11th ICRS Abstract book - Nova Southeastern University

Oral Mini-Symposium 16: Ecosystem Assessment and Monitoring of Coral Reefs - New Technologies and Approaches
16-9
Integrating Satellite and In Situ Light, Wind and Temperature Data for Ecological
Forecasting of Coral Bleaching at Four Sites in the Caribbean
James HENDEE 1 , Tao ZHENG 2 , Lew GRAMER 3 , Erik STABENAU* 4 , Derek
MANZELLO 5 , Shunlin LIANG 6
1 Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory, National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, Miami, FL, 2 Department of Geography, Central Michigan
University, Mount Pleasant, MI, 3 Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric
Studies, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 4 South Florida Natural Resources Center,
Everglades National Park, Homestead, FL, 5 Rosenstiel School for Marine and
Atmospheric Sciences, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 6 Department of Geography,
University of Maryland, College Park, MD
Satellite and in situ irradiance instruments provide different perspectives on the ocean
environment, the former providing regional coverage of incident radiation, the latter
providing both site-specific light penetration data, as well as validation of the satellite
readings. Physiological studies of corals reveal that sea temperature and light, under
elevated and sustained conditions, induce coral bleaching. At the Atlantic Oceanographic
and Meteorological Laboratory (AOML), ecological forecasts (ecoforecasts) such as
coral bleaching are produced using an artificial intelligence tool that integrates various
data sources (e.g., satellite and in situ) in near real-time, and includes heuristic and
numeric modeling capabilities. To improve upon existing ecoforecasts of bleaching,
satellite acquired Photosynthetically Available Radiation (PAR) data were produced by
Central Michigan University during April through August, 2007 for four stations of
AOML's Integrated Coral Observing Network (ICON), located in the Bahamas, Jamaica,
Puerto Rico and St. Croix. The satellite derived instantaneous PAR values were
estimated within nine pixels of a 3x3 window centered on a site's latitude and longitude.
In situ sea surface PAR values at each site were used to validate the average of the nine
estimated values, with time interpolation applied to match surface measurement and
satellite observation times. The satellite and surface PAR data agreed well at all four
sites. Irradiance at the coral surface was calculated using attenuation coefficients (Kd)
derived from readings from well-maintained sub-surface irradiance sensors at each site
and were extrapolated to each region using the satellite PAR readings. Satellite and
surface wind and sea temperature data were combined with these readings to produce
regional bleaching ecoforecasts. Inherent problems of high spatial and temporal
variability in solar radiation at any defined point provide unique challenges to large-scale
implementation. Although major bleaching was not observed during this time frame,
output from the ecoforecasting construct shows promise for future implementation.
16-10
GBROOS – An Ocean Observing System for the Great Barrier Reef
Scott BAINBRIDGE* 1
1 Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Australia
The Great Barrier Reef Ocean Observing System (GBROOS), a geographic node of the
Australian Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS), is an observation network
currently being deployed along the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) in Northern Australia. The
project aims to quantify and monitor the impact of the Coral Sea, in particular cool and
warm water intrusions, on the GBR and to provide the real-time physical data required to
understand the impact of climate change and other environmental factors on coral reef
ecosystems.
The project has four components. Sets of long-term oceanographic moorings consisting
of paired deep (200m) and shallow (30-70m) moorings will be deployed to detect water
moving onto and long the GBR from the pole-ward East Australian and the equatorial
Hiri western boundary currents. Upgraded Remote Sensing capacity (SST and Ocean
Colour), coupled with real-time underway sampling to validate the remotely sensed data,
will give large-scale information about the GBR.
Sensor networks located at seven sites, using high-speed communications and a range of
buoy mounted sensors, will provide real-time information about small-scale phenomena.
This component provides a platform for the development and testing of the next
generation of smart technologies and approaches for real-time observing systems.
The observational data will have significant impact on our understanding of global
change, its potential impact on the physical and chemical conditions in marine
environments and the associated changes to the biology and structure of the GBR.
