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
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HARD CORAL The reef-builders
Tentacles
Mouth
Stomach
Coral cup or ‘corallite’
Limestone skeleton Cross section through a coral polyp
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HARD CORAL The reef-builders
Hard coral includes: • All hard corals • Fire coral (Millepora) • Blue coral (Heliopora) • Organ pipe coral (Tubipora musica)
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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
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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.
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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HARD CORAL The reef builders
Submassive Hard Coral Retracting polyps
Retracted polyps
Photo by Jos Hill, 2003
Photo by Jos Hill, 2003
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HARD CORAL The reef builders
Foliose Hard Coral
Photo by Jos Hill, 2003
Photo by Jos Hill, 2002
Photo by Jos Hill, 2003
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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
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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
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HARD CORAL The reef builders
Fire Coral Notice the tiny hairs
Photo by Dean Miller, 2002
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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
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HARD CORAL The reef builders
Organ pipe coral: HC
This is the polyp
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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
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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
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BLEACHED HARD CORAL Global warming indicators
Photo by Ray Berkelmans, CRC Reef 2003
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BLEACHED HARD CORAL Global warming indicators
It is tempting to think that all white-looking coral is bleached! This is not so‌
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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
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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
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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
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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!
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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
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SOFT CORAL Non-reef builders
Photo by Jos Hill, 2003
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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
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SOFT CORAL Non-reef builders
Photo by Jos Hill, 2002
Photo by Jos Hill, 2003
Photo by Jos Hill, 2003
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SOFT CORAL Non-reef builders
Photo by Dean Miller, 2003
Zoanthids tend to have brown, red or green centres
Photo by Jos Hill, 2002
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SOFT CORAL Non-reef builders
Photo by Jos Hill, 2002
Photo by Jos Hill, 2002
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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
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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
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BLEACHED SOFT CORAL Global warming indicators
Photo by Jos Hill, 2003
Photo by Jos Hill, 2004
Photo by Jos Hill, 2004
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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)
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NUTRIENT INDICATOR ALGAE Nutrient pollution indicators
Crustose algae Record the substrate beneath
Photo by Jos Hill, 2003
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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
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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
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NUTRIENT INDICATOR ALGAE Nutrient pollution indicators
This purple is coralline algae. This goes under the Rock category not under NIA
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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
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NUTRIENT INDICATOR ALGAE Nutrient pollution indicators
NIA
NIA
NIA
HC
Photo by Jos Hill, 2003
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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
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NUTRIENT INDICATOR ALGAE Nutrient pollution indicators
Photo by Jos Hill, 2003
Photo by Jos Hill, 2003
Photo by Jos Hill, 2003
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NUTRIENT INDICATOR ALGAE Nutrient pollution indicators
Photo by Jos Hill, 2003
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NUTRIENT INDICATOR ALGAE Nutrient pollution indicators
Filamentous algae
Grape algae Photo by Jos Hill, 2003
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NUTRIENT INDICATOR ALGAE Nutrient pollution indicators
Photo by Jos Hill, 2003
Photo by Jos Hill, 2003
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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
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NUTRIENT INDICATOR ALGAE Nutrient pollution indicators
Photo by Jos Hill, 2003
Photo by Jos Hill, 2003
NIA
Turf algae. Put ‘rock’
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NUTRIENT INDICATOR ALGAE Nutrient pollution indicators
Crustose algae with NIA - count as NIA
Photo by Jos Hill, 2003
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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
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NUTRIENT INDICATOR ALGAE Nutrient pollution indicators
Photo by Jos Hill, 2003
Photo by Jos Hill, 2003
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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
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NUTRIENT INDICATOR ALGAE Nutrient pollution indicators
Photo by Jos Hill, 2003
Photo by Jos Hill, 2002
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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’.
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SPONGE
Sewage pollution indicator
Photo from Undersea Explorer, 2002
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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
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SPONGE
Sewage pollution indicator
Matt surface Can see the spicules
Photo by Jos Hill, 2002
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SPONGE
Sewage pollution indicator
Irregular spaced holes (osculum)
Note the irregular, matt surface and irregular shape
Photo by Jos Hill, 2002
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SPONGE
Sewage pollution indicator
Tube sponge
Photo by Jos Hill, 2001
Photo by Jos Hill, 2003
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SPONGE
Sewage pollution indicator Irregular holes and matt surface
Photo by Jos Hill, 2003
Photo by Jos Hill, 2003
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SPONGE
Sewage pollution indicator
Encrusting rope-like sponge
Tube sponge
Photo by Jos Hill, 2003
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SPONGE
Sewage pollution indicator
Note the rough texture
Photo by Jos Hill, 2003
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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
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SPONGE
Sewage pollution indicator
Photo by Jos HIll, 2003
Photo by Dean Miller, 2003
Photo by Dean Miller, 2003
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SPONGE
Sewage pollution indicator
Note the irregular, surface This is encrusting
Note irregularly spaced holes
Photo by Jos Hill, 2002
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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
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SPONGE
Sewage pollution indicator
Note rough surface with irregularly spaced holes
Photo by Jos Hill, 2002
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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
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SPONGE
Sewage pollution indicator
Note irregular, spiky surface
Photo by Jos Hill, 2002
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SPONGE
Sewage pollution indicator
Encrusting Sponge: SP
Photo by Jos Hill, 2003
Encrusting sponge
Photo by Jos Hill, 2003
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SPONGE
Sewage pollution indicator
Sponge encrusting over a hard coral.
