|
National Geographic Jewels of the Caribbean Sea
|
| 00:00:03 |
Paradise, for some, is simply |
| 00:00:09 |
But for wild creatures this is not |
| 00:00:15 |
Here the tranquil inland world |
| 00:00:19 |
complex and surprising one begins. |
| 00:00:23 |
Vast coral reefs and sandy plains |
| 00:00:27 |
the crystal Caribbean Sea. |
| 00:00:29 |
And the tropical sun illuminates |
| 00:00:45 |
Here are creatures rare and fantastic. |
| 00:00:49 |
Here are figments of our nightmares |
| 00:00:53 |
from our dreams. |
| 00:02:00 |
In waters famed for hidden treasure, |
| 00:02:04 |
stunningly abundant. |
| 00:02:06 |
Here, immersed in beauty and |
| 00:02:12 |
the JEWELS OF THE CARIBBEAN SEA. |
| 00:03:07 |
The largest living structures |
| 00:03:08 |
on planet Earth are controlled from |
| 00:03:13 |
Every year, with uncanny precision, |
| 00:03:18 |
sets in motion the process of spawning |
| 00:03:42 |
The same response occurs at different |
| 00:03:46 |
from the Red Sea to the Pacific |
| 00:03:53 |
Tiny bundles of brain coral eggs |
| 00:03:58 |
Millions of them flood the sea. |
| 00:04:13 |
Different species of coral |
| 00:04:17 |
Some corals are hermaphroditic |
| 00:04:20 |
that contain both eggs and sperm. |
| 00:04:24 |
Other types release them separately. |
| 00:04:32 |
It is all unbelievably |
| 00:04:38 |
The great blooming mass of eggs |
| 00:04:42 |
where the eggs will be |
| 00:04:59 |
The larvae will drift, |
| 00:05:02 |
Before setting to be bottom and |
| 00:05:06 |
a hundred miles away. |
| 00:05:12 |
The result of a few minute coral |
| 00:05:16 |
to grow and reproduce can be this |
| 00:05:22 |
of the Caribbean. |
| 00:05:28 |
It is home to creatures |
| 00:05:32 |
as huge as the manta ray. |
| 00:05:50 |
Coral reefs may be hundreds of feet |
| 00:05:55 |
They are by far the largest structures |
| 00:06:01 |
Yet they are made almost entirely from |
| 00:06:06 |
some the size of a single pearl. |
| 00:06:11 |
The living coral grows about |
| 00:06:15 |
It lies upon the skeletons of |
| 00:06:20 |
Along the edge of the reef we are |
| 00:06:23 |
thousands of years. |
| 00:06:30 |
Twenty feet down we are on the reef |
| 00:06:39 |
At 85 feet we are |
| 00:06:46 |
At 180 feet we have reached |
| 00:06:58 |
Around the reef great predators roam. |
| 00:07:07 |
A Caribbean reef shark snaps up |
| 00:07:33 |
These swift killers don't always |
| 00:07:39 |
makes a quick turn, |
| 00:07:44 |
and slips off its tail. |
| 00:07:50 |
Those that escape a shark may fall |
| 00:08:01 |
But the coral city is a community of |
| 00:08:05 |
of sudden death can be |
| 00:08:10 |
This coral head is a special place. |
| 00:08:16 |
Tiny cleaner gobies cluster |
| 00:08:22 |
The tiger grouper often visits here. |
| 00:08:26 |
Trusting in an ancient and |
| 00:08:29 |
the gobies do not hesitate |
| 00:08:37 |
The gobies are allowed to crawl |
| 00:08:39 |
feeding on parasites and dead tissue. |
| 00:08:42 |
In return, every inch of the grouper |
| 00:09:02 |
Other cleaners have other clients. |
| 00:09:07 |
waving its white antennae, |
| 00:09:11 |
and is accepted by a Nassau grouper. |
| 00:09:20 |
Cleaning is a striking example |
| 00:09:25 |
As a result of its service, |
| 00:09:28 |
And the fish that is cleaned |
| 00:09:32 |
But researchers suspect that |
| 00:09:35 |
is also important a sensuous interval |
| 00:09:44 |
