Koa. Acho.
Koa. Acho.

Amu. Coral.
Amu. Coral.

It is known by different names to different peoples throughout the world. It is a home
It is known by different names to different peoples throughout the world. It is a home

and refuge for fishes, snails, algae,
and refuge for fishes, snails, algae,

crabs, and countless other organisms.
crabs, and countless other organisms.

It provides human populations with sustenance, protection,
It provides human populations with sustenance, protection,

and is an essential component to the traditional lifestyles and cultures
and is an essential component to the traditional lifestyles and cultures

of many Pacific islanders.
of many Pacific islanders.

Marine communities in the Pacific Island Network of U.S. national parks are made
Marine communities in the Pacific Island Network of U.S. national parks are made

up of rich an abundant life.
up of rich an abundant life.

These outstanding vibrant natural communities of some of the most
These outstanding vibrant natural communities of some of the most

ecologically important areas in the world.
ecologically important areas in the world.

Coral reefs are centers of marine diversity
Coral reefs are centers of marine diversity

and provide habitat to many different organisms.
and provide habitat to many different organisms.

Due to their ecological, cultural, and economic importance
Due to their ecological, cultural, and economic importance

it is critical that the National Park Service collect scientific data
it is critical that the National Park Service collect scientific data

on the current health and long-term trends of the parks' coral reefs.
on the current health and long-term trends of the parks' coral reefs.

To really try and track
To really try and track

the subtle changes that are occurring over time so that we can
the subtle changes that are occurring over time so that we can

pick up cues from various stressors.
pick up cues from various stressors.

Corals face many threats including: disease,
Corals face many threats including: disease,

contaminants,
contaminants,

storms and tidal waves,
storms and tidal waves,

alien species,
alien species,

sedimentation,
sedimentation,

coastal development,
coastal development,

and population pressures. Many threats to the marine environment
and population pressures. Many threats to the marine environment

originate on land, and most are associated with human activity.
originate on land, and most are associated with human activity.

Coral reefs are strong, early indicators of global climate change.
Coral reefs are strong, early indicators of global climate change.

For example, increased ocean temperatures contribute to bleaching;
For example, increased ocean temperatures contribute to bleaching;

a process in which corals
a process in which corals

expel essential algae
expel essential algae

leaving behind white skeletons. If prolonged,
leaving behind white skeletons. If prolonged,

bleaching kills the corals.
bleaching kills the corals.

Increases in carbon dioxide have resulted in ocean acidification
Increases in carbon dioxide have resulted in ocean acidification

which inhibits corals from forming a skeleton and maintaining reef formation.
which inhibits corals from forming a skeleton and maintaining reef formation.

Long-term monitoring of coral reefs is a priority for the National Park Service.
Long-term monitoring of coral reefs is a priority for the National Park Service.

And then by taking
And then by taking

repeated measurements over time
repeated measurements over time

we can see if there's any particular trend... whether it's improving,
we can see if there's any particular trend... whether it's improving,

staying about the same, or actually declining.
staying about the same, or actually declining.

Monitoring is conducted at War in the Pacific National Historical Park,
Monitoring is conducted at War in the Pacific National Historical Park,

The National Park of American Samoa, Kaloko-Honokohau National
The National Park of American Samoa, Kaloko-Honokohau National

Historical Park,
Historical Park,

and at Kalaupapa National Historical Park.
and at Kalaupapa National Historical Park.

Each park's marine area has been divided into thirty study sites...
Each park's marine area has been divided into thirty study sites...

fifteen of which are randomly selected.
fifteen of which are randomly selected.

At each study site, one twenty-five meter transect is created at a depth between
At each study site, one twenty-five meter transect is created at a depth between

ten and twenty meters.
ten and twenty meters.

Once a site is located
Once a site is located

observers descend below water and lay
observers descend below water and lay

the transect line. Along the transect, a diver takes twenty-five still photographs from
the transect line. Along the transect, a diver takes twenty-five still photographs from

a perpendicular angle
a perpendicular angle

at a height of half-a-meter above the bottom.
at a height of half-a-meter above the bottom.

These images capture what that benthic community looks like that point in time.
These images capture what that benthic community looks like that point in time.

Photographs are then later brought into the lab,
Photographs are then later brought into the lab,

analyzed,
analyzed,

and then from there we can determine the different types of cover; whether that's
and then from there we can determine the different types of cover; whether that's

coral dominated,
coral dominated,

algal dominated, in other words, algae,
algal dominated, in other words, algae,

or different types of macro invertebrates; large things like sea cucumbers,
or different types of macro invertebrates; large things like sea cucumbers,

sea urchins,
sea urchins,

that all inhabit the bottom.
that all inhabit the bottom.

This enables us to really kind of capture at that moment in time
This enables us to really kind of capture at that moment in time

what the benthic community is like.
what the benthic community is like.

A second component of monitoring is called rugosity.
A second component of monitoring is called rugosity.

Rugosity comes from the Greek word "rugos" or wrinkled,
Rugosity comes from the Greek word "rugos" or wrinkled,

and it allows us to capture
and it allows us to capture

the surface complexity of the bottom.
the surface complexity of the bottom.

And the idea behind this chain is
And the idea behind this chain is

as we contour it on the bottom
as we contour it on the bottom

it gives us some index of how rough the bottom is.
it gives us some index of how rough the bottom is.

Because the amount of chain
Because the amount of chain

required to span the distance of that twenty-five meter transect
required to span the distance of that twenty-five meter transect

will give us this nice index and tell us whether it's really rough, really smooth like pavement,
will give us this nice index and tell us whether it's really rough, really smooth like pavement,

or somewhere in between.
or somewhere in between.

Why this is important is because fish like
Why this is important is because fish like

rough environments.
rough environments.

Coral is composed of tiny individual units called polyps.
Coral is composed of tiny individual units called polyps.

Polyps work together to create coral colonies;
Polyps work together to create coral colonies;

the basis of the reef.
the basis of the reef.

So here I'm looking at some coral settlement tiles
So here I'm looking at some coral settlement tiles

to try and take a look at some of the processes that might be influencing
to try and take a look at some of the processes that might be influencing

coral reef communities over time... mainly coral reef reproduction.
coral reef communities over time... mainly coral reef reproduction.

And what we do is we set these settlement tiles out once a year... pick them up about after four
And what we do is we set these settlement tiles out once a year... pick them up about after four

months or so,
months or so,

and see what's actually settled on them.
and see what's actually settled on them.

With the information collected from monitoring, we are able to inform park
With the information collected from monitoring, we are able to inform park

managers about areas of unique or high biodiversity within the parks.
managers about areas of unique or high biodiversity within the parks.

We are also able to document long-term seafloor trends for climate change assessments,
We are also able to document long-term seafloor trends for climate change assessments,

and are better able to provide an early warning system for the detection
and are better able to provide an early warning system for the detection

of disease, bleaching, and other threats.
of disease, bleaching, and other threats.

We aspire to learn how our coral reefs are changing.
We aspire to learn how our coral reefs are changing.

This powerful knowledge is vital
This powerful knowledge is vital

to the survival of our oceans, and ultimately to ourselves.
to the survival of our oceans, and ultimately to ourselves.