11th ICRS Abstract book - Nova Southeastern University

23.913
Evaluation Of Factors That Can Promote Resistance And/or Resilience To Climate
Change Induced Coral Bleaching
Steve COLES* 1,2 , J. Burke BURNETT 1 , Stephen LEISZ 1 , Rod SALM 3
1 Natural Science, Bishop Museum, Honolulu, HI, 2 Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology,
Kaneohe, 3 Asia Coastal Marine Program, The Nature Conservancy, Honolulu, HI
Although there was no coral bleaching reported for Melanesia during the worldwide 1998
event, substantial bleaching occurred in eastern Papua New Guinea (PNG) waters in
1982-83, 1996 and 1999-2000, with coral mortalities up to 54%. However, no evidence
of recent coral bleaching or related mortality was observed during 2001-2002 surveys in
Indonesia’s Raja Ampat (Four Kings) Islands off Papua province (western New Guinea).
Reefs were evaluated to be in very good health and to have high resilience to bleaching
related stress. Reefs in the area have the highest species diversity of any similar sized
area in the world, with at least 537 species reported and over 75% of the world’s
scleractinians. Reef fish diversity was equally high, with at least 1074 species and more
than 200 species at >50% of the sites surveyed in 2002. However, there was evidence of
coral damage from blast fishing and other non-sustainable fishing practices, resulting in
relatively low numbers of groupers, sharks, and Napoleon Wrasses that are targeted by
cyanide fishing. The potential importance of this 4000 hectare region of high diversity as
a source of recruits for other Indo-West Pacific areas more subject to coral bleaching and
acidification impacts cannot be over-emphasized. Conservation initiatives to establish
and maintain effective marine protected areas in this region should be developed within
the context of existing community and societal structures directed toward non-extractive
utilization of reef resources.
23.914
Measuring Success in Coral Reef Management For The South Florida And
Caribbean National Park Service Units – One Size Doesn’t Always Fit All.
Matt PATTERSON* 1 , Andrea ATKINSON 1 , Jeff MILLER 2 , Andy DAVIS 2 , Rob
WAARA 1 , Brian WITCHER 1
1 South Florida/Caribbean I&M Network, National Park Service, Palmetto Bay, FL,
2 South Florida/Caribbean I&M Network, National Park Service, St. John
The South Florida/Caribbean Inventory and Monitoring network (SFCN) of the National
Park Service is responsible for implementation of an ecosystem monitoring program to
help park managers and scientists understand changes in key Vital Signs indicators. The
SFCN is responsible for coral reef monitoring at five national parks ranging from 400
acres to 200 miles 2 , and a consistent sampling design for all will help with park to park
comparisons over time. The Marine Benthic Community vital sign indicator monitors
changes in both shallow and deep coral reef ecosystems, seagrass, and water temperature.
Coral reef ecosystem monitoring has been conducted at long term sites through this
program since 1997, with several sites that have been the focus of decades of research
and monitoring.
Dry Tortugas National Park is approximately 70 miles west of Key West, Florida, USA
and protects 100 miles 2 of coral reef, seagrass beds, and sand substrates. In 2007, the
SFCN used a Generalized Random Tessellation Stratified (GRTS) Sampling Design to
provide a spatially balanced survey to characterize multiple sites for inclusion in a long
term monitoring program for coral reef resources less than 19m deep.
Rapid habitat characterization at 157 cells (40m 2 ) was conducted, collecting information
regarding habitat type, depth, rugosity, presence/absence of key invertebrates, and
estimation of fish densities at multiple trophic scales. Point intercepts were run at 0.5m
intervals from a center point in cardinal directions to determine relative percent cover
values for stony corals, when present. This information will be used to identify sites with
high stony coral cover for long term monitoring site inclusion. 27 sites surveyed had
over 6% of live stony coral cover.
Sampling site installation will occur in 2008, in parallel with existing historic site
monitoring to evaluate if parkwide trends correlate to historic site localized changes in
cover values.
Poster Mini-Symposium 23: Reef Management
23.915
The Challenge Of Managing Off-Shore Reclamation To Ensure Sustainable Coastal
Ecosystems: Focus On Dubai
Hanneke VAN LAVIEREN* 1 , Peter SALE 1,2 , Paolo USSEGLIO 1
1 International Network on Water, Environment and Health, United Nations University,
Hamilton, ON, Canada, 2 Biological Sciences, University of Windsor, Windsor, Canada
Significant and rapidly-expanding infrastructure development and land reclamation in coastal
areas can create challenges for ecosystem management. Major transformation of Dubai’s
shoreline, through three manmade islands in the shape of palm trees is such an example. When
completed, all planned marine projects will expand the Dubai coastline by 1500 km, leading to
creation of novel systems and new hydrodynamics. Understandably, it is presumed that these
development activities have already had impacts on near-shore ecosystems, particularly the
existing coral reefs and sea grass habitats. Early studies by the UNU-INWEH team point to the
extreme natural variations in salinity and temperatures of the Arabian Gulf waters, which
together with the affects of global warming cause additional stress. With scarce pre-construction
environmental baseline information available, ongoing transformations, and lack of strategic
planning, the challenge is to manage these activities in a way to minimize coastal ecosystem
impacts. To deal with this challenge, we are evaluating the current status of coastal ecosystems
and improving our understanding of impacts of these developments and novel ecosystems
created, with an aim to guide management practices for integrated coastal management. The
work is based on collaborative partnerships throughout the region and reliance on existing
knowledge base. In particular, research studies provide information regarding the ecology of the
open rocky crescents and associated artificial reefs, midwater of the enclosed lagoons, and
benthic systems on and in lagoonal floors. An environmental monitoring programme provides
crucial management data. Transfer of knowledge gained from this project to relevant
management authorities as well as to the scientific community in the region is important; the
study team is actively engaged in regional training workshops designed for this purpose.
23.916
Changes in The Coral Reef Populations Within A Community Managed Marine Protected
Area in The Fiji Islands
Helen SYKES 1 , Kenneth MACKAY* 2
1 Marine Ecology Consulting Fiji Ltd, Suva, Fiji, 2 Institute of Marine Resources, University of
the South Pacific, Suva, Fiji
Annual biological monitoring was used to assess the effects of ten years of communitymanaged
conservation in a village–based “no-take” Marine Protected Area (MPA) in the Fiji
Islands.
Surveys were carried out by a mixed team of marine scientists and community members, and
compared with neighbouring reefs used for subsistence fishing. A variety of in-water survey
methods were used, including community-based Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) for key
invertebrate species, Manta Tows for broad-scale habitat and invertebrate animal assessment,
Point Intercept Transects for coral cover, and Belt Transects for Fish Underwater Visual Census
(UVC).
Within 3 years, fish populations had noticeably increased within the MPA, after 5 years many
invertebrate populations had been restored. Poaching of finfish and shellfish occurred once
stock rose, and is one of the major challenges now facing the project. So far this has not
significantly impacted overall populations, suggesting the ecosystem is now adequately robust
to withstand some harvesting.
Coral health improved in the MPA over the fishing grounds, but was retarded by a mass
bleaching event in the second year of protection. However, increased numbers of herbivorous
fishes reduced macroalgae cover within the MPA, creating better coral-growth substrate, in turn
accelerating coral settlement and recovery in comparison with the heavily fished area where
macroalgae continued to cover most available substrate, preventing new coral settlement.
Villagers report that they now harvest larger fish and more commercially important
invertebrates in their fishing grounds bordering the MPA. In addition, their caretaker role for
this MPA has generated an awareness of the need to conservatively manage marine resources
for the future.
503