[Coral-List] Responding to Coral Bleaching (Andrew Ross)

Kelley Anderson kelleyand at gmail.com
Fri Sep 18 16:35:42 EDT 2015


Talofa from American Samoa,

I wanted to briefly respond to Andrew Ross's excellent post on how to make
COTS killing more enticing.  Andrew mentioned composting them and asked if
this works; in American Samoa a few farmers have done this and reported it
was very good compost.  Unfortunately neighbors didn't appreciate the
smell, so as long as the smell can be mitigated or the compost area is far
from others then composting them does present a viable option.

Another possible use for them is taking those nice little calcium spines
that are left after the animal has decomposed and using them in art
projects, which may fit well with many of the traditional jewelry pieces
made in Pacific Islands.

Best of luck with your efforts!

..,,><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º>¸.
·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º>

Kelley L. Anderson Tagarino, M.Sc.
Extension Faculty - Aquaculture & Marine Science
University of Hawaii Sea Grant College Program
American Samoa Community College

On Fri, Sep 18, 2015 at 1:23 AM, <coral-list-request at coral.aoml.noaa.gov>
wrote:

> Send Coral-List mailing list submissions to
>         coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
>
> To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
>         http://coral.aoml.noaa.gov/mailman/listinfo/coral-list
> or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
>         coral-list-request at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
>
> You can reach the person managing the list at
>         coral-list-owner at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
>
> When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
> than "Re: Contents of Coral-List digest...", e.g., cut and paste the
> Subject line from the individual message you are replying to. Also,
> please only include quoted text from prior posts that is necessary to
> make your point; avoid re-sending the entire Digest back to the list.
>
>
> Today's Topics:
>
>    1. Request for scholarship votes (Liz Schotman)
>    2. Re: Responding to Coral Bleaching (Berkshire Sweet Gold)
>    3. Re: Responding to Coral Bleaching (Andrew Ross)
>    4. Shark Feeding (Steve Mussman)
>    5. Re: Request for Review of UNEP Mesophotic Reefs   Publication
>       (Kimberly Puglise - NOAA Federal)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Wed, 16 Sep 2015 18:27:20 -0400
> From: Liz Schotman <lizms2 at gmail.com>
> Subject: [Coral-List] Request for scholarship votes
> To: "Coral-List at coral.aoml.noaa.gov" <coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov>
> Message-ID:
>         <CACxzq4VJjZghnzjxeDckmtZzLJJrYTk5_L=
> 81JsfkCXEBzrWpA at mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
>
> Hello all! I am not sure if this is allowed, so I apologize in advance.
>
> I am a graduate student at University of Maryland studying Conservation
> Biology and GIS, with a focus on marine systems (primarily fisheries and
> coastal ecosystems), and I've been enjoying the information and insight
> from the Coral-List for several years now.
>
> I'm in competition with 8 other students for a $23,000 scholarship, and
> there is a public voting period that lasts until Sept. 22nd. Information on
> how to vote is included below. I hesitate to use the listserv to promote
> myself, but I am a passionate conservationist who will use her degree to
> promote ocean conservation, so in the end, I figured it was relevant to the
> overall theme of the List.
>
> Thank you for your consideration, and keep fighting the good fight to save
> this crazy world and all its wonderful wetness!
>
> Text Vote15 to 23000
> or go to www.AbbVieCFScholarship.com/liz-s
>
>
>
>
> --
> Liz Schotman, M.S.
> Sustainable Development and Conservation Biology
> Master's candidate, University of Maryland
> Geographic Information Systems
> schotman at umd.edu
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Fri, 18 Sep 2015 02:33:02 +1100
> From: "Berkshire Sweet Gold" <bsgfarm at peoplepc.com>
> Subject: Re: [Coral-List] Responding to Coral Bleaching
> To: "Douglas Fenner" <douglasfennertassi at gmail.com>,    "Austin
>         Bowden-Kerby" <abowdenkerby at gmail.com>
> Cc: coral list <coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov>
> Message-ID: <BE76393A9AEA4DF385FD583EDEA097AC at Llyr>
> Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="utf-8";
>         reply-type=original
>
> We agree with Austin and Doug.  We work with communities in Vanuatu which
> is
> currently experiencing a CoT infestation.  Vanuatu has a remarkable network
> of indigenous volunteer environmental resource monitors -400 strong ?
> overseen by the local non profit organization, Wan Smolbag.   Island Reach
> collaborates with this network to reach monitors in remote locations
> throughout the 83 islands of the archipelago.  Addressing the CoT outbreak
> has been a major focus of our work over the past two years.  We agree that
> while the infestation can't be stopped, local reefs may be able to be
> protected with dedicated effort.  We work with communities on CoT culling
> using simple, easily crafted hooks and flour bags for collection.  Some
> communities choose to bury the CoTs and others to burn them.  There has
> been
> some consideration of using them for compost as well.  Island Reach also
> employs simple, low cost injection guns; while these make collection
> irrelevant, we think that community organizing with boats, as shown in the
> following video, can be remarkably effective.  There is no question that
> the
> task is a big one, and requires commitment.  Additionally, community
> education and engagement are vital.  As social scientists, we approach the
> problem of conservation in close collaboration with community leaders, and
> especially with the Vanua-tai,  to assess a community's contexts,
> pressures,
> and capacities as a way for everyone to identify the pathways that will
> maximize community enthusiasm and motivation for conservation actions.  An
> engaged community is ultimately the only path to sustainable conservation..