The shrimp is allowed |
| 00:09:47 |
It crawls through the delicate gills |
| 00:09:51 |
that irritate the host. |
| 00:09:57 |
On the reef many creatures may not |
| 00:10:01 |
in their entire lives. |
| 00:10:04 |
But others are visitors creatures |
| 00:10:08 |
of thousands of miles. |
| 00:10:20 |
During these winter months, |
| 00:10:24 |
with the music of humpback whales. |
| 00:10:43 |
The whales come here |
| 00:10:46 |
Little or no feeding takes place |
| 00:10:49 |
they stay here. |
| 00:10:51 |
Males give themselves to fighting |
| 00:10:55 |
and females are giving birth and caring for their calves. |
| 00:11:08 |
In early spring they'll head back |
| 00:11:13 |
and Barffin Island one of |
| 00:11:20 |
In a winter storm a hundred years ago, |
| 00:11:24 |
carrying molasses |
| 00:11:25 |
from Caribbean plantations |
| 00:11:31 |
Drifting coral larvae have settled |
| 00:11:34 |
and a new reef city is being born. |
| 00:11:44 |
Coral polyps absorb calcium from |
| 00:11:47 |
which they use to create |
| 00:11:48 |
the hard structures that make up |
| 00:11:53 |
of jewel-like inhabitants. |
| 00:12:24 |
>From its den beneath the collapsed bow |
| 00:12:27 |
loggerhead turtle |
| 00:12:29 |
emerges to greet a new day. |
| 00:12:43 |
Turtles, like whales, are tied |
| 00:12:49 |
The loggerhead must breathe |
| 00:12:53 |
Then he continues this leisurely |
| 00:13:01 |
The slipper lobster has sacrificed |
| 00:13:05 |
of camouflage. |
| 00:13:08 |
Not exactly lightning fast himself, |
| 00:13:12 |
and his powerful jaws. |
| 00:13:48 |
Above the wreck, |
| 00:13:53 |
The barracuda hovers around |
| 00:13:57 |
Smaller fish tend to ignore it. |
| 00:13:59 |
But everything can change |
| 00:14:05 |
The highly maneuverable yellowtail |
| 00:14:08 |
avoid becoming a meal. |
| 00:14:13 |
These waters also swarm with |
| 00:14:28 |
This is one of the most intelligent |
| 00:14:32 |
the Caribbean reef squid. |
| 00:14:35 |
It is a creature from another world. |
| 00:14:40 |
Their skins are alive |
| 00:14:46 |
Not only can they warm that a predator |
| 00:14:50 |
distinguish one predator from another. |
| 00:15:01 |
Males competing for the affections of |
| 00:15:05 |
visual combat, displaying |
| 00:15:12 |
No damage is done, |
| 00:15:30 |
Squid & courtship is also very visual |
| 00:15:34 |
extravagant display. |
| 00:15:54 |
The actual mating however, |
| 00:16:01 |
The male lunges at the female with |
| 00:16:04 |
attaching to her a packet of sperm. |
| 00:16:09 |
The female can take her time deciding |
| 00:16:13 |
self-fertilization or later |
| 00:16:16 |
rejecting it in favor of another. |
| 00:16:23 |
In spring many reef creatures |
| 00:16:26 |
Excited schools of mating fish dance |
| 00:16:30 |
the placid Caribbean. |
| 00:16:51 |
After mating, the male yellowhead |
| 00:16:56 |
with the fertilized eggs. |
| 00:16:59 |
He has them in his mouth, |
| 00:17:01 |
spitting them out from time to time |
| 00:17:09 |
For five days he'll continue |
| 00:17:13 |
the baby jawfish finally hatch. |
| 00:17:25 |
Hundreds of Cerole wrasse school in |
| 00:17:30 |
every day across the reef. |
| 00:17:40 |
They are deadly marauders, attacking |
| 00:17:45 |
Parrotfish are spawning, |
| 00:17:49 |
rush in to gorge themselves. |
| 00:17:52 |
They eat the eggs the moment they are |
| 00:18:12 |
Thousands of eggs vanish |
| 00:18:16 |
