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Utilizing NASA for Coral Reef Biodiversity Preservation

Explore how NASA capabilities can aid coral reef science and conservation efforts. Discusses biodiversity, research, mapping, and connectivity modeling.

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Utilizing NASA for Coral Reef Biodiversity Preservation

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  1. NASA Biodiversity and Ecological Forecasting Meeting Washington DC - August 29 to 31, 2005 Using NASA capabilities for biodiversity assessment and ecological forecasting in coral reef environments Christopher Moses, Frank Müller-Karger, and Serge Andréfouët

  2. Questions • What needs to be done for science and conservation of coral reefs? • What is NASA currently doing for science and conservation of coral reefs? • How could NASA advance science and conservation applications for coral reefs?

  3. Biodiversity of Coral Reefs • Reefs fringe ~15% of world’s coastlines • High biodiversity • >2,000 reef fishes • >800 species of corals • ~7% of corals and 27% of fish are endemic • Roberts, et al., 2002 • ~58% are threatened by human activities • Ginsburg, et al., 1994 • 14-30% reef loss by 2050 due to climate variability • Kleypas, et al., 1999

  4. Biodiversity and Coral Research • Biodiversity: • Inventory/cataloging of diversity • Factors controlling diversity • Influence of diversity on processes • Management, biodiversity conservation • Ecological forecasting: • Dynamics of these fields under changing climate and anthropogenic impacts • Planning and management for predicted changes

  5. Global coral reef distribution Island and reef geomorphology Community Organism (coral colony)

  6. NASA’s Right Stuff (2000-2008) • Millennium Coral Reef Map: • Landsat 7 systematic global coral reef acquisitions • Geomorphology mapping • On-line archive at SeaWiFS Project • Interdisciplinary study (IDS) on coral reef connectivity: • Mesoamerican barrier reef • French Polynesia • Great Barrier Reef

  7. Coral Reef RS Priorities • Reef mapping (Millennium Map) • Geomorphology, communities, species • Climatology of land, ocean and atmosphere around reefs (IDS) • Forcing of local water masses (circulation, temperature, pollution, etc…) • Modeling and forecasting of the biodiversity dynamics (IDS) • Connectivity, climate change, anthropogenic impacts

  8. Millennium Coral Reef Map

  9. Previous Coral Reef Maps SE New Caledonia UNEP-WCMC ReefBase

  10. Ishigaki, Ryukyus, Japan 35 geomorphic reef units Sample Landsat-7 true color composite used in Millennium Map • Monitoring design • Ideal sampling • Reference for site selection • Representative of sites

  11. USF Millenium UNEP-WCMC

  12. Reef Area Estimations

  13. NASACoral Reef Connectivity Interdisciplinary Study (IDS)

  14. SeaWiFS ag440, Feb 12, 2004 SeaWiFS ag440, Feb 24, 2004 River Plumes - SeaWiFS

  15. River Plumes - MODIS MODIS/Aqua, Oct. 19, 2003

  16. Connectivity Modeling

  17. Connectivity Modeling • Larval transport and settlement • Spread of disease • Metapopulation dynamics • Range of anthropogenic influence • Possible regions of refugia • Trans-boundary planning of protected areas

  18. Conclusions • Meeting needs for mapping, integration with environmental data, and connectivity modeling • NASA’s impact on the management community is growing • However: • Poor (public/management/scientist) understanding of the possibilities and limits of the data and products • Need for the creation of an application-oriented structure (jointly with ??) of user-friendly systems to consult and download in simple format

  19. Acknowledgements • NASA • Julie Robinson (NASA), Damaris Torres-Pulizza, Alan Spraggins, Christine Kranenburg, Chuanmin Hu, Gene C. Feldman, Norman Kuring, Ed Green (WCMC), Marco Noordeloos (WorldFish/ReefBase)

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