Each lake is an entirely different environment, allowing us to sample many diverse organisms that face various environmental pressures. We operate out of a laboratory in Palau called the Coral Reef Research Foundation. The lab contains equipment and facilities such as centrifuges, microscopes, filter aquaria, computers, storage, and a library. The lab also provides us with air tanks, boats, experienced Palauan drivers, and accommodations. It's the perfect work environment.
Many people consider Palau a diving mecca.
We usually go to places like mangrove swamps and eelgrass beds because there is much more diversity. The visibility in these areas is so poor that we sometimes drop off the boat, dive to the bottom, and smash into the mud floor without seeing it. My favorite place to collect samples is in the eelgrass beds. We find green ascidians living on the grass blades, green nudibranchs eating the ascidians, and a multitude of sponges hidden underneath the sand. The nutrient and freshwater runoff from nearby islands promotes plant growth and produces a rich and diverse habitat.