Coral Reef Monitoring

What is a Coral?

Animal, vegetable or mineral?

Conservation of Coral Reefs

Monitoring is necessary to decrease the decline of reefs

• Coral reefs have a high biodiversity • They provide a habitat for a wide variety

of animals and plant species and are also a food source for many organisms

• Protects coastlines

Studying coral reefs:

Compare difference in places where fish are collected to a place where they are not; look over time.

-lots of different people collect data-community effort

Reef CheckReef Check

http://www.reefcheckhawaii.org/

A volunteer, community-based coral reef monitoring and education program that promotes coral reef conservation and preservation throughout the Main Hawaiian Islands.

Location: Kaneohe, HI

Near the intersection of Kam. Hwy and Lulani St.

Location

Kaneohe, HI

Transect Belt Study

Snorkeler/diver swims down the transect line and counts abundance of orgs

5m

5m

Transect Belt Study

Quadrat

Snorkeler/diver swims down the transect line and every 5 meters counts % cover of species

 

0

5

10

15

Quadrat

Fish ID• Butterfly fish• Blueline Snapper• Jacks• Goatfish• Parrotfish• Trigger fish• Yellow Tang• Wrasses• Angelfish• Snapper• Morey eel• Orange spine unicorn fish• Peacock grouper

Butterfly fish

Blueline Snapper

Jacks/ Trevally

Goatfish

Parrotfish

Triggerfish

Yellow Tang

Wrasses

Angelfish

Snapper

Moray eel

Orange spine unicorn fish

Peacock grouper

Invert ID

Pencil UrchinDiademaCollector UrchinTriton’s TrumpetBanded Coral ShrimpLobsterCoweriesCrown-of-Thorns

Pencil urchin

Diadema

Collector Urchin

Triton’s Trumpet

Banded Coral shrimp

Lobster

Coweries

Crown-of-thorns

Coral ID

Substrate Codes HC hard coral SC soft coral RKC recently killed coralNIA nutrient indicator algaeSP spongeRC rock RB rubble SD sand SI silt/clay OT other

Coral ID

• Rice• Finger• Lobe• Mushroom• Cauliflower

AlgaeCrustose, turf, invasive

Montipora capitata (Rice coral)

Pocillopora meandrina (Finger Coral)

Porites lobata (Lobe Coral)

Fungia scutaria (Mushroom Coral)

Pocillopora meandrina(Cauliflower Coral)

Invasive Algae

Turf Algae

Crustose Algae

Pink and encrusting

• Coral Damage• Disease• Bleaching• Trash

Impacts

Coral DamageBoat/Anchor/Other

Coral DamageBoat/Anchor/Other

Bleaching

Trash

• Hooks• Fishing

line and gear

• Plastic bags

• Six pack soda holder

Coral Disease

White band Black Band

Why is coral reef monitoring and management necessary?

Pennekamp Reef, Key Largo, FL

Two ways to promote conservation:

1.monitoring

2.community-based management

What Can You Do to Protect Reefs?What Can You Do to Protect Reefs?

• Support reef-friendly businesses.Support reef-friendly businesses.• Don't pollute and encourage Don't pollute and encourage

others to do the same.others to do the same.• Learn more about reefs and Learn more about reefs and

educate others with your educate others with your knowledge.knowledge.

• Report dumping, poaching, and Report dumping, poaching, and other illegal activities.other illegal activities.

• Never anchor directly on reefs.Never anchor directly on reefs.

• Support reef-friendly businesses.Support reef-friendly businesses.• Don't pollute and encourage Don't pollute and encourage

others to do the same.others to do the same.• Learn more about reefs and Learn more about reefs and

educate others with your educate others with your knowledge.knowledge.

• Report dumping, poaching, and Report dumping, poaching, and other illegal activities.other illegal activities.

• Never anchor directly on reefs.Never anchor directly on reefs.

What Can You Do to Protect Reefs?What Can You Do to Protect Reefs?

• Avoid overfishing and other Avoid overfishing and other destructive resource extraction destructive resource extraction methods.methods.

• Avoid touching the reef.Avoid touching the reef.• Encourage reef-friendly legislation.Encourage reef-friendly legislation.• Be a responsible aquarium owner.Be a responsible aquarium owner.• Support conservation Support conservation

organizations, agencies, and organizations, agencies, and programs.programs.

• Avoid overfishing and other Avoid overfishing and other destructive resource extraction destructive resource extraction methods.methods.

• Avoid touching the reef.Avoid touching the reef.• Encourage reef-friendly legislation.Encourage reef-friendly legislation.• Be a responsible aquarium owner.Be a responsible aquarium owner.• Support conservation Support conservation

organizations, agencies, and organizations, agencies, and programs.programs.

What Can You Do to Protect Reefs?What Can You Do to Protect Reefs?

• Support the establishment of Support the establishment of marine protected areas.marine protected areas.

• Promote responsible Promote responsible development.development.

• Promote reef monitoring and Promote reef monitoring and basic research aimed at basic research aimed at protecting coral reefs and their protecting coral reefs and their inhabitants.inhabitants.

• Support the establishment of Support the establishment of marine protected areas.marine protected areas.

• Promote responsible Promote responsible development.development.

• Promote reef monitoring and Promote reef monitoring and basic research aimed at basic research aimed at protecting coral reefs and their protecting coral reefs and their inhabitants.inhabitants.