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PIFSC External Review, June 24, 2008
Integrated Coral Reef Integrated Coral Reef Ecosystem Assessments in Ecosystem Assessments in
the U.S-affiliated Pacific the U.S-affiliated Pacific IslandsIslands
Vision StatementVision Statement
CRED leads an integrated, CRED leads an integrated, interdisciplinary, ecosystem-based interdisciplinary, ecosystem-based
program of research, mapping, and long-program of research, mapping, and long-term monitoring of coral reef ecosystems term monitoring of coral reef ecosystems
of the U.S.-affiliated Pacific Islands to of the U.S.-affiliated Pacific Islands to promote conservation and management promote conservation and management through innovative and collaborative through innovative and collaborative
science of the highest integrity.science of the highest integrity.
ThreatsThreats Climate changeClimate change
Ocean warming – coral bleaching and diseaseOcean warming – coral bleaching and disease
Ocean acidification – calcification rates, biodiversity shiftsOcean acidification – calcification rates, biodiversity shifts
Sea-level rise – drowning reefs and coastal infrastructure?Sea-level rise – drowning reefs and coastal infrastructure?
Storm tracks and intensitiesStorm tracks and intensities
Ocean circulation – larval transport/recruitmentOcean circulation – larval transport/recruitment
Local ThreatsLocal Threats Overfishing - trophic and ecosystem shiftsOverfishing - trophic and ecosystem shifts
Pollution and marine debris – habitat degradationPollution and marine debris – habitat degradation
Coastal development and sedimentation – habitat Coastal development and sedimentation – habitat degradationdegradation
Invasive species – ecosystem shiftsInvasive species – ecosystem shifts
Recreational overuse – trophic and ecosystem shiftsRecreational overuse – trophic and ecosystem shifts
Global threats significantly impact local/regional Global threats significantly impact local/regional ecosystems ecosystems
Local management requires knowledge of regional and Local management requires knowledge of regional and global global processes and threatsprocesses and threats
Pacific RAMPPacific RAMP
NWHI NWHI
MHI MHI
PRIA PRIA
CNMI CNMI
Guam Guam
AS AS
Integrated Ecosystem Observations of ~50 islands and atolls
Comparative analyses across diverse biogeographic, environmental, and anthropogenic gradients
Benthic Habitat Mapping
Oceanography & Water
Quality Monitoring
Long-term Monitoring of Fish, Corals,
Algae, Macroinvertebrat
es, Microbes
Integrated Ecosystem
Assessments,
Reporting, and
Modeling
Ecological ObservationsEcological ObservationsRapid Ecological Assessments (REA) Rapid Ecological Assessments (REA)
Fish, corals, invertebrates, algae, microbesFish, corals, invertebrates, algae, microbes
Abundance/density, size, species richness, % Abundance/density, size, species richness, % benthic benthic cover, disease prevalencecover, disease prevalence
~200-1,000 m~200-1,000 m22
Towed-diver Surveys (TDS) Towed-diver Surveys (TDS) Benthic composition/conditionBenthic composition/condition
% cover of live or stressed coral, macroalgae% cover of live or stressed coral, macroalgae
Habitat complexityHabitat complexity
Abundance of large fish, macroinvertebrates Abundance of large fish, macroinvertebrates fish (>50 cm TL), turtles, seals, cetaceans fish (>50 cm TL), turtles, seals, cetaceans
COTS, giant clams, sea cucumbers, urchinsCOTS, giant clams, sea cucumbers, urchins
~25,000 m~25,000 m22
Autonomous Reef Monitoring Structures Autonomous Reef Monitoring Structures (ARMS)(ARMS)
Ecological Acoustic Recorders (EARs)Ecological Acoustic Recorders (EARs)
Percent Coral Cover, Towed-diver Surveys
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
Kur e Midway P & H Lisianski Laysan Mar o FFS Kaula Lehua Ni ihau Kauai Oahu Molokai Lanai Maui Hawai i
Per
cen
t co
ver
CoralsCorals
Mean coral cover MHI (9.0 ± 2.3%) comparable to NWHI (10.4 ± 2.0%)
Other coralsOther corals
MontiporaMontipora
AcroporaAcropora
PocilloporaPocillopora
P. compressaP. compressa
PoritesPorites
Coral Composition, Towed-diver Surveys
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Kure
Mid
way
P & H
Lisia
nski
Laysa
nM
aro
FFS
Kaula
Lehua
Niihau
Kauai
Oah
u
Molo
kai
Lanai
Mau
i
Hawai
i
Distribution, composition, abundance (density/cover), and size of corals over time
Coral & Algal DiseaseCoral & Algal Disease
Distribution, type, and prevalence of disease by coral and algal species over time
BLE: BleachingSGA: Skeletal growth anomaliesWSY: Acute tissue lossTLS: Subacute tissue lossTRE: TrematodiasisHYP: Hyper-pigmented irritations EFI: Endolithic fungal infectionOTH: Other
BLE: BleachingSGA: Skeletal growth anomaliesWSY: Acute tissue lossTLS: Subacute tissue lossTRE: TrematodiasisHYP: Hyper-pigmented irritations EFI: Endolithic fungal infectionOTH: Other
AlgaeAlgae
Algal composition, both in the NWHI and more broadly across the Pacific region, shows distinct biogeographic patterns. Note different regions of the NWHI: North, Mid, South.
