DOCSLIB.ORG

Coral Reef Biological Criteria: Using the Clean Water Act to Protect a National Treasure

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Coral Reef Biological Criteria: Using the Clean Water Act to Protect a National Treasure EPA/600/R-10/054 | July 2010 | www.epa.gov/ord Coral Reef Biological Criteria: Using the Clean Water Act to Protect a National Treasure Offi ce of Research and Development | National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory EPA/600/R-10/054 July 2010 www.epa.gov/ord Coral Reef Biological Criteria Using the Clean Water Act to Protect a National Treasure by Patricia Bradley Leska S. Fore Atlantic Ecology Division Statistical Design NHEERL, ORD 136 NW 40th St. 33 East Quay Road Seattle, WA 98107 Key West, FL 33040 William Fisher Wayne Davis Gulf Ecology Division Environmental Analysis Division NHEERL, ORD Offi ce of Environmental Information 1 Sabine Island Drive 701 Mapes Road Gulf Breeze, FL 32561 Fort Meade, MD 20755 Contract No. EP-C-06-033 Work Assignment 3-11 Great Lakes Environmental Center, Inc Project Officer: Work Assignment Manager: Susan K. Jackson Wayne Davis Offi ce of Water Offi ce of Environmental Information Washington, DC 20460 Fort Meade, MD 20755 National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory Offi ce of Research and Development Washington, DC 20460 Printed on chlorine free 100% recycled paper with 100% post-consumer fiber using vegetable-based ink. Notice and Disclaimer The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency through its Offi ce of Research and Development, Offi ce of Environmental Information, and Offi ce of Water funded and collaborated in the research described here under Contract EP-C-06-033, Work Assignment 3-11, to Great Lakes Environmental Center, Inc. It has been subject to the Agency’s peer and administrative review and has been approved for publication as an EPA document. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use. This manual provides technical guidance to States, Territories, and Commonwealths to establish water quality criteria and standards under the Clean Water Act (CWA), to protect aquatic life from the effects of pollution. Under the CWA, States and Territories are to establish water quality criteria to protect designated uses. State and Territorial decision makers retain the discretion to adopt approaches on a case-by-case basis that differ from this guidance when appropriate and scientifi cally defensible. While this manual constitutes the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) scientifi c recommendations regarding biological criteria to help protect coral reef ecosystem quality and aquatic life, it does not substitute for the CWA or EPA’s regulations; nor is it a regulation itself. Thus, it cannot impose legally binding requirements on EPA, States, Territories or the regulated community, and might not apply to a particular situation or circumstance. EPA may change this guidance in the future. This is a contribution to the EPA Offi ce of Research and Development’s Ecosystem Services Research Program, Coral Reefs Project. The appropriate citation for this report is: Bradley P, Fore L, Fisher W, and Davis W. 2010. Coral Reef Biological Criteria: Using the Clean Water Act to Protect a National Treasure. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Offi ce of Research and Development, Narragansett, RI. EPA/600/R-10/054 July 2010. This document can be downloaded from EPA’s website for Biological Indicators of Watershed Health: http://www.epa.gov/bioindicators ii Preface The Earth is a Blue Planet. Oceans cover about 70% of the globe. Coral reefs are the largest living structures on the planet. Coral reefs are one of the most threatened marine ecosystems. Intended Audience This manual has been written to support coral reef managers in United States jurisdictions (see map in Figure P-1), including: • Caribbean Basin (Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Navassa Island) • Gulf of Mexico (Flower Garden Banks) • Atlantic Ocean (southeast Florida and the Florida Keys) • Pacifi c Ocean (American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Hawaii, Pacifi c Remote Island Areas) When the term “state” is used throughout the manual it is intended to represent any U.S. jurisdiction, which includes states, territories, tribes and commonwealths. In all jurisdictions with coral reefs, the CWA applies to marine and coastal systems within the 3-mile territorial waters. "State” in this document includes all states, territories, tribes, and commonwealths. Coral Reef Biological Criteria: Using the Clean Water Act to Protect a National Treasure iii Figure P-1. Map of United States Jurisdictions with Coral Reefs. Coral reef ecosystems are managed by a variety of federal and state agencies (Table P-1). Table P-1. Managers whose decisions potentially impact coral reef ecosystems. Types