>
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dijEbiy62M
>
> Island Reach has a ?trainer of trainers? film in final production that
> explores this process. Let us know if you'd like to be notified when it's
> available.
>
> Janis Steele, PhD
> Brooks McCutchen, PhD
> Island Reach
> & Research Vessel Llyr, Vanuatu
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Douglas Fenner
> Sent: Thursday, September 17, 2015 9:19 AM
> To: Austin Bowden-Kerby
> Cc: coral list
> Subject: Re: [Coral-List] Responding to Coral Bleaching
>
>     I think this is a GREAT idea!!
>
>     When there are millions of crown-of-thorns starfish, trying to control
> them has not worked.  However, in a situation like that you describe, there
> are not so many.  Maybe we were all scared off by the impossibility of
> controlling millions of them.  But when there are modest numbers, we really
> can make a difference.  In American Samoa, we had the beginnings of an
> outbreak in the last few years.  People got concerned, and started killing
> them.  National Parks is devoting significant effort to lead the way in
> controlling them, and so far it is working brilliantly.  Like cancer, if
> you catch an outbreak early enough, you may be able to control it.
>      We're all super frustrated that all we can do is sit by and watch
> bleaching kill coral.  But this is something we can do, which can make a
> real difference.
>      Your observations remind me of the paper by Nancy Knowlton, Judy Lang
> and Brian Keller on the Acropora in Jamaica after Hurricane Allen broke so
> much coral, killing it, in 1980.  The Acropora started to come back over
> the next 3 years, but then the Coraliophila snails ate the smaller amount
> remaining, just as you describe.  After that, the reef there has stayed
> stuck in a low-coral, high-algae phase for decades.
>       Killing crown-of-thorns is very practical, and every kill saves
> coral.  Crown-of-Thorns as a species will survive, you can't get the last
> ones, but you can return them to close to their natural, very-low densities
> that are present between outbreaks.
>       Further, the best empirical support for the cause of outbreaks is
> nutrients that fuel phytoplankton that feeds starfish larvae, increasing
> larval survival.  If humans add to the nutrients, then part of the cause of
> outbreaks may be human impacts.  Removing the starfish is helping restore a
> natural ecosystem.  Plus save more of the temperature-tolerant corals that
> survived, we need all of those we can get!
>       So, splendid idea!!  I understand that injection kits are currently
> the most efficient way to kill them.  Managers rarely get to benefit the
> reef directly, this is one of the few instances.  In the long run, if an
> area is impacted by human-produced nutrient runoff, then reducing that
> nutrient runoff may reduce crown-of-thorns outbreak frequency and benefit
> the reef that way.  The ability of the coral community to recover from
> bleaching mortality is resilience, so removing crown-of-thorns is
> increasing reef resilience.  Good thing to do.
>
> Cheers,  Doug
>
> Knowlton N, Lang JC, Keller BD  (1990)  Case study of natural population
> collapse: post-hurricane predation on Jamaican staghorn corals.
> Smithsonian Contributions in Marine Science, 31: 1-25
>
> Birkeland C  (1982)  Terrestrial runoff as a cause of outbreaks of
> *Acanthaster
> planci*.  Marine Biology 69: 175-185.
>
>
> Birkeland, C.  1989.  The Faustian traits of the crown-of-thorns starfish..
> American Scientist 77: 154-163.
>
>
> Brodie, J., Fabricius, K., De'ath, G., Okaji, K.  2005.  Are increased
> nutrient inputs responsible for more outbreaks of crown-of-thorns
> starfish?  An appraisal of the evidence.  Marine Pollution Bulletin 51:
> 266-278.
>
> On Wed, Sep 16, 2015 at 8:23 AM, Austin Bowden-Kerby <
> abowdenkerby at gmail.com
> > wrote:
>
> > Dear Friends,
> >
> > The reports of massive bleaching developing in both the Pacific and
> > Caribbean are quite concerning to us all.   Is there nothing we can do
> but
> > stand by and passively watch?  I propose an alternative approach.
> >
> > In Fiji, the massive bleaching event of 2000 killed 90% or more of the
> > corals on some of our Southern Reefs. The few surviving unbleached corals
> > provided hope that the reefs could adapt over time, however
> > *Acanthaster *(COTS)
> > subsequently killed most of these surviving corals on many of these
> reefs.
> > The probable explanation is simple:  before the bleaching, COTS were in a
> > state of low relative abundance, but once most of the corals were gone,
> > their relative abundance with respect to the corals became extremely high
> > and thus deadly for the surviving bleaching resistant corals,
> particularly
> > their favored prey *Acropora* and *Pocillopora*.   In the Dominican
> > Republic, we saw a similar post-bleaching scenario in 2005, but with
> > *Coraliophila* snails and *Hermodice* fire worms as the predators.
> >
> > Might this be the ideal time to mobilize community groups to conduct
> major
> > COTS removal programs in the Pacific- at least for reefs with high
> > recreational value?   The alternative is for concerned people to stand by
> > and watch in horror, as their precious reefs die of causes that (for the
> > most part) they are powerless to control.   If COTS removal were done in
> a
> > systematic manner, control reefs (without COTS removal) could be
> > established for comparative purposes to get an indication of the relative
> > effectiveness of COTS removal as a proactive climate change adaptation
> > strategy for bleaching stressed reefs.