From Vroom & Page (2006) From Schils and Vroom (in review)
InvertebratesInvertebrates
20 2.5 .5
Density of COTS/haDensity of COTS/ha
Distribution and abundance of key macroinvertebrates over time
Large Fish, Coral, & Habitat Large Fish, Coral, & Habitat
Reef Fish & PeopleReef Fish & People
Reef Fish Over TimeReef Fish Over Time
MHI
S-NW
Mid-NW
N-NW
Gaps/Future Directions
Gaps/Future Directions Integrated Ecosystem AssessmentsIntegrated Ecosystem Assessments
Improve assessment of human dimensionImprove assessment of human dimension
Improve understanding of ecosystem linkagesImprove understanding of ecosystem linkages Ecosystem Modeling during later stages of CAMEOEcosystem Modeling during later stages of CAMEO
Improve temporal resolution and extend depth of Improve temporal resolution and extend depth of monitoringmonitoring
EARs – continuous biotic & anthropogenic monitoringEARs – continuous biotic & anthropogenic monitoring
AUV and BotCam – monitor/map deep habitats & resourcesAUV and BotCam – monitor/map deep habitats & resources
Improve linkages between science and managementImprove linkages between science and management Coral Reef Ecosystem Monitoring ReportsCoral Reef Ecosystem Monitoring Reports
Comparative analyses across Pacific Islands Comparative analyses across Pacific Islands regionregion
CAMEO - Ecological impacts of human activities and climateCAMEO - Ecological impacts of human activities and climate
Ecological Impacts of Ocean AcidificationEcological Impacts of Ocean Acidification Calcification plates, coring, improved size class, ultrasoundCalcification plates, coring, improved size class, ultrasound
Biodiversity Assessments – inverts, algae, Biodiversity Assessments – inverts, algae, microbesmicrobes
CoML- CoML- CReefs, ARMS, and molecular toolsCReefs, ARMS, and molecular tools
Ecosystem AssessmentsEcosystem Assessments
To be released at ICRS: available for download at: www.pifsc.noaa.gov
Outline for Island & Archipelagic Comparison Outline for Island & Archipelagic Comparison ChaptersChapters
• Geopolitical Context – Geopolitical Context – improve human dimensionimprove human dimension• Survey EffortSurvey Effort• Benthic Habitat Mapping and CharacterizationBenthic Habitat Mapping and Characterization• Oceanography and Water QualityOceanography and Water Quality• Coral and Coral Disease Coral and Coral Disease • Algae and Algal DiseaseAlgae and Algal Disease• Benthic Macroinvertebrates - Benthic Macroinvertebrates - CReefsCReefs• Reef FishReef Fish• Island Summary & Integration – Island Summary & Integration – CAMEO proposalCAMEO proposal
Linking science to management:Linking science to management:• American Samoa reef fisheries managementAmerican Samoa reef fisheries management• Scientific bases for development of network of MPAs Scientific bases for development of network of MPAs
Presently working on Coral Reef Ecosystem Monitoring Presently working on Coral Reef Ecosystem Monitoring Reports for Hawaiian Archipelago & Mariana ArchipelagoReports for Hawaiian Archipelago & Mariana Archipelago
Biodiversity AssessmentsBiodiversity Assessments
Census of Marine Life
Census of Coral Reef Ecosystems (CReefs)
Assessment and monitoring of coral reef biodiversity with a focus primarily on understudied, lesser known, or cryptic invertebrate, algal, and microbial species.
Autonomous Reef Monitoring Structures (ARMS): systematic collectors to monitor indices of invertebrate diversity using molecular techniques.