11th ICRS Abstract book - Nova Southeastern University
11th ICRS Abstract book - Nova Southeastern University
11th ICRS Abstract book - Nova Southeastern University
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23-49<br />
Integrating Coral Reef Data For Marine Protected Area Decision Support<br />
James HENDEE 1 , Frank MULLER-KARGER* 2 , Villy KOURAFALOU 3 , Lew<br />
GRAMER 4<br />
1 Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory, National Oceanic and<br />
Atmospheric Administration, Miami, FL, 2 School for Marine Science and Technology,<br />
<strong>University</strong> of Massachusetts Dartmouth, New Bedford, MA, 3 Rosenstiel School for<br />
Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, <strong>University</strong> of Miami, Miami, FL, 4 Cooperative<br />
Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies, <strong>University</strong> of Miami, Miami, FL<br />
Since 1997 NOAA's Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (AOML) in<br />
Miami, Florida, has been engaged in continuing development of expert systems as a tool<br />
both for researchers and for managers of Marine Protected Areas (MPA). Recently<br />
AOML has updated this system with powerful new software called G2, which forms the<br />
heart of the new Integrated Coral Observing Network (ICON) of in situ stations and<br />
virtual monitoring sites around the world. The ICON/G2 system integrates data from in<br />
situ, satellite, radar and other measurements in near real-time, and couples that data with<br />
decision support products for over 90 coral reef locations around the world. Many ICON<br />
sites are situated within MPAs; however, the needs of MPA managers require<br />
environmental monitoring with regional as well as local coverage, thus prompting the<br />
need for extensive satellite data. Also, requirements analyses of MPA managers<br />
highlight the need for basic research to support effective decision making; one area in<br />
particular--hydrodynamic modeling, applied to forecast the delivery of nutrients and<br />
larvae to the reef--is a common need for most MPAs. This paper discusses ongoing<br />
efforts to extend our data coverage to support these promising areas of research at the<br />
most visited site in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS), Molasses<br />
Reef. This work can serve as a model for additional sites within the FKNMS, and<br />
eventually at other MPAs in the Caribbean Sea, Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean.<br />
23-50<br />
Maredess: Marine Resources Decision Support System<br />
Laura DAVID* 1 , Erlinda SALAMANTE 1 , Eileen PENAFLOR 1 , Kathleen SILVANO 1 ,<br />
Kristina CORDERO 1 , Marites MAGNO-CANTO 1 , Irene ALABIA 1 , Victor TICZON 1 ,<br />
Ma. Bernadette DE VENECIA 1 , Roselle BORJA 1 , Rommel MANEJA 1 , Cesar<br />
VILLANOY 1<br />
1 Marine Science Institute, Univ. of the Philippines, Quezon City, Philippines<br />
Republic Act 8550 marked the devolution from the national to the local government of<br />
the stewardship of coastal marine resources. Although this made sense in as much as it is<br />
the local stakeholders that are in the best position to ensure sustainability of use and<br />
management, nevertheless we argue for a need for a comprehensive national strategy.<br />
This study makes use of various remotely sensed products and numerical model<br />
simulations to propose a strategy for prioritizing sites for protection. Taken into<br />
consideration are presence/absence of reefs and related habitats; entrainment/<br />
connectivity features; variability of environmental exposure; perceived threats and<br />
vulnerability. The recommendations include prioritizing offshore reefs that are less<br />
vulnerable to thermal stress and storms; reefs that have withstood thermal fluctuations<br />
through decades; and prioritizing series of reef areas to ensure a sustainable of<br />
connectivity corridors. A map of priority sites is given for the Philippines.<br />
Oral Mini-Symposium 23: Reef Management<br />
23-51<br />
Software Tools For Ecosystem-Based Management Of Coral Reefs<br />
Sarah CARR 1 , Lindsay ELDER* 1 , Patrick CRIST 1<br />
1 EBM Tools Program, NatureServe, Arlington, VA<br />
Ecosystem-based management (EBM) of coral reefs requires the integration of information<br />
about a vast array of environmental and human systems, including the coral reef ecosystems<br />
