DOCSLIB.ORG

Federal Register/Vol. 83, No. 183/Thursday, September 20, 2018

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Federal Register/Vol. 83, No. 183/Thursday, September 20, 2018 47592 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 183 / Thursday, September 20, 2018 / Proposed Rules Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE • Electronic Submissions: Submit all between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., ET, Monday electronic public comments via the through Friday, except Federal holidays. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Federal eRulemaking Portal. Go to Administration www.regulations.gov/ Privacy Act #!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2018- 50 CFR Parts 223 and 224 Under 5 U.S.C. 553(c), DOT solicits 0060. Click the ‘‘Comment Now’’ icon, comments from the public to better [Docket No. 180503449–8782–01] complete the required fields, and enter inform its potential rulemaking process. or attach your comments. RIN 0648–XG232 • DOT posts these comments, without Mail: Submit written comments to Lance Smith, NOAA IRC, NMFS/PIRO/ edit, including any personal information Endangered and Threatened Wildlife; PRD, 1845 Wasp Blvd., Bldg. 176, the commenter provides, to Positive 90-Day Finding on a Petition Honolulu, HI 96818. www.regulations.gov, as described in To List the Cauliflower Coral, Instructions: Comments sent by any the system of records notice (DOT/ALL– Pocillopora Meandrina, in Hawaii as other method, to any other address or 14 FDMS), which can be reviewed at Endangered or Threatened Under the individual, or received after the end of www.dot.gov/privacy. Endangered Species Act the comment period, may not be Background AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries considered by NMFS. All comments Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and received are a part of the public record The August 23, 2018 ANPRM (83 FR Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and will generally be posted for public 42631) asked for public comment on Department of Commerce. viewing on www.regulations.gov four subject areas: Short haul ACTION: 90-day petition finding, request without change. All personal identifying operations, adverse conditions, the 30- for information, and initiation of status information (e.g., name, address, etc.), minute break, and the split-sleeper berth review. confidential business information, or provision. The ANPRM also sought otherwise sensitive information public comment on two petitions for SUMMARY: We, NMFS, announce a 90- submitted voluntarily by the sender will rulemaking from the Owner-Operator day finding on a petition to list the be publicly accessible. NMFS will Independent Drivers Association cauliflower coral (Pocillopora accept anonymous comments (enter (OOIDA) and TruckerNation. meandrina) in Hawaii as an endangered ‘‘N/A’’ in the required fields if you wish FMCSA held a public listening or threatened species under the to remain anonymous). session on August 24, 2018, at the Great Endangered Species Act (ESA). The Copies of the petition and related American Truck Show, in Dallas, Texas petition requested that the Hawaii materials are available on our website at (83 FR 42630). population of P. meandrina be http://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/ considered a significant portion of the Pocillopora-meandrina. Extension of the Public Comment range of the species, and that the species FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Period be listed because of its status in Hawaii. Lance Smith, NMFS, Pacific Islands Our policy on the interpretation of the The comment period for the ANPRM Regional Office, Protected Resources phrase ‘‘Significant Portion of Its was set to expire on September 24, 2018 Division, (808) 725–5131; or Chelsey Range’’ (SPR) under the ESA states that, (83 FR 42631). FMCSA received several Young, NMFS, Office of Protected before undergoing an SPR analysis, we Resources, 301–427–8403. requests to extend the comment period, must first find that the species is neither SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: as noted above. Copies of the requests endangered nor threatened throughout are included in the docket referenced at all of its range. Therefore, we interpret Background the beginning of this notice. the petition as a request to consider the On March 14, 2018, we received a The organizations requested various status of P. meandrina throughout its petition from the Center for Biological lengths of time for the extension ranging range first. We find that the petition and Diversity to list the cauliflower coral from 30 to 60 days, stating that the other readily available information in (Pocillopora meandrina) in Hawaii as an additional time was needed to