Lighthouse Reef Atoll, Belize

Sabin Center affiliates, in collaboration with various partners, are exploring the biotic and abiotic components of Lighthouse Reef Atoll

Stretching about 25 miles long and located about 50 miles off the coast of Belize, Lighthouse Reef Atoll is one of the most pristine marine environments in the Caribbean Sea due to its remote location. Additionally, it is one of the highest biodiversity environments on Earth and one of the most threatened by the impacts of development and climate change. Sabin Center faculty affiliates, in collaboration with various partners, are exploring the biotic and abiotic components of Lighthouse Reef Atoll.

Work at this site focuses on the study of the ecology and conservation biology of one of the best preserved coral atolls in the western hemisphere. Through studying Lighthouse Reef Atoll, Sabin Center researchers aim to understand how human activities influence the function of marine ecosystems on a local-to-global scale.

Individuals involved with this project include Wake Forest Professor Dr. Miles Silman and Department of Biology Graduate Student Benjamin Perlman.