U.S. Department of the Interior Minerals Management Service Gulf of Mexico OCS Region

Long-term Monitoring at the East and West Flower Garden Banks
National Marine Sanctuary 1998-1999

OCS Study MMS 2001-101

The Minerals Management Service (MMS), Gulf of Mexico OCS Region, announces the availability of a new study report, Long-term Monitoring at the East and West Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary 1998-1999. This study represents the continuation of the ongoing ecological monitoring that began in 1989 and was first reported in 1992. It represents an ongoing effort to understand the dynamics of the Flower Garden Banks coral reefs and to protect this unique and valuable natural resource. Research/monitoring efforts are critical to preserving the long-term health and sustainability of the Flower Garden Banks ecosystem.

This report assessed the growth, diversity, percent cover, incidence of disease, and bleaching of scleractinian hermatypic corals as well as an assessment of the water quality associated with the study area. The total percent coral cover did not vary significantly between the East and West Banks or between years. Analysis of species diversity and evenness showed no significant difference among previous studies, banks, or during the subject study with the exception of a significant increase of algae cover from 1998 to 1999. This increase was caused by the presence of large amounts of red turf algae and mainly at the expense of bare reef rock. Additionally, there were no significant amounts of toxins identified within the hydrological assessment of this study.

You can obtain copies of the report from the Minerals Management Service, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region, at a charge of $20.00 by referencing OCS Study MMS 2001-101. You will be able to obtain this report also from the National Technical Information Service in the near future. Here are the addresses. You may also inspect copies at selected Federal Depository Libraries.