Abstract: This project supports the design of marine protected areas by providing key data layers on biodiversity, fisheries habitat, and the impacts of hurricanes and climate change. Data from this project are being used in the design of more sustainable networks of marine reserves for the Bahamas. The project followed on from previous related research conducted during the Bahamas Biocomplexity Project (BBP), and preceeds the Living Oceans Foundation's Global Reef Expedition. The data were additionally developed in collaboration with the Marine Spatial Ecology Lab (MSEL) at the University of Exeter, UK. Grants from the Living Oceans Foundation have already funded the development of the world's first method for mapping hotspots of beta diversity in 2-dimensions (Harborne et al. 2006). A desirable aspect of the method is that it combines both the field knowledge of species in each habitat with the larger-scale information on habitat distribution available from remote sensing. Moreover, it allows beta diversity, which is an important measure of biodiversity, to be mapped and monitored at meaningful scales for conservation and marine reserve design. This map of beta diversity was created for the Bahamas at the national scale. The map will help conservation efforts by identifying some of the richest areas of the Archipelago for priority conservation. Such information will be particularly useful to local communities that are actively engaged in locating local marine reserves.

Abstract: This project supports the design of marine protected areas by providing key data layers on biodiversity, fisheries habitat, and the impacts of hurricanes and climate change. Data from this project are being used in the design of more sustainable networks of marine reserves for the Bahamas. The project followed on from previous related research conducted during the Bahamas Biocomplexity Project (BBP), and preceeds the Living Oceans Foundation's Global Reef Expedition. The data were additionally developed in collaboration with the Marine Spatial Ecology Lab (MSEL) at the University of Exeter, UK. Satellite-derived sea surface temperature (SST) data collected from 1985 to 2005 at a spatial resolution of 4 km were obtained from the U.S. National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). These data were used to derive measures of chronic and acute thermal stress. The maps of chronic and acute thermal stress provide good geographic information on the relative risk of coral bleaching in the Bahamas. Chronic stress was measured as the maximum of monthly means (MMM) experienced at each site prior to 1993 during non-bleaching conditions (Lui et al. 2003). Acute thermal stress was measured as the annual accumulation of degree heating weeks (DHWs) summed over the last 10 years of the SST dataset (1996-2005). One DHW is equal to one week of SSTs that are one degree greater than the MMM at the site. The total DHW accumulation for a given year is the accumulation of positive SST anomalies over a rolling 12 week time period; only anomalies in excess of 1°C are included, because smaller SST spikes are believed to be insufficient to cause stress on corals (i.e., consecutive weekly anomalies of 1.0, 1.5 and 0.8 results in total DHW value of 2.5, because the third value is less than one) (Donner et al. 2005). The annual accumulation of degree heating weeks has proven effective at identifying the occurrence of coral bleaching. Independent coral bleaching reports have consistently indicated that some coral bleaching occurs when the DHW value exceeds four, with extensive bleaching and coral mortality occurring when the DHW value exceeds eight (Liu et al. 2003; Skirving et al. 2004). The total DHW value, calculated from the 1996-2005 temperature data gives a measure of recent acute warming experienced at each site.

Abstract: This project supports the design of marine protected areas by providing key data layers on biodiversity, fisheries habitat, and the impacts of hurricanes and climate change. Data from this project are being used in the design of more sustainable networks of marine reserves for the Bahamas. The project followed on from previous related research conducted during the Bahamas Biocomplexity Project (BBP), and preceeds the Living Oceans Foundation's Global Reef Expedition. The data were additionally developed in collaboration with the Marine Spatial Ecology Lab (MSEL) at the University of Exeter, UK. There are two key large-scale threats to coral reefs of the Bahamas: hurricanes and mass coral bleaching. To map hurricane impacts, geographic tracks of hurricanes and tropical storms were obtained from the U.S. National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). These data include six-hourly track information on the position of storms, their pressure, wind speed and Saffir-Simpson category from 1851 to 2005 (Jarvinen et al. (1984) and Neumann et al. (1999)). Vector tracks were converted into a raster (pixel) grid of hurricane effects where the impact of hurricanes is attenuated exponentially away from the eye of the storm. The result is a map showing the average hurricane impact at each site in the Bahamas. This map reveals areas that have been most-heavily affected. Also, areas that appear to experience less hurricane disturbance over time may possibly be favoured during the reserve design process.

