Status of Coral Reefs of the World 2000

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Status of Coral Reefs of the World: 2000 NWHI There are 22 hard coral species and about 200 algal species known at present, but more complete surveys are expected to increase these numbers substantially. The Acropora species found here do not occur in the MHI. French Frigate Shoals, Pearl and Hermes Reef, and Maro Reef have the highest coral biodiversity and cover, but coral cover is generally low throughout the NWHI. Growth rates for corals in the northern portion of the chain are significantly slower than farther south raising concern about potential recovery from human impacts. The endemic seagrass Halophila hawaiiensis has been found at Midway Atoll and may occur elsewhere in the NWHI. There have been no recent surveys of other invertebrates, but rapid ecological assessments of the NWHI are scheduled for October 2000. Reef and shore fish diversity is lower in the NWHI, with 266 species recorded from Midway Atoll. The cooler waters, lack of critical habitats (and lower sampling effort) may be the reasons for these low numbers. The fish community in the NWHI is different from the MHI with reduced abundance of herbivores (mostly surgeonfishes) and more predators (mostly jacks, sharks, goatfishes, scorpionfishes, and bigeyes). The fish assemblage in the NWHI is dominated both in numbers and biomass by carnivores. Bleaching Events Hawaiian reefs escaped the widespread bleaching that devastated many Pacific reefs during the last decade, although Hawaiian corals are susceptible and local rises in water temperatures (or increased UV penetration) have caused occasional bleaching. Following three days of exceptionally calm and warm conditions in September 1996, many shallow corals in Kane’ohe Bay and Kailua Bay on O’ahu, showed partial or complete bleaching that resulted in limited coral mortality. Disease Coral diseases and tumours have been found on most major coral species of the MHI (Porites lobata, P. compressa, Montipora capitata, M. patula, and Pocillopora meandrina). Surveys from 1991 to 1998 showed a mean frequency of 22% of diseased corals over a range of depths and habitats. At some sites, up to 60% of colonies were affected with disease covering up to 32% of the surface of the dominant P. lobata. Like other areas, the incidence of coral disease in Hawaii does not appear to be related to anthropogenic stress e.g. pollution, proximity to urban centres, and no major disease outbreaks have yet occurred in Hawaii. Turtle tumours (fibropapillomas) were rarely seen on Hawaiian green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) prior to 1985, but the incidence has increased drastically, and this disease now commonly afflicts turtles on Kaua’i, O’ahu, Moloka’i, and Maui; up to 60% of turtles in Kane’ohe Bay have tumours. 222
Status of Coral Reefs in the Hawaiian Archipelago STATUS OF REMOTE CORAL REEFS IN THE US INSULAR PACIFIC Jim Maragos and Rusty Brainard The US has jurisdiction over 9 remote islands in the tropical Pacific: Howland and Baker Islands in the Phoenix Islands; Jarvis Island, Palmyra Atoll, Johnston Atoll, and Kingman Reef in the northern Line Islands; and Wake Atoll north of the Marshall Islands. Midway Atoll and Rose Atoll are off Hawaii and American Samoa respectively and are also covered elsewhere. Wake, Midway, Kingman, Palmyra, Rose, and Johnston are coral atolls, while Jarvis, Howland, and Baker are low coral islands surrounded by narrow fringing reefs. These islands were uninhabited until 200 years ago, and now there are people only on Wake, Johnston and Midway. The Nature Conservancy is establishing an ecotourism facility at Palmyra Atoll, and the USFWS authorises compatible ecotourism in the Midway National Wildlife Refuge (NWR). Midway, Howland, Baker, Palmyra, Kingman, and Jarvis were former US military bases, and Johnston and Wake are still active militarily, although there are plans to close them. Johnston, Rose, Howland, Baker, and Jarvis are NWRs, and Kingman and Palmyra are being proposed as NWRs. Rose NWR is jointly administered by American Samoa and the USFWS. All of these reefs have been surveyed since 1995, and they are all in near pristine condition, as there are no anthropogenic impacts, except for occasional ship groundings, and illegal fishing. Rose Atoll Dissolved iron concentrations, algae, giant clams, sea cucumbers, and fish have been monitored several times following the grounding of a long-line fishing vessel at Rose Atoll NWR in late 1993. Additional monitoring sites for giant clams and corals were established during the 1999-2000 ship debris removal from the atoll. Monitoring and observations documented the impacts of the fuel spill and iron enrichment on reef habitats and helped to justify the funds to remove the wreckage. About 80% of the ship debris have been removed, leading to recovery of giant clams (corals and coralline algae, and reduction of invading blue-green algae stimulated by iron enrichment. Johnston and Wake Atolls The US military has sponsored ecological monitoring programmes at Johnston Atoll during the past 20 years, including fish populations and seabirds. In 1997, coral reef monitoring activities were extended to Wake Atoll (and in 2000 to Johnston Atoll where permanent coral monitoring transects were established during installation of mooring buoys). Both atolls suffered extensive damage from dredging and filling during World War II, but reefs have recovered and are now in healthy condition. Howland, Baker Jarvis, Kingman, and Palmyra These were surveyed in early 2000 and found to be in relatively pristine condition except for some over-fishing. The disposal of military debris off the west side of Baker and the west lagoon of Palmyra may have stimuled some invasive algal growths. Only small sharks were observed at Howland and Baker, which indicates recent shark fishing. Sharks and most other large edible fish were relatively rare at Kingman, and sharks are 223
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FOREWORD Over the past few years, I
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CONTENTS COUNTRIES, STATES AND TERR
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COUNTRIES, STATES AND TERRITORIES A
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY CLIVE WILKINSON T
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Executive Summary CORAL BLEACHING I
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Executive Summary South Asia Most r
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Executive Summary parts of Fiji and
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Executive Summary management and mo
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Executive Summary tourism developme
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Executive Summary problem is loomin
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6. STATUS OF CORAL REEFS IN SOUTH A
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Status of Coral Reefs in South Asia
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8. STATUS OF CORAL REEFS OF EAST AN
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Status of Coral Reefs of East and N
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9. STATUS OF CORAL REEFS OF AUSTRAL
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Status of Coral Reefs of Australasi
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10. STATUS OF CORAL REEFS IN THE SO
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17. STATUS OF CORAL REEFS IN THE EA
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Status of Coral Reefs in the Easter
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18. STATUS OF CORAL REEFS IN SOUTHE
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Status of Coral Reefs in Southern T
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19. SPONSORING ORGANISATIONS, CORAL
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Sponsoring Organisations, Coral Ree
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LIST OF ACRONYMS AGRRA AIMS ASEAN B
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