Reef Check Indo-Pacific substrate

Indo-Pacific Substrate ID Training

Reef Check EcoDiver Course www.reefcheck.org

The Basic Reef Check Substrate Categories Code

Category

HC

HARD CORAL (includes blue coral, fire coral and organ pipe coral) SOFT CORAL (includes zoanthids) NUTRIENT INDICATOR ALGAE (includes seaweed that proliferates with high nutrient input) OTHER (includes other living or non-living substrata, such as hydroids, anemones, gorgonians and ascidians) SPONGE ROCK (includes any surface that coral could settle onto including rock covered with turf algae, bivalves, coralline algae and dead coral) RECENTLY KILLED CORAL (includes coral that has died in the last year. Such coral will still have a white or partially white skeleton and may be slightly overgrown with algae) RUBBLE (includes dead coral of 0.5 to 15 cm diameter) SILT SAND (includes pieces less than 0.5 cm in diameter)

SC NIA OT SP RC RKC

RB SI SD

www.reefcheck.org

HARD CORAL The reef-builders

Tentacles

Mouth

Stomach

Coral cup or ‘corallite’

Limestone skeleton Cross section through a coral polyp

www.reefcheck.org

HARD CORAL The reef-builders

Hard coral includes: • All hard corals • Fire coral (Millepora) • Blue coral (Heliopora) • Organ pipe coral (Tubipora musica)

www.reefcheck.org

HARD CORAL The reef-builders

Coral Growth Forms

Branching Plate Encrusting Massive or boulder Submassive or irregular Foliose or lettuce-like Columnar or digitate Free living or mushroom

Photo by Dean Miller, 2003

www.reefcheck.org

HARD CORAL The reef-builders

To identify hard coral use the following decision rules: 1. If it is a protruding structure, waft the water near it with your hand

Does it move?

Yes It is not hard coral and may be soft coral or sponge or other

No 1. Look at the texture and try to find the coral cups. Hard coral surface is rough like sandpaper.

www.reefcheck.org

HARD CORAL The reef-builders

2. If it is an encrusting structure, look at the texture

Does it have regular corallites and have a sandpapery or knobbly surface?

Yes Check if hard surface and it is probably an HC

No 1. If texture is smooth with purple, orange or red colour probably coralline algae 2. If it has holes on its surface and feels soft to the touch it is probably either a sponge or an ascidian 3. If it has regular corallites but is soft to the touch it is probably a soft coral www.reefcheck.org

HARD CORAL The reef-builders

Photo by Jos Hill, 2002

Photo by Jos Hill, 2002

Branching Hard Coral

Photo by Dean Miller, 2003

Photo by Jos Hill, 2003

www.reefcheck.org

Photo by Dean Miller, 2003

HARD CORAL The reef-builders

Photo by Dean Miller, 2003

Photo by Dean Miller, 2003

Plate Hard Coral

Photo by Reef Check Australia 2004

Photo by Dean Miller, 2003

www.reefcheck.org

HARD CORAL The reef builders

Encrusting Hard Coral

Encrusting hard coral ‘hugs’ the substrate to which it is attached and will tend to be a few mm thick Note the ‘knobby’ surface

Photo by Jos Hill, 2003

Photo by Jos Hill, 2002

Photo by Dean Miller, 2002

www.reefcheck.org

Photo by Jos Hill, 2003

Photo by Jos Hill, 2003

HARD CORAL The reef builders

Encrusting Hard Coral

Note the knobby/sandpapery texture

Photo by Dean Miller, 2002

www.reefcheck.org

HARD CORAL The reef builders

Massive or boulder: HC

Photo by Dean Miller, 2002

Massive Hard Coral Massive corals are boulder shaped.

They don’t have to be large to be called massive!!

Photo by Jos Hill, 2003

Photo by Jos Hill, 2003

Photo by Jos Hill, 2003

Photo by Dean Miller, 2002

www.reefcheck.org

Photo by Dean Miller, 2003

HARD CORAL The reef builders

Submassive Hard Coral Submassive is just what we call more irregularly shaped corals - those that form fists or very thick branch-like structures (left) are submassive.

Photo by Dean Miller, 2002

Photo by Dean Miller, 2003

Photo by Dean Miller, 2003

www.reefcheck.org

HARD CORAL The reef builders

Submassive Hard Coral Watch out for this one!

Look at the tentacles – there are 24!

