Coral Reef Benthic Surveys of Tarawa and Abaiang Atolls Republic of Kiribati

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Coral Reef Benthic Surveys of Tarawa and Abaiang Atolls Republic of Kiribati CORAL REEF BENTHIC SURVEYS OF TARAWA AND ABAIANG ATOLLS REPUBLIC OF KIRIBATI Ed Lovell Consultant August 2000 SOPAC Technical Report 310 by Edward R. Lovell Biological Consultants, Fiji and The South Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission (SOPAC) in conjunction with Ribaanataki Awira Toaea Beitateuea Taratau Kirata of the Fisheries Division The Department of Natural Resource Development Kiribati [2] [SOPAC Technical Report 310 – Lovell] [3] TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................................................. 5 METHODS Field Program................................................................................................................................ 5 Data Analysis ................................................................................................................................ 6 Specimen Collection and Identification ........................................................................................ 6 DESCRIPTION OF CORAL REEFS.................................................................................................... 7 Location of Surveys ...................................................................................................................... 9 Tarawa Atoll ................................................................................................................................ 14 Abaiang Atoll Coral Reefs........................................................................................................... 34 Summary Transect Information .................................................................................................. 50 SPECIES DIVERSITY Coral Collection........................................................................................................................... 51 Sponge Collection ....................................................................................................................... 57 Biogeography.............................................................................................................................. 58 ISSUES Coral Harvesting ......................................................................................................................... 75 Channel Creation ........................................................................................................................ 77 Global Warming .......................................................................................................................... 78 Crown-of-Thorns Starfish............................................................................................................ 80 Pollution....................................................................................................................................... 81 Foreshore Development ............................................................................................................. 81 DISCUSSION..................................................................................................................................... 82 Current State............................................................................................................................... 82 RECOMMENDATIONS Survey and Monitoring Program ................................................................................................. 82 Capacity Building ........................................................................................................................ 82 Information Systems................................................................................................................... 82 Catalogue of Reefs and Organisms ........................................................................................... 83 Fisheries Division Coral Reef Library ......................................................................................... 83 Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) ................................................................................. 84 Marine Protected Areas .............................................................................................................. 84 BIBLIOGRAPHY ................................................................................................................................ 84 [SOPAC Technical Report 310 – Lovell] [4] LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1 Chart of the EEZ’s of the Pacific Islands with Republic of Kiribati highlighted.................................................................... 8 2 The Gilbert or Tungaru Islands ................................................................................................................................................... 8 3 Bathymetric chart of the Gilbert group.....................................................................................................................................10 4 Manta tow samples at Tarawa and Abaiang atolls ................................................................................................................11 5 Sites that were sampled at Tarawa Atoll.................................................................................................................................12 6 Chart of Tarawa with the numerical desginations of the sample locations........................................................................13 7 Manta tow survey of the living and dead coral cover off Bikenibeu....................................................................................15 8 Percentage coverage of the benthic forms sampled off Bikenibeu at 3 m ........................................................................16 9 Percentage coverage of the benthic forms sampled off Bikenibeu at 10 m......................................................................17 10 Percentage coverage of the benthic forms sampled off Ambo at 3 m ...............................................................................18 11 Percentage coverage of the benthic forms sampled off Ambo at 10 m .............................................................................19 12 Percentage coverage of the benthic forms sampled off Bairiki at 3 m...............................................................................21 13 Percentage coverage of the benthic forms sampled off Bairiki at 10 m.............................................................................22 14 Two Manta tow surveys of the living and dead coral cover off Bairiki................................................................................23 15 Percentage coverage of the benthic forms sampled off the northern reef 3 m.................................................................24 16 Percentage coverage of the benthic forms s ampled off the northern reef 10 m...............................................................25 17 Manta tow survey of the living and dead coral cover on the seaward reef........................................................................25 18 Percentage coverage of the benthic forms sampled at the seaward slope of the northwestern reef at 3 m.................................................................................................................................................26 19 Percentage coverage of the benthic forms sampled at the seaward slope of the northwestern reef at 10 m...............................................................................................................................................27 20 The coral reef environment of Tarawa.....................................................................................................................................30 21 The coral reef environment of Abaiang...................................................................................................................................32 22 Chart of Abaiang showing bathymetry and the sampled localities .....................................................................................34 23 Sites sampled at Abaiang Atoll.................................................................................................................................................35 24 Percentage coverage of the benthic forms sampled at the seaward reef off the southern tip at 3 m................................................................................................................................................................37 25 Percentage coverage of the benthic forms sampled at the seaward reef off the southern tip at 10 m .............................................................................................................................................................38 26 Manta tow surveys of the living and dead coral cover on the southern seaward reef slope......................................................................................................................................................................38 27 Percentage coverage of the benthic forms sampled at the seaward reef off Bolton Passage at 3 m...............................................................................................................................................................39 28 Percentage coverage of the benthic forms sampled at the seaward reef off Bolton Point at 10 m..............................................................................................................................................................40 29 Percentage coverage
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