of Managers Role Scale Policy Makers Develop laws and regulations Federal/Regional/State Environmental Managers Implement and enforce federal/ Regional/State state/territorial environmental laws and regulations Natural Resource Managers Manage parks, sanctuaries, Federal/Regional/State refuges, etc. Local Government Managers Enforce land-use rules, permits Local and zoning iv Coral reef managers work for many different organizations both within government (at the federal, state, and local levels) and for non-profi t organizations. While they all have a general responsibility to protect coral reefs, their authorities and roles can be quite varied, including: • Pollution prevention, including various permitting authorities • Coral reef protection • Coral reef restoration • Fisheries management • Park/sanctuary management This document uses the general term coral reef manager in reference to all of these roles. Coral Reef Managers work for many different organizations both within government (at the federal, state, and local levels) and for non-profi t organizations. While they all have a general responsibility to protect coral reefs, their authorities and roles can be quite varied, including: pollution prevention, including various permitting authorities; coral reef protection; coral reef restoration; fi sheries management; and park/sanctuary management. Reef managers and government scientists aren’t the only people interested in protecting coral reefs. All U.S. citizens are stakeholders. The Clean Water Act includes many opportunities for citizens and other stakeholders to comment, understand and infl uence regulatory decisions either during mandated public comment periods or through citizen lawsuits (USC33, §1365 and §505). Stakeholders include: • Residents of local communities adjacent to coral reefs • Tourists and the tourism industry • Fishermen and other marine-based industries • Land-based industries and commercial enterprises • Conservation and environmental groups • Research organizations • Educational institutions Citizen suit provisions USC33, §1365 and §505. Coral Reef Biological Criteria: Using the Clean Water Act to Protect a National Treasure v Why You Should Read This Coral reef managers have challenging jobs. This is truer now than ever before. First and foremost, coral reef ecosystems are declining, threatened by a variety of human activities including polluted runoff from agriculture and land-use practices, over-fi shing, ship groundings, coastal development and climate change, as well as with natural stressors such as tropical storms, bleaching and disease that may also be increasing due to human actions. Second, coral reef managers are often faced with a lack of information, lack of resources, and lack of political will to take the actions necessary to protect or restore coral reef ecosystems. Finally, coral reef managers must navigate a complex web of federal, state, and local legislation—legislation that is too often duplicative, diffi cult to understand, and challenging to coordinate. If you are a coral reef manager, you are already aware of many on-the-reef approaches to management. This Biological Criteria: A document will show you how to use the Clean Water Act description of the desired (CWA) and coral reef biological criteria (biocriteria) as part natural aquatic community of a comprehensive framework to organize your protection based on the numbers efforts and make them more meaningful through enforceable and kinds of organisms coastal and watershed regulations. expected to be present in a water body and serve as If you are a stakeholder, this document will show you how the standard against which the CWA and other management tools can be combined into assessment results are a comprehensive watershed-based management approach compared. Biocriteria can for coral reefs and other coastal ecosystems. also be used to determine aquatic life use attainment The responsibility for implementing coral reef biocriteria lies and can be formally adopted with the state and federal coral reef managers. However, to into a State’s water quality be successful, their actions must be guided and informed by standards (EPA 2002). the knowledge, energy and resources of scientists and other stakeholders. How to Use This Manual Ask the Right Questions. This document is organized—in general—around broad questions that correspond to the needs of coral reef managers. The questions are part of the scientifi c and management discussion, and are topics with which most coral reef managers will be readily familiar. These questions are also essential to the development of scientifi cally sound coral reef biocriteria. • Why do we care about coral reefs? • What do we want to protect? • What should we measure? vi • How do we assess reef condition? • How are the reefs doing (are they getting better or worse)? • How do we account for reef variability?
