Geology and Geomorphology of Coral Reefs in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands

Rooney, John J. B.; Wessel, Paul; Hoeke, Ron; Weiss, Jonathan; Baker, Jason D.; Parrish, Frank A.; Fletcher, Charles H.; Chojnacki, Joseph D.; Garcia, Michael O.; Brainard, Russell E.; Vroom, Peter S.

doi:10.1007/978-1-4020-6847-8_13

Cited by 25 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 160 publications

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“…In contrast, at Lisianski/Neva Shoal, an open atoll with limited perimeter reef (Maragos and Gulko, 2002), coral cover was highest in the southeast and southwest sectors (~25-27%; Kenyon et al, 2007b). At Maro Reef, an open atoll with no perimeter reef (Maragos and Gulko, 2002;Rooney et al, 2008), all three methods showed the highest coral cover was along the northeast exposure, closely followed by the southwest exposure (Tables 1, 2). Both Lisianski/Neva Shoal and Maro Reef are classified as open atolls, but their complex structure of reticulate reef with little to no enclosure by perimeter reef likely generates a more complicated pattern of wave exposure than that experienced by atolls more clearly delineated by a perimeter reef, and accordingly they are characterized by different patterns of highest coral cover.…”

Section: Coral Cover and Wave Disturbancementioning

confidence: 98%

“…Maro is composed of series of patch reefs, submerged pinnacles, and intricate linear and reticulated (forming a network) reef complexes. Described as an open atoll (Maragos and Gulko, 2002;NOAA, 2003;Rooney et al, 2008), Maro lacks the emergent or very shallow perimeter reef around a deeper lagoon that characterizes a classic atoll. Instead, the innermost area of the reef complex, with characteristics of a protected lagoon, is separated from the open ocean by the surrounding mesh of reticulate, linear, and patch reefs.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Community structure of hermatypic corals at Maro Reef in the northwestern Hawaiian Islands: A unique open atoll

Kenyon¹,

Wilkinson²,

Aeby³

2008

Atoll Research Bulletin

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Percent cover of shallow-water (< 20m) scleractinian corals at Maro Reef, an open atoll with no perimeter reef in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI), was quantified from analysis of imagery recorded along more than 81 km of benthic habitat by towed divers and at 18 sites surveyed with video transects and photoquadrats. Colony densities and size class distributions were determined from censuses within belt transects at the same sites. All three methods showed statistically significant differences in total coral cover and relative abundance of coral genera among four geographic sectors characterized by different exposure to prevailing wave regimes. Massive and encrusting growth forms of Porites dominated coral cover and density throughout all sectors, with Montipora the next most dominant genus. Patterns of highest coral cover differed from that of most other classic and open atolls in the NWHI. Populations of Pocillopora, though contributing little to percent cover, attained the largest colony sizes of any reef system in the NWHI surveyed with similar methods. Numerous indicators, including coral percent cover, recovery from bleaching, low coral disease prevalence, rarity of crown-of-thorns seastars, and high larval recruitment rates suggest healthy coral communities at Maro Reef, although the predicted accumulation of marine debris from outside sources remains problematic. These data enable the most comprehensive quantitative description of coral communities at Maro Reef produced to date and are a valuable baseline for assessing change.

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Section: Coral Cover and Wave Disturbancementioning

confidence: 98%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Community structure of hermatypic corals at Maro Reef in the northwestern Hawaiian Islands: A unique open atoll

Kenyon¹,

Wilkinson²,

Aeby³

2008

Atoll Research Bulletin

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“…In addition, seawater aragonite saturation state values calculated from fCO 2 and pH during July 2012 reveal a decrease in nearshore waters as well as a latitudinal decrease in the surrounding open ocean. In addition to the lower X ar values observed in this study, coral reefs of the northern atolls are subject to conditions less favorable for reef accretion due to higher wave energy during the winters, extreme seasonal variability in water temperatures, and lower solar insolation (Grigg 1982;Andersson and Mackenzie 2004;Andersson et al 2005;Orr et al 2005;Rooney et al 2008;Doney et al 2009;Gove et al 2013), relative to the southern reefs. Although we do not have winter carbon data in the NWHI, the environmental conditions of the North Pacific subtropical ocean would likely drive X ar approximately one unit lower than the summer values observed in this study.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 63%

“…In the mean, surface currents at the southern end of the chain flow eastward, while the northern atolls experience predominantly southwestward flow. Winter storms in the North Pacific also affect the spatial distribution of benthic organisms, as some corals and/or algae are sensitive to high-wave-energy events generated by these storms (Grigg et al 2008;Desch et al 2009;Rooney et al 2008). Additionally, internal tidal-driven waves have been observed along the Hawaiian Ridge and have the potential to cause turbulent mixing near island boundaries, bringing up waters that have different chemical characteristics than those of the overlying surface seawaters (Rudnick et al 2003).…”

Section: Coral Reef Metabolism In Coastal Environmentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Additionally, internal tidal-driven waves have been observed along the Hawaiian Ridge and have the potential to cause turbulent mixing near island boundaries, bringing up waters that have different chemical characteristics than those of the overlying surface seawaters (Rudnick et al 2003). Collectively, these oceanographic influences can affect the formation and distribution of coral reef communities in the NWHI (Polovina et al 2001;Rudnick et al 2003;Firing et al 2006;Friedlander et al 2005;Grigg et al 2008;Rooney et al 2008;Desch et al 2009). …”

Section: Coral Reef Metabolism In Coastal Environmentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Latitudinal Trends and Drivers in the CO2–Carbonic Acid System of Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument

et al. 2015

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Emissions of anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) to the atmosphere and the consequent effects of climate change and ocean acidification on coral reef ecosystems have motivated significant interest in describing and understanding the CO 2 -carbonic acid system of diverse coral reef environments. Although numerous studies have been successful in monitoring reef metabolism both in the field and in the laboratory, physical and biological forcings produce distinct conditions among environments. Due to the geographic isolation and associated difficulties with measuring marine carbon chemistry in waters of the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument (PMNM), relatively few studies have described the CO 2 -carbonic acid system and carbonate saturation state gradients of these waters. Yet, PMNM remains one of the largest conservation areas in the world with extensive and diverse coral reef ecosystems that could offer valuable insight into our current and future understanding about regional and global impacts of ocean acidification. In order to provide a broad overview of latitudinal trends and features of the marine carbon system in PMNM waters, continuous measurements for surface seawater fugacity of CO 2 (fCO 2 ) and pH were collected during August 2011 and July 2012 cruises of the NOAA Ship Hi'ialakai. These 123Aquat Geochem (2015) 21:535-553 DOI 10.1007/s10498-015-9273-z measurements indicate that pH and fCO 2 are three times more variable in nearshore monument waters relative to open ocean transect measurements. This variability can be observed up to 50 km away from the nearest reef and is likely the result of the direct and significant impact of coral reef metabolism on marine carbon chemistry around the islands and atolls. The relationship between total alkalinity and dissolved inorganic carbon is consistent with net calcification which creates an alkalinity sink throughout PMNM waters. Additionally, our measurements show clear latitudinal trends in fCO 2 , pH, and aragonite saturation state that are influenced by environmental forcings, including temperature, wind speed, and residence time of the water. Collectively, our results suggest that coral reefs located at the northernmost atolls of PMNM may be the most susceptible to the adverse impacts of climate change and ocean acidification.

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