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Biologic Monitoring Sites Enhance Hawai'i Coral Reef Studies
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Marking a transect: Scientific divers from the University of Hawai'i and the USGS
install permanent stakes in the reef bed south of Moloka'i for relocation of transect sites.
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The USGS is working with scientists from the Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology to map the coral
reef along the south shore of Moloka'i and to detect changes in reef health due to various environmental
and anthropogenic factors.
The Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology is a research institute within the School of
Ocean and Earth Science and Technology at the University of
Hawai'i, Manoa. The coral reef mapping project employs the protocol established by the
University's Coral Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program
(CRAMP) for a standardized sampling program that can detect changes in coral cover over time with
statistical confidence (P>0.8). Data acquired through this program are incorporated into a Hawai'i-wide
database for use by managers and reef scientists.
Photographing change: Permanent photoquad locations allow examination of individual
colonies over time.
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In February, a University of Hawai'i scientific team led by Paul Jokiel joined the
USGS team on Moloka'i to collect baseline data using CRAMP techniques. The field work included
the installation of permanent transects and photoquadrat locations at 3-m and 10-m depths along
the outer forereef and at a depth of 1 m in the inner reef flat.
The establishment of fixed study sites
allows quantification of algae, fish, coral, and other invertebrates with ease of re-sampling over
time.
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Digital video: Digital video images are collected along transect sites.
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Digital video footage was collected along the transects for analyses of percent coral cover
using 20 randomly selected video frames per transect with 50 randomly selected points per frame.
Images from fixed photoquadrants will allow scientists to investigate a single colony's recruitment,
growth, and mortality over time.
Both digital video and photo sampling are also used for
groundtruthing of aerial photographs and LIDAR (LIght Detection And Ranging) images.
Re-sampling of the study sites will occur once each year.
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April 2000
in this issue:
Monitoring Hawai'i Coral Reefs
Cruise News
Chesapeake Bay
cover story:
Environmental Careers Symposium
Nat'l Ocean Sciences Bowl
Blue Lobster Bowl
Science Fairs & Career Day Events
Oceans Day 2000
Letters to the Editor
Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Symposium
Sediment Transport
Association of Women Geoscientists
Coordination with EPA
Two Talks at WHFC
WHFC Personnel Training
New Staff at St. Pete
April Publications List
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U. S. Department of the Interior | U.S. Geological Survey
