Coral Reefs

USGS coral reef research focuses on understanding coral health and disease, the structure and function of reef communities, high resolution thematic mapping and characterization to address reef health, effects of sediment transport on reefs, and geologic development. USGS provides information to DOI resource managers to protect and preserve these sensitive ecosystems - about 3.6 million acres of DOI lands.
In the process of defining its role in coral reef research USGS is developing a research plan for the next 5-10 years that will address coral science needs. This plan will address the long term goal of the program and the priorities to be addressed over the next 5 -10 years. The plan is being developed by a team of coral scientists and managers and will have wide review before implementation.

The long-term goal of the corals research program is to increase scientific understanding of fundamental processes of coral reef ecosystems in the context of linkages and interactions across the "landscape." The strategy to achieve this goal is to provide the scientific knowledge to land resource managers to protect and preserve coral resources.

Four major priorities have been identified in the planning process:

• Global Change,
  
• Ecological Integrity,
  
• Land-based Pollution, and
  
• Remote and Deep Coral Ecosystems.

These priorities will be addressed through mapping, monitoring, disease research, reef habitat characterization, and modeling activities. Challenges will be addressed using an integrated science approach within the USGS, active partnerships external to the USGS, and will be coordinated with groups implementing local action strategies.

Samples of Coral Reef Research

• Development of Molecular Genetic Markers to Study the Genetics of Scleractinian Corals in Relationship to Coral Disease and Reef Resilience (LSC)

• Diseases of Coral and Coral Reef Fishes (LSC)

• Phylogeography and Population Genetic Structure of the Deep-Sea Coral Lophelia pertusa (LSC)

• PIERC Research: The Ridge to Reef Project and Ecological Restoration (Hawaii, Mariana Islands, Pacific) (PIERC) (also related to Arid Lands, Forests)

• Science for the Conservation of Coral Reefs in the Caribbean and Western Atlantic (FISC)

	Coral Reefs Mapping, Monitoring, and Sediment Studies (CMG) - The USGS Coastal & Marine Geology Program's Coral Reefs web site is a gateway to USGS studies of coral reefs in the Pacific Ocean. The efforts of this program are concentrated in the Hawaiian Islands, and emphasize mapping, monitoring, remote sensing, sediment transport studies, and collection of tide, wave, and current data from remote stations.  More >