Coral reefs are one of the world's most precious natural resources. In an effort to simply better understand coral reefs, biologists worldwide continue to study aspects of their biology and ecology. In addition, basic biological monitoring is often necessary to detect changes in reef systems that might be warning signals of reef degradation. It is the intent of this chapter to introduce surveyi...

Coral Reefs ecosystems have been impacted by natural and anthropogenic effects resulting in a decline of coral communities worldwide. This decline in coral reefs has an ecological and an economical impact in tourist areas and marine ecosystems due to beach activities, scuba diving, and fishing. Monitoring of coral reefs is made by marine biologists using traditionally diving techniques. The mai...

Satellite-derived sea surface temperature (SST) is used to monitor coral bleaching through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Coral Reef Watch (CRW) Decision Support System (DSS). Since 2000, a broad-scale 50 km SST was used to monitor thermal stress for coral reefs globally. However, some discrepancies were noted when applied to small-scale fringing coral reefs. To address t...

Coral diseases, such as white diseases and white syndrome (WS), have caused widespread damage to coral reefs throughout the Caribbean and are increasing in prevalence on Pacific Ocean reefs. The current study confirms that WS is also present on coral reefs in the Indian Ocean and tests whether patterns in taxonomic susceptibility and spatial variability conform to patterns of WS reported in the...

However, the Centre Scientifique de Monaco and the International Atomic Agency will organize in October 2017 the Fourth International Workshop on Bridging the Gap between Ocean Acidification Impacts and Economic Valuation — “From Sciences to Solutions: Ocean Acidification Impacts on Ecosystem Services — Case Studies on Coral Reefs”. This Workshop will be devote to explore all forms if adaptatio...

Growth rates of the major Caribbean reef framework-building coral Orbicella spp. decrease with increasing water depth and light attenuation. However, reliable, spatially distributed growth rates for corals deeper than 30 m are rare, and the combined influence of coral framework accretion, secondary framework accretion, and framework macroboring on net framework calcification in these habitats i...

facilitation during action observation in individuals with autism spectrum disorder. Curr. Biol. 15, R84–R85. 2 . Nishitani, N., Avikainen, S., and Hari, R. (2004). Abnormal imitation-related cortical activation sequences in Asperger’s syndrome. Ann. Neurol. 55, 558–5 2. 22. Dapretto, M., Davies, M.S., Pfeifer, J.H., Scott, A.A., Sigman, M., Bookheimer, S.Y., and Iacoboni, M. (200 ). Understand...

Coral reef status was surveyed in three south Pacific coral reefs of Costa Rica, one in Caño Island and two in Golfo Dulce, and the density, richness and distribution of non-colonial macro borers (> 1 mm) was determined in dead and live coral fragments from these reefs. Based upon traditional indicators of degradation such as high particulate suspended matter and low live coral cover, the reefs...

Coral reefs are very important in Tanzania, both ecologically and socio-economically, as major fishing grounds and tourist attractions. Numerous fringing and patch reefs are located along about two-thirds of Tanzania’s coastline. These reefs have been partially to severely degraded by human (primarily destructive fishing practices) and natural (particularly coral bleaching) causes. These immedi...

Ocean acidification describes the progressive, global reduction in seawater pH that is currently underway because of the accelerating oceanic uptake of atmospheric CO(2). Acidification is expected to reduce coral reef calcification and increase reef dissolution. Inorganic cementation in reefs describes the precipitation of CaCO(3) that acts to bind framework components and occlude porosity. Lit...