OCS Study 

MMS 2008-019 

 

Post-Hurricane Assessment 

at the East Flower Garden Bank 

Long-Term Monitoring Site: 

November 2005 

U.S. Department of the Interior

Minerals Management Service 

Gulf of Mexico OCS Region 
U.S. Department of the Interior

Minerals Management Service 

Gulf of Mexico OCS Region 

OCS Study 

MMS 2008-019 

Post-Hurricane Assessment 

at the East Flower Garden Bank 

Long-Term Monitoring Site: 

November 2005 

Authors 

William F. Precht 

Richard B. Aronson 

Kenneth J.P. Deslarzes 

Martha L. Robbart 

Beth Zimmer 

Leslie Duncan 

Prepared under MMS Contract 

1435-01-04-CT-33137 (M04PC00033) 

by 

PBS&J 

2001 NW 107th Avenue 

Miami, Florida 33172 

Published by 

New Orleans

June 2008 
iii 

DISCLAIMER 

This report was prepared under contract between the Minerals Management Service (MMS), the 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and PBS&J Ecological Services, 

Miami, Florida, USA. This report has been technically reviewed by MMS and NOAA, and has 

been approved for publication. Approval does not signify that the contents necessarily reflect the 

views and policies of MMS and NOAA, nor does the mention of trade names or commercial 

products constitute endorsement or recommendation for use. It is, however, exempt from review 

and compliance with MMS editorial standards. 

REPORT AVAILABILITY 

Extra copies of this report may be obtained from the Public Information Office (Mail Stop 5034) 

at the following address:

U.S. Department of the Interior 

Minerals Management Service 

Gulf of Mexico OCS Region 

Public Information Office (MS 5034) 

1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard 

New Orleans, Louisiana 70123-2394 

Telephone: (504) 736-2519 or 

 1-800-200-GULF 

CITATION 

Suggested citation:

Precht, W.F., R.B. Aronson, K.J.P. Deslarzes, M.L. Robbart, B. Zimmer, and L. Duncan. 2008. 

Post-hurricane assessment at the East Flower Garden Bank long-term monitoring site: 

November 2005. U.S. Dept. of the Interior, Minerals Management Service, Gulf of 

Mexico OCS Region, New Orleans, Louisiana. OCS Study MMS 2008-019. 39 pp. + 

appendices. 

ABOUT THE COVER 

The cover art depicts a toppled coral colony at the Flower Garden Banks, most likely a result of 

Hurricane Rita, which passed close to the Flower Garden Banks on 23 September 2005. 

Photograph courtesy of Gregory Boland (MMS). 
v 

 TABLE OF CONTENTS 

 Page

LIST OF FIGURES ...................................................................................................................... vii 

LIST OF TABLES......................................................................................................................... ix 

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ............................................................................................................. xi 

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .........................................................................................................xiii 

1.0 INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................. 1

2.0 METHODS ........................................................................................................................ 7

2.1 Repetitive Quadrats.................................................................................................... 7 

2.1.1 Methodological Rationale ..............................................................................7 

2.1.2 Field Methods..................................................................................................7 

2.1.3 Image Analysis of Repetitive Quadrats............................................................7 

2.1.4 Data Presentation and Statistical Analysis of Repetitive Quadrats...................8 

2.2 Perimeter Videography .............................................................................................. 8 

2.2.1 Methodological Rationale................................................................................8 

2.2.2 Field Methods..................................................................................................8 

2.2.3 Laboratory Methods ........................................................................................8 

2.3 Water Quality ............................................................................................................. 9 

2.3.1 YSI Datasondes...............................................................................................9 

2.3.2 HoboTemp Thermographs.............................................................................10 

3.0 RESULTS ........................................................................................................................ 11

3.1 Repetitive Quadrat Data........................................................................................... 11 