enable our files indicates that P. meandrina endangered or threatened species under them to prepare more comprehensive may warrant listing as a threatened the ESA. The petition asserts that P. responses based on research and species or an endangered species meandrina in Hawaii is threatened by at information that has only recently been throughout its range. Thus, we will least four of the five ESA section 4(a)(1) released or is expected to be released at initiate a global status review of P. factors: (1) Pesent modification of its upcoming industry meetings. meandrina to determine whether listing habitat; (2) disease and predation; (3) FMCSA has determined that it throughout its range is warranted. If inadequacy of existing regulatory extending the comment period would not, we will determine if Hawaii mechanisms: and (4) other natural or provide the organizations additional constitutes an SPR, and proceed manmade factors, specifically ocean time to prepare more detailed comments accordingly. To ensure that the status warming and ocean acidification that are reflective of the concerns of review is comprehensive, we are resulting from global climate change. their members. Accordingly, FMCSA soliciting scientific and commercial Copies of the petition are available upon extends the comment period for all information pertaining to P. meandrina request (see ADDRESSES). comments on the ANPRM to October 10, from any interested party. 2018. DATES: Information and comments on ESA Statutory, Regulatory, and Policy the subject action must be received by Provisions and Evaluation Framework Issued under the authority of delegations November 19, 2018. in 49 CFR 1.87: September 14, 2018. Section 4(b)(3)(A) of the ESA of 1973, ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), Cathy F. Gautreaux, information, or data on this document, requires, to the maximum extent Deputy Administrator. identified by the code NOAA–NMFS– practicable, that within 90 days of [FR Doc. 2018–20430 Filed 9–19–18; 8:45 am] 2018–0060, by either of the following receipt of a petition to list a species as BILLING CODE 4910–EX–P methods: threatened or endangered, the Secretary VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:59 Sep 19, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00016 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 E:\FR\FM\20SEP1.SGM 20SEP1 tkelley on DSKBCP9HB2PROD with PROPOSALS2 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 183 / Thursday, September 20, 2018 / Proposed Rules 47593 of Commerce make a finding on whether species, any distinct population reliable and a reasonable person would that petition presents substantial segment (DPS) that interbreeds when conclude it supports the petitioners’ scientific or commercial information mature (16 U.S.C. 1532(16)). Because P. assertions. In other words, conclusive indicating that the petitioned action meandrina is an invertebrate, it cannot information indicating the species may may be warranted, and promptly qualify as a DPS. Under the ESA, a meet the ESA’s requirements for listing publish such finding in the Federal species is ‘‘endangered’’ if it is in danger is not required to make a positive 90- Register (16 U.S.C. 1533(b)(3)(A)). When of extinction throughout all or a day finding. We will not conclude that it is found that substantial scientific or significant portion of its range, or a lack of specific information alone commercial information in a petition ‘‘threatened’’ if it is likely to become negates a positive 90-day finding if a indicates the petitioned action may be endangered within the foreseeable reasonable person would conclude that warranted (a ‘‘positive 90-day finding’’), future throughout all or a significant the unknown information itself suggests we are required to commence a portion of its range (ESA sections 3(6) an extinction risk of concern for the comprehensive review of the status of and 3(20), respectively, 16 U.S.C. species at issue. See 50 CFR 424.14 for the species concerned using the best 1532(6) and (20)). The petition requests regulations on petitions under the ESA. available scientific and commercial that the Hawaii portion of the species’ Our determination as to whether the information, which we will conclude range be considered a significant petition provides substantial scientific with a finding as to whether, in fact, the portion of its range, thus the petition or commercial information indicating petitioned action is warranted. This focuses primarily on the status of P. that the petitioned action may be finding is due within 12 months of meandrina in Hawaii. However, the warranted depends in part on the degree receipt of the petition. Because the petition also requests that P. meandrina to which the petition includes the finding at the 12-month stage is based be listed throughout its range, and following types of information: (1) on a more thorough review of the provides some information on its status Information on current population available information, compared to the and threats outside of Hawaii. Our status and trends and estimates of narrow scope of review at the 90-day policy on the interpretation of the current population sizes and stage, a ‘‘may be warranted’’ 90-day phrase ‘‘significant portion of its range’’ distributions, both in captivity and the finding does not prejudge the outcome (SPR) under the ESA (79 FR 37577, July wild, if available; (2) identification of of the 12-month finding. 