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.