some escape and a few tiny parrotfish |
| 00:18:23 |
The Creole wrasse stop |
| 00:18:27 |
A juvenile Spanish hogfish |
| 00:18:31 |
It dashes from wrasse to wrasse |
| 00:18:36 |
Requesting to be cleaned, |
| 00:18:41 |
Then, as the hogfish moves on, |
| 00:18:45 |
the head of the line |
| 00:19:01 |
The smoke rising from this barrel |
| 00:19:09 |
When a sponge starts to spawn, |
| 00:19:12 |
along the reef as others of the same |
| 00:19:18 |
The sea is as warm |
| 00:19:40 |
High over the teeming city, |
| 00:19:46 |
This is a springtime swarm |
| 00:20:12 |
Ninety-five percent water, without |
| 00:20:16 |
they are little more than fragments |
| 00:20:20 |
Each is the size of a thumbnail. |
| 00:20:49 |
Thimble jellyfish are armed with |
| 00:20:52 |
that carry a mild venom. |
| 00:20:54 |
But this doesn't seem to discourage |
| 00:21:11 |
The clouds of thimble jellies |
| 00:21:14 |
and into the haunt of giants. |
| 00:21:22 |
Sperm whales spend most of their days |
| 00:21:26 |
where they hunt for squid. |
| 00:21:28 |
They surface every 45 minutes or so |
| 00:21:33 |
in the Caribbean sun. |
| 00:21:43 |
But not all sperm whales |
| 00:21:47 |
Newborn calves lack the endurance |
| 00:21:50 |
and must wait near the surface |
| 00:21:58 |
This calf lools in a gentle sea as his |
| 00:22:04 |
As she soars through the darkness |
| 00:22:07 |
far below him in pursuit of squid, |
| 00:22:10 |
he can still hear |
| 00:22:16 |
Fearless and playful, the lone |
| 00:22:21 |
the dexterity of his great body in the |
| 00:22:39 |
He is covered with remoras, |
| 00:22:43 |
for a spectacular free ride. |
| 00:22:46 |
When he learns to dive, |
| 00:22:50 |
unable to stand the cold |
| 00:23:48 |
The baby whale hears his mother |
| 00:23:52 |
their favorite waters deep channels |
| 00:24:01 |
They swim by islands packed with more |
| 00:24:07 |
Seemingly lush and abundant, Caribbean |
| 00:24:12 |
to the tourists who come here. |
| 00:24:15 |
To make room for them, |
| 00:24:19 |
Over the years ecosystems disappear |
| 00:24:23 |
that inhabit them on land |
| 00:24:28 |
The dark patches behinds the shelter |
| 00:24:34 |
They cover hundreds of square miles |
| 00:24:41 |
This is home to a manatee. |
| 00:24:46 |
these gentle undersea mammals |
| 00:24:49 |
How the sight of one is |
| 00:24:54 |
on the midwestern prairie. |
| 00:24:57 |
Remoras cling to the manatee. |
| 00:25:02 |
The lone manatee probably gains |
| 00:25:08 |
The gentle stately manatee |
| 00:25:12 |
Today, its greatest enemy |
| 00:25:17 |
Easy targets for a harpoon, manatees |
| 00:25:23 |
and poachers still take them |
| 00:25:28 |
Only the tip of the snout |
| 00:25:40 |
Manatees are highly vulnerable to |
| 00:25:46 |
Many bear propeller scars |
| 00:25:56 |
When manatees are not feeding, |
| 00:26:00 |
Despite the camera, |
| 00:26:09 |
There he's fast asleep, |
| 00:26:15 |
sweeping away his world. |
| 00:26:22 |
The manatee's fate, |
| 00:26:26 |
depends largely on strangers |
| 00:26:29 |
and travel in splendid isolation. |
| 00:26:45 |
Few of these travelers are aware of |
| 00:26:49 |
all about them, great and small. |
| 00:26:56 |
The reef at night. |
| 00:27:01 |
Many fish sleep. This redtail |
| 00:27:08 |
lying on her side on the coral. |
| 00:27:15 |
As a prelude to mating, |
| 00:27:19 |
the carapace of a female. |
| 00:27:30 |
Lobster larvae, when they are born, |