GBROOS is setting up the infrastructure to support a new generation of observation
systems from sophisticated real-time moorings to the communication and data systems
for ‘smart’ sensor systems. This data, coupled with model and scenario engines, will
increase our ability to understand changes in the physical environment and the impact
these have on coral reef systems.
16-11
Ecological Forecasting for Coral Reef Ecosystems
James HENDEE* 1 , Lew GRAMER 2 , Derek MANZELLO 3 , Erik STABENAU 4 , Chris
LANGDON 3 , Mike JANKULAK 2
1 Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, Miami, FL, 2 Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies,
University of Miami, Miami, FL, 3 Rosenstiel School for Marine and Atmospheric Sciences,
University of Miami, Miami, FL, 4 South Florida Natural Resources Center, Everglades National
Park, Homestead, FL
Assessment of coral reef ecosystems implies the acquisition of precision data and observations
appropriate for answering questions about the response of multiple organisms to physical and
other environmental stimuli. At the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's
Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory, we model marine organismal response
to the environment in terms of a Stimulus/Response Index (S/RI). S/RI is computed using an
approach called heuristic programming, from parameters bounded in subjective terms, which
are defined within the software numerically, so as to match research and our understanding of
the process in question. The modelled organismal response is called an ecological forecast, or
ecoforecast, and the likelihood and severity of the response is reflected in a rising S/RI. We
have had success to date in modelling coral bleaching response to high sea temperatures plus
high irradiance and other parameters. The approach requires, a) highly robust instrumentation
(in situ, satellite, or other) deployed for long periods and producing high quality data in near
real-time, b) a basic understanding of the process, behavior and/or physiology being modelled,
and, c) a knowledge of approximate threshold levels for single or synergistically acting
environmental parameters that elicit the phenomenon in question. We use both traditional (e.g.,
sea temperature, salinity, light), as well as novel (e.g., pCO2, pulse amplitude fluorometry)
oceanographic instruments to produce a continuous S/RI that has been used as an overall
indicator of ecosystem health at all ICON coral reef monitoring locations. We are now actively
researching ecoforecast models of species-specific spawning, and of enhanced water column
productivity on reefs. Results from recent monitoring efforts, as well as the implications of
adapting this technique for use in other locations or on data streams managed by other agencies,
will be presented.
16-12
Advancing Spatial-Temporal Continuity in Coral Reef Ecosystem Pattern Detection: The
Morphology, Distribution And Chemical Environments Of Coral Habitats Encompassing
Coiba National Park, Panamá.
Luis CAMILLI* 1 , Oscar PIZARRO 2 , Richard CAMILLI 3
1 Center for Habitat Studies, Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, Moss Landing, CA,
2 Australian Centre for Field Robotics, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia, 3 Applied Ocean
Physics & Engineering Dept, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA
Quantitative study of environmental change in coral ecosystems is challenging, costly, and
hindered by inadequate scales of observation. A synoptic perspective of reef biogeochemical
dynamics and community structure was revealed using new technologies and methods designed
to enable high resolution underwater habitat assessment with non invasive monitoring
capabilities and rapid information output. A towed, chemical sensor platform and a diver-based,
automated imaging system were developed to compare reef architecture and benthic
morphology across spatial scales ranging from centimeters to kilometers, and resolve sub-meter
variability in ambient water chemistry across basin scale seascapes. Acoustic bathymetry,
stereo-optical imaging, in-situ underwater mass spectrometry, CTD, chlorophyll, and CDOM
data were coupled with precision navigation to enable multi parameter biogeochemical and
structural comparisons of coastal and island coral habitats surrounding Parque Nacional Coiba,
a UNESCO World Heritage site in Pacific Panamá. Baseline chemical data (O2, CO2, CH4,
N2) and 3-D digital reef mosaics generated in this research were augmented with traditional
monitoring protocols, time series data from a moored observatory, video sampling and remote
sensing analysis to create and validate comprehensive, thematic water chemistry and benthic
habitat maps. This integrated approach shows considerable promise for locating, predicting and
quantifying natural and anthropogenic environmental stressors affecting the distribution,
diversity and health of tropical coral communities.
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