1, 2014) states that, before undergoing the factors under section 4(a)(1) of the ESA-implementing regulations issued an analysis of SPR, we must first find ESA that may affect the species and jointly by NMFS and USFWS (50 CFR that the species is neither endangered where these factors are acting upon the 424.14(h)(1)(i)) define ‘‘substantial nor threatened throughout all of its species; (3) whether and to what extent scientific or commercial information’’ in range.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology Northwestern Hawaiian Islands
    Hawai‘i Institute of Marine Biology Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Research Partnership Quarterly Progress Reports II-III August, 2005-March, 2006 Report submitted by Malia Rivera and Jo-Ann Leong April 21, 2006 Photo credits: Front cover and back cover-reef at French Frigate Shoals. Upper left, reef at Pearl and Hermes. Photos by James Watt. Hawai‘i Institute of Marine Biology Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Research Partnership Quarterly Progress Reports II-III August, 2005-March, 2006 Report submitted by Malia Rivera and Jo-Ann Leong April 21, 2006 Acknowledgments. Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology (HIMB) acknowledges the support of Senator Daniel K. Inouye’s Office, the National Marine Sanctuary Program (NMSP), the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve (NWHICRER), State of Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Division of Aquatic Resources, US Fish and Wildlife Service, NOAA Fisheries, and the numerous University of Hawaii partners involved in this project. Funding provided by NMSP MOA 2005-008/66832. Photos provided by NOAA NWHICRER and HIMB. Aerial photo of Moku o Lo‘e (Coconut Island) by Brent Daniel. Background The Hawai‘i Institute of Marine Biology (School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa) signed a memorandum of agreement with National Marine Sanctuary Program (NOS, NOAA) on March 28, 2005, to assist the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve (NWHICRER) with scientific research required for the development of a science-based ecosystem management plan. With this overriding objective, a scope of work was developed to: 1. Understand the population structures of bottomfish, lobsters, reef fish, endemic coral species, and adult predator species in the NWHI.
    [Show full text]
  • STAFF WORKING PAPER SUMMARY of SELECTED PEARL HARBOR MARINE NATURAL RESOURCES DATA from 1999 – 2015 - in SUPPORT of PROPOSED PROJECT P 516 Prepared by Stephen H
    1 STAFF WORKING PAPER SUMMARY OF SELECTED PEARL HARBOR MARINE NATURAL RESOURCES DATA FROM 1999 – 2015 - IN SUPPORT OF PROPOSED PROJECT P 516 Prepared by Stephen H. Smith Marine Ecologist SSC Scientific Diving Services March 18, 2015 Introduction Overview. The objective of this Staff Working Paper is to summarize selected data gathered by the author between 1999 and February 2015. During that time period, the author conducted a variety of assessments throughout Pearl Harbor and the Pearl Harbor Entrance Channel. The specific resources which will be addressed in this partial summary are: 1) corals, 2) selected fin fish species and Essential Fish Habitat (EFH), 3) sea turtles, 4) miscellaneous and 5) perceived data gaps. This summary is not intended to reiterate material already presented in the Pearl Harbor INRMP or the many other documents which contain pertinent marine natural resource data; it is intended to summarize unpublished and/or unreported data gathered by the author. In this document, Pearl Harbor is defined as the area north of Hammer Point, as designated on Nautical Chart No. 19366 (Oahu South Coast Pearl Harbor). The Pearl Harbor Entrance Channel (PHEC) is defined as the area south of Hammer Point between the channel markers on the eastern and western sides of the PHEC and extending to the outermost Channel Marker Buoys (No. 1 on the west side and No. 2 on the east side). Figure 1 illustrates the boundaries of the P 516 project assessment area. All the data summarized in this document was gathered by the author, with periodic biological support from Donald Marx, and others.
