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ED 260 912 AUTHOR TITLE INSTITUTION PUB DATE NOTE AVAILABLE FROM PUB TYPE EDRS PRICE DESCRIPTORS IDENTIFIERS DOCUMENT RESUME SE 045 950 Brody, Michael J.; And Others Man and'the Biosphere: Ground Truthing Coral Reefs for the St. John Island Biosphere Reserve. School for Field Studies, Cambridge, MA. Jan 84 40p. School for Field Studies, 50 Western Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139. Reports - Research/Technical (143) MF01/PCO2 Plus Postage. *Cooperative Programs; Environmental Education; Field Instruction; Higher Education; *Marine Biology; *Oceanography; Science Education; Scientific Research; Underwater Diving Coral; *Virgin Islands ABSTRACT Research on the coral species composition of St. John's reefs in the Virgin Islands was conducted through the School for Field Studies (SFS) Coral Reef Ecology course (winter 1984). A cooperative study program based on the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization's (Unesco) program, Man and the Biosphere, was undertaken by faculty and undergraduates of SFS and personnel from the Virgin Islands National Park Service. This report reviews the methods, materials and results of the research project at Great Lameshur Bay on St. John's Island. Base-maps of marine habitats along the reef were constructed from aerial photographs. The maps were used in ground-truthing to determine the species and substrate composition for each area specified in the aerial photographs. Qualitative and quantitative data were obtained from five transects along the reef. Findings on species distribution are summarized in tables and the five dominant species are identified in depth profile. graphs. It is indicated that the methodology used is suitable and appropriate for any team of easily trained technicians in other marine environments and that it is also inexpensive and requires a relatively small amount of time for training and implementation of the project. (ML) *********************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. *********************************************************************** U.S DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION-- NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION EOUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER ERIC/ /This document has been reproduced as received from the person or organization originating it 1:1 Minor changes hays been made to improve rsproduct,on quality. Points of view or opinions stated in this docu ment do not necessarily represent official NIE position or policy, BEST COPY AVAILABLE MAN AND ThE BIOSPHERE : GROUND TRUTHING CORAL REEFS FOR THEIST. JOHN ISLAND BIOSPHERE RESERVE Copies of this report are available from: "PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THIS MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY Michael -Brag TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC)." Coral Reef Ecology January 1984 faculty: Michael J. Brody Steven J, Miller students: Melissa T, Balbach J. Marilee Eagles Michael L. Finley Holly C. Fowler Richard D, Ing Rex A, Madon Victor S. Maldonado David P. Remsen Naomi A, Rose Pattisne Simpson T. Raymond White School for Field Studies 50 Western Avenue Cambridge MA. 2 INTRODUCTION This research project was conducted through the School for Field Studies Coral Reef Ecology course (winter 1984) with the cooperation of the Virgin Islands National Park Service. The faculty and undergraduate students spent three weeks aboard the 65 foot schooner, Lelanta which was moored in Great Lameshur Bay, St. John, USVI; Where they studied coral reefs and underwater research. This ;eport represents the results of their group research project. The course of study was based on a select collection of coral reef research papers. These were read and critiqued by the group to identify appropriate concepts and techniques for their research. Through consultations with the park's chief scientist, the final research topic was selected based on the Man and the Biosphere objectives. This project attempts to "ground truth" aerial photographs of coral reefs and determine