280 



Coastal & Marine Ecosystems— Our Living Resources 



Coral reefs are one of the most diverse, 

 complex, and beautiful ecosystems on 

 earth. Coral reef ecosystems benefit humans 

 commercially, recreationally. and environ- 

 mentally (Laist et al. 1986). The abundant 

 biological diversity of the coral reef ecosys- 

 tem not only includes coral and the commer- 

 cially important species associated with the 

 reef but also thousands of other plant and 

 animal species. Thus, the status and trends 

 of this ecosystem are not easily evaluated. 



Historically, most coral reef surveys have 

 been limited to discrete reefs or species or 

 have been time-limited (Rogers 1985; 

 Dustin and Halas 1987; Bythell et al. 1992; 

 Porter and Meier 1992; Ginsburg 1994). The 

 status and trends of complete coral reef 

 ecosystems around entire islands or reef 

 tracts (e.g.. the entire Florida reef tract) have 

 never been comprehensively evaluated 

 because of the complexity, length of time, 

 and cost of such endeavors. Because of this 

 lack of a comprehensive understanding of 

 the status and trends of coral reef ecosys- 

 tems under U.S. jurisdiction, this article 

 looks at broad patterns in the status and 

 trends of these ecosystems today with the 

 hope of providing a useful focus for future 

 ecosystem-based National Biological 

 Service (NBS) coral reef endeavors. 



Status and Trends 



Coral reef ecosystems under U.S. juris- 

 diction are located in waters throughout the 

 world (Figs. 1 and 2). These reefs can be 

 divided into two broad categories, pristine 

 and al risk. For references on specific areas, 

 please contact the author. 



Pristine Coral Reef Ecosystems 



Pristine coral reef ecosystems are in 

 remote locations with little or no human 

 threats to ecosystem health. By definition, 

 the status of these ecosystems is good and 

 the trend in health is steady. Areas under 

 U.S. jurisdiction with pristine coral reef 

 ecosystems include the Flower Garden 

 Banks in the Gulf of Mexico; the northwest 

 Hawaiian Islands (uninhabited); Wake 

 Island; the Northern Mariana Islands 

 (excluding Saipan); Palmyra Island and 

 Kingman Reef: Howland Island; Baker 

 Island; and Jarvis Island in the Pacific Ocean 

 (Figs. 1 and 2). 



Coral Reef Ecosystems at Risk 



Coral reef ecosystems at risk are near 

 human populafion centers with some or all 

 reefs experiencing local anthropogenic 

 stress. Some important sources of stress 

 include nutrient enrichment from sewage 

 and agriculture, overfishing, and stress from 

 high sedimentation caused by deforestation, 

 agriculture, vessel traffic, and coastal runoff. 



Coral Reef Ecosystems 



Stephen C. Jameson 



National Oceanic and Atmospheric 



Administration 



The status and trends of many coral reef 

 resources within these areas are poor (D'Elia 

 et al. 1991; Ginsburg 1994). In addition, it is 

 impossible to know the status and trends of 

 these ecosystems on an island-wide or reef 

 tract basis because of our lack of under- 

 standing of these ecosystems in any compre- 

 hensive way. Within U.S. jurisdiction, the 

 coral reef ecosystems at risk include the 

 Florida Reef tract, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. 

 Virgin Islands in the western Atlantic and 



Caribbean; and the main Hawaiian Islands 

 (inhabited). Johnston Atoll, Saipan 

 (Northern Mariana Islands), and American 

 Samoa in the Pacific Ocean (Figs. 1 and 2). 



Future 



The United States has abundant coral 

 reef ecosystems. Pristine coral reef ecosys- 

 tems are especially valuable as "natural" 

 laboratories and control sites that can help us 

 eventually understand the evolution and 

 function of healthy coral reef ecosystems. 

 We will not be able to clearly evaluate the 

 status and trends of unhealthy ecosystems 

 until we better understand prisune coral reef 

 ecosystems. It is vital that adverse effects to 

 these pristine areas are avoided. 



Figs. 1 and 2 show that over half of all 

 U.S. coral reef ecosystems are at risk, and 

 some are nearly dead because of human per- 

 turbations. Swift legislative efforts and pub- 

 lic works programs to reduce nutrients and 



Atlantic 

 Ocean 



Fig. 1. Coral reef ecosystems under U.S. jurisdiction in the western Atlantic Ocean. Gulf of Mexico, 

 and Canbbean Sea. Coral reef ecosystems are found on or around the Florida Reef tract. Flower 

 Garden Banks. Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands. Coral reef ecosystems al risk are indicated by an 

 asterisk. 



Northern Mariana Islands 

 < Saipan 



Wake Island p 



Johnston . Main 



'^'°" Hawaiian ^ 



Palmyra Island & . Islands * 

 ' ■ Kingman Reef 



Rowland Island, 

 Baker Island" ^^"'^ 's'^nd . 



American Samoa , 



Fig. 2. Coral reef ecosystems under U.S. jurisdiction in the Pacific Ocean. Coral reef ecosystems are 

 found around the northwest and main Hawaiian Islands, Wake Island, Johnston Atoll, Northern 

 Mariana, Guam, Palmyra Island and Kingman Reef. Howland Island. Baker Island. Jarvis Island, and 

 American Samoa. Coral reef ecosystems at risk are indicated by a red asterisk. 



