22 reef with a transect, a line used to measure the distribution of organisms within a specific sector of a habitat. Aside from his advanced scuba diving gear, Henkel鈥檚 data-retrieval tools were relatively modest 鈥� a clipboard, pieces of underwater paper, and an underwater pencil to record the species along the transect. He looked for organisms, such as the difficult to see, multicolored sea urchin. 鈥淪ea urchins are so interesting because some camouflage themselves,鈥� said Henkel. 鈥淭his species of sea urchin will put shells on itself as a way to protect itself from predators and move around the reef.鈥� Henkel spent a total of 27 hours underwater gathering data on echinoderms on the 2017 NOAA Nancy Foster Research Expedition. His research was recorded in only eight days, but it will take more time and expeditions to distinguish long-term changes at Gray鈥檚 Reef due to factors like climate change and human activity. 鈥淲hat we need is that continued long-term data set, where we can get 10, 15, and 20 years of data to see large-scale changes,鈥� he said. 鈥淭his requires regular surveying and monitoring of the sanctuary. Having access to gather this data at Gray鈥檚 Reef is really an honor. It鈥檚 what it takes to learn about our national resources. If we want to be able to understand what鈥檚 happening to them, we need to put in the time to do just that.鈥� Photos: Dr. Timothy Henkel