A Biodiversity Hotspot in Motion
Stretching across the turquoise waters of Mozambique’s coastline, the Bazaruto Archipelago is not only a marine paradise — it’s a living laboratory. This chain of islands, seagrass beds, reefs, and lagoons is home to an extraordinary array of life forms, from breaching humpback whales to microscopic plankton drifting beneath the surface.
At the centre of it all is the Bazaruto Center for Scientific Studies (BCSS) — the first permanent Ocean Observatory of its kind in the Western Indian Ocean. BCSS studies this ecosystem from top to bottom, tracking the lives of ocean giants and the minuscule lifeforms that support them. This blog explores the breathtaking range of biodiversity in Bazaruto Archipelago, highlighting the vital connection between mega fauna and micro fauna, and how both are key to a thriving marine system.
BCSS Research Station & Ocean Observatory
What Is Mega Fauna? Icons of the Ocean
Mega fauna refers to the large marine animals that spark awe in anyone lucky enough to witness them in the wild. In the Bazaruto Archipelago, these icons of the ocean include:
- Humpback whales migrating seasonally to breed and nurse
- Dugongs, the only remaining viable population in East Africa
- Dolphins cruising the lagoons and open waters
- Manta rays and reef sharks, gliding over vibrant coral beds
- Sea turtles nesting on beaches and foraging in the seagrass
These species are not only large — they’re ecologically powerful. As keystone or umbrella species, their presence shapes the entire ecosystem. Dugongs keep seagrass meadows healthy through selective grazing. Sharks regulate prey populations, keeping coral reefs in balance. Humpbacks fertilise surface waters with nitrogen-rich urea, transported from feeding grounds to breeding areas, stimulating plankton blooms.
Mega fauna also play a central role in eco-tourism and local livelihoods, drawing divers and nature lovers from around the world to Mozambique’s coasts.
Image by Daphna Stern: BCSS diver swimming alongside humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae)
What Is Micro Fauna? The Invisible Architects of the Sea
Just beneath the surface lies a world often overlooked. Micro fauna refers to tiny organisms, many invisible to the naked eye, that drive ocean health from behind the scenes:
- Phytoplankton that photosynthesise and generate much of the world’s oxygen
- Zooplankton that serve as the primary food source for many fish and larvae
- Coral polyps — the small animals responsible for building vast reef structures
- Micro-crustaceans, copepods, and microbes living in sediment and seagrass
Glass Anemone Shrimp (Periclimenes brevicarpalis), also called the Spotted Cleaner Shrimp.
Despite their size, these organisms are biological engines. They:
- Power the food chain from the bottom up
- Recycle nutrients and regulate carbon
- Help maintain water clarity and chemical balance
In Bazaruto, these microscopic forms of life thrive within seagrass beds, coral reefs, and even within the water column itself — constantly in motion, constantly supporting larger lifeforms.
Why Both Matter: Interconnected Life Systems
The ocean does not operate in silos. Mega and micro fauna depend on each other in intricate ways.
A humpback whale may weigh 30 tonnes, but its survival begins with microscopic plankton. These tiny organisms feed small fish, which are prey for larger predators. Coral polyps form sheltering reefs where species breed, feed, and hide. Dugongs graze seagrass beds that are home to micro-crustaceans and juvenile fish.
In Bazaruto, these interdependencies are striking:
- Dugong grazing encourages new seagrass growth, promoting biodiversity.
- Manta rays filter-feed on plankton blooms — directly linking mega and micro fauna.
- Coral reefs, built by polyps, offer habitat to species that are essential prey for dolphins and sharks..
Disruption at any level of the food web — from microbial imbalance to the loss of large predators — triggers cascading effects throughout the system. Climate change, pollution, overfishing, and habitat degradation all threaten this balance.
Massive Porites coral (Porites lobata), often referred to as a Boulder Coral.
How BCSS Studies Mega & Micro Fauna
BCSS approaches biodiversity from both ends of the scale, integrating technology, fieldwork, and community collaboration to study the full marine spectrum.
Monitoring Mega Fauna
- Photo ID programs for whales (e.g., through Happywhale)
- Acoustic soundtraps record whale songs and dolphin clicks in real time
- Satellite tagging for tracking migration of larger species
Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata), Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
Monitoring Micro Fauna
- Water sampling and microscopy to study plankton diversity and density
- Coral health assessments tracking polyps, bleaching, and recovery
- Bio samples collection, processing and storage for DNA and pollutants analysis
- Sediment sampling in seagrass beds and reef floors
This dual approach enables BCSS to build one of the region’s richest open-access marine biodiversity databases, supporting science, conservation, and education.
Fried-egg Nudibranch / Warty Chromodoris (Chromodoris annulata).
The Power of Scale: Seeing the Ocean Differently
Bazaruto’s magic lies in its scale. It’s in the tail of a surfacing humpback and in the translucent body of a drifting jellyfish larva. The stories of its creatures are not only measured in metres but in microns.
When you understand that a whale’s journey relies on plankton blooms, or that coral reefs begin with a single polyp, the ocean becomes a place of interwoven stories — every size, every layer, every ripple connected.
As BCSS scientists often say, “What we cannot see is just as important as what we can.”
Call to Wonder: What You Can Do
You don’t need a PhD to be part of this story. Whether you’re a diver with a GoPro, a student in marine science, or simply someone who loves the ocean — you can contribute.
- Share photos of whales for photo ID projects
- Support open-access data initiatives
- Join BCSS’s Scientific Training Program to learn hands-on marine research
- Donate or partner with BCSS to fund biodiversity monitoring
Every plankton sampled, every megafauna migration tracked — it all begins with paying attention to life at every scale.
From giants to grains — the ocean’s story is written in every scale of life.
Learn how BCSS studies and protects marine life across the spectrum.
→ Explore Our Ocean Observatory
More information:
For questions about this article, please contact:
Ekaterina Kalashnikova, Bazaruto Archipelago – Ocean Observatory Bazaruto Center for Scientific Studies ekaterina.kalashnikova@bcssmz.org
To get in touch and collaborate with our research Center , please visit https://bcssmz.org/logistical-support-consultancy/
To learn more about our Scientific Training Program, please see https://bcssmz.org/scientific-training-program/