    [Show full text]
  • The Reproduction of the Red Sea Coral Stylophora Pistillata
    MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES Vol. 1, 133-144, 1979 - Published September 30 Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. The Reproduction of the Red Sea Coral Stylophora pistillata. I. Gonads and Planulae B. Rinkevich and Y.Loya Department of Zoology. The George S. Wise Center for Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University. Tel Aviv. Israel ABSTRACT: The reproduction of Stylophora pistillata, one of the most abundant coral species in the Gulf of Eilat, Red Sea, was studied over more than two years. Gonads were regularly examined using histological sections and the planula-larvae were collected in situ with plankton nets. S. pistillata is an hermaphroditic species. Ovaries and testes are situated in the same polyp, scattered between and beneath the septa and attached to them by stalks. Egg development starts in July preceding the spermaria, which start to develop only in October. A description is given on the male and female gonads, their structure and developmental processes. During oogenesis most of the oocytes are absorbed and usually only one oocyte remains in each gonad. S. pistillata broods its eggs to the planula stage. Planulae are shed after sunset and during the night. After spawning, the planula swims actively and changes its shape frequently. A mature planula larva of S. pistillata has 6 pairs of complete mesenteries (Halcampoides stage). However, a wide variability in developmental stages exists in newly shed planulae. The oral pole of the planula shows green fluorescence. Unique organs ('filaments' and 'nodules') are found on the surface of the planula;
    [Show full text]
  • Variation in Coral-Associated Cryptofaunal Communities Across Spatial Scales and Environmental Gradients
    Coral Reefs (2018) 37:827–840 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-018-1709-7 REPORT Variation in coral-associated cryptofaunal communities across spatial scales and environmental gradients 1 1 2 Chelsie W. W. Counsell • Megan J. Donahue • Kyle F. Edwards • 1 3 Erik C. Franklin • Mark A. Hixon Received: 2 March 2018 / Accepted: 20 June 2018 / Published online: 5 July 2018 Ó Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2018 Abstract Most of the diversity on coral reefs is in the wave height, and chlorophyll-a were significant drivers of cryptofauna, the hidden organisms that inhabit the inter- occurrence. Depth and percent live coral tissue were also stitial spaces of corals and other habitat-forming benthos. identified as important correlates for community compo- However, little is known about the patterns and drivers of sition with distinct responses across taxa. Analyzing spe- diversity in cryptofauna. We investigated how the crypto- cies-specific responses to environmental gradients faunal community associated with the branching coral documented a unique pattern for the guard crab Trapezia Pocillopora meandrina varies across spatial scales and intermedia, which had a higher probability of occurring on environmental gradients. We performed nondestructive smaller colonies (in contrast to 18 other common taxa). visual surveys of the cryptofaunal community on 751 P. The results of a principal coordinates analysis on com- meandrina colonies around the island of O‘ahu (30–73 munity composition and a co-occurrence analysis further colonies per site, 3–6 sites per region, five regions). We supported T. intermedia as having a unique distribution identified 91 species, including 48 fishes and 43 inverte- across colonies, even in comparison with four other Tra- brates.
    [Show full text]
  • Volume 2. Animals
    AC20 Doc. 8.5 Annex (English only/Seulement en anglais/Únicamente en inglés) REVIEW OF SIGNIFICANT TRADE ANALYSIS OF TRADE TRENDS WITH NOTES ON THE CONSERVATION STATUS OF SELECTED SPECIES Volume 2. Animals Prepared for the CITES Animals Committee, CITES Secretariat by the United Nations Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre JANUARY 2004 AC20 Doc. 8.5 – p. 3 Prepared and produced by: UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre, Cambridge, UK UNEP WORLD CONSERVATION MONITORING CENTRE (UNEP-WCMC) www.unep-wcmc.org The UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre is the biodiversity assessment and policy implementation arm of the United Nations Environment Programme, the world’s foremost intergovernmental environmental organisation. UNEP-WCMC aims to help decision-makers recognise the value of biodiversity to people everywhere, and to apply this knowledge to all that they do. The Centre’s challenge is to transform complex data into policy-relevant information, to build tools and systems for analysis and integration, and to support the needs of nations and the international community as they engage in joint programmes of action. UNEP-WCMC provides objective, scientifically rigorous products and services that include ecosystem assessments, support for implementation of environmental agreements, regional and global biodiversity information, research on threats and impacts, and development of future scenarios for the living world. Prepared for: The CITES Secretariat, Geneva A contribution to UNEP - The United Nations Environment Programme Printed by: UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre 219 Huntingdon Road, Cambridge CB3 0DL, UK © Copyright: UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre/CITES Secretariat The contents of this report do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of UNEP or contributory organisations.