Load more

Recommended publications
  • OGC-98-5 U.S. Insular Areas: Application of the U.S. Constitution
    United States General Accounting Office Report to the Chairman, Committee on GAO Resources, House of Representatives November 1997 U.S. INSULAR AREAS Application of the U.S. Constitution GAO/OGC-98-5 United States General Accounting Office GAO Washington, D.C. 20548 Office of the General Counsel B-271897 November 7, 1997 The Honorable Don Young Chairman Committee on Resources House of Representatives Dear Mr. Chairman: More than 4 million U.S. citizens and nationals live in insular areas1 under the jurisdiction of the United States. The Territorial Clause of the Constitution authorizes the Congress to “make all needful Rules and Regulations respecting the Territory or other Property” of the United States.2 Relying on the Territorial Clause, the Congress has enacted legislation making some provisions of the Constitution explicitly applicable in the insular areas. In addition to this congressional action, courts from time to time have ruled on the application of constitutional provisions to one or more of the insular areas. You asked us to update our 1991 report to you on the applicability of provisions of the Constitution to five insular areas: Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (the CNMI), American Samoa, and Guam. You asked specifically about significant judicial and legislative developments concerning the political or tax status of these areas, as well as court decisions since our earlier report involving the applicability of constitutional provisions to these areas. We have included this information in appendix I. 1As we did in our 1991 report on this issue, Applicability of Relevant Provisions of the U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • A Study of Hydrodynamic and Coastal Geomorphic Processes in Küdema Bay, the Baltic Sea
    Coastal Engineering 187 A study of hydrodynamic and coastal geomorphic processes in Küdema Bay, the Baltic Sea Ü. Suursaar1, H. Tõnisson2, T. Kullas1, K. Orviku3, A. Kont2, R. Rivis2 & M. Otsmann1 1Estonian Marine Institute, University of Tartu, Estonia 2Instititute of Ecology, Tallinn Pedagogical University, Estonia 3Merin Ltd., Estonia Abstract The aim of the paper is to analyze relationships between hydrodynamic and geomorphic processes in a small bay in the West-Estonian Archipelago. The area consists of a Silurian limestone cliff exposed to storm activity, and a dependent accumulative distal spit consisting of gravel and pebble. Changes in shoreline position have been investigated on the basis of large-scale maps, aerial photographs, topographic surveys and field measurements using GPS. Waves and currents were investigated using a Recording Doppler Current Profiler RDCP-600 deployed into Küdema Bay in June 2004 and the rough hydrodynamic situation was simulated using hydrodynamic and wave models. The main hydrodynamic patterns were revealed and their dependences on different meteorological scenarios were analyzed. It was found that due to exposure to prevailing winds (and waves induced by the longest possible fetch for the location), the spit elongates with an average rate of 14 m/year. Major changes take place during storms. Vitalization of shore processes is anticipated due to ongoing changes in the regional wind climate above the Baltic Sea. Keywords: shoreline changes, currents, waves, sea level, hydrodynamic models. 1 Introduction Estonia has a relatively long and strongly indented shoreline (3794 km; Fig. 1), therefore the knowledge of coastal processes is of large importance for WIT Transactions on The Built Environment, Vol 78, © 2005 WIT Press www.witpress.com, ISSN 1743-3509 (on-line) 188 Coastal Engineering sustainable development and management of the coastal zone.
