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ACCESS NUMBER: M04PC00033
1435-01-04-CT-33137
Caribbean reefs with just 31 species of scleractinian corals. The FGB also supports
over 250 species of reef invertebrates, over 80 species of marine algae, and 177
species of tropical Atlantic fish. Oceanic salinity conditions prevail at the FGB and
range from 28 to 38 ppt, with water temperatures ranging from 19 C (February/March)
to ~ 31 C (August/September). Water clarity at the FGB is excellent, commonly 30 m or
more, providing light to photosynthetic organisms.
Since 1973, the Minerals Management Service (MMS) has conducted a program of
protective activities at the FGB. The topographic features stipulation was designed to
protect sensitive biological resources in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico, especially the
FGB, from the adverse effects of oil and gas activities. The stipulation defines a No
Activity Zone (NAZ) around each of the Banks and no oil or gas structures, drilling rigs,
pipelines, or anchoring are allowed within the NAZ. From 1988 to 1995, the MMS
monitored the FGB coral reefs on an annual basis to detect any changes that may be
caused by oil and gas activities, as well as other incipient changes. In addition to the
protective measures provided by MMS, the FGB were designated as a United States
National Marine Sanctuary in 1992. Beginning in 1996, the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary
(FGBNMS), and the MMS partnered to continue the long-term monitoring at the FGB.
OBJECTIVE: To monitor the East Flower Garden Bank (EFGB) and West Flower
Garden Bank (WFGB) in accordance with the long-term monitoring protocol, ensuring
that the protective measures established by MMS continue to be effective.
DESCRIPTION: For the 2004-2008 monitoring effort, cruises were conducted aboard
the M. V. Fling or M. V. Spree in September and November 2004 (EFGB and WFGB,
respectively), June 2005, June 2006, June 2007, August and September 2007 (EFGB
and WFGB, respectively), and November 2008. The general locations of the study sites
are marked by permanent mooring buoys: FGBNMS permanent mooring number 2 at the
EFGB and mooring number 5 at the WFGB. Establishment of the perimeter and
crosshairs subdivided each 100-m x 100-m study site into four quadrants. To estimate the
areal coverage of benthic components, fourteen to sixteen 10-m long transect tapes
were randomly positioned at each study site. Benthic coverage and the coverage of
coral stressors were estimated from these transects using videography. Four coral
cores were extracted from Montastraea faveolata colonies at each Bank in 2005 and 2007
to determine annual coral growth rates. Because Diploria strigosa is the second largest
contributor to coral cover at the FGB, D. strigosa lateral growth margins were monitored
and photographed to detect changes from year to year. In order to monitor changes in
coral reef community structure repetitive 8-m2 quadrats were photographed and analyzed
for percent cover, coral condition, and growth or loss of coral tissue over time. Perimeter
lines were videotaped each year to document change at known locations and to obtain
a general sense of coral condition and fish populations each year. Physical and
chemical characteristics of the seawater overlying the reef caps at the FGB were
assessed by monitoring temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, pH, turbidity,
photosynthetically active radiation, chlorophyll a, ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, TKN, and
soluble reactive phosphorous. These water quality parameters were selected to
