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Publication year : 0
Thematic : Coral Reef
Language : English
Note
A central problem for jurisdictional scientists
and managers is to reconcile how multiple environmental
regimes, encompassing continuous, intermittent and human
disturbances, influence pertinent ecological management
targets. The presence of heterogeneous environments
throughout the volcanic Northern Mariana Islands (NMI),
coupled with the availability of descriptive physical data,
form the basis examining environmental–ecological relationships.
Since 2003, coral abundances and macrobiota (all
visibly recognizable taxa greater than 2 cm) occurrences
have been estimated at 42 reef slopes along the volcanic
archipelago. Analyses showed that reef types acted as surrogates
of coral growth capacity and the modern assemblages
residing upon them, being highest and most favorable,
respectively, where relatively high salinity levels, low-tomoderate
wave exposure, and an absence of volcanic activity
for*90 years existed. However, island size was the greatest
constraint on species richness overall, but relations with
corals were dampened by volcanic activity and increased for
sponges and algae where greater connection with the island
aquifer existed (i.e., relatively low salinity levels). The
number of years since volcanic activity has occurred was
positively related to the residuals of species–area relationships
and coral cover, with a*90-year time frame predicted
for recovery. Notably, no relationships with watershed
characteristics or distance from CNMI’s main fishing port
and coral-reef assemblages or species richness were found.
Further examination of specific management concerns, such
as fisheries and feral animal populations, should be designed
to account for the inherent differences in driving environmental
regimes. Management strategies focused upon conserving
biodiversity and ecosystem function should be
centered at the island level, matching the operational scale of
dominant environmental–ecological relationships. Marine
reserves represent a strategy pertinent for the remote NMI; a
spatial structure is discussed.
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Keywords : Adaptive management
Encoded by : Pauline Carmel Joy Eje
