Status and Trends

Reports & Publications

Effect of Species Rarity on the Accuracy of Species Distribution Models Status and Trends of the Nation's Biological Resources, vols. 1-2

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Agricultural Practice (Impacts)

Threatened and Endangered Species

Corals & Sponges
Coral reef structures produced by living organisms, typically found in shallow, tropical marine waters which contain very few nutrients. Coral reef ecosystems are valuable biological, ecological, cultural, and economic resources. In the past few decades, competing demands on coral reef ecosystems and increasing threats from both natural and anthropogenic stressors have contributed to a significant decline in coral reef health worldwide. Coral reefs are home to 25% of all marine species. However, the tiny colonial animals that build these intricate limestone masses are dying at alarming rates. Coral reefs in the Caribbean and western Atlantic are deteriorating in response to hurricanes, coral diseases, anchor damage, sedimentation, and other stresses.

Did You Know...?

Relevance of cryptic fishes in biodiversity assessments: A case study at Buck Island Reef National Monument, St. Croix
Coral reefs are some of the most biologically diverse and complex ecosystems on Earth. While conspicuous reef animals have myriad shapes and colors, it is the cryptic fauna mostly hidden within the reef mosaic that comprise most of the diversity and numerical abundance.

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Transplanting Coral Fragments to Damaged Coral Reefs in a National Park - Planting the Seeds to Recovery?

Publisher: USGS (Coastal and Marine Geology Program, Eastern Region) | Format: URL

coastal.er.usgs.gov — This research was conducted in the nearshore waters of Virgin Islands National Park, St. John, US Virgin Islands. Storm-produced fragments of the three fastest growing species of Caribbean coral (elkhorn, staghorn and finger corals) were collected from habitats inhospitable to survival and transplanted to other reefs (Trunk and Whistling Cay). More...

Coral Microbial Ecology: Coastal and Marine Geology Program

Publisher: USGS (Coastal and Marine Geology Program, Eastern Region) | Format: URL

coastal.er.usgs.gov — Coral microbial ecology is the study of the relationship of coral-associated microorganisms to each other, the coral host, and to their environment. Just as we humans have beneficial bacteria living on our skin and in our intestines, corals also have co-habitating non-pathogenic (not disease-causing) microbes. These microbes include bacteria, More...

Relevance of cryptic fishes in biodiversity assessments: A case study at Buck Island Reef National Monument, St. Croix

Publisher: USGS | Science Center: Florida Integrated Science Center (FISC, Gainesville) | Format: URL

fisc.er.usgs.gov — Visual surveys of underwater reef fish overlook the hidden, cryptic fish that comprise most of the diversity and numerical abundance of coral reef habitats. Research by Smith-Vaniz, Jelks, and Rocha shows how rotenone revealed cryptic fish in a survey of fish August-September 2001 at Buck Island Reef National Monument, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin More...

Conservation Genetics: Corals

Publisher: USGS (Genetics and Genomics) | Format: URL

biology.usgs.gov — This website lists samples of genetics and genomics research from the USGS Biological Resources Discipline related to the conservation genetics of corals. These resources include Genetic Tools to Understand Complex Coral Family Tree, Deep-Sea Coral Community Genetics, Connectivity Among Reefs Formed by the Deep-Sea Coral Lophelia pertusa, and the More...

Protocols for Monitoring with Digital Video and a SONAR-based Locating System (FISC)

Publisher: USGS | Science Center: Florida Integrated Science Center (FISC, Gainesville) | Format: URL

fl.biology.usgs.gov — Coral Reefs in the Caribbean and western Atlantic are deteriorating in response to hurricanes, coral diseases, anchor damage, sedimentation, and other stresses. USGS biologists at the Caribbean Field Station are documenting the current status of coral reefs and the effects of some of these stresses. The primary objective of this issue overview is More...

Coral Reef Ecology

Publisher: USGS | Science Center: Florida Integrated Science Center (FISC, Gainesville) | Format: URL

fl.biology.usgs.gov — Coral reefs in the Caribbean and western Atlantic are deteriorating in response to hurricanes, coral diseases, anchor damage, sedimentation, and other stresses. USGS biologists at the Caribbean Field Station are documenting the current status of coral reefs and the effects of some of these stresses within Virgin Islands National Park (St. John), More...

National Resources Monitoring Partnership (NRMP)

Publisher: NBII | Format: URL

www.nbii.gov — Natural resource managers face complex decisions that require a clear understanding of the status of wildlife populations and their habitats. Monitoring is key to making effective management decisions and evaluating the outcomes of those decisions. The goal of NRMP is to improve the accessibility of monitoring efforts to resource managers to aid More...

National Resources Monitoring Partnership (NRMP) Newsletter

Publisher: USGS | Science Center: Fort Collins Science Center (FORT, Ft. Collins) | Format: URL

www.fort.usgs.gov — Natural Resource Monitoring Partnership (NRMP) is a collaborative effort by the natural resource management community to improve monitoring efforts in order to support effective evaluation and decision-making by sharing information on monitoring projects and protocols. The Natural Resource Monitoring Partnership was built for easy access to More...