Development of biological criteria for coral reef ecosystem assessment
Jameson SC, Erdmann MV, Gibson GR, Potts KW. Development of biological criteria for coral reef ecosystem assessment. United States Environmental Protection Agency. Washington, D. C.
The purpose of this paper is to provide the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with advice on the feasibility of establishing biological criteria for assessing coral reef ecosystems. Issues addressed are: 1) Does sufficient need exist to justify preparation of a guidance document on the development of coral reef ecosystem biocriteria? 2) Does sufficient information currently exist to draft this guidance? 3) What data, research and/or projects are needed to facilitate development of such a guidance document? It is noted that the coral reef ecosystems of the Florida Reef Tract, the Flower Garden Banks in the Gulf of Mexico, and Fagatele Bay, American Samoa receive some degree of protection as National Marine Sanctuaries.