11th ICRS Abstract book - Nova Southeastern University

18-29
Extent And Timing Of Disturbances: Comparison Between Australia’s Great
Barrier Reef And The Caribbean Region
Hugh SWEATMAN* 1
1 Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Qld 4810, Australia
Australia’s Great Barrier Reef (GBR) province and the greater Caribbean region include
similar areas of coral reef. In recent decades, the major cause of losses of coral cover on
the GBR has been Acanthaster planci, the crown-of-thorns starfish. Three welldocumented
waves of outbreaks have passed southwards along the central GBR in the
past 40 years, with an independent pattern of outbreaks on the Swain Reefs in the south
and less-well documented waves of outbreaks travelling northward in the remote northern
region. At any point in time, 1-3 discreet regions are affected, each adjoining areas
where the reefs are recovering or are yet to be affected. Published reports from the
Caribbean suggest that impacts on coral in the Caribbean, notably coral diseases, are
much more widespread at any time. One salient example is the fatal disease of Diadema
that spread through the entire region in 1983 and 1984. Such differences in the extent
and timing of major disturbances may influence replenishment and hence the processes of
recovery.
18-30
Patterns Of Reef Fish Utilization And The Consequence Of Human Population
Growth On Fish Density And Community Composition in American Samoa
Marlowe SABATER* 1
1 Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources, American Samoa Government, Pago
Pago, American Samoa
Long-term time-series data from fishery-independent underwater surveys and fisherydependent
surveys were examined and analyzed alongside prehistoric and current
utilization patterns of reef fish populations in order to assess the status of coral reef fish
populations and the fishery. Underwater surveys showed overall density of coral reef fish
has been increasing over the past three decades due largely to a significant increase in
parrotfish populations. Concurrent with this increase in fish density was a significant
decrease in subsistence fishing effort and a non-significant decrease in commercial effort
over time. Catch landings showed no long-term trend with highs recorded from 1994-
2001 and lows prior to and after these years. Rapid population growth on the main island
of Tutuila is seen as a threat to coral reef resources. One major impact that is often
assumed is that increases in human population will lead to increases in fishing pressure.
However, despite the rapid significant increase in human population on Tutuila, fishing
effort has continually decreased over the last three decades. Population growth had a
negative relationship with fishing effort (subsistence and commercial) due possibly to the
society’s shift from subsistence to a cash-based economy since the early 1900’s. Present
catch composition and reef fish assemblage is statistically similar to prehistoric periods
dating 1500-3000 years ago. Recent interviews of 425 respondents in Tutuila has shown
preference for surgeonfish, groupers, squirrelfish, and parrotfish which again follows the
same proportion as the prehistoric records and significantly correlates with the present
day fish assemblage. This preference may have existed since prehistoric times despite
advances in fishing technology or may have been driven by what was abundant and easily
available in the fishery. These findings indicate that the fishery was sustainable from the
prehistoric times and the fish population shows signs of improvement in the recent past.
Oral Mini-Symposium 18: Reef Status and Trends
18-31
Ten Years Of Volunteer Science
Gregor HODGSON* 1 , Cori KANE 1 , Craig SHUMAN 1
1 Reef Check Foundation, Pacific Palisades, CA
In 1997, Reef Check began as the first attempt to survey the world’s coral reefs using a standard
method, carried out by volunteer recreational divers trained and led by marine biologists. Reef
Check has expanded into an international non-profit organization, the Reef Check Foundation,
with thousands of volunteers in 90 countries and territories and with a mission of protection and
rehabilitation of reefs (including temperate reef ecosystems in California). The initial
assumption was that trained volunteers could collect reliable data and catalyze marine
conservation activities. The ten-year coral reef database shows that overfishing remains the
most important problem affecting coral reefs, with most high-value indicator species missing
from most coral reefs. The results show that on a global scale, both reef corals and reef fish are
relatively resistant to perturbation from bleaching events and recovered during the period. The
rapid declines in coral reefs during the 1980s and 1990s have not continued. Numerous
conservation projects have been triggered by the actions of volunteer Reef Check teams in all
tropical seas including the creation and improvement of several Marine Protected Areas. By
involving recreational divers in scientific monitoring, Reef Check has helped build a better
educated constituency that will support coral reef conservation activities throughout the world.
18-32
The Response Of Caribbean Coral Reefs To Repeated Stress Events.
Loureene JONES* 1
1 Integrated Watersheds and Coastal Zone Management Branch, National Environment and
Planning Agency, Kingston 5, Jamaica
In recent times, coastal ecosystems and specifically coral reefs have been experiencing varying
degrees of stress from several sources. The incidence of natural phenomenons such as
hurricanes and bleaching events has increased to the point where one or both of these events are
guaranteed to occur annually. Coupled with terreginous run-off and poorly planned coastal
developments, the reefs of the region are constantly bombarded with less than ideal conditions.
At present coral cover is still low at most sites assessed and has been for a long while.
In Jamaica Reef Check assessments indicated coverage ranging between 2% and 37% were
recorded between 2001 and 2006. Results from bleaching assessments conducted during and
after the 2005 event depicted up to 75% bleaching in some countries and varied levels of
recovery. Data from long-term monitoring sites in Jamaica also produced results, which indicate
that the reefs are to an extent able to survive and recover from the stress events. Given the
increased frequency of stress events it is still unsure what level of recovery will be realized and
the duration.
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