BASELINE CONDITION OF THE CORAL REEFS AND FISHES ACROSS THREE DEPTH ZONES OF THE FOREREEF OF BERMUDA Thaddeus J. T. Murdoch, Ph.D. and Jessie M. H. Murdoch, M.Sc. B.R.E.A.M: Bermuda Reef Ecosystem Analysis and Monitoring Programme This report should be cited as: Murdoch TJT, Murdoch JMH (2016) Baseline condition of the coral reefs and fishes across three depth zones of the forereef of Bermuda. BREAM: Bermuda Reef Ecosystem Analysis and Monitoring Programme Report, Bermuda Zoological Society, Flatts Bermuda. BBP-2016-237 Contact: Thaddeus Murdoch, Ph.D. Chief Scientist Bermuda Reef Ecosystem Analysis and Monitoring (B.R.E.A.M.) Programme Somers Building, 15 Front St, Hamilton, Pembroke, HM-11, BERMUDA http://www.bermudabream.org Tel: +441.505.8424; email: [email protected] Research Associates: Robert Fisher, B.F.A.; Gretchen Goodbody-Gringley, Ph.D.; Matthew Strong B.Sc.; Struan R. Smith Ph.D. Undergraduate Interns Taylor Gorham M.Sc.; Molly Sinnott B.Sc.; D’mitri Williams Graduate Interns Gerardo Toro-Farmer Ph.D.; Mike Colella M.Sc.; Brittany Huntington Ph.D.; Katherine Yates Ph.D. Volunteers Ian Murdoch; Judie Clee; Teddy Gosling; Gil Nolan; Lynn Wolfe RV Endurance Captain: Tim Hasselbring Contributions: TM, JM, RF designed techniques and equipment, TM, JM, RF, GGG, SRS, TG, AM, MS, KY, GTF, MC, JC, GN performed surveys or video image analysis, DW, IM, TG, GN, LW, TH provided field assistance; TM, JM, GTF, MC performed data processing, TM, JM analysed statistical data, SRS provided QA/QC, and TM wrote the report. Support provided by: Partner Re; Overseas Territories Environmental Programme Fund, UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office; Bermuda Government; Bermuda Zoological Society; Stempel Foundation; Murdoch Marine Ltd. This is Contribution #237, Bermuda Biodiversity Project (BBP), Bermuda Aquarium, Natural History Museum and Zoo, Department of Conservation Services © 2016 – BREAM: Bermuda Reef Ecosystem Analysis and Monitoring Programme www.bermudaBREAM.org i Contents Contents ........................................................................................................................................... i Figures ............................................................................................................................................. iii Tables .............................................................................................................................................. vi Synopsis........................................................................................................................................... 1 Main Points ..................................................................................................................................... 1 Executive Summary ......................................................................................................................... 2 Key Findings ................................................................................................................................ 4 Causes for Celebration ............................................................................................................... 5 Causes for Concern ..................................................................................................................... 6 Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 8 Methods ........................................................................................................................................ 13 Survey Sites .............................................................................................................................. 13 AGRRA protocol ........................................................................................................................ 20 AGRRA Data Analysis ................................................................................................................ 21 Video Drop Camera Methods for 30 m forereef surveys ..................................................... 22 Video frame analysis of benthic assemblage structure ........................................................ 26 Video analysis of fish abundance .......................................................................................... 27 Defining reef condition with Reef Life Score and the Sea Life Index ....................................... 27 Hard Coral Cover ................................................................................................................... 29 Fleshy Macroalgae ................................................................................................................ 30 Herbivorous Fishes ................................................................................................................ 31 Predatory Fishes.................................................................................................................... 33 Sea Life Index ........................................................................................................................ 34 Results ........................................................................................................................................... 35 10-m Depth Zone ...................................................................................................................... 35 Hard Coral ............................................................................................................................. 35 Fleshy Macroalgae ................................................................................................................ 36 Herbivorous fishes ................................................................................................................ 37 Predatory Fishes.................................................................................................................... 38 Sea Life Index ........................................................................................................................ 39 20-m Depth Zone ...................................................................................................................... 41 Hard Corals ............................................................................................................................ 41 Fleshy Macroalgae ................................................................................................................ 42 Herbivorous Fishes ................................................................................................................ 43 Predatory Fishes.................................................................................................................... 44 Sea Life Index ........................................................................................................................ 45 30-m Depth Zone ...................................................................................................................... 47 Hard Corals ............................................................................................................................ 47 Fleshy Macroalgae ................................................................................................................ 48 Herbivorous Fishes ................................................................................................................ 49 Predatory Fishes.................................................................................................................... 50 Sea Life Index ........................................................................................................................ 51 Platform-wide Comparison of Reef Condition ......................................................................... 54 Baseline Status of Corals and Fishes on Bermuda’s Forereef: 2010 www.bermudaBREAM.org ii Fringing Reefs ........................................................................................................................ 54 Lagoonal Patch Reefs ............................................................................................................ 55 Rim Reefs .............................................................................................................................. 56 Proportion of Reefs in each Rank of the Reef Life Score ......................................................... 57 Hard Coral ............................................................................................................................. 57 Fleshy Macroalgae ................................................................................................................ 57 Herbivorous Fishes ................................................................................................................ 57 Predatory Fishes.................................................................................................................... 57 Sea Life Index ........................................................................................................................ 60 Discussion...................................................................................................................................... 62 Implications .............................................................................................................................. 63 Recommendations ..................................................................................................................