> >
> > A single COTS can kill a fist-sized coral every day, and that translates
> > to
> > massive amounts of corals consumed.  Every coral that survives this
> > major                    bleaching event represents a genetic treasure
> > vital for the future survival of coral reefs on the planet.  Now is the
> > time to act, to ensure that these corals survive the post-bleaching
> > predator plagues that can be expected nearly everywhere.
> >
> > I recently submitted a proposal to USAID PACCAM that was turned down, to
> > assist Kiribati with their bleaching emergency.  The proposed strategy
> > involved three components:  1. Protecting surviving (bleaching resistant)
> > corals through a systematic coral predator removal program carried out on
> > specific reef patches, 2. Collection of small fragments of surviving,
> > non-bleached (heat-adapted) corals and establishment within coral
> > nurseries
> > secure from predation, and 3. At one year and beyond the nursery corals
> > are
> > trimmed to produce second-generation, bleaching resistant corals for
> > out-planting into selected reef patches.
> >
> > Where possible, the bleaching resistant corals are planted into no-take
> > Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), to take advantage of the greater
> ecological
> > balance and lower abundance of coral predators there. Communities should
> > be
> > very much a part of this process, and should be engaged and mobilized.
> The
> > result will be increased human resources involved in nurturing pockets of
> > exceptional coral reef health that are composed of bleaching resistant
> > corals that have a higher probability of surviving into the future.
> >
> > All the best,
> >
> > Austin
> >
> > Austin Bowden-Kerby, PhD
> > Corals for Conservation
> > P.O. Box 649 Samabula
> > Fiji Islands
> > abowdenkerby at gmail.com
> > Facebook: Corals for Conservation
> >
> > On Thu, Sep 17, 2015 at 6:14 AM, Austin Bowden-Kerby <
> > abowdenkerby at gmail.com
> > > wrote:
> >
> > > Sorry, Gmail won't let me change the subject heading.
> > >
> > > Responding to Coral Bleaching
> > >
> > > Dear Friends,
> > >
> > > The reports of massive bleaching developing in both the Pacific and
> > > Caribbean are quite concerning to us all.   Is there nothing we can do
> > but
> > > stand by and passively watch?  I propose and alternative approach.
> > >
> > > In Fiji, the massive bleaching event of 2000 killed 90% or more of the
> > > corals on some of our Southern Reefs. The few surviving unbleached
> > > corals
> > > provided hope that the reefs could adapt over time, however
> > > *Acanthaster *(COTS) subsequently killed most of these surviving
> > > corals on many of these reefs.  The probable explanation is simple:
> > before
> > > the bleaching, COTS were in a state of low relative abundance, but once
> > > most of the corals were gone, their relative abundance became extremely
> > > high and thus deadly for the surviving bleaching resistant corals,
> > > particularly their favored prey *Acropora* and *Pocillopora*.   In the
> > > Dominican Republic, we saw a similar post-bleaching scenario in 2005,
> > > but
> > > with *Coraliophila* snails and *Hermodice* fire worms as the predators.
> > >
> > > Might this be the ideal time to mobilize community groups to conduct
> > major
> > > COTS removal programs in the Pacific- at least for reefs with high
> > > recreational value?   The alternative is for concerned people to stand
> > > by
> > > and watch in horror, as their precious reefs die of causes that (for
> the
> > > most part) they are powerless to control.   If COTS removal were done
> in
> > a
> > > systematic manner, control reefs (without COTS removal) could be
> > > established for comparative purposes.
> > >
> > > A single COTS can kill a fist-sized coral every day, and that
> translates
> > > to massive amounts of corals consumed.  Every coral that survives this
> > > massive bleaching event represents a genetic treasure vital for the
> > future
> > > survival of coral reefs on the planet.  Now I the time to act, to
> ensure
> > > that these corals survive the post-bleaching predator plagues that can
> > > be
> > > expected nearly everywhere.
> > >
> > > I recently submitted a proposal to USAID PACCAM that was turned down,
> to
> > > assist Kiribati with their bleaching emergency.  The proposed strategy
> > > involves three components:  1. Protecting surviving (bleaching
> > > resistant)
> > > corals through a systematic coral predator removal program carried out
> > > on
> > > specific reef patches, 2. Collection of small fragments of surviving,
> > > non-bleached (heat-adapted) corals and establishment within coral
> > nurseries
> > > secure from predation, and 3. At one year and beyond the nursery corals
> > > are trimmed to produce second-generation, bleaching resistant corals
> for
> > > out-planting into selected reef patches. Where possible, the corals are
> > > planted into no-take Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), to take advantage
> of
> > > the greater ecological balance and lower abundance of coral predators
> > > there. Communities should be very much a part of this process,
> > > and should be engaged and mobilized. The result will be increased human
> > > resources involved in nurturing pockets of exceptional coral reef
> > > health,
> > > composed of corals that are bleaching resistant and that have a higher
> > > probability of surviving into the future.