3.1.1 Study Site Repetitive Quadrat Percent Cover Data ........................................11 

3.1.2 Study Site Repetitive Quadrat Planimetry......................................................13 

3.1.3 Deep Station Repetitive Quadrat Percent Cover Data ....................................14 

3.1.4 Deep Station Repetitive Quadrat Planimetry..................................................15 

3.2 East Bank Perimeter Videography........................................................................... 15 

3.2.1 Perimeter Lines .............................................................................................16 

3.2.2 360° Panoramic Views ..................................................................................23 

3.3 Water Quality........................................................................................................... 23 

4.0 DISCUSSION .................................................................................................................. 25

4.1 Hurricane and Thermal Anomaly Effects on the Benthic Community.................... 25 

4.2 Water Quality........................................................................................................... 29 

5.0 CONCLUSIONS ............................................................................................................. 35

6.0 LITERATURE CITED .................................................................................................. 37
vi 

 

LIST OF APPENDICES 

Appendix A Percent Cover Data for Repetitive 8m2 Quadrats at East Flower 

Garden Bank: June 2005 and November 2005 

 Study Site Repetitive Quadrats................................................................. A-1

 Deep Station Repetitive Quadrats............................................................. A-3

 

Appendix B Repetitive 8m2 Quadrat Proportional Change for Selected Coral 

Heads at East Flower Garden Bank: June 2005 and November 2005

Study Site Repetitive Quadrats.................................................................. B-1

Deep Station Repetitive Quadrats............................................................. B-5
vii 

 LIST OF FIGURES 

 Page

Figure 1.1.1. Track of Hurricane Rita, 18-26 September 2005 (National Hurricane Center 

2006). ........................................................................................................................ 1 

Figure 1.1.2. Sediment-scoured corals at the edge of a sand flat at the Flower Garden Banks in 

October 2005. ............................................................................................................ 3 

Figure 1.1.3. Coral colony indented by waterborne object(s). Damage likely occurred during 

the passage of Hurricane Rita on 23 September 2005. ............................................. 4 

Figure 1.1.4. Footprint of a coral colony dislodged from the Flower Garden Banks reef cap 

observed after the passage of Hurricane Rita on 23 September 2005.......................... 5 

Figure 3.1.1. Relative dominance (+ SE) of predominant coral species in the East Bank study 

site repetitive quadrats in June and November 2005................................................. 11 

Figure 3.1.2. Relative dominance (+ SE) of predominant coral species in the East Bank deep 

station repetitive quadrats in June and November 2005............................................ 15 

Figure 3.2.1. Photographs taken in June (A) and November (B) 2005 of a partially bleached 

colony of Montastraea faveolata deposited along the perimeter line........................ 19 

Figure 3.2.2. Photographs taken in June (A) and November (B) 2005 of a shattered colony of 

Diploria strigosa located on the left side of photograph B. ...................................... 20 

Figure 3.2.3. Photographs taken in June (A) and November (B) 2005 of a Diploria strigosa

colony that appeared to be deposited in a new location. ........................................... 21 

Figure 3.2.4. Photographs taken in June (A) and November (B) 2005 of a colony of Diploria 

strigosa that is missing from the center of photograph B.......................................... 22 

Figure 3.3.1. Water temperature at the East Bank in 2005 and mean temperature at the Flower 

Garden Banks from 1990 to 1997. ........................................................................... 24 

Figure 4.1.1. Temperature near, at, or above 30 °C from 30 July to 8 September 2005, as 

recorded by the YSI datasonde................................................................................. 26 

Figure 4.1.2. Percent of coral colonies bleached (+ SE) in the East Bank study site repetitive 

quadrats, June 2005 and November 2005................................................................. 27 

Figure 4.1.3. Percent of coral colonies bleached along the East Bank study site perimeter in 

June 2005 and in November 2005 after Hurricane Rita............................................ 27 

Figure 4.1.4. Percent of coral colonies bleached (+ SE) at the East Bank shallow stations and 

the East Bank deep stations in November 2005........................................................ 28 

Figure 4.2.1. Significant wave height in 2004 and 2005 at NOAA data buoy 42019, located 

172 km west of the East Bank (27°54.783’ N, 95°21.600’ W; (National Data 

Buoy Center 2005)). ................................................................................................ 29 