effective methods for future study. The value of the work was con- sidered great at both the local and international level. The group's cooperation and devotion were instrumental in completing a rigorous diving schedule and the pre- paration of this report. Great Lameshur Bay 1/15/84 M' Brody Ste Mi er 3 MAN AND THE BIOSPHERE: GROUND TRUTHING CORAL REEFS FOR THE ST. JOHN ISLAND BIOSPHERE RESERVE Man and the Biosphere (MAB) In conjunction with man's recent awareness of his impact on the world and its resources, the United Nations Eduzational, Scientific and Cultural Organization(UNESCO) initiated, in 1971, a program that evaluates man's interaction with the environment (MAB-Workshop, 1983). The program, Man and the Biosphere, was designed with the intent to evaluate "the structure and function of ecosystems and of impacts and repercussions caused by human interactions and to provide the scientific knowledge, trained per- sonnel, and support needed to solve'practical problems of natural resource management" (NAB- Prospectus, 1983). The International Network of Biosphere Reserves, MAB's eighth project, est- ablished protected areas(Biosphere Reserves) to be set aside so that long-term research could be conducted and educational opportunities provided(MAB-Prospectus, 1933). The MAB program has formed more than 200 Reserves worldwide that represent the world's biogeographic provinces. The United States Virgin Islands National Park, located on St. John, United States Virgin Islands, currently represents the Lesser Antillean bio- geographic province(MAB-Prospectus, 1983), although St. John is in the Greater Antilles. UNESCO and MAB dedicated the park as a Reserve on May 12, 1983(MAB-Dedication, 1983). The work to be done on St. John includes establishing base-maps of marine habitats in the park from recent aerial photographs. From these base-maps, ground- truthing, through field surveys, will be conducted to determine what each distinct area of the aerial photographs represents in terms of species and substrates(MAB- Prospectus, 1983). The information collected on coral species composition of St. John's reefs describeotherein currently representsthat of the Lesser Antillean biogeographic pro- vince. In a personal communication, Robert Brander, the chief scientist for the Virgin 4 -2- Islands National Park, stated that, "St. John's coral reefs alone are not a complete representation of the vastly different types of coral reefs found in the Lesser An- tilles" (Brander, 1984). He believes that this Biosphere Reserve should be extended to neighboring preserved areas in order to create a multinational Biosphere Reserve that would better represent the area. School for Field Studeies (SFS) and Virgin Islands Ecological Research Station (VIERS) The National Park Service cur'ently has funding for the ground-truthing phase of the MAB program on St. John. The present study, the first of this phase, has been conducted by students participating in the Coral Reef Ecology course offered by the School for Field Studies (SFS). SFS first offered courses in the summer of 1981, with 80 students enrolled in 7 courses. Since then, the School has been growing in both enrollment and curriculum at research sites throughout the world. SFS, through its expeditions, is the only national program exclusively devoted to providing students with field training in the natural and environmental sciences. Its goals are to "motivate, inspire and actively educate young people in the complexities of the world's ecosystems and the interrelationships and interdependencies of man with all other species and all aspects of this planet" (Elder, 1983). This educating occurs through direct involvement and actual experience. SFS accepts students of all back- grounds and experience levels, making this study an experiment in itself, to determine if the objectives of the Biosphere Reserve program can be met by relatively inexper- ienced personnel (Brander, 1984). The Virgin Islands Ecological Research Station (VIERS) served as the base for this study. VIERS is located in Great Lameshur Bay on St. John, which places it within the boundaries of the Virgin