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AGRRA protocols and coral reef health in the Caribbean

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Date Issued:
2021-04-21
Abstract:
The objective of The Atlantic and Gulf Rapid Reef Assessment (AGRRA) coral monitoring is to assess the size and overall condition of corals ≥ 4 cm to help evaluate important structural and functional attributes of tropical western Atlantic coral reefs. Data collected can provide information representative of large areas, like shelves, islands, countries or ecoregions. The coral monitoring surveys can be performed by snorkeling (< 1.5 m), but SCUBA is now recommended for most assessments with diver expertise ranging from novice to highly trained. Survey sites should be chosen randomly within a geomorphic zone of a reef on an insular or continental shelf within one of twelve marine shelf ecoregions of the Tropical Northwestern province of the Tropical Atlantic biogeographic realm. The spatial extent of a site is about 200 m x 200 m and zones of maximum reef development are highly recommended. Recording of exact location using GPS is critical for data quality and consistency. Surveys are completed to assess coral health, recruitments, size, and species. Although single metrics are insufficient to measure whole coral system health due to the highly dynamic nature of reefs, the information collected can indirectly measure environmental quality of the reef and assist in understanding the effects of local and regional stressors. The use of trained volunteer divers whether amateur or professional provides a wealth of information in a cost friendly manner and the data collected from over 3,000 surveys is available in an open-access public database. Information collected from monitoring surveys has become a key source of scientific data used in other research programs, reef policies, legislation, management and conservation.
Title: AGRRA protocols and coral reef health in the Caribbean.
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Name(s): Quintana, Arely, creator
Type of Resource: text
Genre: Research Posters
Posters
Date Issued: 2021-04-21
Physical Form: electronic
Extent: 1 poster
Language(s): English
Abstract: The objective of The Atlantic and Gulf Rapid Reef Assessment (AGRRA) coral monitoring is to assess the size and overall condition of corals ≥ 4 cm to help evaluate important structural and functional attributes of tropical western Atlantic coral reefs. Data collected can provide information representative of large areas, like shelves, islands, countries or ecoregions. The coral monitoring surveys can be performed by snorkeling (< 1.5 m), but SCUBA is now recommended for most assessments with diver expertise ranging from novice to highly trained. Survey sites should be chosen randomly within a geomorphic zone of a reef on an insular or continental shelf within one of twelve marine shelf ecoregions of the Tropical Northwestern province of the Tropical Atlantic biogeographic realm. The spatial extent of a site is about 200 m x 200 m and zones of maximum reef development are highly recommended. Recording of exact location using GPS is critical for data quality and consistency. Surveys are completed to assess coral health, recruitments, size, and species. Although single metrics are insufficient to measure whole coral system health due to the highly dynamic nature of reefs, the information collected can indirectly measure environmental quality of the reef and assist in understanding the effects of local and regional stressors. The use of trained volunteer divers whether amateur or professional provides a wealth of information in a cost friendly manner and the data collected from over 3,000 surveys is available in an open-access public database. Information collected from monitoring surveys has become a key source of scientific data used in other research programs, reef policies, legislation, management and conservation.
Identifier: BC3355 (IID)
Affiliation: Arely Quintana. Broward College.
Note(s): Poster presented at the Student Research Symposium event of the University/College Library’s annual Literary Festival on April 22, 2021.
The Student Research Symposium event of the University/College Library’s annual Literary Festival of 2021 was transitioned to a virtual setting due to COVID-19.
A project-based learning approach was implemented during the 2021 Spring semester in Dr. Pamela Fletcher’s Environmental Science courses where students created posters based on their research topics.
Subject(s): Broward College
Environmental sciences
Atlantic and Gulf Rapid Reef Assessment Program
Reef fishes
Coral reef fishes
Benthos
Marine benthic ecology
Caribbean Area
2021
Held by: Broward College Archives and Special Collections
Persistent Link to This Record: http://purl.flvc.org/broward/fd/BC3355
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Host Institution: Broward