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Global Community Coral Reef Monitoring Program

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Presentation on theme: "Global Community Coral Reef Monitoring Program"— Presentation transcript:

1 Global Community Coral Reef Monitoring Program
Substrate ID Training Global Community Coral Reef Monitoring Program

2 What is a coral reef? Coral reefs are typified by large hard corals that build the reef structure and support a myriad of life. They are tropical ecosystems that rival only rainforests in biodiversity and are important to us for: Food; Shore breaks; Pharmaceuticals; Tourism.

3 What conditions do reefs require?
Low nutrient, clear water; Sunlight; Salinity around 30 – 36 ppm; Water temperature between ºC; More effective management than is currently in place.

4 Naturally subject to environmental disturbance, the health of a coral reef can be measured in terms of its resilience to impacts and its ability to recover from disturbance. We can measure this health by monitoring how they change over time. As the disturbance – recovery regime of a coral reef is complex, the longer time-period we have monitoring data for, the more patterns we can see. Therefore, by monitoring the reef each year from now, we’ll be really helping scientists understand how the reef works in the future.

5 The Reef Check Substrate Categories
HC – HARD CORAL (includes blue coral, fire coral and organ pipe coral) *HCB – BLEACHED HARD CORAL SC – SOFT CORAL (includes zoanthids) *SCB – BLEACHED SOFT CORAL NIA – NUTRIENT INDICATOR ALGAE (includes seaweed that proliferates with high nutrient input. *Record what it is on top of e.g. NIA/RC) OT – OTHER (includes other living or non-living substrata, such as, hydroids, anemones, gorgonians and ascidians) SP – SPONGE RC – ROCK (includes any surface that coral could settle onto including rock covered with turf algae, bivalves, coralline algae and dead coral) RKC – RECENTLY KILLED CORAL (includes coral that has died in the last year. Such coral will still have a white or partially white skeleton and may be slightly overgrown with algae. *If it has NIA on top of it then write NIA/RKC) RB – RUBBLE (includes dead coral of 0.5 to 15 cm diameter) SI – SILT (write the substrate underneath e.g. SI/RC) SD – SAND (includes pieces less than 0.5 cm in diameter) *This only applies to Reef Check Queensland, Australia.

6 HARD CORAL The reef builders Reef Check code: HC

7 HARD CORAL The reef-builders Hard corals function as the main builders of coral reefs. They are also important in providing both food and shelter to a large number of reef organisms. Coral reefs are naturally subjected to erosion from wave surges and boring organisms. As hard corals lay down more of their underlying limestone or calcium carbonate skeleton the reef grows. When there is a mass hard coral die-off on a reef from a storm, crown-of-thorns starfish outburst or other impact, the reef itself loses its ability to ‘grow’ and may be eroded down. Additionally, the organisms reliant upon the hard coral structures for hiding from predators will likely decrease in abundance as their habitat is lost.

8 HARD CORAL Hard coral includes: All hard corals;
The reef-builders Hard coral includes: All hard corals; Fire coral (Millepora); Blue coral (Heliopora); Organ pipe coral (Tubipora musica).

9 HARD CORAL The reef-builders Cross section through a coral polyp
Mouth Where food is ingested and waste excreted. Stomach. Cross section through a coral polyp Limestone skeleton that is excreted by the coral polyp. This skeleton ‘builds’ the reefs. Coral cup or ‘corallite’. Tentacles for catching food using stinging cells (nematocysts) to stun their prey. Hard coral polyps have 6 or multiples of 6 tentacles. Zooxanthellae algae live in the coral’s tissue and make food from sunlight using photosynthesis. This food counts for 90+% of the coral’s food. Mucus is excreted from the coral’s surface, which provides a limited ability to clean itself from sediment.

10 HARD CORAL The reef-builders Most corals, as well as many other similar coral reef organisms, are colonial. This means that individual animals, like coral polyps, are joined to one another by a thin layer of cells called tissue. Animals on the same colony are typically identical genetically as they are formed by asexual reproduction. Corals also reproduce sexually once or twice a year (coral spawning) and the young corals (recruits) will settle on the reef and start a new colony. By joining one another, they can share food as well as send messages to one another, for example, a message to close up if there is danger.

11 HARD CORAL Coral Growth Forms
The reef-builders Coral Growth Forms Corals can grow in may different shapes. For the purpose of Reef Check, we are not interested to record the different shapes of hard coral that we see. Therefore, do not attempt to learn these, however, it is a good idea to be aware of them in order that we can identify a hard coral from another reef organism or substrate. The different growth forms are as follows: Branching; Plate; Encrusting; Massive or boulder; Submassive or irregular; Folios or lettuce-like; Columnar or digitate; Free living or mushroom.

12 HARD CORAL To identify hard coral use the following decision rules:
The reef-builders To identify hard coral use the following decision rules: If it is a protruding structure, waft the water near it with your hand. Does it move? Yes It is not hard coral and may be soft coral or sponge No Look at the texture and try to find the coral cups. Hard coral texture is like sandpaper or knobbly; If the coral polyps are out, count the tentacles. Hard coral polyps have 6 or multiples of 6 tentacles whereas soft corals only have 8.