> > >
> > > All the best,
> > >
> > > Austin
> > >
> > > Austin Bowden-Kerby, PhD
> > > Corals for Conservation
> > > P.O. Box 649 Samabula
> > > Fiji Islands
> > > abowdenkerby at gmail.com
> > > Facebook: Corals for Conservation
> > >
> > >
> > >> Message: 3
> > >> Date: Wed, 16 Sep 2015 06:10:56 -0400
> > >> From: Shelly-Ann Cox <scox at cimh.edu.bb>
> > >> Subject: [Coral-List] September Issue of the Caribbean Coral Reef
> > >>         Watch   Bulletin Available!
> > >> To: coralwatch at cimh.edu.bb
> > >> Message-ID: <bc9ce0f518b1baf2af640c84d7756c25 at cimh.edu.bb>
> > >> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed
> > >>
> > >> Dear Colleagues,
> > >>
> > >> We're pleased to announce the release of the latest issue of the Coral
> > >> Reef Watch Bulletin.
> > >>
> > >> Notable observations include:
> > >> - A strong El Ni?o has developed.
> > >> - Alert level 1 issued for Central Bahamas and Northwest Cuba.
> > >> Bleaching
> > >> warnings issued for Belize, Turks and Caicos Islands and all the
> > >> islands
> > >> in the Greater and Lesser Antilles.
> > >> - Reports of paling and disease outbreaks have begun in Florida.
> > >> Partial
> > >> bleaching signs observed in Mona Island, Puerto Rico.
> > >>
> > >> Read the full issue: http://bit.ly/CRW_Sept_Issue4
> > >>
> > >> Best wishes,
> > >> Shelly-Ann
> > >>
> > >> --
> > >> Shelly-Ann Cox
> > >> Research Associate
> > >> The Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH)
> > >> Address: Husbands, St. James, Barbados
> > >> Tel: 1(246)425-1362/3
> > >> Fax: 1(246)424-4733
> > >> Skype ID: shellyanncox
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> >
> >
> > --
> > Austin Bowden-Kerby, PhD
> > Corals for Conservation
> > P.O. Box 4649 Samabula, Fiji Islands
> > https://www.facebook.com/C4Conservation
> > http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p009j6wb
> >
> > Sustainable Environmental Livelihoods Farm
> > Km 20 Sigatoka Valley Road, Fiji Islands
> > (679) 938-6437
> >
> >
> http://permacultureglobal.com/projects/1759-sustainable-environmental-livelihoods-farm-Fiji
> > https://www.facebook.com/teiteifarmstay
> > _______________________________________________
> > Coral-List mailing list
> > Coral-List at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
> > http://coral.aoml.noaa.gov/mailman/listinfo/coral-list
> >
>
>
>
> --
> Douglas Fenner
> Contractor with Ocean Associates, Inc.
> PO Box 7390
> Pago Pago, American Samoa 96799  USA
>
> phone 1 684 622-7084
>
> Join the International Society for Reef Studies.  Membership includes a
> subscription to the journal Coral Reefs, there are discounts for pdf
> subscriptions and developing countries.  www.fit.edu/isrs/
>
> "Belief in climate change is optional, participation is not."- Jim Beever..
>   "Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but not to their own facts."-
> Daniel Patrick Moynihan.
>
> Energy policy: push renewables to spur carbon pricing.  (the world
> subsidizes fossil fuels a half Trillion dollars a year!)
>
>
> http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v525/n7567/full/nature14876.html?WT.ec_id=NATURE-20150904&spMailingID=49465812&spUserID=MjA1NTA3MjA0OQS2&spJobID=760401953&spReportId=NzYwNDAxOTUzS0
>
> Worst-case scenario: if we burn all remaining fossil fuels, Antarctica
> would melt entirely, raise sea level 200 feet.
>
>
> http://www.newsweek.com/worst-case-scenario-if-we-burn-all-remaining-fossil-fuels-antarctica-would-371280
>
> 5 trillion tons of ice lost since 2002.  (that's trillion with a "T".
> Check the steady loss in the graphs.)
>
>
> http://www.slate.com/blogs/bad_astronomy/2015/09/03/ice_loss_greenland_and_antarctica_lost_5_trillion_tons_since_1992.html
>
>
> website:  http://independent.academia.edu/DouglasFenner
>
> blog: http://ocean.si.edu/blog/reefs-american-samoa-story-hope
> _______________________________________________
> Coral-List mailing list
> Coral-List at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
> http://coral.aoml.noaa.gov/mailman/listinfo/coral-list
>
>
> -----
> No virus found in this message.
> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
> Version: 2015.0.6140 / Virus Database: 4419/10654 - Release Date: 09/17/15
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 3
> Date: Thu, 17 Sep 2015 11:52:01 -0500
> From: Andrew Ross <ross.andrew at mac.com>
> Subject: Re: [Coral-List] Responding to Coral Bleaching
> To: Douglas Fenner <douglasfennertassi at gmail.com>,      Austin
> Bowden-Kerby
>         <abowdenkerby at gmail.com>
> Cc: coral list <coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov>
> Message-ID: <CBD3186B-6A87-4F33-B33D-161E6A7726DC at mac.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain;       charset=utf-8
>
> Doug & Austin,
> What Austin is describing might be akin to the recreational hunting
> programmes for lionfish in the Caribbean
> ?Eat it to beat it? etc.
>
> Problem in transferring to COT might be:
> Lionfish are a) tasty b) easy and c) invasive, thus with reduced karmic
> baggage.
> COTs, unfortunately
> a) hasn?t got a straightforward secondary value such as lunch and
> b) is often difficult to remove from the reef while poisoning doesn?t
> provide a ?trophy?.