Photo by Dean Miller, 2002

www.reefcheck.org

HARD CORAL The reef builders

Submassive Hard Coral Retracting polyps

Retracted polyps

Photo by Jos Hill, 2003

Photo by Jos Hill, 2003

www.reefcheck.org

HARD CORAL The reef builders

Foliose Hard Coral

Photo by Jos Hill, 2003

Photo by Jos Hill, 2002

Photo by Jos Hill, 2003

www.reefcheck.org

Photo by Jos Hill, 2003

HARD CORAL The reef builders

Digitate Hard Coral

Photo by Jos Hill, 2003

Each of these projections is a corallite

Photo by Jos Hill, 2002

www.reefcheck.org

HARD CORAL The reef builders

Mushroom Hard Coral

Mouth Photo by Jos Hill, 2002

Watch out for this one! www.reefcheck.org

Photo by Jos Hill, 2002

HARD CORAL The reef builders

Blue Coral

Photo by Jos Hill, 2002

Photo by Jos Hill, 2002

www.reefcheck.org

HARD CORAL The reef builders

Fire Coral Notice the tiny hairs

Photo by Dean Miller, 2002

www.reefcheck.org

HARD CORAL The reef builders

Notice 8 tentacles

Organ Pipe Coral Notice 8 tentacles This is the organ pipe coral skeleton.

Notice the pipes!

Photo by Jos Hill, 2002

www.reefcheck.org

HARD CORAL The reef builders

Organ pipe coral: HC

This is the polyp

www.reefcheck.org

HARD CORAL The reef builders

Summary

• Hard skeleton. Touch dead patch at base gently with finger or waft the

water and it won’t move!

• Polyps have 6 or multiples of 6 tentacles, except fire coral, blue coral and organ pipe coral, which are also included in HC • Mostly night feeders. Exceptions have large polyps and you can count the tentacles and/or waft to see a skeleton underneath.

• Look for corallites that are fairly regularly spaced • Different shapes exist – don’t be tricked by encrusting hard corals as these are sometimes overlooked • Look at the texture, think sandpaper or knobbly surface! Touch a dead patch.

• Mushroom corals are hard corals. Remember one looks like an anemone. www.reefcheck.org

BLEACHED HARD CORAL Global warming indicators

Bleaching is when the zooxanthellae (algae) living in the coral’s tissue is expelled.

The white patch here is bleached and the brown parts are unbleached

Photo by Dean Miller, 2002

www.reefcheck.org

BLEACHED HARD CORAL Global warming indicators

Remember, even though this coral is bleached it is still considered HC until it dies, then RKC Photo by Jos Hill, 2002

Photo by Jos Hill, 2004

Photo by Jos Hill, 2004

www.reefcheck.org

BLEACHED HARD CORAL Global warming indicators

Photo by Ray Berkelmans, CRC Reef 2003

www.reefcheck.org

BLEACHED HARD CORAL Global warming indicators

It is tempting to think that all white-looking coral is bleached!

This is not so‌

www.reefcheck.org

SOFT CORAL Non-reef builders

To identify soft coral use the following decision rules: 1. If it is a protruding structure, waft the water near it with your hand.

Does it move?

Yes It is not hard coral and may be soft coral or sponge

No 1. Look at the texture and try to find the coral cups. Hard coral texture is like sandpaper or knobbly.

2. If the coral polyps are out, count the tentacles. Hard coral polyps have 6 or multiples of 6 tentacles whereas soft corals have 8. www.reefcheck.org

SOFT CORAL Non-reef builders

2. If it is a soft, encrusting structure, look for regular corallites or feeding polyps (many soft coral polyps are out feeding during the day, whereas hard corals tend to feed at night).

Does it have regular corallites or protruding polyps?

Yes It is probably soft coral. If the polyps are out, check there are only 8 tentacles.

No If it has holes larger than 1mm diameter on the surface then it is probably a sponge SP or an ascidian OT

www.reefcheck.org

SOFT CORAL Non-reef builders

Photo by Jos Hill, 2002

Notice the 8 tentacles.

Soft coral tentacles also tend to be hairy or feathery.

Photo by Jos Hill, 2002

www.reefcheck.org

SOFT CORAL Non-reef builders

Photo by Jos Hill, 2003

Photo by Dean Miller, 2002

Photo by Jos Hill, 2002

Photo by Jos Hill, 2002

www.reefcheck.org

Photo by Dean Miller, 2002

Photo by Jos Hill, 2002

SOFT CORAL Non-reef builders

Photo by Jos Hill, 2003

Photo by Jos Hill, 2003

Give it a waft and count the tentacles!

www.reefcheck.org

SOFT CORAL Non-reef builders

Close up of a polyp.

