Books with author Tim Grollimund

"While the vast majority of observations during the day are while eels are resting or on a cleaning station, a few times I have seen an eel coupled with a grouper. The first time I saw this was on the Winch Hole. A graysby came to a stop on a pile of rubble, and a goldentail came out from its lair. At first they just sort of looked at each other, then came cheek to cheek, touched, and took off together. I have seen it a couple of other times with a green moray and black grouper.This behavior has not been greatly documented according to the research I did this week. I could only find a few scientific references based on cooperation and communication between different fish species. Other cooperative hunting behaviors among single species are well documented - from dolphins to chimpanzees - but inter-species communication coupled with cooperative behavior studies among fish are rare. There are many relationships of joint foraging, such as wrasses hanging out with trunkfish. These involve a nuclear species (the main dude) and a follower (the one cleaning up the scraps). What differentiates the grouper/eel behavior is the grouper seeks the eel and communicates its intention to hunt with a specific signal.The one study all the other scientists referenced was done in the Red Sea. Google “Plos Biology grouper eel” and the paper should pop right up for you. It’s called “Interspecific Communicative and Coordinated Hunting between Groupers and Giant Moray Eels in the Red Sea”, with principal investigator Redouan Bshary."

"I have always had a fascination for Goliath groupers. When I first met them, they were called jewfish. Itʼs common knowledge that Goliath groupers were nearly wiped out by overfishing up through the 1980s. They were protected beginning in 1990, and remain so today. Nowadays I see some talk from the fishing community that Goliath groupers are becoming so prevalent on the reef itʼs affecting recreational fishing. I read some of the banter on a Florida sports fishing web site. I decided to do some research to make sure I have the facts straight. This is, after all, a fish story. I downloaded a paper from Endangered Species Research by Loren McClenachan in which she compiled historic photographs and newspaper reports as far back in time as she could find. Her premise was that even though Goliath groupers have staged a comeback - estimates are about 35 percent compared to earlier populations - the benchmark figures are inaccurate. In other words, a thirty-five percent comeback based on the wrong number skews the result. That could potentially estimate a healthy enough population to restart fishing. The denominator is too low, which makes the comeback number too high. The stock is nowhere near historical levels, based on her research. The other main comment I saw berated Goliath groupers for decimating other fish populations. Not true. About seventy percent of their diet is composed of crabs and other crustaceans. According to Dr. Koenig, the level of the food chain in which Goliath groupers gorge is not high enough up to have a material affect on fish populations. In fact, where there are Goliath groupers, a native species, other fish populations also tend to be more diverse. They complement each othersʼ existence, not decimate it. Harmony, not havoc.

"Hogfish got their name because they root around the sea floor, like a hog roots around the barnyard. They are opportunistic feeders, like their barnyard counterparts, but feed mostly on crabs and mollusks. We have three species here: Spanish, spotfin and the big kahuna, Lachnolaimus maximus.I have been following the size limit discussions for the last several years, and I have to agree with some of the spearos. They don’t want the size limit bumped up to eighteen inches. I have seen some discussions on a fourteen to sixteen inch change. I have only seen a few hogfish that would meet the new size limit - and I’m not telling any spearos where they are!To fully grasp the issue, I went all the way back to the 1994 final regulation document, where the 12-inch/5 per day rules were put in place. Why is this important for the Keys? According to fishery statistics, in 2004 Monroe County accounted for over 63 percent of the trips on which hogfish were caught, with 44 percent of the total weight. On the average trip, the Monroe County catch weighed in at 68 percent of the total average weight per trip. In 2011, just under 50 percent of the trips originated in Monroe County. Those trips now account for only 18 percent of the total weight, down from 44 percent. The average catch weight per trip now is only 37 percent of the average catch weight for the two coasts, down from 68 percent.On the recreational side, the data collection was not as reliable for the total catch weight, according to the documents I read. But the average length and average weight figures were acceptable. There was no breakout for Monroe County, so we’ll compare the coasts. On the east coast, the average hogfish tipped the scale at 2.9 pounds in 2004, peaked in 2006 at 3.1 pounds, and in 2011 came in at 1.8 pounds. On the west coast, the figures show a different trend. In 2004 the average was 1.8 pounds, peaking at 2.6 in 2005, and now stands at 2.3 pounds. So when the lady spearo at the scoping meeting said she would never get a hogfish in the Keys if the limit changed to 18 inches, she’s right on the money. The biggest ones I’ve seen have been in deeper water.Further, that 12 inch limit is on the cusp of the reproductive maturity for spawning. It stands to reason we won’t see any larger hogfish if the limit remains at 12 inches. There are a host of other variables in the equation that deal with fertility, transformation from female to male, color phases and other items we don’t have the space for here. To me the essential point is this: if we don’t increase the size limit and let them grow another year or two, the chances of maintaining a sustainable fishery may be a huge issue in the future."

