Long-Term Monitoring at the East and West Flower Garden Banks 1996-1997

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, 1996-1997. This study represents the continuation of the ongoing ecological monitoring which begun in 1989 and was first reported in 1992. It represents an ongoing effort to understand the reef 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. 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.

For more information about the Environmental Studies Program, contact the Environmental Sciences Section (MS 5430), 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard, New Orleans, Louisiana 70123-2394, telephone (504) 736-2789.

You can obtain copies of the report from the Minerals Management Service, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region, at a charge of $10.00 by referencing OCS Study MMS 99-0005. 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.

Minerals Management Service
Gulf of Mexico OCS Region
Public Information Office (MS 5034)
1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard
New Orleans, Louisiana 70123-2394
Telephone requests may be placed at
(504) 736-2519 or 1-800-200-GULF
or FAX: (504) 736-2620
INTERNET: http://www.mms.gov/

U.S. Department of Commerce
National Technical Information Service
5285 Port Royal Road
Springfield, Virginia 22161
(703) 487-4650 or FAX: (703) 321-8547
Rush Orders: 1-800-336-4700

MMS is the Federal agency that manages the Nation's natural gas, oil, and other mineral resources on the OCS; and collects, accounts for, and last year disbursed about $6 billion in revenues from Federal offshore mineral leases and from onshore mineral leases on Federal and Indian lands.

MMS Internet website address: http://www.mms.gov/
24 hour Fax-on-Demand Service: (202) 219-1703

This page is maintained by Jacklyn Johnston
Last updated on Thursday, February 22, 2007.

FOR RELEASE:	April 1999