Around the Reef

from Southern Tides March 2019

Ebb & Flow

By Jody Patterson

Events and Volunteer Coordinator Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary

There are many incredible events that take place in the beautiful city of Savannah, but only one can double the population in a single day! Billed as the second largest St. Patrick’s Day parade in the world, the parade is the crowning event of an entire month Savannah dedicates to celebrating Irish heritage. This year the parade takes place on Saturday, March 16, and Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary will make its 5th appearance, presenting a colorful reefscape float.

The intricate reefscape features Georgia’s coastal treasures and highlights the importance of ocean seafloor habitats. Since most people will never see Gray's Reef themselves due to the distance and ocean depth of the reef, our staff and volunteers have been busy replicating the underwater scenery so parade-goers can learn about the sanctuary.

The float portrays a section of rocky ledge that is found on the continental shelf of Georgia and within the sanctuary as naturallyoccurring, cemented sandstone. Marine invertebrates — animals without backbones — attach themselves to these uncommon rocky reef formations, growing and expanding to form a vibrant mosaic of life on the seafloor. Animals such as corals, sponges, anemones, clams, urchins and sea stars are replicated for the float and used as teaching tools for volunteers and the public. This year, interns with the University of Georgia’s Marine Extension and Aquarium are helping to create new critters for the float and are learning about these important habitats and species at the same time. "Gray's Reef is an amazing ecosystem of immeasurable beauty and biodiversity,” said Emily Little, a marine education fellow at UGA's Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant. “However, due to its location off the coast, most people will never have the chance to experience its underwater community first hand. The Gray's Reef parade float has been put together with skill and detail to give the community a taste of what lives under the water, just miles off the coast of Georgia."

Marine sponges, or porifera, are among the largest and most colorful contributions to Gray’s Reef and the reefscape float. Replication of these water-filtering organisms helps shed light on one of the oldest living animal groups on our ocean planet. The name “porifera” means “pore bearer.” The porifera family includes about 5,000 marine species. Many of these sponge species contain toxic substances, while others can have beneficial pharmaceutical effects for humans. Sponges also provide a home for a number of small marine plants, which live in and around their pore systems, and shelter for reef fishes.

Bringing these creatures and aquatic landscapes to the streets of Savannah provides the community an opportunity to celebrate their special ocean ecosystems while showing support for Irish heritage. We have a long history of maritime heritage on the Georgia coast, from indigenous peoples to colonial settlers to today's current populations, many of whom likely have a connection by way of the Atlantic ocean. Maritime heritage sites like Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary add to the community’s understanding and appreciation of our nation’s rich maritime legacy and make us more aware of the critical need to be wise stewards of our ocean planet. Gray’s Reef is excited to be a part of this special celebration that reaches hundreds of thousands of people and shows the importance of this beautiful sanctuary!

For more information, email Jody: jody.patterson@noaa.gov

Above: The 2018 float team for Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary. Photo by Jody Patterson/GRNMS This photo: Vase sponges found at Gray's Reef. Photo provided by NOAA