    [Show full text]
  • Update: Coral Bleaching Data 1 0 / 1 3 / 2 0 1 4
    UPDATE: CORAL BLEACHING DATA 1 0 / 1 3 / 2 0 1 4 NOAA CORAL REEF WATCH DATA (http://coralreefwatch.noaa.gov) The NOAA Coral Reef Watch Sea Surface Temperature (SST) Anomaly map (top left) shows the difference between today's temperature and the long-term average. The Degree Heating Week map (top right) shows accumulated thermal stress, which can lead to coral bleaching. Significant coral bleaching usually occurs when DHW values reach 4 °C-weeks. At 8 °C-weeks, widespread bleaching is likely and significant mortality can be Sea Surface Temperature Anomaly— Degree Heating Week- 10/13/2014 expected. 10/13/2014 NOAA Potential Bleaching Intensity Levels No bleaching Possible bleaching Possible bleaching Bleaching Likely Coral Mortality Likely This experimental map product provides a summary of current satellite data as well as forecasted conditions for coral bleaching. The bleaching alert gauges reflect the high alert category observed and forecasted. Currently, the highest coral bleaching category being observed is ‘Alert Level 2’ in specific areas. This bleaching alert level is projected to continue for the next 4-8 weeks. Coral Bleaching Alert Area and Outlook—10/13/2014 KANEOHE BAY WATER TEMPERATURE DATA (http://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/ physocean.htmlbdate=20140929&edate=20141013&units=standard&timezone=GMT&id=1612480&interval=6) This graph displays water temperature information from the NOAA/NOS/CO-OPS station at Mokuole, HI, located in Kaneohe Bay at the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology (HIMB). The highest recorded temperature during this time period was 85.3F. The average range for this area is approximately 72-82F. The temperature threshold for coral bleaching is 83F.
    [Show full text]
  • Development of Coral and Zooxanthella-Specific
    Development of coral and zooxanthella-specific microsatellites in three species of Pocillopora (Cnidaria, Scleractinia) from French Polynesia Hélène Magalon, Sarah Samadi, Murielle Richard, Mehdi Adjeroud, Michel Veuille To cite this version: Hélène Magalon, Sarah Samadi, Murielle Richard, Mehdi Adjeroud, Michel Veuille. Development of coral and zooxanthella-specific microsatellites in three species of Pocillopora (Cnidaria, Scleractinia) from French Polynesia. Molecular Ecology Notes, Wiley-Blackwell, 2004, 4, pp.206-8. hal-00941708 HAL Id: hal-00941708 https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00941708 Submitted on 6 May 2016 HAL is a multi-disciplinary open access L’archive ouverte pluridisciplinaire HAL, est archive for the deposit and dissemination of sci- destinée au dépôt et à la diffusion de documents entific research documents, whether they are pub- scientifiques de niveau recherche, publiés ou non, lished or not. The documents may come from émanant des établissements d’enseignement et de teaching and research institutions in France or recherche français ou étrangers, des laboratoires abroad, or from public or private research centers. publics ou privés. Blackwell Publishing, Ltd. Development of coral and zooxanthella-specific microsatellites in three species of Pocillopora (Cnidaria, Scleractinia) from French Polynesia HÉLÈNE MAGALON,* SARAH SAMADI,*‡ MURIELLE RICHARD,* MEHDI ADJEROUD† and MICHEL VEUILLE* *Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes/UMR CNRS 7625, laboratoire d’Ecologie, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, 7 quai saint Bernard, 75005 Paris, France, †Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes, Laboratoire de Biologie Marine et Malacologie, UMR CNRS 8046, Université de Perpignan, 66860 Perpignan, France Abstract Since the building of coral reefs results from the association of corals and zooxanthellae, their intracellular algal symbionts, genetic markers for both organisms are essential for studying the contribution of their respective dispersal to the resilience of endangered reef ecosystems.