Abstract: This project supports the design of marine protected areas by providing key data layers on biodiversity, fisheries habitat, and the impacts of hurricanes and climate change. Data from this project are being used in the design of more sustainable networks of marine reserves for the Bahamas. The project followed on from previous related research conducted during the Bahamas Biocomplexity Project (BBP), and preceeds the Living Oceans Foundation's Global Reef Expedition. The data were additionally developed in collaboration with the Marine Spatial Ecology Lab (MSEL) at the University of Exeter, UK. Reefs with prolific mangrove access have a greater supply of several commercially important fishes (e.g. snappers) and increased levels of grazing (Mumby et al. 2004), which are predicted to improve the reef's recovery from hurricanes and bleaching events (Mumby et. al. 2007). We have identified the locations of such areas using the national-scale habitat map and new algorithms (Mumby 2006). The algorithm considers fringing mangroves within 10 km of Montastraea reefs. The layers provide a) areas of reef that have greatest fisheries and grazing productivity, and b) areas of mangrove that are strongly connected to Montastraea reefs. Restoration activities that occur after major hurricanes or in response to coastal development should prioritize mangrove reforestation in areas connected to coral reefs.

Abstract: This project supports the design of marine protected areas by providing key data layers on biodiversity, fisheries habitat, and the impacts of hurricanes and climate change. Data from this project are being used in the design of more sustainable networks of marine reserves for the Bahamas. The project followed on from previous related research conducted during the Bahamas Biocomplexity Project (BBP), and preceeds the Living Oceans Foundation's Global Reef Expedition. The data were additionally developed in collaboration with the Marine Spatial Ecology Lab (MSEL) at the University of Exeter, UK. This land vector data was provided by the U.S. Defense Mapping Agency, CARIB_WVS_GEO_WGS84.SHP - World Vector Shoreline of the Caribbean Sea region: Open-File Report 2005-1071. U.S. Geological Survey, Coastal and Marine Geology Program, Woods Hole Science Center, Woods Hole, MA., 2005.

Abstract: This is a collaborative benthic habitat mapping project between the Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation, University of Cambridge and Seychelles Centre for Marine Research and Technology Marine Parks Authority. The map shows the key shallow water benthic habitats of African Banks, part of the Amirantes island group, southern Seychelles, Western Indian Ocean. This was produced by performing a classification on 17 bands of CASI imagery acquired January 2005. Where data are missing due to cloud cover, gaps have been filled by classifying georeferenced Landsat data (2000). Projection: Geographic. Spheroid and Datum: WGS 1984. Sensor: Compact Airborne Spectrographic Imager, 17 bands, 1m pixels, 434-849nm electromagnetic spectrum region. Original CASI data copyright Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation, 2005. Landsat data is from the Millennium Coral Reefs Landsat Archive, USF Millennium Global Coral Reef Mapping Project. Image pre-processing, classification and mapsheet production was completed by Cambridge Coastal Research Unit and the Unit for Landscape Modelling, University of Cambridge, 2006.

Abstract: This is a collaborative benthic habitat mapping project between the Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation, University of Cambridge and Seychelles Centre for Marine Research and Technology Marine Parks Authority. The map shows the key shallow water benthic habitats of Alphonse, part of the Amirantes island group, southern Seychelles, Western Indian Ocean. This was produced by performing a classification on 17 bands of CASI imagery acquired January 2005. Where data are missing due to cloud cover, gaps have been filled by classifying georeferenced Landsat data (2000). Projection: Geographic. Spheroid and Datum: WGS 1984. Sensor: Compact Airborne Spectrographic Imager, 17 bands, 1m pixels, 434-849nm electromagnetic spectrum region. Original CASI data copyright Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation, 2005. Landsat data is from the Millennium Coral Reefs Landsat Archive, USF Millennium Global Coral Reef Mapping Project. Image pre-processing, classification and mapsheet production was completed by Cambridge Coastal Research Unit and the Unit for Landscape Modelling, University of Cambridge, 2006.

