Research scientists from the Department of Invertebrate Zoology and Geology (Terry Gosliner, Chrissy Piotrowski, and Gary Williams) conducted a continuation of an ongoing Academy biotic survey on the coral reefs of southwestern Luzon, Philippines in November of 2012. Imaging and specimen collection focused on gorgonian and pennatulacean octocorals, errant polychaetes, and opisthobranch gratropods. The studies were conducted on the coral reefs by SCUBA diving. Material was brought back for the marine invertebrate collection at the Academy to be curated and permanently housed. A visit to the marine invertebrate collection of the University of the Philippines in Manila, allowed for study of coral reef invertebrates that were previously collected from the same region.