There has been a debate for decades on how many species of hamlets exist. The original classification was for one species (Hypoplectrus unicolor), and color variations didn’t matter enough to differentiate a new species. As this debate has raged, scientific research is shedding light on the differences - or not - for the many color variations of the hamlet group. The crux of the debate runs like this: All of the hamlet color variations are strikingly similar in physical characteristics and behavior - body shape, fins, size and diet. The indigo hamlet is the only color variation that is different, in two important ways. Indigos are the largest of the hamlets, and they feed primarily on blue chromis rather than crabs, shrimp and worms. Looking a bit deeper into the debate, we find good arguments for color patterns as definitive criteria for defining species. And now scientists are finding some differences in the molecular structures of the color variations. Another interesting study shows areas of concentration by color pattern. These areas are called population centers, defined by the predominantly abundant species of all hamlets in the area. And according to that map blue hamlets are the kings of the reef in the Keys.

I want to spend more time watching redlip blennies. They mate beginning at first light in two week cycles that start ten days before the full moon. The mating sessions last about three hours each morning, and males generally have female visitors every day. Sometimes the same females come back, but usually there are different mixes among males and females. Females spawn every other day with up to five different males during the two week session. Male redlip blennies are good dads. They maintain the nests, and even secrete an antimicrobial mucus that helps keep the eggs healthy until they hatch. Redlip dads have anal glands that are part of the attraction for the females. In a recent study in the Adriatic Sea, females sought out males with larger glands - typically older larger males. According to the study, “The finding that females prefer males exhibiting larger glands, capable of producing more secretion, provides the first indication of possible female choice for the direct benefit of male antibacterial protection.” Another study shows that males will also take over an abandoned nest, provide care and attract females to lay additional eggs. So, if the guy next door gets eaten, the neighbor is capable of snatching the new territory and keeping the nest clean and bacteria-free, enhancing the survival rate for that nest.

At Atlantis Dumaguete, I saw a whole host of things I’d never had the opportunity to photograph before. The mandarin fish mating dance, a pregnant mantis shrimp, a blue ribbon eel and sea snakes are the most memorable to me. Lots of pipefish, sea horses and nudibranchs live in the seagrass, which made the hang time quite enjoyable. We would spend the last 10 to 15 minutes on the grass beds searching for these small hidden treasures. We also dove Apo Island two of the days we were there.Beyond the diving, the resort facilities, spa and staff made this a great start to our excursion. Dive and eat,dive and eat, dive and eat - then get a massage! The food was terrific, both on the boat and at the resort. I think I ate more in two weeks than I do in a month at home.The Atlantis Azores is a 110 foot cruiser that took us from Puerto Princesa on Palawan to the middle of the Sulu Sea. Tubbataha Reef, a small atoll, is a 10 hour crossing from the port.

Today’s thoughts are primarily for all the folks I see with compact camera systems on dive boats. If you are new to underwater photography, I applaud your entry into the submerged imaging realm. It’s your efforts shooting photos that help spread the wonder, beauty and splendor of the ocean treasures found on the reefs and wrecks. Sending your photos to folks or posting on social networks are great ways to show ocean life to those who do not take the plunge. And going forward I am hopeful all of you will help preserve and protect that which you strive to show your friends and family. Sending your photos, doing a little volunteer work, or supporting a cause that fits your passion are all important to disseminating knowledge about the sea. Your time, stories and photos are important. When I jump in the water with a particular camera set up, I have certain things in mind I want to shoot. And it seems that on some days I find what I’m looking for, and some days I have difficulty finding the right animal for the set up I have. But there are some things that are always on the wrecks and reefs. The small stuff. If you are just starting out with a compact camera system, more than likely you will get better results shooting macro photography. Once you are comfortable with macro, then try wide angle. But set yourself up for success by practicing and mastering macro first. And remember this: if you think you are close enough to your subject, get closer. And use a strobe light.

Filefish have a protruding mouth with some very sharp teeth, similar to a triggerfish. They have narrow, compressed bodies with rough spiny scales and a front dorsal fin that can be raised or lowered. When the fin is raised, it resembles a file, which some reference sources say is the inspiration for the name. Others attribute the moniker to the sandpaper-like quality of the scales. Whatever the true origin, filefish are another group of highly entertaining critters on the reef. They eat a variety of things, but mostly algae, seagrass, soft corals and anemones. Scrawled filefish seem to have an affinity for munching on branching fire coral. I have also seen scrawled filefish pecking at a moon jellyfish in mid water. Whitespotted filefish are usually very shy, and I have found it takes a bit of patience to get them oriented for a good photo. Their color changes from orange to a dull yellow and gray when they display the white spots. Next on the elusiveness scale are the orangespotted filefish. They are quite a bit smaller than the scrawled or whitespotted varieties and tend to hide among the gorgonians and peak out at you before they bolt to a more secure spot. To me the most difficult species to spot are the slender filefish. Not only are they quite small, typically about three inches or less in length, but they are quite adept at changing color to match the gorgonian they are hiding behind. We have seen them frequently on on top of the mini-wall on Deep Molasses.