13 HARD CORAL If it is an encrusting structure, look at the texture.
The reef-builders If it is an encrusting structure, look at the texture. Does it have regular corallites and have a sandpapery or knobbly surface? No Look at the texture, if it is smooth and a purple, orange or red colour it is probably coralline algae; If it has holes on its surface and feels soft to the touch it is probably either a sponge or an ascidian; If it has regular corallites but is soft to the touch it is probably a soft coral. Yes Check it is hard to touch and it is probably a hard coral.

14 HARD CORAL The reef-builders If it is an encrusting structure, gently touch to check if it is hard or soft. Does it feel hard and knobbly? No If it is hard and smooth, it might be coralline algae, which goes in the rock category for Reef Check; If it is spongy, check if it is a soft coral, a sponge or an ascidian. If it has regular corallites but is soft to the touch it is probably a soft coral. Yes It is probably a hard coral.

15 HARD CORAL Branching The reef-builders
Look at the texture. You can see the coral cups protruding Photo by Jos Hill, 2002

16 HARD CORAL Branching The reef-builders
Photo by Jos Hill, 2002 Each polyp lives inside this coral cup or corallite

17 HARD CORAL Branching The reef-builders
These tube-like projections are the corallites in which the coral polyp lives.

18 HARD CORAL Branching The reef-builders Encrusting hard coral
Photo by Jos Hill, 2002 Encrusting hard coral Branching hard coral Encrusting hard coral

19 Branching HARD CORAL The reef-builders

20 Plate HARD CORAL The reef-builders Photo by Jos Hill, 2002

21 HARD CORAL Encrusting The reef builders
Photo by Jos Hill, 2002 Encrusting hard coral ‘hugs’ the substrate to which it is attached and will tend to be a few mm thick. Note the ‘knobbly’ texture.

22 HARD CORAL Encrusting The reef builders
Photo by Dean Miller, 2002 Note the ‘knobbly’ texture. If we could get a closer look you would see tiny holes that are the corallites.

23 HARD CORAL Encrusting The reef builders
Photo by Dean Miller, 2002 Note the knobbly/sandpapery texture.

24 HARD CORAL Massive or boulder The reef builders
Photo by Dean Miller, 2002 The corallites on this species are larger than previous examples. This makes this hard coral easier to identify.

25 HARD CORAL Massive or boulder The reef builders
Photo by Dean Miller, 2002 This coral colony is several meters in length. Some massive corals can be hundreds of years old.

26 HARD CORAL Submassive The reef builders Note the ‘knobbly’ surface.
Photo by Dean Miller, 2002 Note the ‘knobbly’ surface.

27 HARD CORAL Watch out for this one! Submassive The reef builders
Look at this polyp. There are 24 tentacles (6 x 6) which means it is a hard coral. This particular coral feeds in the day time so is often mistaken for a soft coral. If you wafted these polyps quite hard they will retract and you’ll see the hard skeleton beneath. Photo by Dean Miller, 2002

28 HARD CORAL Foliose or lettuce The reef builders
Photo by Jos Hill, 2002 Note the sandpaper-like texture.

29 HARD CORAL Digitate The reef builders
Photo by Jos Hill, 2002 Each of these projections is a corallite.

30 HARD CORAL Mushroom or free-living The reef builders
Photo by Jos Hill, 2002 Unlike other corals, mushroom corals do not attach itself to the reef rock. Additionally, they do not live in colonies, but alone as single polyps. Mouth

31 HARD CORAL Watch out for this one! Mushroom or free-living
The reef builders Watch out for this one! Mushroom or free-living Photo by Jos Hill, 2002 Some types of mushroom corals feed in the day time and can be mistaken for anemones. Although not all anemones have anemone fish in them, if you see one of these with no fish, give it a waft and you’ll see the hard skeleton underneath.

32 HARD CORAL Blue coral The reef builders
Photo by Jos Hill, 2002 Blue coral is not a true hard coral as it has a blue argonite skeleton instead of calcium carbonate/limestone. However, as its skeleton is hard, it is a reef-builder and is, therefore, included in the HC category for Reef Check. Blue coral looks like a submassive hard coral.

33 HARD CORAL Fire coral The reef builders Notice the tiny hairs.
Photo by Dean Miller, 2002 Fire coral is not a true hard coral. In fact, it is a hydroid. However, it has a hard skeleton and appears the same as a hard coral people tend to have no problems with identifying this as a hard coral for Reef Check. The only thing to be aware of is that the tiny hairs sting!

34 HARD CORAL Organ pipe coral The reef builders
Notice that this coral’s polyps have 8 tentacles. In the next section you will learn that soft corals have 8 tentacles, which can be a good way to tell them apart from hard corals. Organ pipe coral Organ pipe coral is in fact a soft coral. However, it is unusual for soft corals in that it makes a hard, red skeleton and is, therefore, a reef-builder and included in the HC category for Reef Check. If you see this coral, waft the polyps gently and see them retract into a red skeleton…but remember that red is filtered out of the water at shallow depths so this skeleton may look brownish underwater. Photo by Jos Hill, 2002

35 HARD CORAL Organ pipe coral The reef builders
Photo by Jos Hill, 2002 This is the organ pipe coral skeleton. Notice the pipes!