    [Show full text]
  • Climate Change Impacts on Corals in the UK Overseas Territories of British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) and the Pitcairn Islands
    Climate change impacts on corals in the UK Overseas Territories of British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) and the Pitcairn Islands Blue Belt Programme April 2021 Authors: Lincoln, S., Cowburn, B., Howes, E., Birchenough, S.N.R., Pinnegar, J., Dye, S., Buckley, P., Engelhard, G.H. and Townhill, B.L. Issue date: 29 March 2021 © Crown copyright 2020 This information is licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/ This publication is available at www.gov.uk/government/publications www.cefas.co.uk Document Control Submitted to: Kylie Bamford (UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) Date submitted: 29 March 2021 Project Manager: Victoria Young Report compiled by: Susana Lincoln Quality control by: Georg H. Engelhard Approved by and date: Christopher Darby and Silvana Birchenough, 25 March 2021 Version: Final checked Version Control History Author Date Summary of changes Version Lincoln et al. November 2020 Initial draft V0.1 Lincoln et al. January 2021 External peer review completed V0.2 Lincoln et al. February 2021 QC QA corrections and final draft V1.0 Lincoln et al. February 2021 Comments from Emily Hardman V1.1 (Marine Management Organisation) Lincoln et al. March 2021 Editorial comments from Silvana V2.0 Birchenough et al. Lincoln et al. March 2021 Editorial comments from V2.1 Christopher Darby Lincoln et al. March 2021 All comments addressed Final Lincoln et al. April 2021 Final checks by reviewers prior Checked to publication This report has been reviewed by: Sheppard, C. (University of Warwick, UK), Wabnitz, C.
    [Show full text]
  • Geology of Hawaii Reefs
    11 Geology of Hawaii Reefs Charles H. Fletcher, Chris Bochicchio, Chris L. Conger, Mary S. Engels, Eden J. Feirstein, Neil Frazer, Craig R. Glenn, Richard W. Grigg, Eric E. Grossman, Jodi N. Harney, Ebitari Isoun, Colin V. Murray-Wallace, John J. Rooney, Ken H. Rubin, Clark E. Sherman, and Sean Vitousek 11.1 Geologic Framework The eight main islands in the state: Hawaii, Maui, Kahoolawe , Lanai , Molokai , Oahu , Kauai , of the Hawaii Islands and Niihau , make up 99% of the land area of the Hawaii Archipelago. The remainder comprises 11.1.1 Introduction 124 small volcanic and carbonate islets offshore The Hawaii hot spot lies in the mantle under, or of the main islands, and to the northwest. Each just to the south of, the Big Island of Hawaii. Two main island is the top of one or more massive active subaerial volcanoes and one active submarine shield volcanoes (named after their long low pro- volcano reveal its productivity. Centrally located on file like a warriors shield) extending thousands of the Pacific Plate, the hot spot is the source of the meters to the seafloor below. Mauna Kea , on the Hawaii Island Archipelago and its northern arm, the island of Hawaii, stands 4,200 m above sea level Emperor Seamount Chain (Fig. 11.1). and 9,450 m from seafloor to summit, taller than This system of high volcanic islands and asso- any other mountain on Earth from base to peak. ciated reefs, banks, atolls, sandy shoals, and Mauna Loa , the “long” mountain, is the most seamounts spans over 30° of latitude across the massive single topographic feature on the planet.
    [Show full text]
  • Coral Reef Fishes Which Forage in the Water Column
    HelgotS.nder wiss. Meeresunters, 24, 292-306 (1973) Coral reef fishes which forage in the water column A review of their morphology, behavior, ecology and evolutionary implications W. P. DAVIS1, & R. S. BIRDSONG2 1 Mediterranean Marine Sorting Center; Khereddine, Tunisia, and 2 Department of Biology, Old Dominion University; Norfolk, Virginia, USA EXTRAIT: <<Fourrages. des poissons des r&ifs de coraux dans la colonne d'eau: Morpholo- gie, comportement, &ologie et ~volution. Dans un biotope ~t r&if de coraiI, des esp&es &roitement li~es peuvent servir d'exempIe de diff~renciatlon sur le plan de t'~volutlon. La radiation ~volutive de poissons repr&entant plusieurs familles du r~eif corallien tropical a conduit ~t plusieurs reprises ~t la formation de <dourragers dans la colonne d'eam>. Ce mode de vie comporte une s~rie de caract~res morphologiques et &hologiques d~finis. On trouve des ~xemples similaires dans I'eau douce et dans des habitats non tropicaux. Les traits distinctifs de cette sp&ialisation, la syst6matique, les caract~rlstiques &ologiques et celies se rapportant ~t l'6volution sont d&rits et discut~s. INTRODUCTION The rapid adoption of in situ studies to investigate lifeways of organisms in the oceans is succeeding in bringing the laboratory to the ocean. Before, the conclusions that observers and scientists were classically forced to accept oPcen represented in- accurate abstractions of things that could not be observed. During the past 10-20 years the cataloging of the fauna and flora of the coral reef habitats has been carried out at an escalated rate, coupled with the many and vast improvements in tools, allowing increased periods of continual observation under sea.