Figure 4.2.2. Maximum wave height measured at buoy 42019 during the passage of Hurricane 

Rita.......................................................................................................................... 30 
viii 

Figure 4.2.3. Stick plot of currents (speed (cm/sec)) and direction (north is top)) at Texas 

Automated Buoy System “Buoy V” (27°53.796' N, 93°35.838' W), located near 

the East Bank, from 9/16/05 to 9/24/05.................................................................... 31 

Figure 4.2.4. Stick plot of currents (speed (cm/sec)) and direction (north is top)) at Texas 

Automated Buoy System “Buoy N” (27°53.418' N, 94°02.202' W), located near 

the West Bank, from 9/15/05 to 9/23/05................................................................... 31 

Figure 4.2.5. Rainfall data (inches) for the Gulf of Mexico region on September 24, 2005. .......... 33 

Figure 4.2.6. Dispersal of nearshore turbid water across the Louisiana-Texas (LATEX) shelf 

onto the shelf edge and the Flower Garden Banks on 25 September 2005................ 34 
ix 

LIST OF TABLES

 Page

Table 1.1.1. List of tropical cyclones that entered the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) in 2004 and 

2005............................................................................................................................ 2 

Table 3.1.1. Percent cover per coral species of isolated fish biting, concentrated fish biting, 

paling, and bleaching at the East Bank in November 2005, from random-dot 

analysis..................................................................................................................... 12 

Table 3.1.2. Percent cover (± SE) of isolated fish biting, concentrated fish biting, paling, 

bleaching, and disease at the East Bank in November 2005, from random-dot 

analysis..................................................................................................................... 12 

Table 3.1.3. Percent cover of coral, macroalgae, and CTB at the East Bank in June and 

November 2005........................................................................................................ 13 

Table 3.1.4. Area of coral colonies removed between June 2005 and November 2005 at the 

East Bank. ................................................................................................................ 14 

Table 3.2.1. Comparison of observations of the condition of coral colonies at the East Bank 

along perimeter lines and 360o panoramic views between June 2005 (n≈730) 

and November 2005 (n≈815)................................................................................... 17 

Table 3.2.2. Fish species composition and individual counts for the East Bank in November 

2005 along perimeter lines and 360o panoramic views at corner markers............... 18 

Table 4.1.1. Bleaching of coral reefs throughout the western Atlantic during the fall of 

2005.......................................................................................................................... 26 
xi 

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 

We would like to thank the many individuals who contributed their time, talents, and expertise to 

make this monitoring effort successful, they are listed below. We also wish to thank MMS and 

NOAA for their invaluable institutional knowledge. In particular, we would like to thank the 

MMS Contracting Officer’s Technical Representative, James Sinclair, for his ongoing support 

and enthusiasm. We would like to thank Florida International University and Nova Southeastern 

University for their support in facilitating the coral core processing and analysis. 

Project Personnel and Their Major Responsibilities 

William F. Precht Project Manager, Co-Principal Investigator/Data Analysis 

Richard B. Aronson Scientist, Co-Principal Investigator/Data Analysis 

Kenneth J.P. Deslarzes Scientist, Co-Principal Investigator/Data Analysis 

Martha L. Robbart Scientist/Data Analysis 

Adam Gelber Scientist/Logistics/Field Management 

Ryan Moody Statistician 

Beth Zimmer Scientist/Data Analysis 

Leslie Duncan Scientist/Data Analysis 

Karlisa Callwood Scientist/Data Analysis 

Project Divers 

Mike Conn Mark Henry 

Don Deis William Precht 

Ken Deslarzes Martha Robbart

Marty Heaney David Roberts 
xii 

Individual Authors/Contributors and the Tasks They Performed 

REPORT Task/Analysis Author/Contributor 

Project Management, Discussion, 

Conclusions, Recommendations, 

Editorial Management 

William F. Precht, Richard B. Aronson, 

Kenneth J.P. Deslarzes, Martha L. 