    [Show full text]
  • 2015 Coral Bleaching Surveys: South Kohala, North Kona © David Slater
    ! Summary of Findings 2015 Coral Bleaching Surveys: South Kohala, North Kona © David Slater What is Coral Bleaching? Coral bleaching is a stress response caused by the breakdown of the symbiotic relationship between the coral and the algae (zooxanthellae) that live inside its tissues. When the coral expels these algae the coral skeleton becomes visible, giving it a pale or “bleached” appearance. Mass bleaching events have been linked with mounting thermal stress associated with a warming planet and seas and are expected to continue increasing in severity, geographic extent, and frequency. Although some species and individual coral colonies can withstand more stress than others, corals will eventually die if the stressor © TNC does not abate and the symbiosis is not reestablished. Bleached Pocillopora eydouxi, Oct, 2015. Coral Bleaching in Hawai‘i Prompted by rising sea surface temperatures south of the Main Hawaiian Islands (MHI) in June 2015, NOAA’s Coral Reef Watch Program issued a bleaching warning for the MHI. By October 2015, the agency confirmed that West Hawai‘i Island experienced the most severe thermal stress in the MHI for 18.35 consecutive weeks (Fig. 1). Following the first report of bleached coral from a Puakō Makai Watch volun- teer snorkeling at Paniau, scientists from The Nature Conservancy, NOAA’s Coral Reef Ecosystem Program (CREP), and Hawai‘i's Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR) conducted four weeks of field surveys to assess the damage. The team surveyed more than 14,000 coral colonies across the South Kohala and North Kona regions of West Hawai’i, assessing the incidence (proportion of coral colonies that bleached) and severity of bleaching of each colony.
    [Show full text]
  • An Assessment of the Marine Biological Community Structure in the Vicinity of the Proposed Kapalama Container Terminal Honolulu, Hawai‘I
    AN ASSESSMENT OF THE MARINE BIOLOGICAL COMMUNITY STRUCTURE IN THE VICINITY OF THE PROPOSED KAPALAMA CONTAINER TERMINAL HONOLULU, HAWAI‘I State of Hawaii Department of Transportation Harbors Division October 15, 2012 TABLE of CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY……………………………………………………………………1 I. BACKGROUND and PROPOSED ACTION…………………………..………………4 II. METHODS………………………………………………………………………………5 A. Rationale for Sample Site Selection……………………………………………….5 B. Survey Sector Determination………………………………………………………6 C.In-situ Survey Methods………………………………………………………………7 1. Coral Community Survey Metrics……………………………..………………..8 a. Coral Colony Abundance and Size…………………………..……………..8 b. Morphological Growth Form and Evidence of Stress…………..………….8 c. Rugosity………………………………………………………………..……….8 d. Two-dimensional Area Cover…………………………………..……………8 e. Coral Community Statistics…………………………………………….…….9 2. Non-coral Macro-invertebrate Community Metrics ………………..…………9 3. Algae Community Metrics………………………………………………...…….10 4. Fish Community Metrics……………………………………………………..…..10 5. Incidental Sightings of Threatened and Endangered Species…………….….10 6. Regulated and Invasive Species…………………………………………..……..10 III. RESULTS and DISCUSSION..…………………………………………………………10 A. Physical Structure…………………………………………………………….…….10 B. Biotic Community Structure………………………………………………………..12 1. Coral Communities…………………………………………………….…...…..12 2. Non-Coral Macro-Invertebrate Communities………………………….……..15 3. Algal Communities……………………………………………………….……..16 4. Fish Communities……..…………………………………………………….…..17 5. Incidental Sightings of Threatened
    [Show full text]
  • Conservation of Reef Corals in the South China Sea Based on Species and Evolutionary Diversity
    Biodivers Conserv DOI 10.1007/s10531-016-1052-7 ORIGINAL PAPER Conservation of reef corals in the South China Sea based on species and evolutionary diversity 1 2 3 Danwei Huang • Bert W. Hoeksema • Yang Amri Affendi • 4 5,6 7,8 Put O. Ang • Chaolun A. Chen • Hui Huang • 9 10 David J. W. Lane • Wilfredo Y. Licuanan • 11 12 13 Ouk Vibol • Si Tuan Vo • Thamasak Yeemin • Loke Ming Chou1 Received: 7 August 2015 / Revised: 18 January 2016 / Accepted: 21 January 2016 Ó Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2016 Abstract The South China Sea in the Central Indo-Pacific is a large semi-enclosed marine region that supports an extraordinary diversity of coral reef organisms (including stony corals), which varies spatially across the region. While one-third of the world’s reef corals are known to face heightened extinction risk from global climate and local impacts, prospects for the coral fauna in the South China Sea region amidst these threats remain poorly understood. In this study, we analyse coral species richness, rarity, and phylogenetic Communicated by Dirk Sven Schmeller. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s10531-016-1052-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users. & Danwei Huang [email protected] 1 Department of Biological Sciences and Tropical Marine Science Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117543, Singapore 2 Naturalis Biodiversity Center, PO Box 9517, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands 3 Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of