Note the 8 tentacles

Photo by Dean Miller, 2002

Waft any of these corals and they will sway.

Photo by Jos Hill, 2003

Photo by Dean Miller, 2002

www.reefcheck.org

SOFT CORAL Non-reef builders

Photo by Jos Hill, 2003

www.reefcheck.org

SOFT CORAL Non-reef builders

Some zoanthids are solitary, some are colonial Photo by Jos Hill, 2002

These colonial zoanthid polyps are ‘open’

These colonial zoanthid polyps are ‘closed’ Photo by Jos Hill, 2002

www.reefcheck.org

SOFT CORAL Non-reef builders

Photo by Jos Hill, 2002

Photo by Jos Hill, 2003

Photo by Jos Hill, 2003

www.reefcheck.org

SOFT CORAL Non-reef builders

Photo by Dean Miller, 2003

Zoanthids tend to have brown, red or green centres

Photo by Jos Hill, 2002

www.reefcheck.org

SOFT CORAL Non-reef builders

Photo by Jos Hill, 2002

Photo by Jos Hill, 2002

www.reefcheck.org

SOFT CORAL Non-reef builders

Colonial zoanthids are frequently confused with massive and encrusting corals of the genus illustrated below.

These corallites are part of this coral’s skeleton. Go back to the last slide to make sure you can see the difference.

Photo by Jos Hill, 2002

Photo by Jos Hill, 2003

www.reefcheck.org

SOFT CORAL Non-reef builders

Zoanthids may also be confused with anemones. This is a colonial anemone, which should be placed in the OT category.

Photo by Jos Hill, 2003

www.reefcheck.org

BLEACHED SOFT CORAL Global warming indicators

Photo by Jos Hill, 2003

Photo by Jos Hill, 2004

Photo by Jos Hill, 2004

www.reefcheck.org

SOFT CORAL Non-reef builders

Summary • Skeleton structure is soft • Polyps are tiny, always have 8 tentacles, which are hairy looking • Zoanthids have multiples of 6 but very large polyps • Polyps are often day feeders • Smooth texture with small, regular coral cup holes • Surface of some appears leathery or rubbery • Zoanthids most often occur in groups or joined in colonies. They can look like cogs surrounded by teeth and colonial ones look like they’re made from plasticine. To recognise, waft and they will close up. www.reefcheck.org

NUTRIENT INDICATOR ALGAE Nutrient pollution indicators

Algae can be green, red or brown!

Photo by Jos Hill, 2002

Photo by Jos Hill, 2002

www.reefcheck.org

Photo by Jos Hill, 2002

NUTRIENT INDICATOR ALGAE Nutrient pollution indicators

Photo by Jos Hill, 2002

Algae on reefs is natural and an important source of food for herbivores.

But in unnaturally high nutrient and low herbivore conditions, algae can out-compete coral, smother them and block the sunlight. www.reefcheck.org

NUTRIENT INDICATOR ALGAE Nutrient pollution indicators

Algae that are NOT indicators of nutrient pollution for Reef Check include: Crustose or coralline (record substrate under these e.g. sand or rock except Halimeda) Halimeda sp. (put in other, OT) Turf algae (put in rock, RC)

www.reefcheck.org

NUTRIENT INDICATOR ALGAE Nutrient pollution indicators

Crustose algae Record the substrate beneath

Photo by Jos Hill, 2003

www.reefcheck.org

NUTRIENT INDICATOR ALGAE Nutrient pollution indicators

IMPORTANT! This is Halimeda (crustose algae) and NOT a nutrient indicator algae!

Halimeda goes into OT

Photo by Jos Hill, 2004

Photo by Jos Hill, 2003

www.reefcheck.org

NUTRIENT INDICATOR ALGAE Nutrient pollution indicators

This is turf algae and goes in the ‘rock’ category Remember if it is longer than 3 cm it is NIA.

Photo by Jos Hill, 2002

www.reefcheck.org

NUTRIENT INDICATOR ALGAE Nutrient pollution indicators

This purple is coralline algae.