> c) Overpopulation &/or ecosystem damage arguments may mitigate one?s
> issues with St Peter et al.
>
> So, how do we make COT hunting ?sexy? to bring in the recreational?
>
> b) Trophy:
> Methods that remove the animal from the water for a photo or
> competitive-count expose the diver to stings and tend to be relatively
> inefficient.
> Air-inflating methods might start to get around that.
>
> a) Food/use:
> A soup or roe-based sushi?
> Chicken feed?
> Do they at least make a decent garden fertilizer?
>
> c) Karma:
> May be a paid "voluntourism? activity,
> though this often gets its own complications, particularly as key areas
> get hunted-out and less efficient for the hunter/operator.
> With collection (trophy & Facebook photos) would be better, but such
> volunteers may be amenable to poisoning.
>
> Thinking out loud,
>
> Andrew Ross Ph.D.
> Seascape Caribbean
>
>
> > On Sep 16, 2015, at 5:19 PM, Douglas Fenner <
> douglasfennertassi at gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> >    I think this is a GREAT idea!!
> >
> >    When there are millions of crown-of-thorns starfish, trying to control
> > them has not worked.  However, in a situation like that you describe,
> there
> > are not so many.  Maybe we were all scared off by the impossibility of
> > controlling millions of them.  But when there are modest numbers, we
> really
> > can make a difference.  In American Samoa, we had the beginnings of an
> > outbreak in the last few years.  People got concerned, and started
> killing
> > them.  National Parks is devoting significant effort to lead the way in
> > controlling them, and so far it is working brilliantly.  Like cancer, if
> > you catch an outbreak early enough, you may be able to control it.
> >     We're all super frustrated that all we can do is sit by and watch
> > bleaching kill coral.  But this is something we can do, which can make a
> > real difference.
> >     Your observations remind me of the paper by Nancy Knowlton, Judy Lang
> > and Brian Keller on the Acropora in Jamaica after Hurricane Allen broke
> so
> > much coral, killing it, in 1980.  The Acropora started to come back over
> > the next 3 years, but then the Coraliophila snails ate the smaller amount
> > remaining, just as you describe.  After that, the reef there has stayed
> > stuck in a low-coral, high-algae phase for decades.
> >      Killing crown-of-thorns is very practical, and every kill saves
> > coral.  Crown-of-Thorns as a species will survive, you can't get the last
> > ones, but you can return them to close to their natural, very-low
> densities
> > that are present between outbreaks.
> >      Further, the best empirical support for the cause of outbreaks is
> > nutrients that fuel phytoplankton that feeds starfish larvae, increasing
> > larval survival.  If humans add to the nutrients, then part of the cause
> of
> > outbreaks may be human impacts.  Removing the starfish is helping
> restore a
> > natural ecosystem.  Plus save more of the temperature-tolerant corals
> that
> > survived, we need all of those we can get!
> >      So, splendid idea!!  I understand that injection kits are currently
> > the most efficient way to kill them.  Managers rarely get to benefit the
> > reef directly, this is one of the few instances.  In the long run, if an
> > area is impacted by human-produced nutrient runoff, then reducing that
> > nutrient runoff may reduce crown-of-thorns outbreak frequency and benefit
> > the reef that way.  The ability of the coral community to recover from
> > bleaching mortality is resilience, so removing crown-of-thorns is
> > increasing reef resilience.  Good thing to do.
> >
> > Cheers,  Doug
> >
> > Knowlton N, Lang JC, Keller BD  (1990)  Case study of natural population
> > collapse: post-hurricane predation on Jamaican staghorn corals.
> > Smithsonian Contributions in Marine Science, 31: 1-25
> >
> > Birkeland C  (1982)  Terrestrial runoff as a cause of outbreaks of
> *Acanthaster
> > planci*.  Marine Biology 69: 175-185.
> >
> >
> > Birkeland, C.  1989.  The Faustian traits of the crown-of-thorns
> starfish.
> > American Scientist 77: 154-163.
> >
> >
> > Brodie, J., Fabricius, K., De'ath, G., Okaji, K.  2005.  Are increased
> > nutrient inputs responsible for more outbreaks of crown-of-thorns
> > starfish?  An appraisal of the evidence.  Marine Pollution Bulletin 51:
> > 266-278.
> >
> > On Wed, Sep 16, 2015 at 8:23 AM, Austin Bowden-Kerby <
> abowdenkerby at gmail.com
> >> wrote:
> >
> >> Dear Friends,
> >>
> >> The reports of massive bleaching developing in both the Pacific and
> >> Caribbean are quite concerning to us all.   Is there nothing we can do
> but
> >> stand by and passively watch?  I propose an alternative approach.
> >>
> >> In Fiji, the massive bleaching event of 2000 killed 90% or more of the
> >> corals on some of our Southern Reefs. The few surviving unbleached
> corals
> >> provided hope that the reefs could adapt over time, however
> >> *Acanthaster *(COTS)
> >> subsequently killed most of these surviving corals on many of these
> reefs.
> >> The probable explanation is simple:  before the bleaching, COTS were in
> a
> >> state of low relative abundance, but once most of the corals were gone,
> >> their relative abundance with respect to the corals became extremely
> high
> >> and thus deadly for the surviving bleaching resistant corals,
> particularly
> >> their favored prey *Acropora* and *Pocillopora*.   In the Dominican
> >> Republic, we saw a similar post-bleaching scenario in 2005, but with
> >> *Coraliophila* snails and *Hermodice* fire worms as the predators.