Islands National Park. The continual protection by the Park Service ensures that pristine sites can be found and studied. Research field stations like VIERS make available for reference a staff of resident professional biologists and naturalists. VIERS provides students and scientists with the oppor- tunity to live and work together in natural tropical communities in the Greater 5 -3- Antilles. Their field research work, as with the MAB project, provides a greater understanding of the functioning of natural systems. This will hopefully lead to "worldwide adoption of preventative measures that will reverse the current trends of pollution and reckless exploitation of the environment" (VIERS, pamphlet), St. John and the National Park Service St. John, the location of the study site along with St. Croix and St, Thomas, comprise the territories of the United States Virgin Islands, With a population of approximately 3,000, this mountainous island lies at eighteen degrees north latitude, seventy-five miles east of Puerto Rico. For all its cultural heritage and rich epi- fauna, the island itself is only nine miles long and five miles wide. St, John most deserves the designation "Virgin Island," for of its 9,500 acres, 5,650 of them, including surrounding waters, form the Virgin Islands National Park (Robinson, 1974), The geological history of St. John and all of the Caribbean Islands dates back 100 million years, to the first slow eruption of great volcanic flows onto the ocean floor, As the flows seeped out over millions of years, the great depth of the ocean (approximately 15,000 feet) helped to cool and solidify the magma gradually, to lay the base of the islands, Simultaneously the ocean level lowered, caused by a general uplifting of the area, The next phase of development, violent volcanic acti- vity, left the Louisenhoj formation, a material of explosive volcanic products such as andesite and tuff, This activity continued until the sea floor rose above the water line, The following period was opposite in nature, characterized by volcanic in- activity and accumulation of marine sediments on emerging island slopes. This thin layer of dark silica-bearing limestone today is the Outer Brass, New uplifting later exposed the'Louisenhoj and Outer Brass layers, resulting in a layer of weathered de- bris called the Tutu formation, The last major phenomenon came from severe crustal movement which led to plate folding and defaulting, Further variations came as sea levels rose and fell as a results of glacial activity? and as general build-up and erosion proceeded (Robinson, 1974), The cultural history of St, John begins with coastal dwelling indians of 6 -4- South American origin, the Arawaks, who first populated the islands, The Europeans followed, first with the discovery of the northern islands by Columbus in 1493, and then with formal settlement by the Danes in 1759, after many territorial claims and skirmishes between the Danes, th Dutch, the English, and the Spanish. The Danes established elaborate sugar and cotton plantations, which survived until the early 1900's, when competition from mainland grown beet sugar, labor costs, and depleted soil brought them to an end. In 1917, the United States purchased the islands from Denmark, An official appraisal in 1936 by the National Park Service concluded that despite the recreational allure of the pristine beaches and the history behind the sugar plantation ruins, the natural vegetation had been too disrupted by the sugar cultivation to qualify the island as a national nark. Interest in creating a park accelerated again in the 1950's with the surge of tourism and commercialism in the Caribbean. Laurance Rockefeller, together with his associates in the Jackson Hole Preserve Corporation, puchased the island and gave it to the United States for the specific purpose of creating a national park, On August 2, 1956, Eiserhower signed legislation to accept the donation and designated a large part of it as a national park (see Figure 1). Later, in 1962, Congress further expanded the park by including a large portion of surrounding water (Robinson, 1974), Today, the Park