This goes under the Rock category not under NIA

www.reefcheck.org

NUTRIENT INDICATOR ALGAE Nutrient pollution indicators

This is coralline algae and goes under the Rock category not the NIA

Photo by Jos Hill, 2002

Photo by Dean Miller, 2003

www.reefcheck.org

NUTRIENT INDICATOR ALGAE Nutrient pollution indicators

NIA

NIA

NIA

HC

Photo by Jos Hill, 2003

www.reefcheck.org

NUTRIENT INDICATOR ALGAE Nutrient pollution indicators

NIA - this species looks like pencil shavings

Photo by Jos Hill, 2003

Photo by Jos Hill, 2002 Photo by Dean Miller, 2002

www.reefcheck.org

NUTRIENT INDICATOR ALGAE Nutrient pollution indicators

Photo by Jos Hill, 2003

Photo by Jos Hill, 2003

Photo by Jos Hill, 2003

www.reefcheck.org

NUTRIENT INDICATOR ALGAE Nutrient pollution indicators

Photo by Jos Hill, 2003

www.reefcheck.org

NUTRIENT INDICATOR ALGAE Nutrient pollution indicators

Filamentous algae

Grape algae Photo by Jos Hill, 2003

www.reefcheck.org

NUTRIENT INDICATOR ALGAE Nutrient pollution indicators

Photo by Jos Hill, 2003

Photo by Jos Hill, 2003

www.reefcheck.org

NUTRIENT INDICATOR ALGAE Nutrient pollution indicators

Photo by Jos Hill, 2003

Photo by Jos Hill, 2003

Photo by Jos Hill, 2003

Photo by Jos Hill, 2003

www.reefcheck.org

NUTRIENT INDICATOR ALGAE Nutrient pollution indicators

Photo by Jos Hill, 2003

Photo by Jos Hill, 2003

NIA

Turf algae. Put ‘rock’

www.reefcheck.org

NUTRIENT INDICATOR ALGAE Nutrient pollution indicators

Crustose algae with NIA - count as NIA

Photo by Jos Hill, 2003

www.reefcheck.org

NUTRIENT INDICATOR ALGAE Nutrient pollution indicators

Photo by Jos Hill, 2003

Photo by Jos Hill, 2003

Photo by Jos Hill, 2002

Photo by Jos Hill, 2003

Photo by Jos Hill, 2002

www.reefcheck.org

NUTRIENT INDICATOR ALGAE Nutrient pollution indicators

Photo by Jos Hill, 2003

Photo by Jos Hill, 2003

www.reefcheck.org

NUTRIENT INDICATOR ALGAE Nutrient pollution indicators

See how this fleshy algae is competing with the branching coral for space and light

Photo by Jos Hill, 2002

Photo by Jos Hill, 2002

www.reefcheck.org

NUTRIENT INDICATOR ALGAE Nutrient pollution indicators

Photo by Jos Hill, 2003

Photo by Jos Hill, 2002

www.reefcheck.org

NUTRIENT INDICATOR ALGAE Nutrient pollution indicators

Summary The aim is to record blooms of fleshy algae that may be responding to a high level of nutrient input The presence of algae does not necessarily mean the reef is unhealthy. Don’t jump to early conclusions.

Turf, coralline and crustose go under the substrate they are growing on, while Halimeda sp. goes under ‘other’.

www.reefcheck.org

SPONGE

Sewage pollution indicator

Photo from Undersea Explorer, 2002

www.reefcheck.org

SPONGE

Sewage pollution indicator

Water pumped out

Water sucked in

Cross section through a sponge www.reefcheck.org

SPONGE

Sewage pollution indicator

To identify sponge use the following decision rules: 1. If it is a protruding structure, waft the water near it with your hand.

Does it move?

Yes It is not hard coral and may be soft coral or sponge

No 1. Look at the texture and try to find the coral cups. Hard coral texture is like sandpaper or knobbly.

2. If the coral polyps are out, count the tentacles. Hard coral polyps have 6 or multiples of 6 tentacles whereas soft corals only have 8. www.reefcheck.org

SPONGE

Sewage pollution indicator

2. If it is a soft, encrusting structure, look for irregular holes.

Except for tube sponges, THINK IRREGULAR is probably the best advice you can use to recognise sponges!

Does it have irregular holes?

Yes It is probably sponge or an ascidian. To tell these apart, waft the holes. If there is NO reaction it is probably a sponge.

If the holes close up – it is an ascidian!