36 HARD CORAL The reef builders Summary Calcium carbonate skeleton. Waft the water and it won’t move! Polyps have 6 or multiples of 6 tentacles, except fire coral, blue coral and organ pipe coral, which are also included in hard coral; Mostly night feeders. Exceptions have large polyps and you can count the tentacles and/or waft to see a skeleton underneath; Look for corallites that are fairly regularly spaced; Different shapes exist – don’t be caught out by encrusting hard corals as these are sometimes overlooked; Look at the texture, think sandpaper or knobbly surface! Mushroom corals are hard corals. Don’t be caught out by those that feed in the day and may look like anemones.

37 Global warming indicator
BLEACHED HARD CORAL Global warming indicator Reef Check code: HCB

38 Global warming indicators
BLEACHED HARD CORAL Global warming indicators Bleaching is when the zooxanthellae (algae) living in the coral’s tissue is expelled. As this algae is also a pigment in the coral, when it is expelled many corals appear white because we can see their calcium carbonate skeleton through their thin tissue. Photo by Dean Miller, 2002 The white patch here is bleached and the brown parts are unbleached.

39 Global warming indicators
BLEACHED HARD CORAL Global warming indicators As the zooxanthellae provide corals with 90% or more of their total food intake, if they sustain their bleached state, they starve. Starvation does not necessarily mean death and many corals will recover their zooxanthellae when the stressor is removed. However, should the stressor remain for many days or weeks the coral’s immune and reproductive systems may first become impaired and they may die.

40 Global warming indicators
BLEACHED HARD CORAL Global warming indicators Bleaching happens when the coral is under stress, such as, sea surface temperatures (SSTs), which are higher than corals can tolerate. High SSTs of 29ºC or higher frequently occur when we have an El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) weather event. Global warming appears to increase the frequency and intensity of ENSOs. As a result it is feared that coral bleaching events will become more frequent and severe as a result. Photo by Jos Hill, 2002

41 Global warming indicators
BLEACHED HARD CORAL Global warming indicators Photo by Jos Hill, 2002 Reef Check surveys document bleaching on coral reefs and this data will help scientists understand how reefs are affected by this phenomenon.

42 Global warming indicators
BLEACHED HARD CORAL Global warming indicators Photo by Jos Hill, 2002

43 Global warming indicators
BLEACHED HARD CORAL Global warming indicators This coral is only partially bleached. This means that the zooxanthellae algae have only been expelled from the coral polyps that appear white. Photo by Jos Hill, 2002

44 Global warming indicators
BLEACHED HARD CORAL Global warming indicators Photo by Jos Hill, 2002

45 SOFT CORAL Non-reef builders Reef Check code: SC

46 SOFT CORAL Non-reef builders Soft corals do not build reefs as their skeleton is made from soft tissue that is supported internally like re-enforced concrete by a matrix of calcareous elements. Soft corals can be identified from hard corals by wafting the water column and the whole structure will move. Many soft corals will also have their polyps out during the daytime and you can count their 8, hairy tentacles. (remember hard corals have 6 or multiples of 6 tentacles). To identify encrusting soft corals, you can gently touch them and they will feel spongy. The soft coral category also includes zoanthids. These are not true soft corals but fill the same function as non reef-building structures.

47 SOFT CORAL To identify soft coral use the following decision rules:
Non-reef builders To identify soft coral use the following decision rules: If it is a protruding structure, waft the water near it with your hand. Does it move? No Look at the texture and try to find the coral cups. Hard coral texture is like sandpaper or knobbly; If the coral polyps are out, count the tentacles. Hard coral polyps have 6 or multiples of 6 tentacles whereas soft corals only have 8. Yes It is not hard coral and may be soft coral or sponge

48 SOFT CORAL Non-reef builders If it is a soft, encrusting structure, look for regular corallites or feeding polyps (many soft coral polyps are out feeding during the day, whereas hard corals tend to feed at night). Does it have regular corallites or protruding polyps? No If it has holes larger than 1mm diameter on the surface then it is probably a sponge or an ascidian. Yes It is probably soft coral. If the polyps are out check there are only 8 tentacles.

49 SOFT CORAL Non-reef builders
Photo by Jos Hill, 2002 Notice the 8 tentacles. Soft coral tentacles also tend to be hairy or feathery.

50 SOFT CORAL Non-reef builders Count the 8 tentacles
Photo by Jos Hill, 2002 Count the 8 tentacles

51 SOFT CORAL Non-reef builders This soft coral will sway when wafted.
The ‘fluffy’ surface is the polyps. When these polyps are not feeding the surface of this coral appears leathery. Photo by Dean Miller, 2002

52 SOFT CORAL Non-reef builders
This is a close-up of the same type of soft coral seen in the previous picture. Here you can see the polyps more clearly. Photo by Dean Miller, 2002 This is what the polyps of this coral look like from up close. Note the 8 tentacles.

