Scientists can predict almost to the hour when the reef-building "rice coral" off Oahu will spawn¹（产卵，大量生产） , but no one knows where the resulting floating coral larvae²（幼虫，幼体） go. From June 11-16, 2010, the U.S. Geological Survey, the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa's Kewalo Marine³ Laboratory, and Malama Maunalua will use satellite-tracked drifters to track the coral larvae's dispersal（分散，传播） along O'ahu's south shore in an effort to better understand why certain reefs in Maunalua Bay are doing well and others are doing poorly.

The next coral spawning⁴ event will begin after the next new moon, which is June 12. The scientists will use underwater instruments to monitor tides, waves, currents, temperature, salinity⁵（盐度） , chlorophyll（叶绿素） , and water clarity throughout the bay. They will release satellite-tracked drifters to float along with the buoyant（有浮力的，轻快的） coral eggs and larvae and monitor the drifters' positions all night to determine if they are being transported into, retained in, or dispersed⁶ out of Maunalua Bay.

During the experiment, boaters and swimmers should keep an eye out for, and avoid the small (8-inch diameter) orange drifters and some small yellow floats marking instrument packages, all with "USGS" markings.

Maunalua Bay has been degraded by polluted runoff（径流，决赛） and sediment⁷（沉淀物） , invasive algae⁸（海藻） , and unsustainable harvesting. Reduced water and bottom quality tied to watershed⁹ discharges and invasive algae affect not only the corals in the bay, but the ability of larvae from elsewhere to replenish¹⁰（补充） depleted¹¹ populations. Community-based efforts to remove invasive algae and reduce runoff and sedimentation¹² will ultimately lead to improved coral and fish resources. Recovery of the Bay also depends in part on the reproductive health of the local and adjacent（临近的，毗邻的） coral reefs as sources of coral seed.

Because they are living organisms, corals are born and die. If new corals are not produced and able to settle, replacing those that die from both natural and human-induced causes, the reefs will eventually disappear, along with the other associated marine resources. Once scientists understand the circulation, larval dispersal patterns, and "connectivity" between reefs, managers can identify where recovery efforts should be focused.