No If it has regular holes less than 1mm diameter then it is probably a soft coral

www.reefcheck.org

SPONGE

Sewage pollution indicator

Matt surface Can see the spicules

Photo by Jos Hill, 2002

www.reefcheck.org

SPONGE

Sewage pollution indicator

Irregular spaced holes (osculum)

Note the irregular, matt surface and irregular shape

Photo by Jos Hill, 2002

www.reefcheck.org

SPONGE

Sewage pollution indicator

Tube sponge

Photo by Jos Hill, 2001

Photo by Jos Hill, 2003

www.reefcheck.org

SPONGE

Sewage pollution indicator Irregular holes and matt surface

Photo by Jos Hill, 2003

Photo by Jos Hill, 2003

www.reefcheck.org

SPONGE

Sewage pollution indicator

Encrusting rope-like sponge

Tube sponge

Photo by Jos Hill, 2003

www.reefcheck.org

SPONGE

Sewage pollution indicator

Note the rough texture

Photo by Jos Hill, 2003

www.reefcheck.org

SPONGE

Sewage pollution indicator

Irregular, holey surface. This is encrusting.

Irregular and matt surface with one large hole

This is an ascidian NOT a sponge.

See ‘Other’

Photo by Jos Hill, 2002

www.reefcheck.org

SPONGE

Sewage pollution indicator

Photo by Jos HIll, 2003

Photo by Dean Miller, 2003

Photo by Dean Miller, 2003

www.reefcheck.org

SPONGE

Sewage pollution indicator

Note the irregular, surface This is encrusting

Note irregularly spaced holes

Photo by Jos Hill, 2002

www.reefcheck.org

SPONGE

Sewage pollution indicator

Note these holes.

They are fairly regularly spaced over this sponge.

This is encrusting

Note the spiky surface Photo by Jos Hill, 2002

www.reefcheck.org

SPONGE

Sewage pollution indicator

Note rough surface with irregularly spaced holes

Photo by Jos Hill, 2002

www.reefcheck.org

SPONGE

Sewage pollution indicator

Photo by Jos Hill, 2003

Photo by Jos Hill, 2003

This encrusting sponge is overgrowing the branching hard coral. www.reefcheck.org

SPONGE

Sewage pollution indicator

This is encrusting.

Note the matt and irregular surface.

Photo by Jos Hill, 2003

Photo by Jos Hill, 2003

www.reefcheck.org

SPONGE

Sewage pollution indicator

Note irregular, spiky surface

Photo by Jos Hill, 2002

www.reefcheck.org

SPONGE

Sewage pollution indicator

Encrusting Sponge: SP

Photo by Jos Hill, 2003

Encrusting sponge

Photo by Jos Hill, 2003

www.reefcheck.org

SPONGE

Sewage pollution indicator

Sponge encrusting over a hard coral.

Photo by Jos Hill, 2003

Photo by Jos Hill, 2003

www.reefcheck.org

SPONGE

Sewage pollution indicator

Black encrusting sponge on this rock covered with turf algae

Photo by Jos Hill, 2003

www.reefcheck.org

SPONGE

Sewage pollution indicator

Summary • Huge range of colours • Surface often matt or dull • Simple organisms with no set shape except tube sponges. Think IRREGULAR! • Can assume a variety of shapes and sizes from small encrusting animals to large tube, barrel or foliose forms • To tell these from hard corals, waft and many will sway. To tell them from soft corals, look closely at the surface for irregular texture, covered in different sized holes. These holes will NOT close up if you waft your hand over them.

www.reefcheck.org

OTHER

Not indicators of impacts

This category can include the following – although this is not an exhaustive list!

Ascidians Hydroids Anemones Tube worms Coralliomorphs Gorgonians Clams (but the shell goes under Rock) www.reefcheck.org

OTHER

Not indicators of impacts

Ascidians

These holes will close up if you waft your hand over them

Photo by Jos Hill, 2002

www.reefcheck.org

OTHER

Not indicators of impacts

Ascidians

Photo by Jos Hill, 2002

Photo by Jos Hill, 2002

www.reefcheck.org

OTHER

Not indicators of impacts

Ascidians

The holes will close when wafted

These little yellow organisms are also ascidians

Photo by Jos Hill, 2002

www.reefcheck.org

OTHER

Not indicators of impacts

Ascidians

Ascidian

Photo by Jos Hill, 2003

www.reefcheck.org

OTHER

Not indicators of impacts

Ascidians

Photo by Jos Hill, 2003

Photo by Dean Miller, 2003

www.reefcheck.org

OTHER

Not indicators of impacts

Hydroids

Hydroids are related to coral. They look like feathers or ferns and are often called stinging hydroids because they STING! Don’t touch!