53 SOFT CORAL Non-reef builders
Photo by Dean Miller, 2002 Some soft corals look like trees and many can be bright colours.

54 SOFT CORAL Non-reef builders
This ‘finger’ soft coral would move when wafted. If you look closely you would see tiny pin-prick holes that are the corallites. Photo by Dean Miller, 2002

55 SOFT CORAL Non-reef builders Photo by Jos Hill, 2002

56 SOFT CORAL Non-reef builders Photo by Jos Hill, 2002

57 SOFT CORAL Non-reef builders The ‘fluffy’ appearance is the polyps.
Photo by Jos Hill, 2002

58 SOFT CORAL Non-reef builders Zoanthids Zoanthids are not true soft corals, however, they can cover huge mats of reef and because they are non-reef builders like the soft corals, we count them under this category for Reef Check. Zoanthids look like little cogs of about 1cm diameter, that have a mouth in their centre and are surrounded by little ‘teeth-like’ tentacles. Photo by Jos Hill, 2002 Zoanthids can live separately as in this picture or in colonies where they are connected to each other just like most corals.

59 SOFT CORAL Non-reef builders Zoanthids This picture illustrates colonial zoanthids. They appear like they are made out of plasticine. If you waft your hand over them, they will close up as illustrated below. Photo by Jos Hill, 2002 These colonial zoanthid polyps are ‘open’. These colonial zoanthid polyps are ‘closed’.

60 SOFT CORAL Non-reef builders Zoanthids Colonial zoanthids are frequently confused with massive and encrusting corals of the genus illustrated below. This is because the corallites of this coral resemble the soft zoanthid polyps. Photo by Jos Hill, 2002 To avoid confusion you can touch the surface and find the coral hard and the zoanthids soft. Or you can gently waft your hand over the top and see that the zoanthids will close up but the coral’s skeleton won’t budge. These corallites are part of this coral’s skeleton. Go back to the last slide to make sure you can see the difference.

61 SOFT CORAL Non-reef builders Zoanthids These are solitary zoanthids. Although their tissue is separate they normally occur in groups. These zoanthids will also close if you waft your hand over them. Photo by Jos Hill, 2002

62 SOFT CORAL Non-reef builders Zoanthids Zoanthids tend to have brown, red or green centres as these below. Photo by Jos Hill, 2002

63 SOFT CORAL Non-reef builders Zoanthids Photo by Jos Hill, 2002 Another example of colonial zoanthids where some are ‘open’ and some are ‘closed’.

64 SOFT CORAL Summary Skeleton structure is soft;
Non-reef builders Summary Skeleton structure is soft; Polyps always have 8 tentacles, which are hairy; Polyps are often day feeders; Smooth texture with small, regular coral cup holes; Surface of some appears leathery or rubbery; Zoanthids most often occur in groups or joined in colonies. They can look like cogs surrounded like teeth and colonial ones look like they’re made from plasticine. To recognise, waft and they will close up.

65 Global warming indicators
BLEACHED SOFT CORAL Global warming indicators Reef Check code: SCB

66 Global warming indicators
BLEACHED SOFT CORAL Global warming indicators Like hard coral, soft coral can also bleach. However, as soft corals do not contribute to the reef structure, we are not as concerned about this bleaching as we are about hard corals. Nevertheless, it is still interesting to note where bleaching occurs in order to get an idea of the affect of global warming on soft corals and their ability to recover. We can measure recovery of reef organisms from detrimental impacts by monitoring the site year after year and comparing the survey results.

67 NUTRIENT INDICATOR ALGAE Nutrient pollution indicator
Reef Check code: NIA **Note that this category changed from Fleshy Seaweed (FS) in 2003

68 NUTRIENT INDICATOR ALGAE Nutrient pollution indicators
Firstly, note that algae can be green, red or brown! Photo by Jos Hill, 2002 Photo by Jos Hill, 2002 Photo by Jos Hill, 2002

69 NUTRIENT INDICATOR ALGAE Nutrient pollution indicators
Coral reefs are naturally ‘oligotrophic’ or nutrient-poor environments and nutrients that become ‘available’ from dying animals and plants are quickly re-used and recycled into the living reef organisms. This leaves the surrounding waters nutrient-poor. We all know that lots of nutrients, such as nitrates and phosphates help plants grow. Indeed, high nutrient conditions on a reef helps algae grow fast. Although algae on reefs is both natural and an important source of food for herbivores, in unnaturally high nutrient conditions, algae can out-compete coral, smother it and block the sunlight that is essential for 90% or more of its food. Therefore, proliferation of many types of algae is an indicator of nutrient pollution. Note the fleshy body of this algae. Photo by Jos Hill, 2002

70 NUTRIENT INDICATOR ALGAE Nutrient pollution indicators
Nutrient pollution can occur when farming practices on land use fertilizers. These fertilizers run-off into the sea and increase the nutrient levels on the reefs. It is important to not that although most kinds of algae can proliferate in high nutrient conditions, there are types of algae that are not indicators of nutrient pollution. These include Sargassum sp., Turbinaria sp., Halimeda sp., coralline algae and turf algae. Sargassum and turbinaria tend to proliferate then practically disappear seasonally. These algae can be recognised by having thick, leathery and spiky leaves. Sargassum also has little air bladders that hold it upright.