Photo by Jos Hill, 2003
Photo by Jos Hill, 2003
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SPONGE
Sewage pollution indicator
Black encrusting sponge on this rock covered with turf algae
Photo by Jos Hill, 2003
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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
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OTHER
Not indicators of impacts
Ascidians
Photo by Jos Hill, 2002
Photo by Jos Hill, 2002
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OTHER
Not indicators of impacts
Ascidians
The holes will close when wafted
These little yellow organisms are also ascidians
Photo by Jos Hill, 2002
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OTHER
Not indicators of impacts
Ascidians
Ascidian
Photo by Jos Hill, 2003
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OTHER
Not indicators of impacts
Ascidians
Photo by Jos Hill, 2003
Photo by Dean Miller, 2003
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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
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OTHER
Not indicators of impacts
Anemones
Photo by Jos Hill, 2002
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OTHER
Not indicators of impacts
Anemones
Photo by Jos Hill, 2003
Photo by Jos Hill, 2002
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OTHER
Not indicators of impacts
Tube worm
Photo by Dean Miller, 2003
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OTHER
Not indicators of impacts
Gorgonians
Gorgonian
Photo by Dean Miller, 2002
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OTHER
Not indicators of impacts
Non-nutrient indicator seaweed
Halimeda sp.
Photo by Jos Hill, 2004
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OTHER
Not indicators of impacts
Coralliomorphs
Photo by Jos Hill, 2002
Photo by Dean Miller, 2003
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ROCK
Hard substratum
Rock
Photo by Jos Hill, 2002
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ROCK
Hard substratum
This is broken dead coral (rubble)
This is sponge. Look at the spiky texture Photo by Jos Hill, 2002
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ROCK
Hard substratum
Photo by Jos Hill, 2003
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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
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ROCK
Hard substratum
This bit is still alive. Notice the structural integrity here
Eroded and will feel flat and smooth
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ROCK
Hard substratum
This skeleton still has sharp ridges on it. It would go under RKC.
Eroded, therefore, Rock
Photo by Jos Hill, 2003
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ROCK
Hard substratum
This coral is clearly eroded and covered in coralline algae.
Photo by Jos Hill, 2003
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ROCK
Hard substratum
This dead coral is clearly eroded and is categorised as ‘Rock’
Photo by Jos Hill, 2003
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ROCK
Hard substratum
Eroded and covered in coralline algae, turf algae and other tiny organisms
Photo by Jos Hill, 2003
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ROCK
Hard substratum
The shell of this clam would go under ‘rock’
Photo by Dean Miller, 2002
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ROCK
Hard substratum
The corallites of this dead coral are very eroded. This is therefore rock.
These are ascidians
Photo by Jos Hill, 2002
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ROCK
Hard substratum
The corallites of this dead coral are very eroded
Photo by Jos Hill, 2002
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ROCK
Hard substratum
Corallites are very eroded. This is, therefore, rock.
Photo by Jos Hill, 2002
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ROCK
Hard substratum
Turf Algae: RC
Photo by Jos Hill, 2003
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ROCK
Hard substratum
Turf Algae: RC
Photo by Jos Hill, 2003
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ROCK
Hard substratum
Turf Algae: RC
Photo by Jos Hill, 2003
Photo by Jos Hill, 2003
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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
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ROCK
Hard substratum
Coralline Algae: RC
This is coralline algae
Photo by Jos Hill, 2002
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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
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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
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RECENTLY KILLED CORAL Indicator of recent disturbance
Note the skeleton is still white, so this is very recently killed.
Photo by Jos Hill, 2002
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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
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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
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RECENTLY KILLED CORAL Indicator of recent disturbance
RKC
This is recently killed. Note the white skeleton Photo by Jos Hill, 2002
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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
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RECENTLY KILLED CORAL Indicator of recent disturbance
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RECENTLY KILLED CORAL Indicator of recent disturbance
Notice how you can see the corallites clearly. RKC
Photo by Jos Hill, 2003
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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
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RECENTLY KILLED CORAL Indicator of recent disturbance
Clear structural integrity
Photo by Jos Hill, 2003
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BLEACHED HARD CORAL Global warming indicators
This is a coraleating snail called Drupella
This is dead, NOT bleached
Photo by Jos Hill, 2003
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BLEACHED HARD CORAL Global warming indicators
Drupella
Photo by Jos Hill, 2003
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BLEACHED HARD CORAL Global warming indicators
This is dead coral – eaten by a Crown of Thorns Starfish (COTS)
Photo by AIMS
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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
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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
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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
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SILT
Indicator of soil erosion or dredging
Photo by Jos Hill, 2002
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SILT
Indicator of soil erosion or dredging
Photo by Jos Hill, 2003
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SILT
Indicator of soil erosion or dredging
Photo by Jos Hill, 2003
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SILT
Indicator of soil erosion or dredging
Notice the cloud produced - indicates this is silt
Photo by R. Torres
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SAND
Non-reef area
Photo by Jos Hill, 2003
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SAND
Non-reef area
Notice these grains immediately fall to the ground after being disturbed – this indicates sand, not silt.
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These materials were produced by Jos Hill and colleagues. ŠReef Check 2005
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