Abstract: This is a collaborative benthic habitat mapping project between the Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation, University of Cambridge and Seychelles Centre for Marine Research and Technology Marine Parks Authority. The map shows the key shallow water benthic habitats of Bijoutier and St. Francois, part of the Amirantes island group, southern Seychelles, Western Indian Ocean. This was produced by performing a classification on 17 bands of CASI imagery acquired January 2005. Where data are missing due to cloud cover, gaps have been filled by classifying georeferenced Landsat data (2000). Projection: Geographic. Spheroid and Datum: WGS 1984. Sensor: Compact Airborne Spectrographic Imager, 17 bands, 1m pixels, 434-849nm electromagnetic spectrum region. Original CASI data copyright Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation, 2005. Landsat data is from the Millennium Coral Reefs Landsat Archive, USF Millennium Global Coral Reef Mapping Project. Image pre-processing, classification and mapsheet production was completed by Cambridge Coastal Research Unit and the Unit for Landscape Modelling, University of Cambridge, 2006.

Abstract: This is a collaborative benthic habitat mapping project between the Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation, University of Cambridge and Seychelles Centre for Marine Research and Technology Marine Parks Authority. The map shows the key shallow water benthic habitats of Boudeuse, part of the Amirantes island group, southern Seychelles, Western Indian Ocean. This was produced by performing a classification on 17 bands of CASI imagery acquired January 2005. Where data are missing due to cloud cover, gaps have been filled by classifying georeferenced Landsat data (2000). Projection: Geographic. Spheroid and Datum: WGS 1984. Sensor: Compact Airborne Spectrographic Imager, 17 bands, 1m pixels, 434-849nm electromagnetic spectrum region. Original CASI data copyright Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation, 2005. Landsat data is from the Millennium Coral Reefs Landsat Archive, USF Millennium Global Coral Reef Mapping Project. Image pre-processing, classification and mapsheet production was completed by Cambridge Coastal Research Unit and the Unit for Landscape Modelling, University of Cambridge, 2006.

Abstract: This is a collaborative benthic habitat mapping project between the Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation, University of Cambridge and Seychelles Centre for Marine Research and Technology Marine Parks Authority. The map shows the key shallow water benthic habitats of Darros, part of the Amirantes island group, southern Seychelles, Western Indian Ocean. This was produced by performing a classification on 17 bands of CASI imagery acquired January 2005. Where data are missing due to cloud cover, gaps have been filled by classifying georeferenced Landsat data (2000). Projection: Geographic. Spheroid and Datum: WGS 1984. Sensor: Compact Airborne Spectrographic Imager, 17 bands, 1m pixels, 434-849nm electromagnetic spectrum region. Original CASI data copyright Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation, 2005. Landsat data is from the Millennium Coral Reefs Landsat Archive, USF Millennium Global Coral Reef Mapping Project. Image pre-processing, classification and mapsheet production was completed by Cambridge Coastal Research Unit and the Unit for Landscape Modelling, University of Cambridge, 2006.

Abstract: This is a collaborative benthic habitat mapping project between the Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation, University of Cambridge and Seychelles Centre for Marine Research and Technology Marine Parks Authority. The map shows the key shallow water benthic habitats of Desnoeufs, part of the Amirantes island group, southern Seychelles, Western Indian Ocean. This was produced by performing a classification on 17 bands of CASI imagery acquired January 2005. Where data are missing due to cloud cover, gaps have been filled by classifying georeferenced Landsat data (2000). Projection: Geographic. Spheroid and Datum: WGS 1984. Sensor: Compact Airborne Spectrographic Imager, 17 bands, 1m pixels, 434-849nm electromagnetic spectrum region. Original CASI data copyright Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation, 2005. Landsat data is from the Millennium Coral Reefs Landsat Archive, USF Millennium Global Coral Reef Mapping Project. Image pre-processing, classification and mapsheet production was completed by Cambridge Coastal Research Unit and the Unit for Landscape Modelling, University of Cambridge, 2006.