Robbart 

Executive Summary, 

Introduction, Study Site, 

Methods, Discussion 

Martha L. Robbart, Kenneth J.P. 

Deslarzes 

Repetitive Quadrats Martha L. Robbart, Richard B. 

Aronson, Karlisa Callwood, Ryan 

Moody 

Video Perimeter Leslie Duncan, Martha L. Robbart 

Water Chemistry Kenneth J.P. Deslarzes, Bob Woithe, 

Marty Heaney 

Insolation Kenneth J.P. Deslarzes, Bob Woithe, 

Marty Heaney 

Temperature Kenneth J.P. Deslarzes, Bob Woithe, 

Marty Heaney 

POSTHURRICANE 

ASSESSMENT 

AT THE EAST 

FLOWER 

GARDEN 

BANK LONGTERM 

MONITORING 

SITE: 

NOVEMBER 

2005 

(MMS/NOAA 

FUNDED 

PROJECT) 

Report Layout & Preparation Martha L. Robbart, Leslie Duncan 
xiii 

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 

Hurricane Rita, a Category 3 storm on the Saffir-Simpson Index, passed within 50 miles (83 km) 

of the Flower Garden Banks on September 23, 2005. Soon after the hurricane, Flower Garden 

Banks National Marine Sanctuary (FGBNMS) staff rapidly assessed damage at the Flower 

Garden Banks and found large, dislodged coral heads; corals gouged and damaged from 

waterborne projectiles; displaced sand and sediment, scoured coral heads; and an ongoing coralbleaching event. 

On November 13, 2005, a team was assembled to assess hurricane damage to the 100 m by 100 

m established monitoring site at the East Bank. During the summer of 2005, prior to Hurricane 

Rita, seawater temperatures were elevated at the Flower Garden Banks as well as throughout 

much of the Caribbean. Coral bleaching was observed during the summer at the Flower Garden 

Banks (NOAA coral spawning cruise August 23-27, 2005) and reported throughout the wider 

Caribbean. Results of both the hurricane damage and the thermal anomaly are reported from 

repetitive-quadrat, video-perimeter, and water-quality analyses. 

Approximately 1.5% of coral colonies photographed at the East Bank repetitive quadrat stations 

were missing, apparently due to the effects of Hurricane Rita. Diploria strigosa, Porites 

astreoides, and Montastraea sp. comprised the majority of missing coral colonies with sizes 

ranging from 0.95 to 80.61 cm2

. Within the repetitive quadrats, ~10% of coral colonies 

photographed were bleached. This is the highest level of bleaching reported for the Flower 

Garden Banks since the bleaching event of 1990, when ~5% of corals at the East Bank were 

bleached. Bleaching was evident in all coral species, but it was most prevalent in the 

Montastraea annularis species complex, M. cavernosa, and Millepora alcicornis. 

Two coral colonies were missing from the East Bank deep stations, apparently due to the 

hurricane (~0.5% of coral colonies photographed). Deep-site repetitive quadrats also exhibited 

bleaching, although to a lesser extent than the shallower sites (~3%). Adjacent to the deep 

stations, an expansive field of the delicate, branching coral Madracis mirabilis had experienced 

catastrophic levels of breakage and toppling. Unfortunately, to date, no quantitative surveys 

have been performed on this coral population. 

Obvious signs of damage were documented in the perimeter videography and included dislodged 

and damaged coral colonies. Similar levels of bleaching were documented along perimeter lines 

as in the repetitive quadrats. Fish populations were comparable to fish populations recorded in 

past monitoring events. 

Water quality results showed that the reef cap experienced elevated water temperatures for 50 

days and that the passage of Hurricane Rita brought relief by lowering water temperatures on the 

reef. There was no evidence of damage from oil and gas production on the Flower Garden 

Banks. 
1 

1.0 INTRODUCTION 

Tropical cyclones that enter the Gulf of Mexico have, on occasion, been hurricanes that traversed 

the Flower Garden Banks with varying intensity (Scholten and Deslarzes 1998). Severe 

hurricanes (categories 4 and 5) probably moved through the Flower Garden Banks region (within 

~250 km) in 1900, 1909, 1915, 1957, 1961 (category 5), 1964, 1974, 1979, and 1980 (category 

5). On August 8 and 9, 1980, Hurricane Allen, with a 5+ m surge and wind speeds of 96 km/hr, 

caused physical damages to the coral reefs of the Flower Garden Banks. A 2,000 kg coral head 

was displaced tens of meters across the reef cap on the East Bank (Combs, personal 

communication, 1989). 