    [Show full text]
  • Spatial and Temporal Distribution of the Demersal Fish Fauna in a Baltic Archipelago As Estimated by SCUBA Census
    MARINE ECOLOGY - PROGRESS SERIES Vol. 23: 3143, 1985 Published April 25 Mar. Ecol. hog. Ser. 1 l Spatial and temporal distribution of the demersal fish fauna in a Baltic archipelago as estimated by SCUBA census B.-0. Jansson, G. Aneer & S. Nellbring Asko Laboratory, Institute of Marine Ecology, University of Stockholm, S-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden ABSTRACT: A quantitative investigation of the demersal fish fauna of a 160 km2 archipelago area in the northern Baltic proper was carried out by SCUBA census technique. Thirty-four stations covering seaweed areas, shallow soft bottoms with seagrass and pond weeds, and deeper, naked soft bottoms down to a depth of 21 m were visited at all seasons. The results are compared with those obtained by traditional gill-net fishing. The dominating species are the gobiids (particularly Pornatoschistus rninutus) which make up 75 % of the total fish fauna but only 8.4 % of the total biomass. Zoarces viviparus, Cottus gobio and Platichtys flesus are common elements, with P. flesus constituting more than half of the biomass. Low abundance of all species except Z. viviparus is found in March-April, gobies having a maximum in September-October and P. flesus in November. Spatially, P. rninutus shows the widest vertical range being about equally distributed between surface and 20 m depth. C. gobio aggregates in the upper 10 m. The Mytilus bottoms and the deeper soft bottoms are the most populated areas. The former is characterized by Gobius niger, Z. viviparus and Pholis gunnellus which use the shelter offered by the numerous boulders and stones. The latter is totally dominated by P.
    [Show full text]
  • Coral Reef Protection in Quintana Roo, Mexico. Intercoast #34 ______
    _____________________________________________________________________________ Coral Reef Protection in Quintana Roo, Mexico. Intercoast #34 _____________________________________________________________________________ Bezaury, Juan and Jennifer McCann 1999 Citation: Narragansett, Rhode Island USA: Coastal Resources Center.InterCoast Network Newsletter, Spring 1999 For more information contact: Pamela Rubinoff, Coastal Resources Center, Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island. 220 South Ferry Road, Narragansett, RI 02882 Telephone: 401.874.6224 Fax: 401.789.4670 Email: [email protected] This five year project aims to conserve critical coastal resources in Mexico by building capacity of NGOs, Universities, communities and other key public and private stakeholders to promote an integrated approach to participatory coastal management and enhanced decision-making. This publication was made possible through support provided by the U.S. Agency for International Development’s Office of Environment and Natural Resources Bureau for Economic Growth, Agriculture and Trade under the terms of Cooperative Agreement No. PCE-A-00-95-0030-05. INTERNATIONAL NEWSLETTER OF COASTAL MANAGEMENT Narragansett, Rhode Island, U.S.A. • #31 • Spring, 1998 Protecting the Maya Reef Intercoast Through Multi-National Survey Results Cooperation Show Diverse manage their coastal resources region- Readership By Juan Bezaury and ally. The overall goal is to take advan- Jennifer McCann tage of growing opportunities for sus- ore than 200 people tainable development,
    [Show full text]