Abstract: This is a collaborative benthic habitat mapping project between the Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation, University of Cambridge and Seychelles Centre for Marine Research and Technology Marine Parks Authority. The map shows the key shallow water benthic habitats of Etoile, part of the Amirantes island group, southern Seychelles, Western Indian Ocean. This was produced by performing a classification on 17 bands of CASI imagery acquired January 2005. Where data are missing due to cloud cover, gaps have been filled by classifying georeferenced Landsat data (2000). Projection: Geographic. Spheroid and Datum: WGS 1984. Sensor: Compact Airborne Spectrographic Imager, 17 bands, 1m pixels, 434-849nm electromagnetic spectrum region. Original CASI data copyright Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation, 2005. Landsat data is from the Millennium Coral Reefs Landsat Archive, USF Millennium Global Coral Reef Mapping Project. Image pre-processing, classification and mapsheet production was completed by Cambridge Coastal Research Unit and the Unit for Landscape Modelling, University of Cambridge, 2006.

Abstract: This is a collaborative benthic habitat mapping project between the Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation, University of Cambridge and Seychelles Centre for Marine Research and Technology Marine Parks Authority. The map shows the key shallow water benthic habitats of Marie Louise, part of the Amirantes island group, southern Seychelles, Western Indian Ocean. This was produced by performing a classification on 17 bands of CASI imagery acquired January 2005. Where data are missing due to cloud cover, gaps have been filled by classifying georeferenced Landsat data (2000). Projection: Geographic. Spheroid and Datum: WGS 1984. Sensor: Compact Airborne Spectrographic Imager, 17 bands, 1m pixels, 434-849nm electromagnetic spectrum region. Original CASI data copyright Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation, 2005. Landsat data is from the Millennium Coral Reefs Landsat Archive, USF Millennium Global Coral Reef Mapping Project. Image pre-processing, classification and mapsheet production was completed by Cambridge Coastal Research Unit and the Unit for Landscape Modelling, University of Cambridge, 2006.

Abstract: This is a collaborative benthic habitat mapping project between the Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation, University of Cambridge and Seychelles Centre for Marine Research and Technology Marine Parks Authority. The map shows the key shallow water benthic habitats of Poivre, part of the Amirantes island group, southern Seychelles, Western Indian Ocean. This was produced by performing a classification on 17 bands of CASI imagery acquired January 2005. Where data are missing due to cloud cover, gaps have been filled by classifying georeferenced Landsat data (2000). Projection: Geographic. Spheroid and Datum: WGS 1984. Sensor: Compact Airborne Spectrographic Imager, 17 bands, 1m pixels, 434-849nm electromagnetic spectrum region. Original CASI data copyright Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation, 2005. Landsat data is from the Millennium Coral Reefs Landsat Archive, USF Millennium Global Coral Reef Mapping Project. Image pre-processing, classification and mapsheet production was completed by Cambridge Coastal Research Unit and the Unit for Landscape Modelling, University of Cambridge, 2006.

Abstract: This is a collaborative benthic habitat mapping project between the Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation, University of Cambridge and Seychelles Centre for Marine Research and Technology Marine Parks Authority. The map shows the key shallow water benthic habitats of Remire, part of the Amirantes island group, southern Seychelles, Western Indian Ocean. This was produced by performing a classification on 17 bands of CASI imagery acquired January 2005. Where data are missing due to cloud cover, gaps have been filled by classifying georeferenced Landsat data (2000). Projection: Geographic. Spheroid and Datum: WGS 1984. Sensor: Compact Airborne Spectrographic Imager, 17 bands, 1m pixels, 434-849nm electromagnetic spectrum region. Original CASI data copyright Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation, 2005. Landsat data is from the Millennium Coral Reefs Landsat Archive, USF Millennium Global Coral Reef Mapping Project. Image pre-processing, classification and mapsheet production was completed by Cambridge Coastal Research Unit and the Unit for Landscape Modelling, University of Cambridge, 2006.

