Ryukyuri Coral
Around Iheya, there are colonies of coral growing on various substrates from natural formations to old wreckage because the bottom near Iheya is primarily sandy and shifting regularly with the ocean currents and tides.
Fishermen (also called Uminchu) have a unique perspective on the ocean. Many of them swim and even more of them are natural divers. This enables them to collect different creatures for food and medicinal uses. One of the things that the old fishermen can tell you is how healthy a reef and the surrounding waters are based on the sound. Reefs have a unique way of communication, and its not what you might think.
Coral reefs are actually noisy places underwater. To those of us who are not familiar, sounds of popping, squeaking, clicking, crackling, whistling, and clacking may just sound like noise and are just some of the descriptions of what it sounds like; to an experienced Uminchu, its music. In some areas, the intensity and level of sound are good indicators, but for the uneducated, it might sound perfectly fine. to the Uminchu, based on the level of the different sounds, the ref could be saying its time to harvest, later is time, I'm sick, a predator passed by recently, someone not known came by; several different messages can be relayed based on the sounds, frequency, and intensity. Some Islanders are born with what has been called @@aqua-sight@@. Individuals with this ability claim they can actually see the frequency and colors being emitted by the various corals. At times it can be very discordant since a healthy reef will have 100's of corals trying to speak at once. Corals are not know for their patience. I mean, a creature that can't move, except outward and upward, depending on the species, and only 1-2cm per year, you would think would be slow and patient like a 'tree-beard'. You'd be wrong. corals are almost buzzing they are so active and hyper. its no wonder the larger ones speak gibberish since they are stuck in one place. Ryukyuri corals come in many varieties. they can be tall or small, long or short. Colors that exceed the rainbow on a visual spectrum, and then colors on other spectrums. Ironically, the soft corals are the ones who sing the best. Some do grow faster than the previously mentioned 1-2cm per year, but the slow growing species are the most reliable for what has happened in the recent time frame depending on when the last Uminchu came by because they are the most coherent. Soft corals are more prone to damage and heat temperature problems than the hard variety. while they usually sit further off the coral substrate, they are also closer to the waters surface in some areas. spring tides are usually the hardest times, especially if there haven't been any typhoons to encourage the coastal cleaning.
Fishermen (also called Uminchu) have a unique perspective on the ocean. Many of them swim and even more of them are natural divers. This enables them to collect different creatures for food and medicinal uses. One of the things that the old fishermen can tell you is how healthy a reef and the surrounding waters are based on the sound. Reefs have a unique way of communication, and its not what you might think.
Coral reefs are actually noisy places underwater. To those of us who are not familiar, sounds of popping, squeaking, clicking, crackling, whistling, and clacking may just sound like noise and are just some of the descriptions of what it sounds like; to an experienced Uminchu, its music. In some areas, the intensity and level of sound are good indicators, but for the uneducated, it might sound perfectly fine. to the Uminchu, based on the level of the different sounds, the ref could be saying its time to harvest, later is time, I'm sick, a predator passed by recently, someone not known came by; several different messages can be relayed based on the sounds, frequency, and intensity. Some Islanders are born with what has been called @@aqua-sight@@. Individuals with this ability claim they can actually see the frequency and colors being emitted by the various corals. At times it can be very discordant since a healthy reef will have 100's of corals trying to speak at once. Corals are not know for their patience. I mean, a creature that can't move, except outward and upward, depending on the species, and only 1-2cm per year, you would think would be slow and patient like a 'tree-beard'. You'd be wrong. corals are almost buzzing they are so active and hyper. its no wonder the larger ones speak gibberish since they are stuck in one place. Ryukyuri corals come in many varieties. they can be tall or small, long or short. Colors that exceed the rainbow on a visual spectrum, and then colors on other spectrums. Ironically, the soft corals are the ones who sing the best. Some do grow faster than the previously mentioned 1-2cm per year, but the slow growing species are the most reliable for what has happened in the recent time frame depending on when the last Uminchu came by because they are the most coherent. Soft corals are more prone to damage and heat temperature problems than the hard variety. while they usually sit further off the coral substrate, they are also closer to the waters surface in some areas. spring tides are usually the hardest times, especially if there haven't been any typhoons to encourage the coastal cleaning.
I love the idea of gossipy corals! I read articles irl about how noisy the oceans are, so it's fun to see someone take that concept and run with it.