CORAL REEFS

The Marine Conservation Society Seychelles,
incorporating the Shark Research Institute Seychelles.

HOME ABOUT US MARINE G.E.F. CORAL REEFS project details coral bleaching WHALE SHARKS TURTLES MOORINGS LINKS HOW TO HELP NEWSLETTERS & Publications	Monitoring protocol for assessing the status and recovery potential of scleractinian coral communities on reefs affected by major ecological disturbances Udo Engelhardt Director – Reefcare International Pty Ltd P.O. Box 1111 Townsville QLD 4810 AUSTRALIA 1. Introduction Major ecological disturbances to coral reef ecosystems, such as mass coral bleaching events and outbreaks of the coral-eating crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci) often result in severe and widespread degradation of coral communities. Scleractinian or hard coral communities in particular may suffer dramatic reductions in both their distribution and abundance as a direct result of either tissue die-off or intense predation. In extreme situations, local rates of hard coral mortality may reach levels of greater than 90%. Rates of subsequent recruitment and recovery of scleractinian corals may vary greatly between individual locations and are highly dependent on a variety of ecological factors including larval supply, local-scale hydrodynamics, substratum characteristics and densities of putative predators.

	Targeted and suitably intensive monitoring of coral recruitment and subsequent reef recovery is a critical component of any scientifically-based assessment and evaluation of the recovery potential of degraded reef sites. Scientific analyses of the possible reasons for the success or failure of local coral recovery combined with modelling of likely future recovery scenarios provide powerful tools for coral reef managers aiming to promote rates of reef recovery and protect valuable coral communities. The following sections outline a recently developed coral monitoring protocol specifically aimed at providing high resolution data not only for the reporting of current status but also for making scientifically-based projections of likely future recovery scenarios. The main objectives of this comprehensive sampling and monitoring protocol are to provide reliable data and information on (i) hard coral abundance (quantitative % cover estimates), (ii) hard coral diversity (qualitative estimates of coral diversity at the Family and Genus level) and (iii) recent rates of successful coral recruitment (quantitative estimates of the density of newly recruited corals). The methods outlined in this overview document are designed to provide the types of data and information needed to address the following specific issues and management needs. The methods outlined here provide a framework to: Assess existing *patterns of coral recruitment* and evaluate *coral recovery potential* at a variety of spatial scales from small-scale, site-specific up to geographically larger regional scales. Assess *patterns of scleractinian hard coral diversity* at a variety of spatial scales and investigate possible recent changes in local and regional-scale coral biodiversity (assuming that relevant data were collected prior to the observed ecological disturbance(s)). Use these formal evaluations to *identify geographic areas of primary importance to ongoing coral recruitment and the promotion of coral biodiversity* with a view to applying relevant protective measures (i.e. special marine reserves, no anchoring areas etc.) to maintain their ecological function and integrity. Make *projections of likely coral community composition* and structure that may develop in the short-term based on observed patterns of scleractinian recruitment and survivorship. Use structural coral community information to *assess the likely susceptibility of such communities to a range of possible future ecological disturbances (risk assessment)* including predation events, sedimentation-related stresses, physical disturbance through direct human activities as well as possible future coral bleaching events. *Early identification of sources of scleractinian coral mortality* with a potential to significantly affect local rates of coral recruitment and subsequent community recovery including incidental grazers (e.g. sea urchins) as well as known coral predators such as the crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci), pincushion starfish (Culcita spp.) and predatory gastropods such as the coral-eating snails of the Genus Drupella. Next Page
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