71 NUTRIENT INDICATOR ALGAE Nutrient pollution indicators
Halimeda looks like chains of flat, green discs. Coralline algae looks like a thin purple, orange or red covering on the reef surface and turf algae is like a short (few mm tall), wiry grass. If we see these algae on the reef, just look at what is below and note its presence in the comments section of the survey sheet. Photo by Jos Hill, 2002 IMPORTANT! This is halimeda and NOT a nutrient indicator algae!

72 NUTRIENT INDICATOR ALGAE Nutrient pollution indicators
This algae is like a turf algae, however, it has a jelly/fleshy coating that is more than just a few mm of wiry turf. This is, therefore, included in nutrient indicator algae. If you are unsure whether it is turf algae (and therefore just noted in the comments section) or nutrient indicator algae, look for a fleshy ‘halo’. Photo by Jos Hill, 2002

73 NUTRIENT INDICATOR ALGAE Nutrient pollution indicators
This algae is fleshy, therefore counted as nutrient indicator algae. Photo by Jos Hill, 2002

74 NUTRIENT INDICATOR ALGAE Nutrient pollution indicators
Red and fleshy algae. If this is allowed to proliferate as it might in high nutrient conditions, it can smother the coral and prevent light to penetrate. Lack of light prevents the zooxanthellae algae inside the coral from photosynthesising. Photo by Jos Hill, 2002

75 NUTRIENT INDICATOR ALGAE Nutrient pollution indicators
Photo by Jos Hill, 2002 See how this fleshy algae is competing with the branching coral for space and light.

76 NUTRIENT INDICATOR ALGAE Nutrient pollution indicators
This algae is beginning to smother the branching hard coral. Photo by Jos Hill, 2002

77 NUTRIENT INDICATOR ALGAE Nutrient pollution indicators
Photo by Jos Hill, 2002 This algae, which looks like pencil shavings, can proliferate in high nutrient conditions.

78 NUTRIENT INDICATOR ALGAE Nutrient pollution indicators
This red algae grows like little red leaves. Photo by Jos Hill, 2002

79 NUTRIENT INDICATOR ALGAE Nutrient pollution indicators
Photo by Jos Hill, 2002 As this fleshy brown algae grows over the dead coral, it can smother the surface and prevent baby corals from establishing themselves by blocking out the sunlight.

80 NUTRIENT INDICATOR ALGAE Nutrient pollution indicators
Summary The aim is to record blooms of fleshy algae that may be responding to a high level of nutrient input; . Examples of these types of algae are Ulva, various blue green algae, and bubble algae as illustrated here; Algae that are a normal part of a healthy reef, such as Sargassum sp., should NOT be recorded as NIA. Instead, record the substrate directly beneath the algae and note this in the comments section; Turf and coralline algae go under rock and halimeda goes under ‘other’.

81 Sewage pollution indicator
SPONGE Sewage pollution indicator Reef Check code: SP

82 Sewage pollution indicator
SPONGE Sewage pollution indicator Sponges are very simple animals and are filter feeders that clean the water of bacteria and other suspended organic particles. They work like suction pumps and can filter large quantities of water in a day. As they are simple animals, they have no nervous network and so will not react if you waft your hand over their holes! Neither do they have a system for cleaning their outer surface from particles from the water column that get sucked there as the sponge filters the water. Instead, little sea cucumbers do this job for them and you may see some sponges covered by little white worm-like sea cucumbers. Other sponges may be covered with a thin layer of silt. Sponge texture tends to be matt rather than shiny.

83 Sewage pollution indicator
SPONGE Sewage pollution indicator You’d expect to see more sponges in areas of strong currents where more food will be brought their way in the water column. Sponges are very common components of coral reefs, although they tend not to make up a large percentage of the reef surface in the Indo-Pacific. Extensive coverage of sponge may indicate sewage pollution, as they are able to proliferate where there is more food. Extensive sponge growth takes up space from hard corals. Photo from Undersea Explorer, 2002

84 Sewage pollution indicator
SPONGE Sewage pollution indicator Sponges come in ALL shapes, sizes and colours! They can be confused with ascidians (see the ‘other’ category). Their tissue is fairly stiff and their skeleton is similar to that of soft corals, a matrix of hard elements called spicules. Patterns of these spicules can often be seen from the surface like splinters in the tissue or irregular lumps over the surface.

