Shrnutí

Popis

Belt transects along 2 consecutively-placed, 25m transect lines were surveyed at 50-cm intervals as part of Rapid Ecological Assessments conducted at 6 sites at Howland Island in January, 2006 from the NOAA vessel Hi'ialakai (HI06-01). Raw survey data included percent cover of benthic parameters, including live coral, dead coral, carbonate pavement, sand, coral rubble, fleshy macroalgae, crustose coralline algae, and other sessile invertebrates along the two transect lines. In addition, an area of 1-2m on each side of each transect was surveyed; within this area, each coral colony was inspected and every diseased/afflicted colony identified to the lowest taxonomic and type of affliction recorded.