Photo by Jos Hill, 2002

www.reefcheck.org

OTHER

Not indicators of impacts

Hydroids

Photo by Jos Hill, 2003

Photo by Jos Hill, 2002

www.reefcheck.org

OTHER

Not indicators of impacts

Anemones

Photo by Jos Hill, 2002

www.reefcheck.org

OTHER

Not indicators of impacts

Anemones

Photo by Jos Hill, 2003

Photo by Jos Hill, 2002

www.reefcheck.org

OTHER

Not indicators of impacts

Tube worm

Photo by Dean Miller, 2003

www.reefcheck.org

OTHER

Not indicators of impacts

Gorgonians

Gorgonian

Photo by Dean Miller, 2002

www.reefcheck.org

OTHER

Not indicators of impacts

Non-nutrient indicator seaweed

Halimeda sp.

Photo by Jos Hill, 2004

www.reefcheck.org

OTHER

Not indicators of impacts

Coralliomorphs

Photo by Jos Hill, 2002

Photo by Dean Miller, 2003

www.reefcheck.org

ROCK

Hard substratum

Rock

Photo by Jos Hill, 2002

www.reefcheck.org

ROCK

Hard substratum

This is broken dead coral (rubble)

This is sponge.

Look at the spiky texture Photo by Jos Hill, 2002

www.reefcheck.org

ROCK

Hard substratum

Photo by Jos Hill, 2003

www.reefcheck.org

ROCK

Hard substratum

Turf Algae: RC

Photo by Jos Hill, 2003

Photo by Jos Hill, 2003

Remember if turf algae is longer than 3 cm then put it as NIA www.reefcheck.org

ROCK

Hard substratum

This coral skeleton is very eroded

Photo by Jos Hill, 2003

www.reefcheck.org

ROCK

Hard substratum

This bit is still alive. Notice the structural integrity here

Eroded and will feel flat and smooth

www.reefcheck.org

ROCK

Hard substratum

This skeleton still has sharp ridges on it. It would go under RKC.

Eroded, therefore, Rock

Photo by Jos Hill, 2003

www.reefcheck.org

ROCK

Hard substratum

This coral is clearly eroded and covered in coralline algae.

Photo by Jos Hill, 2003

www.reefcheck.org

ROCK

Hard substratum

This dead coral is clearly eroded and is categorised as ‘Rock’

Photo by Jos Hill, 2003

www.reefcheck.org

ROCK

Hard substratum

Eroded and covered in coralline algae, turf algae and other tiny organisms

Photo by Jos Hill, 2003

www.reefcheck.org

ROCK

Hard substratum

The shell of this clam would go under ‘rock’

Photo by Dean Miller, 2002

www.reefcheck.org

ROCK

Hard substratum

The corallites of this dead coral are very eroded. This is therefore rock.

These are ascidians

Photo by Jos Hill, 2002

www.reefcheck.org

ROCK

Hard substratum

The corallites of this dead coral are very eroded

Photo by Jos Hill, 2002

www.reefcheck.org

ROCK

Hard substratum

Corallites are very eroded. This is, therefore, rock.

Photo by Jos Hill, 2002

www.reefcheck.org

ROCK

Hard substratum

Turf Algae: RC

Photo by Jos Hill, 2003

www.reefcheck.org

ROCK

Hard substratum

Turf Algae: RC

Photo by Jos Hill, 2003

www.reefcheck.org

ROCK

Hard substratum

Turf Algae: RC

Photo by Jos Hill, 2003

Photo by Jos Hill, 2003

www.reefcheck.org

ROCK

Hard substratum

Coralline Algae: RC The whole of this picture would be classified under rock

This pink is coralline algae

Photo by Jos Hill, 2002

www.reefcheck.org

ROCK

Hard substratum

Coralline Algae: RC

This is coralline algae

Photo by Jos Hill, 2002

www.reefcheck.org

ROCK

Hard substratum

Summary This includes: Bare rock Turf and coralline algae Barnacles or oysters etc Coral that has been dead for over a year Rubble that has been ‘cemented’ together by coralline algae

www.reefcheck.org

RECENTLY KILLED CORAL Indicator of recent disturbance

If you look closely, the corallites are only slightly eroded here. This would be on the borderline of RKC and nearly rock This is very eroded and covered in coralline algae.