85 Sewage pollution indicator
SPONGE Sewage pollution indicator Water pumped out through the larger holes, this is called an osculum. The network of small canals lead to a larger canal that leads to the ostia opening. Water is sucked into the ostia by a suction current that is created by the collar cells that line the internal canals. Small, irregularly spaced holes called ostia cover the sponge surface. They lead to a network of canals, which are lined with collar cells. These cells create the suction current and sieve out organic debris (food) from the water. The sponge surface is a matt texture. And may be covered with silt and other organic debris that is too large to fit into the ostia. Cross section through a sponge

86 Sewage pollution indicator
SPONGE Sewage pollution indicator To identify sponge use the following decision rules: If it is a protruding structure, waft the water near it with your hand. Does it move? No Look at the texture and try to find the coral cups. Hard coral texture is like sandpaper or knobbly; If the coral polyps are out, count the tentacles. Hard coral polyps have 6 or multiples of 6 tentacles whereas soft corals only have 8. Yes It is not hard coral and may be soft coral or sponge.

87 Sewage pollution indicator
SPONGE Sewage pollution indicator If it is a soft, encrusting structure, look for irregular holes. THINK IRREGULAR is probably the best advise you can use to recognise sponges! Does it have irregular holes? Yes It is probably sponge or an ascidian. To tell these apart, waft the holes. If there is NO reaction it is probably a sponge. If the holes close up – it is an ascidian! No If it has regular holes less than 1mm diameter then it is probably a soft coral.

88 Sewage pollution indicator
SPONGE Sewage pollution indicator Look at the matt surface, which is covered in little spikes from the spicules in its skeleton. Photo by Jos Hill, 2002 Notice how it cannot clean this debris out.

89 Sewage pollution indicator
SPONGE Sewage pollution indicator Photo by Jos Hill, 2002 Note the holes (osculum). These are distributed in an irregular fashion over the sponge body. Note the irregular, matt surface and irregular shape

90 Sewage pollution indicator
SPONGE Sewage pollution indicator Note these holes. They are fairly regularly spaced over this sponge. Photo by Jos Hill, 2002 Note the spiky surface.

91 Sewage pollution indicator
SPONGE Sewage pollution indicator Photo by Jos Hill, 2002 Note the irregular, spiky surface. Note irregularly spaced holes.

92 Sewage pollution indicator
SPONGE Sewage pollution indicator Note irregular, spiky surface. Photo by Jos Hill, 2002

93 Sewage pollution indicator
SPONGE Sewage pollution indicator Photo by Jos Hill, 2002 In a silty environment, sponges may frequently be covered in a layer of silt. Note irregular and spiky surface with irregularly spaced holes.

94 Sewage pollution indicator
SPONGE Sewage pollution indicator Spiky, irregular, holey surface. Photo by Jos Hill, 2002 Irregular and matt surface with one large hole. This is an ascidian NOT a sponge. See ‘Other’

95 Sewage pollution indicator
SPONGE Sewage pollution indicator Summary Huge range of colours; Surface often matt or dull; Simple organisms with no set shape. Think IRREGULAR! Can assume a variety of shapes and sizes from small encrusting animals to large tube, barrel or foliose forms; To tell these from hard corals, waft and they will sway. To tell them from soft corals, look closely at the surface for irregular texture, covered in different sized holes. These holes will NOT close up if you waft your hand over them. To tell an encrusting sponge or soft coral from hard coral, look how ‘thick’ the structure is on the reef. Sponges and soft corals will be thicker.

96 Not indicators of impacts
OTHER Not indicators of impacts Reef Check code: OT

97 Not indicators of impacts
OTHER Not indicators of impacts This category contains both living and non-living elements of a coral reef that do not serve as indicators of human impacts for the Reef Check survey. Some of the members of the ‘other’ category can be confused with members of the soft coral and sponge categories. It is, therefore, important to familiarise yourselves with these in order to avoid making these misidentifications.

98 Not indicators of impacts
OTHER Not indicators of impacts This category can include the following – although this is not an exhaustive list! Ascidians; Hydroids; Anemones; Coralliomorphs; Gorgonians; Clams (but the shell comes under Rock).

99 Not indicators of impacts
OTHER Not indicators of impacts Ascidians Ascidians (or tunicates or sea squirts) can easily be confused with encrusting sponges because or their irregular growth. They are also filter feeders and so are covered in inhalant and exhalent holes. However, they are much more complex organisms than sponges and the holes will CLOSE if you waft your hand over them. Sponges will not do this! These holes will close up if you waft your hand over them. Photo by Jos Hill, 2002

100 Not indicators of impacts
OTHER Not indicators of impacts Ascidians Photo by Jos Hill, 2002 Solitary as well as colonial ascidians exist. Solitary ascidians are often easier to recognise as they look like little bells. These solitary ascidians can occur in groups but their tissue is not joined (like the zoanthids).

101 Not indicators of impacts
OTHER Not indicators of impacts Ascidians Photo by Jos Hill, 2002 Inhalant and exhalant holes. Waft and these will close.

102 Not indicators of impacts
OTHER Not indicators of impacts Ascidians Photo by Jos Hill, 2002 These ascidians look like little bells. Waft over the holes and they will close!

