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The Kosrae Coral Reef Monitoring Project -- Indicator Species Identification
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Each reef project session begins with a general assessment of the environmental characteristics of the monitoring site ( both surface and subsurface ) called the Site Survey. This is followed by three discreet data collection tasks consisting of 1) a fish inventory, 2) an invertebrate inventory, and, 3) a coral inventory.
The fish inventory is performed first, with a limited number of divers in the water in order to minimize the disturbance of the reef inhabitants. During the fish inventory, a diver counts the occurrence of particular fish types -- referred to as Indicator Species -- within a specified volume of water centered on a marked line called the transect. Invertebrates are counted in a similar fashion, except that the diver counts the occurrence of Indicator Invertebrates located on a specified surface area bisected by the same transect (belt transect). For the coral inventory, the diver identifies and records the types of coral which are found directly below a sequence of marked points on the transect line (line transect).
As part of your preparation for participation in the reef monitoring project, you may wish to familiarize yourself with the various indicator species that you will be counting. The images below display representations of the various Indicator Species of interest.
Use the scroll bar to move through a sequence of Indicator Species.
Move your cursor over the image to reveal the species common and scientific name.
Click on the image to open a new window with additional information about the species itself.
The fish inventory is performed first, with a limited number of divers in the water in order to minimize the disturbance of the reef inhabitants. During the fish inventory, a diver counts the occurrence of particular fish types -- referred to as Indicator Species -- within a specified volume of water centered on a marked line called the transect. Invertebrates are counted in a similar fashion, except that the diver counts the occurrence of Indicator Invertebrates located on a specified surface area bisected by the same transect (belt transect). For the coral inventory, the diver identifies and records the types of coral which are found directly below a sequence of marked points on the transect line (line transect).
As part of your preparation for participation in the reef monitoring project, you may wish to familiarize yourself with the various indicator species that you will be counting. The images below display representations of the various Indicator Species of interest.
Use the scroll bar to move through a sequence of Indicator Species.
Move your cursor over the image to reveal the species common and scientific name.
Click on the image to open a new window with additional information about the species itself.
INDICATOR SPECIES -- FISH
INDICATOR SPECIES -- BUTTERFLY FISH
INDICATOR SPECIES -- OTHERS..
INDICATOR SPECIES -- INVERTEBRATES
There are a tremendous number of corals and animals living on the reef. Some can only be asssigned a detailed and definitive identification by close physical examination. Some of the images which follow do not have species identifiers attached. This is because we are either still refining our identification or are unable to make a definitive identification to our required level of certainty.
If you feel that you can offer a confirmable identification of these inhabitants, please email us and give us your opinion.
If you feel that you can offer a confirmable identification of these inhabitants, please email us and give us your opinion.
-- TYPES OF CORAL --
HARD CORALS
-- TYPES OF CORAL --
SOFT CORALS
EXAMPLES OF COMMON BOTTOM SUBSTRATES
EXAMPLES OF COMMON TYPES OF REEF DAMAGE
OTHER COMMON REEF INHABITANTS
IDENTIFY THE ONE THAT'S DANGEROUS