themselves, pollutants from land-based sources, and human uses of the ecosystems such as<br />
tourism, recreation, fishing, and shipping. A variety of software tools have been developed to<br />
help policymakers and managers collect, visualize, and analyze this information and engage<br />
stakeholders in the EBM decision making process. For example, tools can:<br />
- predict ecosystem response to natural and anthropogenic disturbances<br />
- help select optimal areas for conservation or restoration<br />
- help managers and stakeholders visualize the impact of development and resource-use<br />
scenarios on ecosystems and the human communities that depend on them<br />
- help collect local knowledge about how resources are used<br />
- facilitate stakeholder participation in evaluating management alternatives.<br />
Using tools can improve environmental decision making by helping resource managers<br />
incorporate science into decisions, address multiple objectives, and build consensus for<br />
management actions among stakeholders.<br />
Navigating through the vast array of tools and determining what tools do and how they should<br />
be used can consume a great deal of a manager’s time. This presentation will provide<br />
information on an array of technology tools for EBM of coral reefs and the benefits and<br />
limitations of using technology tools. We will also describe an on-line resource for<br />
comprehensive information on EBM tools (www.ebmtools.org) and provide information on<br />
relevant training opportunities.<br />
23-52<br />
Development And Implementation Of Coral Reef Biocriteria in U.s. Jurisdictions<br />
Patricia BRADLEY* 1 , Wayne DAVIS 2 , William FISHER 3 , Bell HEIDI 4 , Valerie CHAN 5 , Buddy<br />
LOBUE 6 , Wendy WILTSE 7<br />
1 Office of Research and Development/NHEERL/AED, U.S. EPA, Key West, FL, 2 Office of<br />
Environmental Information, U.S. EPA, Ft. Meade, MD,<br />
3 Office of Research and<br />
Development/NHEERL/GED, U.S. EPA, Gulf Breeze, FL, 4 Office of Water, U.S. EPA, Washington,<br />
DC, 5 Office of Research and Development/OSP, U.S. EPA, Washington, DC, 6 Region 2, U.S. EPA,<br />
New York, NY, 7 Region 9, U.S. EPA, Honolulu, HI<br />
U.S. coral reef ecosystems are threatened by a variety of anthropogenic activities (e.g., pollution, over<br />
fishing, vessel groundings, excess nutrients, coastal development, etc.), natural stressors (e.g., tropical<br />
storms), and natural stressors that have been exacerbated by anthropogenic activities (e.g., climate<br />
change).<br />
Biological communities are dependable indicators of the health of aquatic ecosystems because they are<br />
responsive to effects of low-level, chronic, and non-point source pollution, and to interactive stressors<br />
not captured by physical and chemical water quality standards. Under the Clean Water Act, states may<br />
adopt water quality criteria based on biological, physical, and chemical criteria. The President’s Ocean<br />
Action Plan directs the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to develop biological assessment<br />
methods and biological criteria for evaluating the health of coral reefs and associated water quality.<br />
Biocriteria are narrative descriptions or numeric values representing the biological condition of<br />
biological communities. Rigorous biological assessments are needed to identify metrics for a<br />
monitoring program and to set expectations for the water body. These are used to develop a scoring<br />
system to indicate the health of the water body and to develop biocriteria for each class or designated<br />
use.<br />
EPA is fostering development of coral reef biocriteria through focused research, evaluation, and<br />
collaboration with U.S. states and territories. To date, EPA has produced and validated a Stony Coral<br />
Rapid Bioassessment Protocol for application to biocriteria and a Coral Reef Bioindicators Website<br />
(http://www.epa.gov/bioindicators/coral/coral_biocriteria.html) for dissemination of information.<br />
EPA and the collaborating states and territories have a wide variety of ongoing activities to conduct<br />
systematic coral bioassessments, develop metrics, design monitoring programs, and work toward<br />
adoption of protective and defensible biocriteria.<br />
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