There’s one thing I can guarantee I’ll see on every dive. They seem to be in every nook and cranny on the reef. Some sort of butterflyfish will be wherever I’m going. They remind me of those tiny self-propelled vacuum cleaners in television commercials that run around the house on their own, cleaning up after the messy homeowner. I sure could use a few of those some days at my house. Would save me a lot of work. Butterflyfish are one of the most common fish to see on our reefs. The REEF fish identification book has six species listed in the Caribbean. I have five of them in my image inventory, and most likely will never see the other one (Bank Butterflyfish), since it is uncommon and generally found below one hundred feet. In the Pacific there are well over 100 species. When I was in the Philippines and Wakatobi last year, I could have spent every dive observing butterflyfish and not come close to seeing them all. It was like somebody was making up different color schemes and tossing them all around me, and sitting back, grinning, while I’m going, hey, there’s a new one!

I always try to photograph angelfish. My image inventory probably has more angelfish photos than any other group. They are the most colorful and beautiful animals on the reef, in my opinion. Some are very shy, like Rock Beauties. Others have varying degrees of aloofness, depending on the conditions and circumstances. The best spots for angels I’ve seen are the deeper parts of Molasses and French reefs, since that is also the place we find the highest population and variety of sponges. The largest individual specimens of any angel species I have seen have been on the deep reefs, effortlessly cruising among the barrel and vase sponges.

"Orange cup coral is an invasive species. While lionfish get all the attention, are subjected to extraction derbies and are appropriately placed on a platter, orange cup coral silently keeps on growing. Fortunately it is much more selective than lionfish. So far it has specialized on artificial reefs, dock pilings and oil rigs.In the REEF coral identification book there is a two-page spread devoted to orange cup coral. In a study by Douglas Fenner and Kenneth Banks, they note the spread of orange cup coral is quite similar to the pattern of die-off of Diadema urchins. Basically the orange cup coral larvae follow water movements, settle, release larvae, settle, and so on. This process has been progressing for about sixty years, rather than only one year for the Diadema tragedy. Based on that thinking, they postulate it takes about eighteen months from settlement to larval release for orange cup coral.Interestingly, a study in the Red Sea of an artificial reef over one hundred years old showed that structural differences between natural reefs and artificial reefs are important. For horizontal surfaces, the mix of life on both the artificial and natural reefs was similar. Vertical structure on the artificial reef differs from horizontal on both types, as well as vertical on the natural reef for the composition of the community. The importance of this study was the time element - a shipwreck over one hundred years in age - and how the structural features play a greater role than age in determining the mix of life that builds on the artificial reef.On the vertical surfaces, water movement, distance above the sea floor and less sedimentation than horizontal surfaces favor orange cup coral growth. Since most of our local reef structure does not have significant vertical wall structure, the artificial reefs will be the prime targets for orange cup coral colonies."

When I’m on the reef and I want a chuckle, I look for a fish in a box. Not a cardboard box of fish like you find in the bait shop, but a body box that fits perfectly and is color matched to its occupant. I bet I have seen some sort of fish in a box on every dive. On some occasions we find juveniles, too. They are about the size of a quarter and look like floating marbles.I’m referring, of course, to a group of animals called boxfish. They’re fun to watch. Sometimes I think they look like little robots scooting around the reef in search of a new power source. The Energizer bunny with fins and armor - and in some cases, horns. Some versions are friendly, some are quite shy. But they are always entertaining. In the Keys we have two varieties of cowfish (scrawled and honeycomb) and three types of trunkfish. There are also references to trunkfish excreting a toxin that is lethal to other fishes in the immediate vicinity. The toxin is a surfactant type of mucous called ostracitoxin. Some scientists have studied this toxin and attempted to make shark repellant out of it, but were not successful in creating an effective marketable product. The main difficulty was maintaining a high enough concentration for a time long enough to be effective. Trunkfish have some unique movement characteristics that have also been the topic if intense scrutiny. Since they are encased in a triangle of bony plates, their core body does not flex like other fishes. The only moving parts are the fins, eyes and mouth, which protrude through the bony plates.