> >>
> >> Might this be the ideal time to mobilize community groups to conduct
> major
> >> COTS removal programs in the Pacific- at least for reefs with high
> >> recreational value?   The alternative is for concerned people to stand
> by
> >> and watch in horror, as their precious reefs die of causes that (for the
> >> most part) they are powerless to control.   If COTS removal were done
> in a
> >> systematic manner, control reefs (without COTS removal) could be
> >> established for comparative purposes to get an indication of the
> relative
> >> effectiveness of COTS removal as a proactive climate change adaptation
> >> strategy for bleaching stressed reefs.
> >>
> >> A single COTS can kill a fist-sized coral every day, and that
> translates to
> >> massive amounts of corals consumed.  Every coral that survives this
> >> major                    bleaching event represents a genetic treasure
> >> vital for the future survival of coral reefs on the planet.  Now is the
> >> time to act, to ensure that these corals survive the post-bleaching
> >> predator plagues that can be expected nearly everywhere.
> >>
> >> I recently submitted a proposal to USAID PACCAM that was turned down, to
> >> assist Kiribati with their bleaching emergency.  The proposed strategy
> >> involved three components:  1. Protecting surviving (bleaching
> resistant)
> >> corals through a systematic coral predator removal program carried out
> on
> >> specific reef patches, 2. Collection of small fragments of surviving,
> >> non-bleached (heat-adapted) corals and establishment within coral
> nurseries
> >> secure from predation, and 3. At one year and beyond the nursery corals
> are
> >> trimmed to produce second-generation, bleaching resistant corals for
> >> out-planting into selected reef patches.
> >>
> >> Where possible, the bleaching resistant corals are planted into no-take
> >> Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), to take advantage of the greater
> ecological
> >> balance and lower abundance of coral predators there. Communities
> should be
> >> very much a part of this process, and should be engaged and mobilized.
> The
> >> result will be increased human resources involved in nurturing pockets
> of
> >> exceptional coral reef health that are composed of bleaching resistant
> >> corals that have a higher probability of surviving into the future.
> >>
> >> All the best,
> >>
> >> Austin
> >>
> >> Austin Bowden-Kerby, PhD
> >> Corals for Conservation
> >> P.O. Box 649 Samabula
> >> Fiji Islands
> >> abowdenkerby at gmail.com
> >> Facebook: Corals for Conservation
> >>
> >> On Thu, Sep 17, 2015 at 6:14 AM, Austin Bowden-Kerby <
> >> abowdenkerby at gmail.com
> >>> wrote:
> >>
> >>> Sorry, Gmail won't let me change the subject heading.
> >>>
> >>> Responding to Coral Bleaching
> >>>
> >>> Dear Friends,
> >>>
> >>> The reports of massive bleaching developing in both the Pacific and
> >>> Caribbean are quite concerning to us all.   Is there nothing we can do
> >> but
> >>> stand by and passively watch?  I propose and alternative approach.
> >>>
> >>> In Fiji, the massive bleaching event of 2000 killed 90% or more of the
> >>> corals on some of our Southern Reefs. The few surviving unbleached
> corals
> >>> provided hope that the reefs could adapt over time, however
> >>> *Acanthaster *(COTS) subsequently killed most of these surviving
> >>> corals on many of these reefs.  The probable explanation is simple:
> >> before
> >>> the bleaching, COTS were in a state of low relative abundance, but once
> >>> most of the corals were gone, their relative abundance became extremely
> >>> high and thus deadly for the surviving bleaching resistant corals,
> >>> particularly their favored prey *Acropora* and *Pocillopora*.   In the
> >>> Dominican Republic, we saw a similar post-bleaching scenario in 2005,
> but
> >>> with *Coraliophila* snails and *Hermodice* fire worms as the predators.
> >>>
> >>> Might this be the ideal time to mobilize community groups to conduct
> >> major
> >>> COTS removal programs in the Pacific- at least for reefs with high
> >>> recreational value?   The alternative is for concerned people to stand
> by
> >>> and watch in horror, as their precious reefs die of causes that (for
> the
> >>> most part) they are powerless to control.   If COTS removal were done
> in
> >> a
> >>> systematic manner, control reefs (without COTS removal) could be
> >>> established for comparative purposes.
> >>>
> >>> A single COTS can kill a fist-sized coral every day, and that
> translates
> >>> to massive amounts of corals consumed.  Every coral that survives this
> >>> massive bleaching event represents a genetic treasure vital for the
> >> future
> >>> survival of coral reefs on the planet.  Now I the time to act, to
> ensure
> >>> that these corals survive the post-bleaching predator plagues that can
> be
> >>> expected nearly everywhere.