The 2005 hurricane season was the most active on record, fueled by record high sea-surface 

temperatures in the Atlantic (National Climatic Data Center 2005). Eleven tropical cyclones 

entered the Gulf of Mexico in 2005. One of these cyclones, Hurricane Rita, affected the Flower 

Garden Banks on September 23 as a category 3 hurricane (Figure 1.1.1). The other storms 

passed more than 500 km away from the Flower Garden Banks (Table 1.1.1). 

Figure 1.1.1. Track of Hurricane Rita, 18-26 September 2005 (National Hurricane 

Center 2006). 
2 

Table 1.1.1. 

List of tropical cyclones that entered the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) in 2004 and 2005. 

The name and category of a given cyclone is listed according to its condition when it was closest 

to the Flower Garden Banks. Information on the cyclones was taken from The Weather 

Underground, Inc. (2005a; The Weather Underground 2005b). 

Name/Category Date 

Wind 

Speed 

(mph) or 

Category

Trajectory 

Tropical Storm 

Bonnie 

8/10/04 50 Central GOM, ~600 km east of the Flower 

Garden Banks 

Hurricane Charley 8/13/04 Cat 4 Passed over the Florida Straits, southwest 

Florida 

Tropical Storm 

Frances 

9/4/04 65 Northeast GOM, >1000 km east of the Flower 

Garden Banks 

Hurricane Ivan 9/15/04 Cat 4 Passed ~550 km east of the Flower Garden 

Banks 

Tropical Storm 

Matthew 

10/09/04 40 Passed ~320 km east of the Flower Garden 

Banks 

Tropical Storm 

Arlene 

6/11/05 70 Central GOM, ~600 km east of the Flower 

Garden Banks 

Tropical Storm 

Bret 

6/25/05 40 Southwest GOM, >800 km south of the 

Flower Garden Banks 

Tropical Storm 

Cindy 

7/5/05 70 Central GOM, ~500 km east of the Flower 

Garden Banks 

Hurricane Dennis 7/10/05 Cat 4 Central GOM, ~800 km east of the Flower 

Garden Banks 

Hurricane Emily 7/19/05 Cat 1 Southwest GOM, ~600 km south of the 

Flower Garden Banks 

Tropical Storm 

Gert 

7/25/05 45 Southwest GOM, ~750 km south of the 

Flower Garden Banks 

Tropical Storm 

Jose 

8/23/05 50 Southwest GOM, ~800 km south of the 

Flower Garden Banks 

Hurricane Katrina 8/28/05 Cat 5 Central GOM, ~500 km east of the Flower 

Garden Banks 

Hurricane Rita 9/23/05 Cat 3 Central GOM, over the Flower Garden 

Banks 

Tropical Storm 

Stan 

10/3/05 40 Southwest GOM, ~850 km south of the 

Flower Garden Banks 

Hurricane Wilma 10/24/05 Cat 3 Southeast GOM, ~900 km SE of the Flower 

Garden Banks 

Preliminary assessments of the coral reefs at the Flower Garden Banks following Hurricane Rita 

included substantial mechanical impacts, evidence of fractured and displaced corals, sediment-
3 

scoured corals bordering sand flats (Figure 1.1.2), and corals scarred and indented by waterborne 

objects (Figure 1.1.3) (Hickerson and Schmahl, personal communication, 19 October 2005). As 

an example of physical damage, we measured one large coral head, 4 m across and 2 m high, that 

was dislodged from the reef cap (Figure 1.1.4). One meter of coarse sand was removed from 

large sand flats. Large barrel sponges, Xestospongia muta, were partially or fully removed from 

the reef, or were filled with sand (Hickerson and Schmahl, personal communication, 19 October 

2005). The hurricane impacts were preceded and followed by other natural disturbances at the 

Flower Garden Banks: extreme warming of the water column from August through November 

2005, which was associated with severe coral bleaching (Hickerson and Schmahl, personal 

communication, 19 October 2005) and near-shore runoff transported from the Texas-Louisiana 

coast to the shelf edge (NOAA CoastWatch 2005). 