Service is confronted with some unique problems, due to the Virgin Islands National Park's unusual status as a land and marine park, It faces the "typical" problems of a land park, such as increasing pressure fot development in an area that is quickly gaining attraction for travellers and developers. Also, it experiences severe erosion and sedimentation caused by present development and the total decimation of all original vegetation by the Danes, On the other hand, manage- ment of a marine park is more ambiguous and open-ended than for a land park, where boundaries can be marked, territory patrolled, and visitation monitored, Ships and tourists cause daily destruction of the fragile coral reef with anchors, fins, and momento collecting (Brander, 1984). Also, despite man's advances in technology, re- search under the sea is still more limited than studies on land. The delicate coral 7 -.5- 8 Figure 1. National Park boundaries on St. John Island. BEST COPY AVAILABLE F nt,,oc,,no Authorized Park Area Open To The Public Privately Owned Not Federally Owned 9 1 -6- ecosystem plays a very significant and vital role in the balance of the whole island. Not only does the coral reef support the most productive type of ecosystem in the world in terms of biomass and species numbers (Adey, 1983), but the actual coral framework provides glorious sights and pristine white s,nd beaches. The reef is also the live- lihood for one of the largest industries in the area--fishing. The coral reef community boasts an elaborate and intricate structure. Its base lies in tiny coral polyps, living animals of the phylum Cnidaria, most of the class Anthozoa. They feed on microscopic zooplankton with the use of nematocysts, or sting- ing cells, on their tentacles, as well as utilizing their symbiotic zooxanthellae as a nutient source. The huge reefs result from the calcium carbonate skeleton which the polyps secrete to protect themselves. The coral is the vital element in the struc- ture, ecology, and nutrient cycling of till reef community. Because of their national park status, the reefs of St. John are slightly more protected than those left open for exploitation. This isolation and protection were significant factors in the choosing of St. John as the site for the Tektite projects in 1969 and 1971 (Earle avid Lavenberg, 1975). The projects, which were experiments in underwater habitation for extensive periods of time, chose Great Lameshur Bay, where the area had had relatively little human tampering and the southern shores were pro- tected from the prevailing northern winds. The coral reefs in Great Lameshur are rich and varied in species and provided an active and varied seascape for studying and observing. As a result of these previous studies in the area, the National Park Service again has chosen Great Lameshur Bay as the site for the first intensive studies for NAB. Hoping that they might be able to use and compare earlier data, they were also aware of all the physical characteristics which Tektite found so attractive. With the research vessel Lelanta m000red in the bay and with access to VIERS, we found the bay perfect for the project. 1 0 -7- Methods and Materials After receiving a copy of the aerial photographs of St. John from the Park Service (see Figure 2), our first step was to select an appropriate site in Great Lame- shur Bay in which to do the ground- trufhing and substrate composition research. With the use of a wooden underwater diving sled (Kumpf and Randall, 1961) built at the VIERS facilities, and at an average speed of three knots, we surveyed the bay looking for a site, deciding upon the Tektite reef. This was due to the previous research conducted in 1971 and the Park Services' subsequent interest in the area. A common factor to both the qual- itative and quantitative parts of our zo project was the use of SCUBA equipment in the field. Two teams of two divers each went down prior to the beginning At SO vyar.AA.e. z>1.