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Cruise Report Windward Caribbean| Nov 6-16, 2016

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Cruise Report Windward Caribbean| Nov 6-16, 2016 100 Island Challenge Cruise Report Windward Caribbean| Nov 6-16, 2016 Contributing Authors Dr. Stuart Sandin, Scripps Institution of Oceanography Dr. Brian Zgliczynski, Scripps Institution of Oceanography Lindsay Bonito, Scripps Institution of Oceanography Report prepared on 29 November 2016 Photo credit: Ralph Pace Expedition Team Ruleo Camacho, Department of Environment, Antigua & Barbuda Amelia Bird, Department of Environment, Antigua & Barbuda Melanie Meijer zu Schlochtern, St. Maarten Nature Foundation Erik Houtepen, St. Eustatius National Parks Foundation (STENAPA) Tadzio Bervoets, Nature Foundation of Sint Maarten Jens Odinga, Saba Bank National Park Andy Estep, Waitt Institute Ramón de León, Reef Support BV, Bonaire Dr. Mark Vermeij, Carmabi Foundation, Curaçao Ralph Pace, Photographer Lindsay Bonito, Scripps Institution of Oceanography Nicole Pedersen, Scripps Institution of Oceanography Dr. Brian Zgliczynski, Scripps Institution of Oceanography Dr. Stuart Sandin, Scripps Institution of Oceanography Collaborators Executive Summary The Waitt Institute and Dr. Stuart Sandin’s laboratory at Scripps Institution of Oceanography collaborated to organize an expedition to conduct a rapid scientific assessment of the coral reefs around the windward Caribbean islands, namely Sint Maarten, Sint Eustatius, Saba, Redonda, and a submarine atoll, Saba Bank. To complement these efforts, the expedition was supported by the Government of Antigua and partners in the nearby Dutch-affiliated islands (St Eustatius, Saba, and St Maarten). The collaboration is part of a larger effort to establish a regional scale perspective of coral reef health, investigating how reefs are structured, how they change over time, and how we can better manage them in the face of global change. The research conducted during thiscruise aimed to investigate the independent and interactive effects of oceanography and human activities in affecting the structure and dynamics of coral reef communities. The survey design controls for within-island variables by conducting the core surveys within the same habitat type – forereef habitat at 7-15m depth. To assess the benthic and reef fish communities, the GCRMN methodology was utilized in conjunction with large-area ‘photomosaics’ to quantify the structure and the workings of each coral reef community at 1-2 km intervals surrounding each island. To complement the ecological data colelcted, two sea temperature recorders (HOBO Pro v2 Logger) were deployed around each island. The temperature recorders were programmed to record the seawater temperature at an interval of thirty minutes. We expect to retrieve these recorders and download the temperature record in approximately 2 years. Across the 4 islands and submarine atoll, 65 sites were surveyed. This effort resulted in a total of 325 fish and benthic transects, following the GCRMN guidelines. Additionally 38 photomosaics were imaged: 6 on Redonda, 11 on Sint Eustatius, 11 on Sint Maarten, 8 on Saba, and 2 on the Saba Bank. The Windward Caribbean Islands Figure 1. Map of the windward Caribbean islands surveyed in November, 2016. Surveyed islands include Sint Maarten, Sint Eustatius, Saba, Saba Bank, and Redonda. Island Highlights The Lesser Antilles, also known as the Windward Islands, extend in a curve about 500 miles between Puerto Rico and Trinidad. Most of the islands were formed by volcanic activity, and when combines with the Greater Antilles and Lucayan Archipelago, are known as the West Indies. Redonda Island Type: High island; remnant of an ancient extinct volcano Island Size: 1.6 km long and 0.5 km wide (between 1.6 and 2.6 km2) Population: uninhabited Sint Maarten Island Type: High island Island Size: 34 km2 Population: ~39,000 (2011 census) Sint Eustatius Island Type: High island, dormant volcano. Island Size: 21 km2 Population: ~4,000 (2013 data) Saba Island Type: High island, potentially active volcano Island Size: 13 km2 Population: ~2,000 (2013 data) Saba Bank Island Type: Submarine atoll Size: ~ 2200 km² Population: uninhabited 100 Island Challenge Description: This research initiative employs novel approaches for studying coral reef community dynamics through the application of underwater photomosaic technology. Working with colleagues from the University of Miami, we have built a camera system that allows us to capture images of large swaths of the reef surface. Further, by re- visiting exact locations multiple times and replicating photography, we have an unprecedented opportunity to track the dynamics of corals and algae. Particularly, with advanced image analysis we can track how a reef community changes, addressing questions of coral growth, death, and competition