103 Not indicators of impacts
OTHER Not indicators of impacts Ascidians Ascidians tend to have a more shiny surface than a sponge. The holes will close when wafted. These little yellow organisms are also ascidians. Waft and the holes will close. Photo by Jos Hill, 2002

104 Not indicators of impacts
OTHER Not indicators of impacts Ascidians Photo by Jos Hill, 2002 This is quite common on the Great Barrier Reef. Most people just have to learn this one – but it helps to describe it like snot!

105 Not indicators of impacts
OTHER Not indicators of impacts Hydroids Hydroids are related to coral. They look like feathers or ferns and are often called stinging hydroids because they STING! Don’t touch! Photo by Jos Hill, 2002

106 Not indicators of impacts
OTHER Not indicators of impacts Hydroids Photo by Jos Hill, 2002

107 Not indicators of impacts
OTHER Not indicators of impacts Anemones Photo by Jos Hill, 2002 Anemones are also related to coral. They frequently have anemone fish living in them – however, not always. Be careful not to confuse these with the mushroom corals!

108 Not indicators of impacts
OTHER Not indicators of impacts Anemones Photo by Jos Hill, 2002

109 Not indicators of impacts
OTHER Not indicators of impacts Gorgonians Gorgonians are actually soft corals but come under the ‘Other’ category for Reef Check. They are common in areas of high current where they position themselves against the current and filter out food from the water that travels across them. Photo by Dean Miller, 2002

110 Not indicators of impacts Non-nutrient indicator seaweed
OTHER Not indicators of impacts Non-nutrient indicator seaweed Halimeda is a green algae that excretes a calcium carbonate ‘skeleton’, which makes it difficult to digest by many herbivores and so serves as protection from many algae-eating organisms. Halimeda is common on some reefs and is not counted as a nutrient indicator seaweed. Therefore, put it in ‘Other’. Photo by Jos Hill, 2002

111 Not indicators of impacts
OTHER Not indicators of impacts Coralliomorphs Coralliomorphs look like anemones. As both these belong in ‘Other’ there is no need to differentiate between the two. Photo by Jos Hill, 2002

112 ROCK Hard substratum Reef Check code: RC

113 ROCK Hard substratum Rock can be defined as any hard substratum that is either bare rock or covered in turf algae or encrusting coralline algae, barnacles, oysters etc. Rock also includes dead coral that is more than 1 year old, i.e. is worn down so that few corallite structures are visible, and covered with a thick layer of encrusting organisms and/or algae. Turf algae is like wiry turf no more than a few millimeters long; Coralline algae is encrusting and looks like lichen that is pink, purple, orange or red; Rock is important because it is a hard substratum on which new coral or other organisms can settle.

114 ROCK The whole of this picture would be classified as rock
Hard substratum The whole of this picture would be classified as rock Photo by Jos Hill, 2002 This is coralline algae, therefore, rock for Reef Check.

115 ROCK Hard substratum This has a think layer of silt
Photo by Jos Hill, 2002 This has a think layer of silt

116 ROCK The whole of this picture would be classified as rock
Hard substratum The whole of this picture would be classified as rock Photo by Jos Hill, 2002 This pink is coralline algae (rock for Reef Check)

117 ROCK Hard substratum Rock
Photo by Jos Hill, 2002 Rock This is actually hard coral. The little bumps are the corallites. The ‘hole-like’ ones are irregularities. If you gave this a gentle touch, you would see that it was hard coral rather than a sponge or ascidian.

118 ROCK Hard substratum Photo by Jos Hill, 2002 This is broken dead coral (rubble). It is classed as rock because it has encrusting organisms growing on it so that it is now consolidated rather than lose. Had it been lose rubble that could be moved around it would go in the rubble category. This is sponge. Look at the spiky texture.

119 ROCK Hard substratum The shell of this clam would come under rock.
Photo by Dean Miller, 2002 The shell of this clam would come under rock.

120 ROCK Hard substratum The corallites of this dead coral are very eroded. This is therefore rock. Photo by Jos Hill, 2002 These are ascidians.

121 ROCK Hard substratum The corallites of this dead coral are very eroded. This would come under rock. Photo by Jos Hill, 2002

122 ROCK Hard substratum Again, the corallites of this dead coral are very eroded. This is, therefore, rock. Photo by Jos Hill, 2002

123 ROCK Summary This includes: Bare rock; Turf and coralline algae;
Hard substratum Summary This includes: Bare rock; Turf and coralline algae; Barnacles or oysters etc; Coral that has been dead for over a year; Rubble that has been ‘cemented’ together by coralline algae.

124 Indicator of recent disturbance
Recently Killed Coral Indicator of recent disturbance Reef Check code: RKC

125 Indicator of recent disturbance
RECENTLY KILLED CORAL Indicator of recent disturbance The aim here is to record recent mortalities in hard corals. It is important to be able to identify recently killed coral from coral skeletons of coral that has been dead for a while. The following guidelines may help with the identification of this category: Killed during the last year. This means that corallites will not be very eroded. If the corallites have been eroded down and are covered in encrusting organisms and/or are a dull grey colour, then it is classified as rock; The skeleton may still be white if very recently killed because it is made out of limestone. It may be slightly overgrown by algae as this may not take long to settle. Look under the algae for corallites that are not eroded and/or whitish skeleton; If it is slightly grown over with algae – note it as NIA/RKC or OT/RKC depending on whether it is nutrient indicator algae or other algae.