| 00:27:43 |
The spiny lobster female helps |
| 00:27:49 |
She agitates her tail to help |
| 00:27:58 |
By the thousands the tiny larvae |
| 00:28:03 |
never to be seen by her again. |
| 00:28:15 |
Larvae, eggs, plankton, and tiny fish |
| 00:28:21 |
a dazzling assortment of creatures |
| 00:28:25 |
onto the sea wind. |
| 00:28:32 |
This is a venomous sea wasp. Its |
| 00:28:40 |
which are quickly anesthetized |
| 00:28:51 |
Reef squid lie in wait for |
| 00:28:57 |
And out of the darkness |
| 00:29:05 |
The manta loops to stay in the area |
| 00:29:09 |
It's maneuver as graceful as |
| 00:29:26 |
The arms on either side of her face |
| 00:29:29 |
that channel plankton into |
| 00:29:36 |
Her wings span six feet and |
| 00:29:48 |
All night the eerie feast of |
| 00:29:57 |
Out on the prairie a pearlfish |
| 00:30:01 |
mimicking the surrounding |
| 00:30:04 |
Camouflage makes it almost invisible. |
| 00:30:14 |
This unappealing animal |
| 00:30:18 |
It consumes sediments, |
| 00:30:21 |
digestible bits of organic matter. |
| 00:30:24 |
It is also home for the pearlfish. |
| 00:30:31 |
Locates the rear end of the sea |
| 00:30:34 |
Then it inserts its sharply |
| 00:30:38 |
the cucumber's anus to reach |
| 00:30:46 |
The pearlfish obviously benefits. |
| 00:30:49 |
But what's in it for the sea cucumber, |
| 00:30:58 |
Comes a sultry Caribbean dawn, |
| 00:31:03 |
Of the night's events. |
| 00:31:14 |
A baby loggerhead turtle emerges from |
| 00:31:21 |
It begins a life that could last more |
| 00:31:24 |
or just a few minutes. |
| 00:31:29 |
Turtles produce abundant young, |
| 00:31:33 |
to carry on their species. |
| 00:31:48 |
The baby heads instinctively |
| 00:31:53 |
If a female, she may return to |
| 00:31:58 |
in 25 years or so. |
| 00:32:00 |
If a male, |
| 00:32:17 |
Now the baby turtle must cross |
| 00:32:21 |
the open ocean. |
| 00:32:25 |
Predators gather quickly when the sea |
| 00:32:32 |
But this turtle is lucky. |
| 00:32:34 |
After 36 hours of nonstop swimming, |
| 00:32:40 |
It will spend its first year near |
| 00:32:45 |
then eastward across the Atlantic |
| 00:32:52 |
The flotsam of the sea accumulates |
| 00:32:56 |
Sargassum weed and other drifting plant |
| 00:33:00 |
along with an increasing mass of |
| 00:33:09 |
Jellyfish congregate here too, |
| 00:33:12 |
for the newly hatched loggerhead. |
| 00:33:36 |
These waters often teem with jellyfish |
| 00:33:38 |
and some of them are |
| 00:33:42 |
This large stinging cauliflower |
| 00:33:47 |
They are helpless |
| 00:33:53 |
The medusa fish may be resistant to |
| 00:33:57 |
or just incredibly nimble. |
| 00:34:00 |
It feeds on scraps and leftovers from |
| 00:34:03 |
and uses the broad bell as |
| 00:34:26 |
Convergent currents drive |
| 00:34:29 |
by the tens of thousands. |
| 00:34:32 |
Their translucent bodies form |
| 00:35:29 |
The sargassum weed is a safe nursery |
| 00:35:34 |
Spawned on the reef, schools of |
| 00:35:39 |
until they are old enough to return |
| 00:35:49 |
A loggerhead turtle |
| 00:35:58 |
The lobster uses its spiny antennae. |
| 00:36:00 |
They are covered with sharp barbs |
| 00:36:04 |
at the turtle's eyes |
| 00:36:33 |
Eventually the loggerhead discouraged |
| 00:36:39 |
In a long, slow-paced life, |
| 00:36:42 |
makes little difference. |
| 00:36:47 |
Adult loggerheads lead settled lives. |
| 00:36:50 |