> >>>
> >>> I recently submitted a proposal to USAID PACCAM that was turned down,
> to
> >>> assist Kiribati with their bleaching emergency.  The proposed strategy
> >>> involves three components:  1. Protecting surviving (bleaching
> resistant)
> >>> corals through a systematic coral predator removal program carried out
> on
> >>> specific reef patches, 2. Collection of small fragments of surviving,
> >>> non-bleached (heat-adapted) corals and establishment within coral
> >> nurseries
> >>> secure from predation, and 3. At one year and beyond the nursery corals
> >>> are trimmed to produce second-generation, bleaching resistant corals
> for
> >>> out-planting into selected reef patches. Where possible, the corals are
> >>> planted into no-take Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), to take advantage
> of
> >>> the greater ecological balance and lower abundance of coral predators
> >>> there. Communities should be very much a part of this process,
> >>> and should be engaged and mobilized. The result will be increased human
> >>> resources involved in nurturing pockets of exceptional coral reef
> health,
> >>> composed of corals that are bleaching resistant and that have a higher
> >>> probability of surviving into the future.
> >>>
> >>> All the best,
> >>>
> >>> Austin
> >>>
> >>> Austin Bowden-Kerby, PhD
> >>> Corals for Conservation
> >>> P.O. Box 649 Samabula
> >>> Fiji Islands
> >>> abowdenkerby at gmail.com
> >>> Facebook: Corals for Conservation
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>> Message: 3
> >>>> Date: Wed, 16 Sep 2015 06:10:56 -0400
> >>>> From: Shelly-Ann Cox <scox at cimh.edu.bb>
> >>>> Subject: [Coral-List] September Issue of the Caribbean Coral Reef
> >>>>        Watch   Bulletin Available!
> >>>> To: coralwatch at cimh.edu.bb
> >>>> Message-ID: <bc9ce0f518b1baf2af640c84d7756c25 at cimh.edu.bb>
> >>>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed
> >>>>
> >>>> Dear Colleagues,
> >>>>
> >>>> We're pleased to announce the release of the latest issue of the Coral
> >>>> Reef Watch Bulletin.
> >>>>
> >>>> Notable observations include:
> >>>> - A strong El Ni?o has developed.
> >>>> - Alert level 1 issued for Central Bahamas and Northwest Cuba.
> Bleaching
> >>>> warnings issued for Belize, Turks and Caicos Islands and all the
> islands
> >>>> in the Greater and Lesser Antilles.
> >>>> - Reports of paling and disease outbreaks have begun in Florida.
> Partial
> >>>> bleaching signs observed in Mona Island, Puerto Rico.
> >>>>
> >>>> Read the full issue: http://bit.ly/CRW_Sept_Issue4
> >>>>
> >>>> Best wishes,
> >>>> Shelly-Ann
> >>>>
> >>>> --
> >>>> Shelly-Ann Cox
> >>>> Research Associate
> >>>> The Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH)
> >>>> Address: Husbands, St. James, Barbados
> >>>> Tel: 1(246)425-1362/3
> >>>> Fax: 1(246)424-4733
> >>>> Skype ID: shellyanncox
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>
> >>
> >> --
> >> Austin Bowden-Kerby, PhD
> >> Corals for Conservation
> >> P.O. Box 4649 Samabula, Fiji Islands
> >> https://www.facebook.com/C4Conservation
> >> http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p009j6wb
> >>
> >> Sustainable Environmental Livelihoods Farm
> >> Km 20 Sigatoka Valley Road, Fiji Islands
> >> (679) 938-6437
> >>
> >>
> http://permacultureglobal.com/projects/1759-sustainable-environmental-livelihoods-farm-Fiji
> >> https://www.facebook.com/teiteifarmstay
> >> _______________________________________________
> >> Coral-List mailing list
> >> Coral-List at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
> >> http://coral.aoml.noaa.gov/mailman/listinfo/coral-list
> >>
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > Douglas Fenner
> > Contractor with Ocean Associates, Inc.
> > PO Box 7390
> > Pago Pago, American Samoa 96799  USA
> >
> > phone 1 684 622-7084
> >
> > Join the International Society for Reef Studies.  Membership includes a
> > subscription to the journal Coral Reefs, there are discounts for pdf
> > subscriptions and developing countries.  www.fit.edu/isrs/
> >
> > "Belief in climate change is optional, participation is not."- Jim
> Beever.
> >  "Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but not to their own
> facts."-
> > Daniel Patrick Moynihan.
> >
> > Energy policy: push renewables to spur carbon pricing.  (the world
> > subsidizes fossil fuels a half Trillion dollars a year!)
> >
> >
> http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v525/n7567/full/nature14876.html?WT.ec_id=NATURE-20150904&spMailingID=49465812&spUserID=MjA1NTA3MjA0OQS2&spJobID=760401953&spReportId=NzYwNDAxOTUzS0
> >
> > Worst-case scenario: if we burn all remaining fossil fuels, Antarctica
> > would melt entirely, raise sea level 200 feet.
> >
> >
> http://www.newsweek.com/worst-case-scenario-if-we-burn-all-remaining-fossil-fuels-antarctica-would-371280
> >
> > 5 trillion tons of ice lost since 2002.  (that's trillion with a "T".
> > Check the steady loss in the graphs.)
