies in the Maldives.  Irreplaceable organisms, deserving utmost attention are at the center of this project. A multidisciplinary team will be onboard to deepen our knowledge of their resistance, ecology and uniqueness. The expedition, in collaboration with MaRHE Center, will take place between 3 and 10 May 2025 onboard the Liveaboard White Wave Maldives. Researchers, professionals, and students with a keen interest in these remarkable creatures, who share our passion for discovering them, are warmly invited to join us. If you are a young researcher, we are offering 2 scholarships to join us. For the programme and to sign up see here: https://lnkd.in/efGg8KdV Registrations close on January 30th 2025

📣📰 Hard corals🪸 are a crucial component of marine ecosystems, forming the foundation of coral reefs. Unfortunately, many species are facing significant threats, leading to their inclusion on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species that classifies living organisms based on their vulnerability status assessed by groups of researchers. 🚨During the last COP29 in November 2024 , the updated list was revealed and highlighed an increase threat. Up until then, 1/3 of the analysed species were listed as “Vulnerable”. Now, 44% of the corals are listed as “Endangered”. Key findings from the IUCN Red List assessments include: - 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗲𝘀: 44% of scleractinian coral reef species are classified as Endangered. This indicates a serious conservation crisis. - 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗠𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁: Climate change driven by human activities, is the primary culprit behind the decline of coral reefs. -𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘀: In addition local threats such as pollution, overfishing, and destructive practices further contribute to the decline of scleractinian corals. The IUCN Red List plays a crucial role in highlighting the urgent need for conservation action. By providing detailed information on the status of scleractinian corals, it helps policymakers, scientists, and conservation organizations prioritize efforts to protect these vital organisms. “Without relevant decisions from those with the power to change this trajectory we will see the further loss of reefs and progressive disappearance of coral species at larger and larger scales”(Dr. David Obura, Co-Chair of the IUCN SSC Coral Specialist Group). You can read more at https://lnkd.in/en5c-b6S

⚙️Another key piece for data collection. How can you help us identify corals when making an entry? Identifying coral can be a fascinating challenge, for both you and us! By capturing the right details in your underwater photos, you can help scientists piece together the puzzle of coral diversity, or you can even try to do it yourself! 1) Size matters: Don’t forget to have a 𝘀𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 in all your photo. Use a ruler, meter stick or even your diver buddy! 2) Photos: Make sure to get the 𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲 𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗲 photos of the colony, as they are crucial for information on the growth form. Then, get 𝘂𝗽 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲 and personal with the coral’s polyps and surface texture. These details can be crucial for identification. 3) 𝗟𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 is Key: Good lighting can enhance the visibility of intricate features, making identification easier. Now, to identify corals, you can just share your findings on our site, or try to do it yourself using some guides or apps. In case you are uncertain, let us know in the Notes section and we might be able to help you indentify the coral! #MapTheGiants #GiantCorals #Corals #CoralReef #Unimib #SaveCoralReefs #SaveTheCorals #SCUBA #Maldives #MarineConservation #MarineBiodiversity #ReefResilience #CoralConservation @marhecenter

Our partner, Global Reef never ceases to amaze us! Recently, they discovered a new giant 𝘋𝘪𝘱𝘭𝘰𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘢 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘰𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘢 at a depth of 7 meters, measuring an impressive 6.8m x 2.8m. We've included a close-up of its stunning coral polyps to showcase its intricate beauty. These species are known for their extremely slow growth, meaning even the smallest giants are ancient organisms. Keep your eyes wide open on your future dives — we can't wait for more reports like this one! #MapTheGiants #GiantCorals #Corals #CoralReef #Unimib #SaveCoralReefs #SaveTheCorals #SCUBA #Maldives #MarineConservation #MarineBiodiversity #ReefResilience #coralconservation

As announced during the crowdfunding campaign ended in July 2024, we are excited to announce that the first Map the Giants Scientific Expedition is planned for May 2025. We will be exploring the central part of the Maldives 🇲🇻 🏝️ onboard of the liveaboard 🛥️ White Wave Maldives in search of giant coral colonies! 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗬 𝗧𝗨𝗡𝗘𝗗! More info soon! #ScientificExpedition #MapTheGiants #GiantCorals #Corals #CoralReef #Unimib #SaveCoralReefs #SaveTheCorals #SCUBA #Maldives #MarineConservation #MarineBiodiversity #ReefResilience #CoralConservation

Map the Giants does not want to stop!  Our mission is to discover and study enigmatic giant coral colonies worldwide and give them the ecological and cultural importance they deserve. They need maximum attention and the highest level of protection possible. Do not miss this opportunity to learn the details of Map the Giants and the first fantastic results that it has managed to obtain in less than a year since its launch. Follow us and invite anyone to do so...you will not regret it! 📅 Date: Saturday November 23rd 📢 Title: Map the Giants: seeking out the last monumental corals here the link to Sign up for Naturalist point event: https://lnkd.in/dv3njefq Every coral counts... #megacoral #giantcorals #monumentalcorals #supercorals #coralreefs #Maldives #biodiversity #conservation #FedericaSiena #SimoneMontano