They hunt by day and at night |
| 00:36:54 |
in a favorite crevice. |
| 00:37:05 |
Another turtle, a hawksbill, |
| 00:37:09 |
She eats sponges. |
| 00:37:12 |
She spends her days searching out |
| 00:37:16 |
When she finds one, she contents |
| 00:37:19 |
and then moves on. |
| 00:37:23 |
The sponge will survive. |
| 00:37:25 |
Its tissue will heal and later |
| 00:37:32 |
For the French angelfish the sponge |
| 00:37:36 |
because the turtle has torn through |
| 00:37:45 |
But this sponge has a defender. |
| 00:37:48 |
Some damselfish are farmers. |
| 00:37:51 |
They cultivate patches of algae |
| 00:38:06 |
Although the queen angelfish is |
| 00:38:11 |
the little fish is unrelenting. |
| 00:38:13 |
It will attack almost anything |
| 00:38:25 |
Other kinds of algae have changed |
| 00:38:30 |
As they grow, several species |
| 00:38:35 |
When they die, the calcified skeletons |
| 00:38:38 |
and become find sand. |
| 00:38:41 |
It's known for its delicate grain |
| 00:38:46 |
After thousands of years this sand has |
| 00:38:51 |
for miles between and shore. |
| 00:39:09 |
Plains of this and other types of sand |
| 00:39:15 |
Seemingly barren deserts, |
| 00:39:18 |
that specialize in concealment |
| 00:39:23 |
A male peacock flounder |
| 00:39:27 |
He watches from a high sand mound, |
| 00:39:34 |
At last, a female. |
| 00:39:37 |
He confronts her |
| 00:39:41 |
Seducing her will not be easy. |
| 00:39:45 |
The female is not sufficiently |
| 00:40:00 |
He displays all the signals |
| 00:40:04 |
but still she is unresponsive. |
| 00:40:07 |
A cold fish indeed. |
| 00:40:23 |
A curious mutton snapper butts |
| 00:40:28 |
begins to show some interest. |
| 00:40:41 |
Finally she responds. |
| 00:40:50 |
It all ends with a single exquisite |
| 00:41:07 |
During the long summer day |
| 00:41:11 |
can often be heard |
| 00:41:17 |
These are Atlantic spotted dolphin. |
| 00:41:22 |
Like other mammals, dolphin babies |
| 00:41:27 |
which is squirted into their mouths |
| 00:41:30 |
Baby spotted dolphins don't develop |
| 00:41:36 |
Dolphins are social and very |
| 00:41:40 |
and their private lives are |
| 00:41:49 |
These dolphins relax here |
| 00:41:53 |
During the day the look for flounder |
| 00:41:55 |
and razorfish that lie concealed |
| 00:42:03 |
The dolphin's sensitive sonar |
| 00:42:06 |
in the sand. |
| 00:42:08 |
Once discovered, a small fish |
| 00:42:19 |
Dolphin's are extremely |
| 00:42:22 |
They are very playful and have |
| 00:42:26 |
Like chimpanzees |
| 00:42:29 |
they often reinforce their |
| 00:42:45 |
What starts as gentle foreplay |
| 00:42:49 |
Dolphins mate belly to belly. |
| 00:43:06 |
The large gray dolphins here are |
| 00:43:10 |
a completely different species. |
| 00:43:15 |
Female spotted dolphins pet |
| 00:43:20 |
Soon this becomes a sensual frenzy. |
| 00:43:24 |
The two species will mate, an event |
| 00:43:30 |
As a result there may be hybrid young, |
| 00:43:35 |
and have no offspring of their own. |
| 00:43:44 |
Dolphins show hyper-sexuality |
| 00:43:47 |
and this is often attributed |
| 00:43:50 |
But films like this confirm that they |
| 00:43:54 |
in the wild. |
| 00:44:05 |
It has never been demonstrate that |
| 00:44:10 |
But these dolphin vocalizations, |
| 00:44:14 |
show just how much |
| 00:44:17 |
by their intricate sounds. |
| 00:44:39 |
The dolphin language, if any, |
| 00:44:45 |