126 Indicator of recent disturbance
RECENTLY KILLED CORAL Indicator of recent disturbance If you look closely, the corallites are only slightly eroded here. This would be on the borderline of RKC and nearly rock. Photo by Jos Hill, 2002 This is very eroded and covered in coralline algae. This would come under rock. This part has died very recently as it only has a very thin layer of algae covering it. This algae is not thick enough to count as algae so just put RKC. This looks white like it has very recently died. This part is still alive hard coral.

127 Indicator of recent disturbance
RECENTLY KILLED CORAL Indicator of recent disturbance Photo by Jos Hill, 2002 This ‘halo’ of jelly-like algae is cyano-bacteria which is a nutrient indicator algae. Put NIA/RKC on the survey form here. Note the skeleton is still white, so this is very recently killed.

128 Indicator of recent disturbance
RECENTLY KILLED CORAL Indicator of recent disturbance This photo was taken in March 2002 when there was severe bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef. This white part is either bleached and still alive or recently killed. It is hard to tell – however, seeing that the rest of this branching hard coral colony is recently killed, you can assume that this part is also. Photo by Jos Hill, 2002 This part is recently killed but now covered in a thin layer of algae. Here you can put NIA/RKC.

129 Indicator of recent disturbance
RECENTLY KILLED CORAL Indicator of recent disturbance Live hard coral Photo by Jos Hill, 2002 This photo was taken a couple of weeks after bleaching hit this area. Apparently all this NIA only took a couple of weeks to cover this coral! In other areas it can take a lot longer. A close look at this coral will show that the corallites were not eroded and white underneath. Therefore, put NIA/RKC.

130 Indicator of recent disturbance
RECENTLY KILLED CORAL Indicator of recent disturbance Photo by Jos Hill, 2002 This nutrient indicator algae has not taken long to partially cover the recently killed coral. Put NIA/RKC for the areas covered with this algae. This is recently killed. Note the white skeleton.

131 Indicator of recent disturbance
RECENTLY KILLED CORAL Indicator of recent disturbance Photo by Jos Hill, 2002 This algae is too thin to worry about. Put RKC. This algae is starting to get ‘fleshy’. Put NIA/RKC here.

132 Indicator of recent disturbance
RECENTLY KILLED CORAL Indicator of recent disturbance Summary This includes coral that has died in the last year (recently). This can be a difficult category to define – therefore note the following: Corallites are not eroded much; Some white skeleton showing; Only partially grown over with encrusting algae – where corallites and/or white skeleton is still visible; If it is slightly grown over with algae – note it as NIA/RKC or OT/RKC depending on whether it is nutrient indicator algae or other algae.

133 Unconsolidated material
RUBBLE Unconsolidated material Reef Check code: RB

134 Unconsolidated material
RUBBLE Unconsolidated material Rubble is classed as rocks between 0.5 and 15 cm diameter. If it is larger than 15 cm it is rock, smaller than 0.5 cm and it is sand. Photo by Dean Miller, 2002 As rubble is unattached to the reef, wave action will make it tumble around, which may knock off any new corals that have settled. When rubble has been ‘cemented’ together by coralline algae, we call it rock as it is no longer unstable.

135 Indicator of soil erosion or dredging
SILT Indicator of soil erosion or dredging Reef Check code: SI

136 Indicator of soil erosion or dredging
SILT Indicator of soil erosion or dredging Tap this and it will rise from the reef in a little cloud. Photo by Jos Hill, 2002 Silt is sediment that remains in suspension if disturbed. Note that these are practical definitions not geo-technical. Often, silt is present on top of other indicators such as rock. In these instances, silt is recorded if the silt layer is thicker than 1 mm or covers the underlying substratum such that you cannot observe the color. If the color of the underlying substrate can be discerned, then the contact will be the underlying substrate NOT silt.

137 Indicator of soil erosion or dredging
SILT Indicator of soil erosion or dredging One way to double check that it is silt is to tap it and it will come up from the substrata like a cloud. Photo by Jos Hill, 2002

138 Indicator of soil erosion or dredging
SILT Indicator of soil erosion or dredging Remember if you can’t see the substrate colour underneath, it is silt. Photo by Jos Hill, 2002 Nutrient indicator algae.

139 SAND Non-reef area Reef Check code: SD

140 SAND Non-reef area Sand is a natural component of coral reefs. This category helps us to see when the transect hits a sandy patch in-between the reef area. If you are unsure as to whether it is sand or silt, pick a bit up and drop it. If if falls straight to the ground, it is sand. If it forms a cloud in the water column, it is silt.

141 Phew! Well done! This presentation was produced by Jos Hill, 2003©. Any questions, please contact Jos at Ph: +61 (0) Mob: +61 (0)


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