Brainard, Russell

"To fulfill its mission, CRED conducts a comprehensive suite of integrated, inter - disciplinary research activities, including habitat mapping, oceanographic studies, and long-term monitoring of multiple components of coral reef ecosystems in the U.S. Pacific islands (Fig. 1). CRED conducts biennial Pacific RAMP surveys in each study area to improve our understanding of ecosystem variability over climate time scales ranging from several years to decades and across broad spatial scales ranging from individual islands and atolls to entire archipelagoes and the Pacific Basin. Complementary methods are used to assess benthic community composition and abundance and diversity of invertebrates, algae, and fishes in the context of their benthic habitats and associated oceanographic and water-quality conditions. Using consistent methodologies across ~ 50 U.S. Pacific islands, atolls, and shallow banks enables unprecedented comparative analyses of coral reef ecosystems across diverse gradients of biogeography, environmental conditions, and human uses. Results from Pacific RAMP surveys significantly improve our understanding of ecosystem processes and cause-and- effect mechanisms that influence the status and resilience of coral reefs"--Executive summary.

Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP)
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)

Mariana Islands