Whatever their meaning, dolphin sounds |
| 00:44:50 |
of their social lives and an |
| 00:45:15 |
For weeks in summer the dolphins' |
| 00:45:20 |
a warm and crystal sea |
| 00:45:27 |
Then, finally, the long summer ends |
| 00:45:32 |
start to gather over the reef. |
| 00:45:55 |
The jewels of the Caribbean |
| 00:46:29 |
As winter arrives among the creatures |
| 00:46:33 |
on the reef is the spiny lobster. |
| 00:46:43 |
Lobsters group together and dash for |
| 00:46:47 |
at the edge of the reef. |
| 00:46:49 |
They are in the open here, |
| 00:46:53 |
so speed equals survival. |
| 00:46:59 |
One lobster takes the lead, |
| 00:47:01 |
seeking the shortest course |
| 00:47:05 |
Each following lobster uses |
| 00:47:11 |
Like racing cars, |
| 00:47:15 |
The train of lobsters makes the trip |
| 00:47:31 |
Their trek ends at the reef. |
| 00:47:34 |
Here they find calm water |
| 00:47:39 |
Spreading out over the reef, |
| 00:47:42 |
or crevice that will serve as |
| 00:47:50 |
Another winter visitor |
| 00:48:13 |
Returning to this city in the sea, |
| 00:48:15 |
humpback whales have |
| 00:48:20 |
A mother humpback whale is sleeping. |
| 00:48:23 |
Her newborn calf snuggles |
| 00:48:40 |
Calves spend their days playing, |
| 00:48:44 |
in an ocean filled with |
| 00:48:51 |
The Caribbean is an ideal nursery |
| 00:48:56 |
They're 12 to 14 feet long |
| 00:49:00 |
They'll each take up to 50 gallons of |
| 00:49:05 |
to make the long journey north. |
| 00:49:08 |
The round trip is over 8,000 miles. |
| 00:49:13 |
Once these humpback whales were |
| 00:49:18 |
Only a hundred or so wintered in the Caribbean. |
| 00:49:21 |
Now they have made a modest comeback. |
| 00:49:25 |
But all is not well in their environment. |
| 00:49:28 |
Each time they return, these waters |
| 00:49:34 |
This area once included thousands of |
| 00:49:39 |
Now many of them are gone. |
| 00:49:42 |
The reef itself has declined. |
| 00:49:47 |
In just a few years |
| 00:49:55 |
One reason is a new predator, |
| 00:49:58 |
that strikes from above. |
| 00:50:03 |
Fisherman of the Caribbean |
| 00:50:06 |
Their hunt for food from waters around |
| 00:50:11 |
Their methods are increasingly |
| 00:50:15 |
from the sea. |
| 00:50:21 |
Longlines are set for groupers |
| 00:50:25 |
through the waters by game fishermen. |
| 00:50:33 |
In some places the remaining jewels |
| 00:50:47 |
Their homes are not |
| 00:50:52 |
New reefs grow on structures that |
| 00:50:57 |
are fraught with danger. |
| 00:51:04 |
Oil rigs provide shelter on one hand, |
| 00:51:07 |
the threat of spills and pollution |
| 00:51:12 |
And these new reefs may not endure |
| 00:51:17 |
They are here today by man's whim |
| 00:51:27 |
In these devastating times |
| 00:51:29 |
a new creature has come to the reef |
| 00:51:33 |
Because of divers, sea life is |
| 00:51:49 |
This single shark brings millions of |
| 00:51:52 |
to the Bahamas every year. |
| 00:51:56 |
This grouper attracts thousands |
| 00:52:03 |
These dolphins play with thousands of |
| 00:52:07 |
to the struggling nations |
| 00:52:14 |
So there is a new form of symbiotic |
| 00:52:19 |
Marine creatures bring joy to |
| 00:52:23 |
must provide protection against the |
| 00:52:37 |
Above all, now there are |
| 00:52:41 |
are doing here. |
| 00:52:44 |
There is still a wealth of precious |
| 00:52:49 |
and there is still time to save them. |
