PIFSC External Review, June 24, 2008 Integrated Coral Reef Ecosystem Assessments in the U.S-affiliated Pacific Islands

Vision Statement CRED leads an integrated, interdisciplinary, ecosystem-based program of research, mapping, and long-term monitoring of coral reef ecosystems of the U.S.-affiliated Pacific Islands to promote conservation and management through innovative and collaborative science of the highest integrity.

Threats Climate change Climate change Ocean warming – coral bleaching and disease Ocean warming – coral bleaching and disease Ocean acidification – calcification rates, biodiversity shifts Ocean acidification – calcification rates, biodiversity shifts Sea-level rise – drowning reefs and coastal infrastructure? Sea-level rise – drowning reefs and coastal infrastructure? Storm tracks and intensities Storm tracks and intensities Ocean circulation – larval transport/recruitment Ocean circulation – larval transport/recruitment Local Threats Overfishing - trophic and ecosystem shifts Overfishing - trophic and ecosystem shifts Pollution and marine debris – habitat degradation Pollution and marine debris – habitat degradation Coastal development and sedimentation – habitat degradation Coastal development and sedimentation – habitat degradation Invasive species – ecosystem shifts Invasive species – ecosystem shifts Recreational overuse – trophic and ecosystem shifts Recreational overuse – trophic and ecosystem shifts Global threats significantly impact local/regional ecosystems Local management requires knowledge of regional and global processes and threats

Pacific RAMP NWHI MHI PRIA CNMI Guam AS Integrated Ecosystem Observations of ~50 islands and atolls Comparative analyses across diverse biogeographic, environmental, and anthropogenic gradients Benthic Habitat Mapping Oceanography & Water Quality Monitoring Long-term Monitoring of Fish, Corals, Algae, Macroinvertebrates, Microbes Integrated Ecosystem Assessments, Reporting, and Modeling

Ecological Observations Rapid Ecological Assessments (REA) Fish, corals, invertebrates, algae, microbes Fish, corals, invertebrates, algae, microbes Abundance/density, size, species richness, % benthic cover, disease prevalence Abundance/density, size, species richness, % benthic cover, disease prevalence ~200-1,000 m 2 ~200-1,000 m 2 Towed-diver Surveys (TDS) Benthic composition/condition Benthic composition/condition % cover of live or stressed coral, macroalgae % cover of live or stressed coral, macroalgae Habitat complexity Habitat complexity Abundance of large fish, macroinvertebrates Abundance of large fish, macroinvertebrates fish (>50 cm TL), turtles, seals, cetaceans fish (>50 cm TL), turtles, seals, cetaceans COTS, giant clams, sea cucumbers, urchins COTS, giant clams, sea cucumbers, urchins ~25,000 m 2 ~25,000 m 2 Autonomous Reef Monitoring Structures (ARMS) Ecological Acoustic Recorders (EARs)

Corals Mean coral cover MHI (9.0 ± 2.3%) comparable to NWHI (10.4 ± 2.0%) Other corals Montipora Acropora Pocillopora P. compressa Porites Distribution, composition, abundance (density/cover), and size of corals over time

Coral & Algal Disease Distribution, type, and prevalence of disease by coral and algal species over time BLE: Bleaching SGA: Skeletal growth anomalies WSY: Acute tissue loss TLS: Subacute tissue loss TRE: Trematodiasis HYP: Hyper-pigmented irritations EFI: Endolithic fungal infection OTH: Other BLE: Bleaching SGA: Skeletal growth anomalies WSY: Acute tissue loss TLS: Subacute tissue loss TRE: Trematodiasis HYP: Hyper-pigmented irritations EFI: Endolithic fungal infection OTH: Other

Algae Algal composition, both in the NWHI and more broadly across the Pacific region, shows distinct biogeographic patterns. Note different regions of the NWHI: North, Mid, South. From Vroom & Page (2006) From Schils and Vroom (in review)

Invertebrates Density of COTS/ha Distribution and abundance of key macroinvertebrates over time

Large Fish, Coral, & Habitat

Reef Fish & People

Reef Fish Over Time MHI S-NW Mid-NW N-NW

Gaps/Future Directions Integrated Ecosystem Assessments Integrated Ecosystem Assessments Improve assessment of human dimension Improve assessment of human dimension Improve understanding of ecosystem linkages Improve understanding of ecosystem linkages Ecosystem Modeling during later stages of CAMEO Ecosystem Modeling during later stages of CAMEO Improve temporal resolution and extend depth of monitoring Improve temporal resolution and extend depth of monitoring EARs – continuous biotic & anthropogenic monitoring EARs – continuous biotic & anthropogenic monitoring AUV and BotCam – monitor/map deep habitats & resources AUV and BotCam – monitor/map deep habitats & resources Improve linkages between science and management Improve linkages between science and management Coral Reef Ecosystem Monitoring Reports Coral Reef Ecosystem Monitoring Reports Comparative analyses across Pacific Islands region CAMEO - Ecological impacts of human activities and climate CAMEO - Ecological impacts of human activities and climate Ecological Impacts of Ocean Acidification Calcification plates, coring, improved size class, ultrasound Calcification plates, coring, improved size class, ultrasound Biodiversity Assessments – inverts, algae, microbes CoML- CReefs, ARMS, and molecular tools CoML- CReefs, ARMS, and molecular tools

Ecosystem Assessments To be released at ICRS: available for download at: Outline for Island & Archipelagic Comparison Chapters Geopolitical Context – improve human dimensionGeopolitical Context – improve human dimension Survey EffortSurvey Effort Benthic Habitat Mapping and CharacterizationBenthic Habitat Mapping and Characterization Oceanography and Water QualityOceanography and Water Quality Coral and Coral DiseaseCoral and Coral Disease Algae and Algal DiseaseAlgae and Algal Disease Benthic Macroinvertebrates - CReefsBenthic Macroinvertebrates - CReefs Reef FishReef Fish Island Summary & Integration – CAMEO proposalIsland Summary & Integration – CAMEO proposal Linking science to management: American Samoa reef fisheries managementAmerican Samoa reef fisheries management Scientific bases for development of network of MPAsScientific bases for development of network of MPAs Presently working on Coral Reef Ecosystem Monitoring Reports for Hawaiian Archipelago & Mariana Archipelago

Biodiversity Assessments Census of Marine Life Census of Coral Reef Ecosystems (CReefs) Assessment and monitoring of coral reef biodiversity with a focus primarily on understudied, lesser known, or cryptic invertebrate, algal, and microbial species. Autonomous Reef Monitoring Structures (ARMS): systematic collectors to monitor indices of invertebrate diversity using molecular techniques.