  • Coastal Dunes
    BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES OF THE DEL MONTE FOREST COASTAL DUNES DEL MONTE FOREST PRESERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT PLAN Prepared for: Pebble Beach Company Post Office Box 1767 Pebble Beach, California 93953-1767 Contact: Mark Stilwell (831) 625-8497 Prepared by: Zander Associates 150 Ford Way, Suite 101 Novato, California 94945 Contact: Michael Zander July 2001 Zander Associates TABLE OF CONTENTS List of Figures and Plates 1.0 Introduction .................................................................................................................1 2.0 Overview of Dunes within the DMF Planning Area...................................................2 2.1 Remnant Dunes .......................................................................................................2 2.2 Rehabilitation Area..................................................................................................4 2.3 ESHA Boundary......................................................................................................6 3.0 Relationship to the DMF Plan .....................................................................................8 3.1 Preserve Areas (Area L and Signal Hill Dune) .......................................................8 3.2 Development Areas (New Golf Course and Facilities—Areas M & N).................8 3.2.1 General Design Considerations .......................................................................8 3.2.2 Golf Course Specific Design...........................................................................9 3.2.3 Golf
    [Show full text]
  • Checklist of Fish and Invertebrates Listed in the CITES Appendices
    JOINTS NATURE \=^ CONSERVATION COMMITTEE Checklist of fish and mvertebrates Usted in the CITES appendices JNCC REPORT (SSN0963-«OStl JOINT NATURE CONSERVATION COMMITTEE Report distribution Report Number: No. 238 Contract Number/JNCC project number: F7 1-12-332 Date received: 9 June 1995 Report tide: Checklist of fish and invertebrates listed in the CITES appendices Contract tide: Revised Checklists of CITES species database Contractor: World Conservation Monitoring Centre 219 Huntingdon Road, Cambridge, CB3 ODL Comments: A further fish and invertebrate edition in the Checklist series begun by NCC in 1979, revised and brought up to date with current CITES listings Restrictions: Distribution: JNCC report collection 2 copies Nature Conservancy Council for England, HQ, Library 1 copy Scottish Natural Heritage, HQ, Library 1 copy Countryside Council for Wales, HQ, Library 1 copy A T Smail, Copyright Libraries Agent, 100 Euston Road, London, NWl 2HQ 5 copies British Library, Legal Deposit Office, Boston Spa, Wetherby, West Yorkshire, LS23 7BQ 1 copy Chadwick-Healey Ltd, Cambridge Place, Cambridge, CB2 INR 1 copy BIOSIS UK, Garforth House, 54 Michlegate, York, YOl ILF 1 copy CITES Management and Scientific Authorities of EC Member States total 30 copies CITES Authorities, UK Dependencies total 13 copies CITES Secretariat 5 copies CITES Animals Committee chairman 1 copy European Commission DG Xl/D/2 1 copy World Conservation Monitoring Centre 20 copies TRAFFIC International 5 copies Animal Quarantine Station, Heathrow 1 copy Department of the Environment (GWD) 5 copies Foreign & Commonwealth Office (ESED) 1 copy HM Customs & Excise 3 copies M Bradley Taylor (ACPO) 1 copy ^\(\\ Joint Nature Conservation Committee Report No.