    [Show full text]
  • A Photographic Guide to the Benthic Flora and Fauna from Mesophotic Coral Ecosystems in the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument
    MARINE SANCTUARIES CONSERVATION SERIES ONMS-16-04 A Photographic Guide to the Benthic Flora and Fauna from Mesophotic Coral Ecosystems in the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument U.S. Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Ocean Service Office of National Marine Sanctuaries http://www.papahanaumokuakea.gov October2016 U.S. Department of Commerce Penny Pritzer, Secretary National Oceanic andAtmospheric Administration Kathryn Sullivan, Ph.D. Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere National Ocean Service Russell Callender, Ph.D., Assistant Administrator Office of National Marine Sanctuaries John Armor, Acting Director Papahānumokuākea Marine National Monument Athline Clark, Superintendent Report Authors: Daniel Wagner, Alex Barkman, Heather Spalding, Barbara Calcinai and Scott Godwin Suggested Citation: Wagner, D., Barkman, A., Spalding, H.L., Calcinai, B. & Godwin, S.L. 2016. A photographic guide to the benthic flora and fauna from mesophotic coral ecosystems in the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. Marine Sanctuaries Conservation Series ONMS-16-04. U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, Silver Spring, MD. 86 pp. Cover Photo: A mesophotic coral ecosystem dominated by the green macroalga Microdictyon setchellianum off Pearl and Hermes Atoll at 90 m depth in the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument (Credit: Greg McFall/NOAA). About the Marine Sanctuaries Conservation Series The Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, serves as the trustee for a system of 14 marine protected areas encompassing more than 613,000 square miles of ocean and Great Lakes waters. The 13 national marine sanctuaries and one marine national monument within the National Marine Sanctuary System represent areas of America’s ocean and Great Lakes environment that are of special national significance.
    [Show full text]
  • Milleporidae, Stylasteridae, Scleractinia) in the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution
    Catalog of the Type Specimens of Stony Corals (Milleporidae, Stylasteridae, Scleractinia) in the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution STEPHEN D. CAIRNS W9\ I SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY • NUMBER 514 SERIES PUBLICATIONS OF THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION Emphasis upon publication as a means of "diffusing knowledge" was expressed by the first Secretary of the Smithsonian. In his formal plan for the Institution, Joseph Henry outlined a program that included the following statement: "It is proposed to publish a series of reports, giving an account of the new discoveries in science, and of the changes made from year to year in all branches of knowledge." This theme of basic research has been adhered to through the years by thousands of titles issued in series publications under the Smithsonian imprint, commencing with Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge in 1848 and continuing with the following active series: Smithsonian Contributions to Anthropology Smithsonian Contributions to Astrophysics Smithsonian Contributions to Botany Smithsonian Contributions to the Earth Sciences Smithsonian Contributions to the Marine Sciences Smithsonian Contributions to Paleobiology Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology Smithsonian Folklife Studies Smithsonian Studies in Air and Space Smithsonian Studies in History and Technology In these series, the Institution publishes small papers and full-scale monographs that report the research and collections of its various museums and bureaux or of professional colleagues in the world of science and scholarship. The publications are distributed by mailing lists to libraries, universities, and similar institutions throughout the world. Papers or monographs submitted for series publication are received by the Smithsonian Institution Press, subject to its own review for format and style, only through departments of the various Smithsonian museums or bureaux, where the manuscripts are given substantive review.
    [Show full text]