( yt km...A. of the transect work to complete the site survey) determining a working list of 28 species and of substratesland also to test and perfect sampling techniques. Once the Figure 3. Diving Sled Used in Surveying of transect work began, five teams dove twice Great Lameshur Bay a day each for five consecutive days. Two teams went down on the reef every two hours while one team stood by to move the transect lines as they were completed. A total of 91.2 man-hours was spent on the transects, ten divers making 100 dives total.on the transect5 Two small boats transported the divers to the site, and back to the base, the VIERS lab and the research vessel, Lelanta. CAN/ NC, SI-F-Z 11 BEST COPY AVAILABLE Figure 2. Representation of the aerial photograph taken by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Actual photo available from: Photogrammetry Branch N/CG2313 Nautical Charting Division National Ocean Service, NOAA Request: Lameshur Bay, St. John USVI UAGII 3043 152.74 #2258. (cost $15) -8- -' . . , .........,....."..%..a..4... - , ,.:- '. ";.-...'.. .. . e.,-`., ? . ...._t..;:oc.-... - ".":':,;' --".'21""4:.- . , . .r,.. ..-- . &..! : .14...:;.;: r .., , r f ..:, r, :',.,,.1.,"; ..." s.. .... .",::;.;'..:,;,..,, . ."..',,I. --,..%r-3,q:.,..ti 1.1.,:,.;:!;,...1. .. :-..e..A,:4 f':- . :-.1% -. ;.N,-v....1:1,:- .`,-.1,.%-,,.,,.., . --. ' .'.. ;',JA.::. ,". 41-,-1,;:\?..; :' -.. -,--''' . - 1 . , ;:....fi:;, -.7,,,:':::.".?..;., '"t ". . - ..4.,..,-'141.,, -":.. -).1,: ;"'" A -f :-\.v.c. ,..-, ::.c::.,:- .; -7 .,...cil,i ,, '4 .,.. ' ... t ..' ',. tqs "' '... t Irty-.V.'",-"(?4L.... : II '..:... '111;' ..... ;;...t:e: ).t. ;-.",!.-. 1-7.7 ;:". '.! .1: 4:,.i C%.-4 ;$....1,..: ...*.:;.'. .:.: 7 --ff -'..C. '..`,.: :.: % '..-:.(1,1 , A _Transect II - . i .. ) . .... :1;;Ijs.-- .-'-e' .... " V.. ., ",.1 . . . ...... ..I ' .f.'..1. :.1.1..:.;:P.,! -::,77 . ' . .2..; ' .1 4. 'L. -"4...... ;- ..''1..../l ).) ....' " ;A, --. ; . - --,,.. , ,r. . ... , A ,.... '1. :1%, rttle.,' ,...:,;::t.7.: :4' T... s" )/141C-1 .': If."1:....;,1 A .' , . kt :,:4 ,+. ,),!...4 .7.n:r, 1:-":',)'1../ ". ;.';' ; :,.. :;:48::,9;11.-f.II:":L. 2:11;r1 . . f ' ...;,74.':Ii°4-',...;;t2.; 1`. ..:CI;C:T/ l': , , ; fl.'f':''' ''''.1'..!..... ' :. .14.- te..:X"''''./ '' : I : .. : 12.41::::-;"'I.:.' -. e ...14- . ,. ....! Ak....,.....,... rt., .% ." ''. ' lif.;1....4.*:/ ... .C; -` 1"."41.19%,' . : ":.,. '.%tfrili/ % ; i.7..77..,...U..,:ii: y.:74,72i..7....c.' "...,,4-4,.0;...':::11,:!:?i..,.' : , .: .' tY ..;.;......:,0"0:".....f,...;:,,:".ry...:77.,..,,.!.....;;I'Lcir::"::,4,\...r..../r":, .,--7.1.7.-.4......... j ;4": ....,.r.!..2.;',.. 7. :;,,44 : .-' '.."' ..`"" 1..f.,z,.... ;..,,,ii......;:z . .. -,/ : --_, .... . .- . .- . . t ,,-- -- --.... , ,. -.:::: :, :,,. . , , .., .. -,,.A; A, - . .?, , , :,... ... : 6,4"-, ... .:>. 171. """! .1:". ....... .....' ..24,' . .. ...::... ...%S...:... ' : ,:.:Transect III ,.:".- ..." " . .. P e.. /,. Transect. IV ...J.. I.,"1. .7.A; . '1417 1.,g .."4 et ; r"..1 12 0 wo Scala -:Trar 1 S C.7j- .C7 -9- The Qualitative Study; Transect Lines In order to clarify the contents of the aerial photographs and to obtain an accurate bottom profile of the research site,a qualitative study was required. "In qualitative transect studies the aim is to record the variation of organisms and elevation along a transect in terms of taxa present and relative abundance without necessarily counting of measuring (Stoddart, 1972)," Two sixty-five meter long nylon lines divided into half-meter segments were used in the qualitative study of the Tektite reef. Each one of the five transects (see figure 2) was approximately one hundred and ninety-five meters in length. This required the extra team to move the lines out after each sixty-five meters, Transect 1 was laid twice (90m), transects 2 through 4 were laid three times (120- 165m) and transect 5 was laid four times (200m) - transects were discontinued once the line entered the algae flats. The transect lines started on the shore line at mean low tide water level and were laid down with the use of a compass (see figure 2 for headings) to a depth of sixty feet. Sixty feet was the maximum depth for reasons of safety and limited bottom time since all teams were working on a repetitive dive basis and excess nitrogen accumulation is always a threat