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A Rapid Estimation Method for Assessing Reef Habitat Provided by Sponges and Octocorals on Shallow and Deep Water Reefs.
Citation:
SANTAVY, DEBBIE L., W. S. FISHER, R. L. QUARLES, AND L. A. COURTNEY. A Rapid Estimation Method for Assessing Reef Habitat Provided by Sponges and Octocorals on Shallow and Deep Water Reefs. Presented at 94th ESA Annual Meeting, ALBUQUERQUE, NM, August 02 - 07, 2009.
Impact/Purpose:
Abstract submitted to Ecological Society of America (ESA) for presentation at 94th Annual Meetinf August 2-7, 2009. As reports of reef habitat degradation proliferate, ecologists are challenged with developing rapid and meaningful methods to assess changing environmental conditions and provide this information quickly to marine managers and policy makers to make decisions to halt, mitigate and reverse habitat decline. For reefs, many assume scleractinians or stony corals are the primary organisms that sustain important functions to fish and macroinvertebrate populations on oceanic reefs, but other organisms can contribute significant structural biomass and provide essential ecological functions. Marine sponges (Porifera) and octocorals (Gorgonaceae) contribute important structure-forming functions, particularly in areas where scleractinian corals are relatively rare or absent. A rapid assessment method was developed to evaluate the potential of octocorals and sponges to provide habitat and serve ecological functions to other invertebrates and fishes.
Description:
Abstract for presentation at ESA annual meeting August 2009.