Study of fish behaviour
The Capsule is a real underwater observatory that allows you to observe without interruption the life of the reef and to discover the biodiversity that constitutes it. Immersed in the heart of the ocean, scientists will conduct two different studies
- the rise of the reef
- the reef bed
These two periods are little studied since the dives are rarely done at night. Thanks to the Capsule's lighthouses, scientists will be able to analyse the behaviour of different fish and micro-organisms: waking habits, feeding habits, bedtime rituals, analysis of diurnal and nocturnal species, movement, behaviour.
The Capsule also makes it possible to study the interconnection between different species, especially between predator and prey
Coral spawning
One of the other objectives of the Capsule program is also to be able to film and photograph coral spawning, which has never been done before in French Polynesia. After searching for breeding corals, the findings are alarming. Bleaching has wreaked havoc and of the 200 Acropora colonies present, only a few are still alive. And among this small population, only one is home to eggs. In total, only 6% of the colony is still alive. But when corals die, it is the entire life of the reef that is at risk, since they are home to 25% of the oceans' biodiversity.
During 9 days of coral spawning the divers will dive every night to film the long awaited event. But it's finally only on the eighth night that the red eggs will be released. This data will now allow scientists to narrow their study window
The Capsule program is now over and a large shipyard is waiting for the Why, the expedition ship, which will leave for Antarctica in a year's time
