Center for Sponsored Coastal Ocean Research (CSCOR)

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Coral Reefs

CSCOR has developed a robust coral reef research program to address the impact of stressors that affect the Nation's coral reef ecosystems. In order to fulfill its mission, CSCOR sponsors multi-disciplinary studies that provide timely, high-quality scientific results and predictive tools that can be used to develop management strategies to restore and protect coral reef ecosystems. The program seeks to define and understand causes and effects of reef degradation on a regional scale. CSCOR's coral reef program also works closely with other NOAA offices as part of the agency's Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP). NOAA's CRCP is the agency's team in charge of implementing the directives of the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force,established after the 1998 Executive Order on Coral Reef Protection (E.O. 13089) and the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000. All data and products resulting from projects sponsored by CSCOR's coral reef programs are archived in NOAA's Coral Reef Information System (CoRIS), a searchable database available to the public. More

Current Programs

Coral Reef Research Institutes and Programs

• Hawaii Coral Reef Initiative Research Program
• National Coral Reef Institute
• Caribbean Coral Reef Institute

Competitive Coral Programs (CRES)

• Caribbean Coral Reef Ecosystems Studies
• Micronesia Coral Reef Ecosystems Studies

To search all of CSCOR's coral reef related projects go to NCCOS' Project Explorer.

Coral Reef Ecological Forecasting

A primary focus of CSCOR's coral reef research is the development of models and predictive tools that can be used to forecast the effects and interactions of environmental variability and anthropogenic stressors on coastal ecosystems, and the impacts of management actions on ecosystems and coastal economies. More

Accomplishments

CSCOR currently has a portfolio of coral reef research projects that include three Congressionally-directed institutes and two competitive projects. More

Related News

• CRES funded study highlighted in editorial of the journal BioScience July 19, 2007
• 300-Year Old Coral May Elucidate Impacts of Freshwater Discharge on Coral Health May 7, 2007
• CSCOR Co-Sponsors 33rd AMLC Conference to Advance Scientific Understanding of the Greater Caribbean April 11, 2007
• CSCOR-supported Symposium Highlights State-of-the-Science on Coral Reefs in Puerto Rico April 11, 2007
• Caribbean Coral Reef Institute Ceremony Showcases New NOAA Initiative and Facilities in Puerto Rico March 15, 2007
• Local Ecological Knowledge Provides Valuable Information for Improved Management of Coral Reefs in Puerto Rico February 14, 2007
• CSCOR Co-sponsors 33^rd Scientific Meeting of the Association of Marine Laboratories of the Caribbean February 14, 2007
• Prediction of Coral Spawning in the Caribbean to Help Managers Reduce Human Impacts to Coral Recruitment January 10, 2007
• Fish Stock Model to Improve Future Management of Reef Fish in Puerto Rico November 8, 2006
• CSCOR-sponsored Research Assesses Habitat Connectivity for MPA Management and Zonation in Mona Island, Puerto Rico September 13, 2006
• Rapid Population Assessments of Target Species Intended to Enable Rational Management of Marine Ornamentals in Puerto Rico September 6, 2006
• Water Quality Baseline Data to Improve Management of the Threatened Species Staghorn Coral, Acropora cervicornis August 23, 2006
• Scientists and Managers Meet to Review Scientific Research and Management Applications for Coral Reef Ecosystems in Puerto Rico March 1, 2006
• A Silent Invasion Threatens to Overrun Pristine Black Coral Beds and Alter Hawaii 's Deep Reef Community December 14, 2005
• CSCOR Researchers Recognized with US Coral Reef Task Force Award November 8, 2005
• National Coral Reef Institute Work on “Ancient Coral” Featured in Sun-Sentinel September 26, 2005
• HCRI-RP provides kids with unique learning experience   August 20, 2004
• Nemo helps HCRI – RP outreach efforts December 16, 2004

More news

Workshops & Meetings

Upcoming Meetings:

• 5^th CSCOR Coral Reef Programs Review Meeting. Mayaguez, Puerto Rico: TBA
• International Coral Reef Symposium.Fort Lauderdale, FL: July 7-11, 2008

Past Program Reviews:

• 4^th CSCOR Coral Reef Programs Review Meeting. Honolulu, Hawaii & Koror, Palau: March 17-24, 2006
• 3^rd CSCOR Coral Reef Programs Review Meeting. Fort Lauderdale, FL: March 23-24, 2005
• 2^nd CSCOR Coral Reef Programs Review Meeting. Honolulu, HI:
  April 7-9, 2004
• 1^st CSCOR Coral Reef Programs Review Meeting. La Parguera, Puerto Rico: June, 10–12, 2003

Sponsored Meetings/Workshops:

• CSCOR Co-Sponsors 33rd AMLC Conference to Advance Scientific Understanding of the Greater Caribbean St. Thomas, United States Virgin Islands: June 4-8, 2007
• 2006 Summer American Society for Limnology and Oceanography (ASLO). Special Session TS-E08: Coral Reef Ecosystem Research and Management Objectives. Victoria, British Columbia, Canada: June 4-9, 2006
• American Society of Liminology and Oceanography Summer Meeting.
  Santiago de Compostela, Spain: June 19-24, 2005
• 32^nd Scientific Meeting of the Association of Marine Laboratories of the Caribbean. Curacao, Netherlands Antilles: June 13-17, 2005
• 31^st Scientific Meeting of the Association of Marine Laboratories of the Caribbean Port of Spain, Trinidad: July 14-18, 2003
• 30^th Scientific Meeting of the Association of Marine Laboratories of the Caribbean La Parguera, Puerto Rico: June 24-29, 2001

Related Links

• The State of Coral Reef Ecosystems of the United States and Pacific Freely Associated States: 2005
• Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP)
• U.S. Coral Reef Task Force
• Coral Reef Information System (CoRIS)