Assessment of species composition, diversity and biomass in marine habitats and subhabitats around offshore islets in the main Hawaiian Islands
Coles SL, Giuseffi L, Hutchinson M. 2008. Assessment of species composition, diversity and biomass in marine habitats and subhabitats around offshore islets in the main Hawaiian Islands. Bishop Museum Technical Report. No. 39. Bishop Museum, Hawai‘i Biological Survey. Honolulu, Hawaii
Information available from marine environmental surveys conducted for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Hawai‘i Coral Reef Initiative/ National Fish and Wildlife Federation (HCR/NFWF) in 2005, 2006 and 2007 in the vicinity of offshore islets in the Main Hawaiian Islands was analyzed to develop a baseline of information for the composition of marine communities near the islets. A small amount of data from a previous study for the National Park Service in 2004 in the vicinity of islets at the Kaulapapa National Historic Park is also analyzed. Data consisted of results from surveys of marine algae, macro-invertebrates, size class distributions of reef coral populations, and reef fish transects. Although surveys were conducted with similar objectives, with the exception of fish transects, somewhat different survey methods were used for the NOAA compared to the HCRI/NFWF studies, making comparisons between available results for the two studies somewhat problematical for the algae, macro-invertebrate, and coral size class analyses. The NOAA surveys used a solely field-base approach which limited the completeness of sampling and generally resulted in fewer species reported per site than for the HCRI/NFWF surveys. The NOAA also precludes quantitative estimates of coral and algal coverage. The NOAA approach also utilized more observers in the field to acquire the data obtained. The HCRI/NFWF approach utilized field observations and collections that were analyzed in the laboratory to the lowest practicable taxa, and employed a photographic technique that produced quantitative estimates of algae and coral coverage as well as coral size class profiles after computer image analysis using the Coral Point Count with Excel extension (CPCe).
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Coles, S; Giuseffi, Louise; Hutchinson, Melanie
- Date of Issue
- 2008-01
- Publisher
- Bishop Museum, Hawai‘i Biological Survey
- Units
- HAVO , KALA
- Keywords
- Abundance, Coral, Diversity, Fish, Invertebrates, Macroalgae, Offshore islets