> >
> >
> http://www.slate.com/blogs/bad_astronomy/2015/09/03/ice_loss_greenland_and_antarctica_lost_5_trillion_tons_since_1992.html
> >
> >
> > website:  http://independent.academia.edu/DouglasFenner
> >
> > blog: http://ocean.si.edu/blog/reefs-american-samoa-story-hope
> > _______________________________________________
> > Coral-List mailing list
> > Coral-List at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
> > http://coral.aoml.noaa.gov/mailman/listinfo/coral-list
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 4
> Date: Thu, 17 Sep 2015 13:44:47 -0400 (GMT-04:00)
> From: Steve Mussman <sealab at earthlink.net>
> Subject: [Coral-List] Shark Feeding
> To: "coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov" <coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov>
> Message-ID:
>         <
> 10889521.1442511887506.JavaMail.root at wamui-junio.atl.sa.earthlink.net>
>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
>
> Dear Listers,
>
> I have a question that I believe is relevant to the Coral-List as it has
> been fairly well established that conservation of sharks and other
> upper-level predators is a vital component in the effective management of
> the world's coral reefs. Within my industry (scuba diving) shark dives
> involving provisioning is all the rage. Most recently I was bewildered by
> an article that announced that there would be an attempt made to set a
> world record for the longest "shark dive". In the spirit of full
> disclosure, my opposition to these activities is two-fold. One is best
> summed up by taking a quote from a paper written by Mark B. Orams in
> Tourism Mangagement (2002) "Where it becomes objectionable for many is in
> the gradual creep of these kinds of approaches into the few remaining
> vestiges of the uninfluenced natural world. The argument that there should
> be some places and some experiences that remain sacred from human
> influence, as much as is possible, is a good one. The feeding of wildl
>  ife in natural settings to simply facilitate interaction with tourists is
> a corruption of this philosophy and that is probably the real reason that
> the feeding of wildlife is such an emotional issue so vehemently opposed by
> some". My other concern is that if feeding sharks somehow becomes
> "scientifically sanctioned" even under the guise of promoting shark
> conservation, it seems logical to extend that same rationale to all other
> marine wildlife species or at the very least, to the many which are
> similarly at risk.
>
> I seem to be out on an island on this. I don't hear many within my
> industry voicing opposition so I want to know if the old adage of "not
> feeding wildlife" applies to marine wildlife today or if that concept is
> simply out of step with contemporary thinking on the issue.
>
> Thanks,
> Steve
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 5
> Date: Thu, 17 Sep 2015 14:02:56 -0400
> From: Kimberly Puglise - NOAA Federal <kimberly.puglise at noaa.gov>
> Subject: Re: [Coral-List] Request for Review of UNEP Mesophotic Reefs
>         Publication
> To: Vassil Zlatarski <vzlatarski at gmail.com>
> Cc: Coral-List Subscribers <coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov>,    Elaine
>         Baker <elaine.baker at sydney.edu.au>
> Message-ID:
>         <CAOaQCQOpjhxEUiZZLQ6JiPm=B=mF=Og5TUmGjck_CmfgMD=
> JEQ at mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
>
> Hi Vassil,
>
> I realize that Elaine responded directly to you, but I thought I would send
> a note out to others on the list that might be interested. The references
> weren't included in the pdf review version as they were 40 pages in length
> and made the document even larger.
>
> If you are interested in seeing the references, please send me an email
> directly and I will email them to you separately.
>
> Thanks,
> Kimberly
>
> <?}}}>>< <?}}}>>< <?}}}>>< <?}}}>>< <?}}}>>< <?}}}>><
>
> Kimberly Puglise
> Center for Sponsored Coastal Ocean Research
> National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science
> NOAA's National Ocean Service
> 1305 East-West Highway, N/SCI2
> Silver Spring, MD 20910
> (301) 713-3338 x140
> (301) 713-4044 (Fax)
>
>
> On Sun, Sep 13, 2015 at 9:00 PM, Vassil Zlatarski <vzlatarski at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> > Dear Colleagues,
> >
> > On behalf of The United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) and
> > GRID-Arendal on Aug. 24, Elaine Baker and Kimberly Puglise kindly
> requested
> > the Coral-Listers to review the draft document entitled "Mesophotic Reefs
> > -- A life boat for coral reefs?".  This interesting document is result of
> > efforts of seven-member Steering Committee, three Editors and more than
> 30
> > authors.  Surprisingly, the presented draft doesn't contain References or
> > any List of literature cited.  In the text are cited names of authors and
> > years, sometime the name of one author is followed by "et al." or by "in
> > review", "unpublished" and even "in prep".  Sorry, without References is
> > not possible professionally to review the manuscript.  If for some reason
> > the References were not originally sent one hopes that now, three weeks
> > later, there is no any obstacle to be provided.  Let's remind that the
> > deadline for comments to be submitted is Sept. 21.
> >
> > Cheers,
> >
> > Vassil
> >
> > Vassil Zlatarski
> > D.Sc. (Biology), Ph.D. (Geology)
> >
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> _______________________________________________
> Coral-List mailing list
> Coral-List at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
> http://coral.aoml.noaa.gov/mailman/listinfo/coral-list
>
> End of Coral-List Digest, Vol 85, Issue 20
> ******************************************
>
>


-- 

..,,><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º>¸.
·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º>

Kelley L. Anderson Tagarino, M.Sc.
American Samoa Community College CNR Extension Faculty
University of Hawaii Sea Grant College Program
American Samoa Community College
PO Box 4574
Pago Pago, American Samoa 96799
Office:  1 (684) 699-3353
Cell:  1 (684) 258-2967
"If the biota, in the course of aeons, has built something we like but do
not understand, then who but a fool would discard seemingly useless parts?
To keep every cog and wheel is the first precaution of intelligent
tinkering."  Aldo Leopold


More information about the Coral-List mailing list