Coral Monitoring, Coral Bleaching and Climate Change

Why Monitor Coral Reefs?
Very little is known about the trends of coral bleaching on a global scale. There are many questions that need to be answered regarding patterns of bleaching and recovery as well as the severity and duration of bleaching events. CoralWatch volunteers will contribute data to help answer many of these questions.
Dive and snorkel volunteers make it possible to measure small natural fluctuations in the coloration of healthy corals to immediately identify changes outside of the normal range. With your support it’s also possible to monitor coral health throughout the year, not just during bleaching events, and help determine factors that influence coral health.
*What is climate change?
Earth is surrounded by a blanket of gases that keep the surface warm and helps make life possible. This blanket is currently getting thicker largely due to greenhouse gas release caused by burning fossil fuels and deforestation. As the blanket gets thicker more heat is retained underneath, which alters the climate. Because the ocean comprises nearly 70 percent of the earth’s surface, it is not only crucial to influencing the global climate, but also harbors some of the most diverse and important ecosystems. In addition, research currently indicates that climate change will increasingly challenge coastal and marine ecosystems in the next century. If current trends continue temperatures may increase 2.5 – 10.4 degrees Fahrenheit (1.4 – 5.8 degrees Celsius) by 2100.

What can you do?
Some changes are inevitable – even if gas emission stops today, the gases already released will have an effect in the future. This means that it is essential to do everything to avoid further changes. The good news is that because everyday activities also contribute to climate change there are many ways to tackle the issue on an individual level and as a diver. Here are 10 easy things you can do:

1. Switch off your lights and electric appliances when not needed
2. Choose energy saving appliances
3. Use a line to air dry clothing instead of a dryer
4. Use lids when cooking (water heats quicker with the lid on)
5. Use energy saving light bulbs and recycle
6. Walk or cycle when traveling short distances
7. Use rechargeable batteries
8. Share your concern with your local politicians
9. Become educated and inform friends and family on climate change issues
10. Contribute to awareness's and help with data collection by participating in coral monitoring activities

For more information on the effects of climate change on marine ecosystems, you can go to the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre's Biodiversity and Climate Change Programme website or the online Climate Change Communication Initiative.

**Coral Bleaching

Couresy of CoralWatch, example of bleached coral	Couresy of CoralWatch, example of healthy coral

Increases in ocean temperatures contribute to coral bleaching episodes – a process whereby corals lose symbiotic algae (zooxanthellae), living inside their tissue supplying coral with energy. This loss leaves coral transparent and reveals the white coral skeleton underneath. This potentially fatal process yields the “bleached” appearance.
Although corals can slowly recover from brief bleaching episodes, coral death is common when high temperatures are sustained for long periods. And once bleached, coral is even more susceptible to additional pressures including pollution, overfishing and disease that often lead to coral mortality. Although the effects of bleaching range from moderate to severe, experts agree that bleaching episodes have become much more severe in the past few decades. And they are likely to reoccur in the future with increased frequency.


Coral Monitoring, Coral Bleaching and Climate Change

The Great Fiji Butterflyfish Count November 2008: Results: South Kadavu, Matava Resort

The Great Fiji Butterflyfish Count November 2008

On reefs all across the Fiji Islands, volunteers from schools, universities, conservation organisations, resort and dive operations took part in 30 minute counts of Butterflyfish, as an indicator of biodiversity and coral health.

See www.Fijibutterflyfishcount.com for full details and results as they come in.

Results: South Kadavu, Matava Resort:

Participants:

Alice and James Calvert from Australia 

Alan and Lindsay Coley of the UK

Jone Waitaiti, Matava Dive Guide 

Richard Akhtar, Matava Owner

Helen Sykes, Fiji Coral Reef Monitoring Networkand Reef Check coordinator

Count in progress

Triangular Butterfly 

Cheveroned Butterfly 

Longnosed Butterflies

 Teardrop

Threadfin

Across the South Kadavu Dive Sites, 24 of the 27 known Butterflyfish in Fiji were seen. On average 79 Butterflyfish were seen over the 30 minute counting period.

Site	Reef Type	Average # of fish / 30 mins	Average # of species
Eagle Rock, Outer Wall	52 % Hard coral cover 23% Soft coral cover	92.5	20 (74%)
Vesi Bay, Nearshore fringing Reef	38% Hard coral cover 7 % Soft coral cover	85.5	14 (52%)
Naiqoro Passage Deep passage to outer wall	Hard coral gardens	82.8	22 (81%)
Japanese Gardens, Passage side to outer slopes	Rock walls in passage, Hard corals on slopes	46.5	17 (63%)
South Kadavu Overall		78.8	24 (89%)

Many more species were found on the outer wall sites where there was high hard coral cover, and more variety of coral types. At the inner reef and passage side sites, where there was less hard coral, there were fewer species, and in one case, fewer fish, mainly those who do not depend entirely on corals for food.

Status of Coral Reefs in the South West Pacific: 2004

"Status of Coral Reefs in the South West Pacific: 2004"

This book is based on the reef survey data contributed to the Fiji GCRMN between 2000 and 2004, as well as presenting a picture of reef health in Nauru, New Caledonia, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.

It should be relevant to everyone working in reef ecology and management, as
it allows you to view your own projects in the larger country and region-wide scale. Contributing organisations are acknowledged and so may wish to cite it in references.

It is on sale for the cost of publication - I believe F$34.00, available from IPS Publications, University of the South Pacific, Tel (679) 323 2248 Email  editorips@usp.ac.fj

On line catalogue and books sales www.ipsbooks.usp.ac.fj