with repetitive dives. Each dive team carried two 38 x 18 cm slates to record data underwater. Slate 1 had the species list (see Appendix A) with the scientific names of the 28 common coral species and substrate forms for these waters, Slate 2 was for general observations. As the team went down the transect line, one diver wrote down any peculiarities about the dive on Slate 2 and observed the first diver as a safety precaution as well as recording depth in feet every meter. Thus the qualitative study comprised recording of the coral species and substrate under the transect line. The Quantitative Study: Measurements of Sample Parameters "Quantitative studies consist of either (a) some form of contintous recording on transects or (b) sampling along transects. Continuous recording .f parameters 13 -10- such as number of spe,Hes, area covered, depth, etc. has been carried ouf by Manton (Stoddart, 1972)." Type (b) was the best method to follow for the quantitative part of the study. It would give a better idea of what the coral distribution and growth were :ike on the Tektite reef and provide zonation patterns of the site. As Manton had done previously in his quantitative study of the Low Isles and the Great Barrier Reef (Stoddart, 1972), ours also consisted of recording the parameters of samples down the transect line. Besides its use as the recording device of the qualitative part of the study, Slate 1 carried a one-meter nylon line divided into five 5cm segments attached to it. Length, width, and height of each coral colony under the transect line were measured with this line. This rustic but handy device proved to be an effective tool in A place where common rigid rulers proved useless because of their buoyancy, size, and inflexibility. The transect lines also proved to be an effective quantitative tool in open areas such as algae flats and sand bars where measuring with the one meter line consumed too much of our limited underwater time. After every dive the teams transcribed all the data recorded into a log book hich is included later in this paper (see Appendix C) . Transformation of the data included a species distribution table to determine zonation patterns (Table !), abundance histograms of the five most common species (figure 4), and a depth profile distribution graph of the five most common species (figure 5). Results Aerial photos provide a basis for locating areas suitable for ground trUthing and transect work. A detailed rendition was produced from the photograph of the southern side of St. John (NOAA) (figure 2) which suggested patterns of substrate formation on which to base transect lines. Although a more detailed blow-up from the current photo of the Tektite site would be necessary to make fine distinctions of the coloration patterns and to compare them with our results, it is zlear that the major coral formations and substrates that were found appear as distinct bands on the photograph. 14 Distance (m) * Acropora cervicornis Transect 1 Transect 3 -11 - Table 1. Species distribution relative to transect length. 25 50 75 100 125 150 I * * Agaricia agaricites Transect 1 Transect 2 Transect 4 lransect 5 * ** ** * * ** * * ** ** * * * Algae flats Transect 1 Transect 2 Transect 3 Transect 4 Transect 5 (Startsoff of this chart.) ** ---- ** * * * Coral rubble Transect 1 Transect 2 Transect 3 Transect 4 Transect 5 * *** * ** * * * * * * ** Dead coral Transect 1 Transect 2 ** *** ** *** ** ** ** * ** * * * * ** 16 Table 1. (continued) Distance (m) Dead Coral (con't) Transect 3 Transect 4 Transect 5 50 715 100 * * * * * * * * * * ** ** * * ** ** ** * * ** *1,1 ** 125 .10 * Diploria clivosa Transect 4 * * Diploria labyrinthiformis Transect 1 Transect 3 Transect 5 * Diploria strigosa Transect 1 Transect 2 * * * * * Gorgonia species Transect 4 Transect 5 Millepora alcicornis Transect 1 Transect 2 Transect 3 Transect 4 Transect 5 * * ** ** A ** ** *** * ** * *** ** ** ** * ** ** * * ** ** ** ** * * Montastrea annularis Transect 1 Transect 2 Transect 3 ** ** ** * ** ** ** * * ** ** ** ** * * ** * * ** ** * * * * * ** * * ** * * ** * *** * ** * ** 18 Table 1. (continued) Distance (m) 25 50 75 100 -13- Montastrea annularis Transect 4 Transect 5 (con't) * Muriceopsis flavida Transect 2 * ** ** ** **** ** ** ** **** * ** **** * ** *** ** * **** ** * * * * * ** * * * * * * * * **** *** ** * ** * **** ** ** * ** ** ** * *** * **** **** ** * * * * 150 Plexaura flexuosa Transect 1 Transect 2 Transect 3 Transect 4 Transect 5 * * * * * * * * * *,,c * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Porites asteroides Transect 1 Transect 2 Transect 3 Transect 4 Transect 5 ** * * * * * * ** * *porites porites Transect 1 Transect 2 Transect 4 Transect 5 ,./..... * ** ** * * * ** * * * * Psuedopterogoroia bipinnata Transect 3 Transect 4 19 * * * 20 Table 1, (continued) Distance (m) -14- i U 50 75 Ipo 125 t 1 Rock rIbble Transect 1 Transect 2 Transect 3 Transect 4 Transect 5- * *** * *** * * * ** ** *** ** ** ** ** ** ** * ** * ** * ** * ** ** *** ** *** ** * * * ** * * ** * ** * * * * ** ** ** ** ** * * ,'c ** * ** * * ** * ** Sand Transect 1 Transect 2 Transect 3 Transect 4 Transect 5 * * * * ** * * * "C * ** ** ** * ** ** * ** ** * ** ** * * * * ** * ***** ** ***** ** ** ** ** ** * ** ** * * ******** * ,'C ****** ';* ** ** * * ** ** ** ** ** ** * ** ** ** * *** ** ** ** is * ** ** ** ** * ** * ** **** * *** * ** ** * * * * * ** * * ,'C **** ** ** * ** * ** * * Siderastrea species * ** "C * * * * "C * ** * ** * Transect 1 Transect 2 Transect 3 4, 150 * If a specieAid not appear in a significant number ( 2) along a particular transect, it was omitted from the table for that transect, 22 21 ''....I.......,.WbllI1 25 20 Quantity15 10 5 25= 20- 15- 10- 5- 20- 15- 10 -15- Agaricia agaricites 1114 ''.......1011~4.0.3213111,1111C31 3.04 6.08 9.12 (Depth in Meters) Millepora alcicornis 12.16 3.04 Montastrea annularis 15.2 T5.2 Plexaura flexuosa 25 20 15 10 5 Porites porites 3./04 .).08 Figure 4. Abundance if the five relative to depth. 9.12 12.16 most common coral species.; 23 ti 15.2 -16- . Distance along transcets (m) Depth (m) 0 5 10 15 - 20- 25 24 0 SO 100 150 200 1 t t 4 ^ 4 Q 4 A 4 4 io 4 o ff 4kgaricia agaricites . 14 Figure 5(a). Depth profile distribution of the five most common coral species. 25 0 50 0 5 10 Depth (m) 15- 20 25 26 4 ftft 4 4 is eat it A 41 le e t:t 0 e '''4 g A 1 44 A A 1) g4 A 17-- Distance along transects (m) 100 150 200 s 4 e Millepora alcicornis Figure 5(b), Depth profile distribution of the five most common coral species, 27 0 -18- Distance along transects (m) 50 100 150 200 0 t. 5 10 - Depth (m) 15- 20- 25 le o °o a a% tit lb.. Pp. e ft. ... t_:: - ro 1st o' t . * .1,0. .:- _ e i. a h" K.! 4' 0 e 4 4 Cic, tel 44,11: 4 * t 4 4.. 4./.. e, * 0 . is ..rq, 0 tk 4 +4 4 e,' *. a n tor or Q 0 9 4 ,.., hs tt 4 abiot aK Montastrea annularis e'a C , P ct. r0' :0 r rf. ^ ,,ra, c.,1°0 n 4.4:0414 0 Firgure 5(c), Depth profile distribution of the five most common coral species. 28 29 44 0 5 0 -19- Distance along transects (m) 50 100 15n 200 10 Depth (m) 15 20 25 4P, Plexaura flexuosa Figure 5(d). Depth profile distribution of the five most common coral species. 31_ 30 0 5 10 -20- Distance along transects (m) 0 i 5,0 1 t 1 I 100 L 1 J. ii__. 150 1 - I t I !-----1 1 j_____I 200 0 4 .P. 0,04,,,,,,,, A 4, 4 Depth (m) I d 15 20 4 6 4, 25 Pories porites 32 Figure 5(e). Depth profile distribution of the five most common coral species. 33 . -21-- Ow. of the twenty-eight .species and substrate forms studied, five species dominated the reef (Table 1). The most abundant by far was Montastrea annularis, followed by Millipore alcicornis. Plexaura flexuosa, Agaricia agracites, and Porites porites each were seen in approximately equal abundance (figure 4). Definite zonation patterns also appeared. nillipora alcicornis appeared first to a depth of seven meters and from shore to fifty meters out. Montastrea annularis ranged from five to eighteen meters in depth, starting at twenty meters out from shore and continuing to the algae flats. Agaricia agracites, Porites porites, and Plexaura flexuosa each appeared at three to . fcrIrteen meters in depth and from twenty-five to eighty meters, fifty'to one hundred twenty-five meters, and fifteen to sixty .peters out from shore respectively (figure 5). Conclusions The