Spatial and Temporal Comparisons of Benthic Composition at Necker Island, Northwestern Hawaiian Islands

dc.contributor.author Schopmeyer, Stephanie A. en_US
dc.contributor.author Vroom, Peter S. en_US
dc.contributor.author Kenyon, Jean C. en_US
dc.date.accessioned 2013-08-10T00:27:25Z
dc.date.available 2013-08-10T00:27:25Z
dc.date.issued 2011-10 en_US
dc.description v. ill. 23 cm. en_US
dc.description Also available through BioOne: http://www.bioone.org/doi/abs/10.2984/65.4.405 en_US
dc.description Quarterly en_US
dc.description.abstract Necker Island, a remote island located in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, provides a unique opportunity to investigate species-level algal and benthic invertebrate assemblages and assess temporal variation of coral reef ecosystems exposed to minimal anthropogenic impacts. This study provides a robust baseline of common benthic species at Necker Island and their relative abundances before any known ecological response to changing oceanographic conditions. Rapid ecological assessment (REA) methods using photoquadrat imagery from long-term monitoring sites coupled with towed-diver surveys conducted between 2002 and 2006 were analyzed to determine percentage cover of benthic organisms around the island, and macroalgal species lists were compiled from voucher specimens. Benthic substrates were typically dominated by turf algae at all sites for all years, and macroalgal and coral covers were found to be low. A total of 25 macroalgal and 11 anthozoan species was identified. Of these, 13 macroalgal species and one coral species represent new records for Necker Island. Analyses of community similarity found spatial differences among sites in 2006, as well as temporal differences between 2005 and 2006, an outcome primarily driven by significant increases in percentage cover of macroalgae and coral at one site. However, benthic communities observed during extensive towed-diver surveys around Necker Island did not identify significant differences among geographical sectors or years, suggesting that benthic communities are relatively homogeneous. Necker Island contains macroalgal and coral populations similar to those of neighboring reef systems within the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, and this study provides a baseline of benthic assemblages for ongoing temporal monitoring. en_US
dc.format.extent 14 pages en_US
dc.identifier.citation Schopmeyer S, Vroom P, Kenyon J. Spatial and Temporal Comparisons of Benthic Composition at Necker Island, Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Pac Sci 65(4): 405-417. en_US
dc.identifier.doi http://dx.doi.org/10.2984/65.4.405 en_US
dc.identifier.issn 0030-8870 en_US
dc.identifier.uri http://hdl.handle.net/10125/29738
dc.publisher Honolulu, University of Hawaii en_US
dc.relation.ispartofseries vol. 65, no. 4 en_US
dc.subject.lcsh Natural history--Periodicals. en_US
dc.subject.lcsh Science--Periodicals en_US
dc.subject.lcsh Natural history--Pacific Area--Periodicals. en_US
dc.title Spatial and Temporal Comparisons of Benthic Composition at Necker Island, Northwestern Hawaiian Islands en_US
dc.type Article en_US
dc.type.dcmi Text en_US
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