Abstract: This is a collaborative benthic habitat mapping project between the Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation, University of Cambridge and Seychelles Centre for Marine Research and Technology Marine Parks Authority. The map shows the key shallow water benthic habitats of Sand Cay, part of the Amirantes island group, southern Seychelles, Western Indian Ocean. This was produced by performing a classification on 17 bands of CASI imagery acquired January 2005. Where data are missing due to cloud cover, gaps have been filled by classifying georeferenced Landsat data (2000). Projection: Geographic. Spheroid and Datum: WGS 1984. Sensor: Compact Airborne Spectrographic Imager, 17 bands, 1m pixels, 434-849nm electromagnetic spectrum region. Original CASI data copyright Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation, 2005. Landsat data is from the Millennium Coral Reefs Landsat Archive, USF Millennium Global Coral Reef Mapping Project. Image pre-processing, classification and mapsheet production was completed by Cambridge Coastal Research Unit and the Unit for Landscape Modelling, University of Cambridge, 2006.

Abstract: This is a collaborative benthic habitat mapping project between the Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation, University of Cambridge and Seychelles Centre for Marine Research and Technology Marine Parks Authority. The map shows the key shallow water benthic habitats of St. Joseph, part of the Amirantes island group, southern Seychelles, Western Indian Ocean. This was produced by performing a classification on 17 bands of CASI imagery acquired January 2005. Where data are missing due to cloud cover, gaps have been filled by classifying georeferenced Landsat data (2000). Projection: Geographic. Spheroid and Datum: WGS 1984. Sensor: Compact Airborne Spectrographic Imager, 17 bands, 1m pixels, 434-849nm electromagnetic spectrum region. Original CASI data copyright Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation, 2005. Landsat data is from the Millennium Coral Reefs Landsat Archive, USF Millennium Global Coral Reef Mapping Project. Image pre-processing, classification and mapsheet production was completed by Cambridge Coastal Research Unit and the Unit for Landscape Modelling, University of Cambridge, 2006.

Abstract: The goals of this project were to improve the mapping of USVI reefs, to understand patterns and dynamics of reef communities, and to improve the use of habitat maps for conservation. Principal Investigator: Dr. Peter Mumby, University of Exeter, UK. Data was collected around the US Virgin Islands St. Thomas and St. John. During 2001, the Living Oceans Foundation (LOF) funded Dr. Mumby to gather CASI and ground-truthing data around the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) while embarked on the logistical support and research vessel, M/Y Golden Shadow. Work in the USVI aimed to generate marine habitat maps and document the communities present. Such maps and databases provide important baseline GIS data-layers to monitor change both before and after 2001. A total of 402 sites around both St John and St Thomas were visited between 2nd and 16th April 2001. At each site geographical coordinates (using a Global Positioning System), depth and benthic community type were recorded to facilitate ground-truthing of remotely sensed imagery. At a subset of 34 sites, randomly placed 0.25 sq-meter quadrats were used to provide data on the species present within each benthic community. The subset of sites was chosen to ensure (a) data from each benthic community observed in the U.S. Virgin Islands (b) replicate data from benthic communities at different sites around both islands and (c) more data from more diverse (typically reef) communities. In July 2004, the available data were fully analyzed, produced habitat maps, collected additional data and investigated patterns of beta diversity.

Abstract: The goals of this project were to improve the mapping of USVI reefs, to understand patterns and dynamics of reef communities, and to improve the use of habitat maps for conservation. Principal Investigator: Dr. Peter Mumby, University of Exeter, UK. Data was collected around the US Virgin Islands St. Thomas and St. John. During 2001, the Living Oceans Foundation (LOF) funded Dr. Mumby to gather CASI and ground-truthing data around the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) while embarked on the logistical support and research vessel, M/Y Golden Shadow. Work in the USVI aimed to generate marine habitat maps and document the communities present. Such maps and databases provide important baseline GIS data-layers to monitor change both before and after 2001. A total of 402 sites around both St John and St Thomas were visited between 2nd and 16th April 2001. At each site geographical coordinates (using a Global Positioning System), depth and benthic community type were recorded to facilitate ground-truthing of remotely sensed imagery. At a subset of 34 sites, randomly placed 0.25 sq-meter quadrats were used to provide data on the species present within each benthic community. The subset of sites was chosen to ensure (a) data from each benthic community observed in the U.S. Virgin Islands (b) replicate data from benthic communities at different sites around both islands and (c) more data from more diverse (typically reef) communities. In July 2004, the available data were fully analyzed, produced habitat maps, collected additional data and investigated patterns of beta diversity.