results from this project are valid for the purposes of the MAB project. They are, in fact, more detailed than further studies on the island will be. Five transects provided more than enough information for the objectives of MAB; however, if m..)rp specific information on particular species were desired, more transects, hopefully no less than nine, would be required (Stoddart, 1972). Even though personal variations in observations , species identification, and measurements undoubtedly existed. the time spent underwater and the quantity of data collected lessened the significance of this. This methodology is suitable and appropriate for any team of easily trained technicians for work in other marine environments. It is also inexpensive and requires a relatively small amount of time for training and implementation of the project. Carefurmonitoring of all activities involving SCUBA skills with the appropriate equipment must be regarded at all times. Also, qualified maintenance of all equipment must be available, especially in remote areas, to insure quick and efficient completion of the work. Recommendations Two other possibilities for measurement and study exist. On the more general level, dimensions of broad zones, e.g. algae flats, sand, coral, grass beds, etc., could be measured (Kumpf and Randall, 1961). More precise studies could be made using quadrats and underwater photographs along transect lines. School for Field Studies and similiar research groups should in future studies continue monitoring the Tektite area to determine changes in the system. Also, studies should be made in the Reef Bay area, where recent development could be damaging nearby marine environments due to run off and sedimentation, It is important to maintain open lines of communication between research teams and concerned scientists to facilitate studies and make available additional relevant information and provide adequate logistical support, This project has demonstrated the feasibility of the collaboration between a federal organization, field research stations, and motivated educational groups to produce knowledge about fragile ecosystems. It is our hope that the results of this project will contribute to future pkicy and management 'of coral reefs. a -23- Appendix A UNDERWATER DATA COLLECTION SLATE Transect # 1. Mont. annularis 15. Mill. alcicornis. ....... Slate 1/ 2. Mont. cavernosa 16. Mussa 'ngulosa. astreoides Por. Names Residual Nitrogen 3 17. Favia. fragum . 4. Por. porites 1) Time 18. Gorgonia. 5. Dipl. labyrin. 2) 19. Briar . asbest. 6. Dipl. strigos Date a. 20. Plex. flex. 7. Dipl. clivosa. 21. Pseudop . bipinn. Time in Time Out 8. Agar. agaricites. 22. Eunicea mammo . 9. Agar. lamarcki. 23. Sand 10. Sider. siderea. 24. Rock Rubble 11. Meandr. meandr . 25. Coral Rubble 12. Acropo. palmata. 26. Grass beds 13. Acropo. cervicornis. 27. Algae Flats 14. Dendro. cylindrus.28. Dead Coral genus/species length m c width height depth cm c NOTES -24-: B SPECIES LIST SUBKINGDOM Metazoa PHYLUM Cnidaria (Coelenterata) CLASS Hydrozoa ORDER Hydrocorallina FAMILY Milleporidae Millepora alcicornis CLASS Anthozoa SUBCLASS Hixacorallia (Zoantharia) ORDER Scleractinia SUBORDE1 Astrocoeniida FAMILY Acroporidae Acropora cervicornis Acropora palmata SUBORDER Fungiida FAMILY Agariciidae Agaricia agaricites Agaricia lamarcki FAMILY Siderastreidae Siderastrea spp. FAMILY Poritidae Porites asteroides Porites furcata Porites porites SUBORDER Faviida FAMILY Faviidae Favia fragum Diploria elivosa Diplotia labyrinthiformis Diploga strigosa Manicina mayori Montastrea annularis Montastrea cavernosa 37 -25- Appendix B (con't) FAMILY Trochosmiliidae Meandrina meandrites Dichocoenia stokesii Dendrogyra cylindrus FAMILY Mussidae Mussa angulosa Mycetophyllia lamarckiana Isophyllia sinuosa SUBORDER Caryophyllida FAMILY Caryophyllidae Eusmilia fastigiata SUBCLASS Octocorallia (Alcyonaria) ORDER Gorgonaceal Briareum asbestinum Plexaura flexuosa Pseudopterogorgia bipinnata Eunicea mammosa Muriceopsis flavida Gorgonia spp. 38 =26- References Adey, Walter H., personal communication, December 1983. 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