    [Show full text]
  • Catalogue Customer-Product
    AQUATIC DESIGN CENTRE 26 Zennor Trade Park Balham ¦ London ¦ SW12 0PS Shop Enquiries Tel: 020 7580 6764 Email: [email protected] PLEASE CALL TO CHECK AVAILABILITY ON DAY In Stock Yes/No Marine Invertebrates and Corals Anemones Common name Scientific name Atlantic Anemone Condylactis gigantea Atlantic Anemone - Pink Condylactis gigantea Beadlet Anemone - Red Actinea equina Y Bubble Anemone - Coloured Entacmaea quadricolor Y Bubble Anemone - Common Entacmaea quadricolor Bubble Anemone - Red Entacmaea quadricolor Caribbean Anemone Condylactis spp. Y Carpet Anemone - Coloured Stichodactyla haddoni Carpet Anemone - Common Stichodactyla haddoni Carpet Anemone - Hard Blue Stichodactyla haddoni Carpet Anemone - Hard Common Stichodactyla haddoni Carpet Anemone - Hard Green Stichodactyla haddoni Carpet Anemone - Hard Red Stichodactyla haddoni Carpet Anemone - Hard White Stichodactyla haddoni Carpet Anemone - Mini Maxi Stichodactyla tapetum Carpet Anemone - Soft Blue Stichodactyla gigantea Carpet Anemone - Soft Common Stichodactyla gigantea Carpet Anemone - Soft Green Stichodactyla gigantea Carpet Anemone - Soft Purple Stichodactyla gigantea Carpet Anemone - Soft Red Stichodactyla gigantea Carpet Anemone - Soft White Stichodactyla gigantea Carpet Anemone - Soft Yellow Stichodactyla gigantea Carpet Anemone - Striped Stichodactyla haddoni Carpet Anemone - White Stichodactyla haddoni Curly Q Anemone Bartholomea annulata Flower Anemone - White/Green/Red Epicystis crucifer Malu Anemone - Common Heteractis crispa Malu Anemone - Pink Heteractis
    [Show full text]
  • Shrinking Shark Numbers on the Great Barrier Reef Unlikely to Have Cascading Impacts
    Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation 821 Chesapeake Avenue #3568 • Annapolis, MD 21403 443.221.6844 • LivingOceansFoundation.org FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Shrinking shark numbers on the Great Barrier Reef unlikely to have cascading impacts New evidence suggests that reef sharks exert weak control over coral reef food webs Shark populations are dwindling worldwide, and scientists are concerned that the decline could trigger a cascade of impacts that hurt coral reefs. But a new paper published in Ecology suggests that the effects of shark losses are unlikely to reverberate throughout the marine food web. Instead, the findings point to physical and ecological features, like the structure of coral reefs and patterns of water movement, as important regulators of coral reef communities. Lead author Amelia Desbiens, a marine ecologist at the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia, conducted the study using data collected by the Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation during its 2014 Global Reef Expedition, which surveyed shark populations on the northern Great Barrier Reef. Back then, this area was one of the most pristine reef regions in the world. The divers were heartened by the dizzying array of fish species in some locations, counting a total of 433 species of coral reef fish across their study area. “We were pleasantly surprised at the status of the coral reefs and fish communities in the northern Great Barrier Reef when we surveyed them in 2014,” said Alex Dempsey, Director of Science Management at the Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation, and one of the paper’s authors. “We saw a relatively high percentage of live coral cover, and an abundance of reef fish species that gave us hope that perhaps these reef systems were resilient and have been able to persistently flourish.” They also found that no-fishing zones had four times as many reef sharks as the zones that allow fishing.
    [Show full text]
  • B: Other U.S. Island Possessions in the Tropical Pacific
    Appendix B Other U.S. Island Possessions in the Tropical Pacific1 Introduction Howland, Jarvis, and Baker Islands There are eight isolated and unincorporated is- Howland, Jarvis and Baker are arid coral islands lands and reefs under U.S. control and sovereignty in the southern Line Island group (figure B-l). Aside in the tropical Pacific Basin. Included in this cate- from American Samoa, Jarvis Island is the only gory are: Kingman Reef, Palmyra and Johnston other U.S.-affiliated island in the Southern Hemi- Atolls in the northern Line Island group; Howland, sphere. These islands lie within one-half degree Baker and Jarvis Islands in the southern Line Is- from the equator, in the equatorial climatic zone. land group; Midway Atoll at the northwest end of During the 19th century the United States and the Hawaiian archipelago; and Wake Island north Britain actively exploited the significant guano de- of the Marshall Islands. Evidence indicates that posits found on these three islands. Jarvis Island some of these islands were not inhabited prior to was claimed by the United States in 1857, and sub- “Western” discovery; and today some remain unin- sequently annexed by Britain in 1889. Jarvis, Howland, habited. and Baker Islands were made territories of the These islands range from less than 1 degree south United States in 1936, and placed under the juris- latitude to nearly 29 degrees north latitude and from diction of the Department of the Interior. The is- 162 degrees west to 167 east longitude. The climate lands currently are uninhabited. regimes range from arid to wet and equatorial to These atolls were used as weather stations and subtropical.
    [Show full text]