The area of potential shallow-water tropical and subtropical coral ecosystems in the United States |
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Authors: | S O Rohmann J J Hayes R C Newhall M E Monaco R W Grigg |
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Institution: | (1) Special Projects, National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 1305 East West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA;(2) Biogeography Team, National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 1305 East West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA;(3) Department of Oceanography, School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, University of Hawai‘i at Manoa, 1000 Pope Street, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA |
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Abstract: | Geographic information system-based analysis was used to derive comprehensive, consistent estimates of the potential area
of broadly defined, shallow-water, tropical and subtropical coral ecosystems within the territorial sea and exclusive economic
zone of the United States. A coral ecosystem is composed of habitats including unconsolidated sediment, mangrove, hermatypic
coral, colonized hardbottom, and submerged vegetation, and major structural zones like reef crest, lagoon, and fore reef.
This broad definition reflects the importance of both reef and non-reef habitats and structural zones in the function of these
ecosystems. Nautical charts, published by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office of the Coast Survey,
provide a consistent source of 10-fathom (∼18 m) and 100-fathom (∼183 m) depth curve information. The 10-fathom or 100-fathom
depth curves are used as surrogates for the potential distribution and extent of shallow-water coral ecosystems in tropical
and subtropical U.S. waters. An estimated 36,813 sq·km area has been identified where coral ecosystems can potentially be
found in waters less than 10 fathoms (18 m) deep. In addition, an estimated 143,059 sq·km area has been identified where coral
ecosystems potentially can be found in U.S. waters at depths down to 100 fathoms (183 m). Results also indicate that previous
studies underestimated the extent of potential coral ecosystems for some locations in U.S. tropical and subtropical waters
by as much as 100% and that the regional distribution of coral ecosystems has been incorrectly reported. |
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Keywords: | Depth curves Nautical chart Coral reef distribution Coral reef management Coral ecosystem management |
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