RKC

This part is still alive hard coral

Photo by Jos Hill, 2002

www.reefcheck.org

RECENTLY KILLED CORAL Indicator of recent disturbance

Note the skeleton is still white, so this is very recently killed.

Photo by Jos Hill, 2002

www.reefcheck.org

RECENTLY KILLED CORAL Indicator of recent disturbance

This white part is either bleached and still alive or recently killed.

RKC Photo by Jos Hill, 2002

www.reefcheck.org

RECENTLY KILLED CORAL Indicator of recent disturbance

Live hard coral

RKC - because you can clearly see the freshly dead coral underneath.

Photo by Jos Hill, 2002

www.reefcheck.org

RECENTLY KILLED CORAL Indicator of recent disturbance

RKC

This is recently killed.

Note the white skeleton Photo by Jos Hill, 2002

www.reefcheck.org

RECENTLY KILLED CORAL Indicator of recent disturbance

This is RKC with a bit of algae

This is turf algae starting to grow, but if you can clearly see the white skeleton and or corallites put RKC

Photo by Jos Hill, 2002

www.reefcheck.org

RECENTLY KILLED CORAL Indicator of recent disturbance

www.reefcheck.org

RECENTLY KILLED CORAL Indicator of recent disturbance

Notice how you can see the corallites clearly. RKC

Photo by Jos Hill, 2003

www.reefcheck.org

RECENTLY KILLED CORAL Indicator of recent disturbance

RKC because you can clearly see the white skeleton and structure of the corallites underneath

Photo by Jos Hill, 2003

www.reefcheck.org

RECENTLY KILLED CORAL Indicator of recent disturbance

Clear structural integrity

Photo by Jos Hill, 2003

www.reefcheck.org

BLEACHED HARD CORAL Global warming indicators

This is a coraleating snail called Drupella

This is dead, NOT bleached

Photo by Jos Hill, 2003

www.reefcheck.org

BLEACHED HARD CORAL Global warming indicators

Drupella

Photo by Jos Hill, 2003

www.reefcheck.org

BLEACHED HARD CORAL Global warming indicators

This is dead coral – eaten by a Crown of Thorns Starfish (COTS)

Photo by AIMS

www.reefcheck.org

RECENTLY KILLED CORAL Indicator of recent disturbance

Summary This includes coral that has died in the last year (recently). This can be a difficult category to define – therefore note the following: Corallites are not eroded much Some white skeleton showing Only partially grown over with encrusting algae – where corallites and/or white skeleton is still visible If it is slightly grown over with algae but you can clearly see the uneroded corallites and/or white skeleton underneath put RKC. If it was coralline algae covering the coral – it would no longer be classed as recently killed so put RC. www.reefcheck.org

RUBBLE

Unconsolidated material

Rubble is classed as rocks and dead coral between 0.5 and 15 cm diameter

Photo by Dean Miller, 2002

www.reefcheck.org

RUBBLE

Unconsolidated material

Photo by Reef Check

www.reefcheck.org

SILT

Indicator of soil erosion or dredging

Tap this and it will rise from the reef in a little cloud

Silt when layer >1mm and covers underlying substratum so no color visible Photo by Jos Hill, 2002

www.reefcheck.org

SILT

Indicator of soil erosion or dredging

One way to double check that it is silt is to tap it and it will come up from the substrata like a cloud

Photo by Jos Hill, 2002

www.reefcheck.org

SILT

Indicator of soil erosion or dredging

Photo by Jos Hill, 2002

www.reefcheck.org

SILT

Indicator of soil erosion or dredging

Photo by Jos Hill, 2003

www.reefcheck.org

SILT

Indicator of soil erosion or dredging

Photo by Jos Hill, 2003

www.reefcheck.org

SILT

Indicator of soil erosion or dredging

Notice the cloud produced - indicates this is silt

Photo by R. Torres

www.reefcheck.org

SAND

Non-reef area

Photo by Jos Hill, 2003

www.reefcheck.org

SAND

Non-reef area

Notice these grains immediately fall to the ground after being disturbed – this indicates sand, not silt.

www.reefcheck.org

These materials were produced by Jos Hill and colleagues. ŠReef Check 2005

THE END! www.reefcheck.org