that are currently unresolved. We have field-trialed this photomosaic equipment and are developing a reliable image analysis protocol. We are now poised to apply this tool to generate the large-scale data of reef community dynamics that have, to date, been unavailable. Further, by combining these image-based data with reliable information about the composition of the fish community, the general oceanography, and the human situation of each location, we can begin to elucidate the conditions that are more (or less) conducive to the maintenance of growing and so-called ‘healthy’ coral reefs. Application to the Windward Caribbean: By linking the fates of these reefs to the oceanographic conditions and to the local activities of people, we will be able to start understanding cause-and- effect pathways for reef change. Given that local-scale marine managers consistently seek information on the ‘state’ of their coral reef, looking for comparisons to help guide local management. Further, by making the data that describe each reef readily available and easy to visualize, there is a terrific opportunity to increase the dialogue between the science and management communities, as well as independently among the managers looking for tangible information to improve their self-management. By working side-by- side with regional managers and partners in local NGOs (e.g., the Nature Conservancy, Conservation International), we will expand the scientific insights into the state and future of their reef areas. For more information, visit www.100islandchallenge.org Survey Metadata Table 1. Sites surveyed to assess and monitor the fish and benthic communities (GCRMN) and collect photomosaic imagery (Mosaic). Project Island Site ID Latitude Longitude Local Name GCRMN Redonda R0 16.944853 -62.346535 GCRMN Redonda R1 16.9422 -62.34229 GCRMN Redonda R2 16.93814 -62.34099 GCRMN Redonda R3 16.9351 -62.342133 GCRMN Redonda R4 16.93192 -62.345428 GCRMN Redonda R5 16.934392 -62.348748 GCRMN Redonda R6 16.938763 -62.348186 GCRMN Redonda R7 16.942964 -62.348807 Mosaic Redonda R0 16.94539 -62.3456 Mosaic Redonda R2 16.93927 -62.34187 Mosaic Redonda R4 16.93183 -62.34527 Mosaic Redonda R5 16.93417 -62.34909 Mosaic Redonda R6 16.93871 -62.34834 Mosaic Redonda R7 16.94269 -62.34898 GCRMN Saba SB1 17.65119 -63.2407 GCRMN Saba SB2 17.6379 -63.216495 GCRMN Saba SB3 17.63875 -63.22038 GCRMN Saba SB4 17.62315 -63.22055 GCRMN Saba SB5 17.6125 -63.23643 GCRMN Saba SB6B 17.61701 -63.25806 GCRMN Saba SB7 17.63116 -63.25766 GCRMN Saba SB8 17.6462 -63.25296 GCRMN Saba SBA 17.639 -63.25515 GCRMN Saba SBB 17.64917 -63.24608 GCRMN Saba SBC 17.6486 -63.23065 GCRMN Saba SBD 17.63116 -63.21763 GCRMN Saba SBE 17.61768 -63.22633 GCRMN Saba SBG 17.62468 -63.25955 Mosaic Saba SB1 17.65025 -63.23861 Mosaic Saba SB2 17.637 -63.25581 Mosaic Saba SB4 17.62315 -63.22055 Mosaic Saba SB5 17.61252 -63.2367 Mosaic Saba SB6b 17.61773 -63.25913 Mosaic Saba SB7 17.63116 -63.25766 Mosaic Saba SB8 17.6461 -63.25283 Project Island Site ID Latitude Longitude Local Name Mosaic Saba SB8b 17.64671 -63.25513 GCRMN Saba Bank SBB73 17.48067 -63.23009 GCRMN Saba Bank SBB8 17.47138 -63.22876 GCRMN Saba Bank SBB9 17.46317 -63.22559 Mosaic Saba Bank SBB73 17.481317 -63.228267 Mosaic Saba Bank SBB9 17.46323 -63.225415 GCRMN St Eustatius SE1 17.5261 -62.9972 GCRMN St Eustatius SE10 17.47691 -62.94706 GCRMN St Eustatius SE101 17.466767 -62.990917 Barracuda Reef GCRMN St Eustatius SE102 17.52515 -63.000067 Safety First Mushroom GCRMN St Eustatius SE103 17.46265 -62.977617 Gardens GCRMN St Eustatius SE104 17.464967 -62.983267 Five Fingers GCRMN St Eustatius SE11 17.47099 -62.94954 GCRMN St Eustatius SE12 17.46683 -62.95893 GCRMN St Eustatius SE13 17.4644 -62.96658 GCRMN St Eustatius SE14 17.46289 -62.97644 GCRMN St Eustatius SE15 17.47067 -62.98295 GCRMN St Eustatius SE17 17.51249 -63.00091 GCRMN St Eustatius SE18 17.51691 -63.00123 GCRMN St Eustatius SE2 17.52032 -62.99123 GCRMN St Eustatius SE3 17.517 -62.9842 GCRMN St Eustatius SE4 17.51131 -62.97941 GCRMN St Eustatius SE5 17.5047 -62.9765 GCRMN St Eustatius SE6 17.50233 -62.96881 GCRMN St Eustatius SE8 17.49205 -62.95195 GCRMN St Eustatius SE9 17.4878 -62.94607 Mosaic St Eustatius SE1 17.52643 -62.99715 Mosaic St Eustatius SE100 17.47956 -62.99461 Double Wreck Mosaic St Eustatius SE102 17.52553 -62.99962 Safety First Mosaic St Eustatius SE11 17.47057 -62.94862 Mosaic St Eustatius SE13 17.4624 -62.96883 Mosaic St Eustatius SE15 17.46778 -62.98346 Mosaic St Eustatius SE19 17.52122 -63.00087 Mosaic St Eustatius SE3 17.50745 -62.97453 Mosaic St Eustatius SE5 17.50723 -62.97472 Mosaic St Eustatius SE7 17.50107 -62.96205 GCRMN St Maarten SM102 18.018717 -63.020617 Pelican Reef N GCRMN St Maarten SM103 18.018717 -63.020617 Pelican Reef S GCRMN St Maarten SM104 18.022683 -63.000667 Molly Beday Project Island Site ID Latitude
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