Figure 1.1.2. Sediment-scoured corals at the edge of a sand flat at the Flower Garden Banks in 

October 2005. The scouring and sand removal were likely caused by the passage 

of Hurricane Rita on 23 September 2005. Photo courtesy of Emma L. Hickerson, 

Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. 
4 

Figure 1.1.3. Coral colony indented by waterborne object(s). Damage likely occurred 

during the passage of Hurricane Rita on 23 September 2005. Photo 

courtesy of Emma L. Hickerson, Flower Garden Banks National Marine 

Sanctuary. 
5 

Figure 1.1.4. Footprint of a coral colony dislodged from the Flower Garden Banks reef cap 

observed after the passage of Hurricane Rita on 23 September 2005. Photo 

courtesy of Emma L. Hickerson, Flower Garden Banks National Marine 

Sanctuary. 

In addition to hurricane impacts, the Flower Garden Banks experienced unusually warm summer 

water temperatures. Extensive coral bleaching, expressed as presence found along transects 

(48% of coral colonies were either partially or totally bleached), was documented in October 

2005 by the FGBNMS. Many reefs throughout the greater Caribbean showed similarly high 

seawater temperatures during this period and subsequent bleaching of coral populations. 

In order to assess the impacts of both Hurricane Rita and the thermal event on the benthic 

community at the East Bank, photography of repetitive quadrats and videography of perimeter 

lines were conducted, and the results were compared to earlier records. Water quality 

measurements are also presented for the water overlying the Flower Garden Banks during and 

after the passage of Hurricane Rita. The water parameters measured included physical 

(temperature, turbidity, circulation), biological (chlorophyll a), and chemical (salinity, dissolved 

oxygen, pH, nutrients, trace metals) characteristics. 
7 

2.0 METHODS 

2.1 REPETITIVE QUADRATS

2.1.1 Methodological Rationale

To monitor changes in the coral reef community structure due to Hurricane Rita, repetitive 8 m2

quadrats were photographed. The photographs were analyzed in two ways. The first method 

involved using random-dot analysis to estimate the percent cover of benthic components in 

November 2005, including coral species and bleaching. The second approach used planimetry to 

analyze selected corals within repetitive quadrats between June 2005 and November 2005. The 

goal of this analysis was to determine whether specific coral colonies grew or lost tissue laterally. 

Dominant framework-building corals at the Flower Garden Banks (Montastraea annularis species 

complex, Diploria strigosa, and Colpophyllia natans) were selected for analysis based on their 

visible margins. These corals tended to be closer to the centers of the photographs. 

2.1.2 Field Methods

In November 2005, following the passage of Hurricane Rita, 40 repetitive quadrats within the 100 

m x 100 m study site at the East Bank were photographed. Nine deep-station repetitive quadrats 

were photographed, also at the East Bank. Stations were photographed using a Nikonos V camera 

and 15 mm lens. The camera was loaded with Kodak Ektachrome EliteChrome 200 ASA, 36-

exposure slide film and standard settings were applied (distance = 2 m, f8). It was mounted in the 

center of a T-bar camera frame. Two Ikelite 75 watt-second strobes, placed 1.2 m apart, were 

mounted on the ends of the T-bar and set on TTL and slave (Gittings et al. 1992). The camera was 

positioned in a north-facing direction to ensure repetitive photographs from year to year. The 

consistent orientation of the camera was achieved with a compass and a bubble level. 

2.1.3 Image Analysis of Repetitive Quadrats

Percent cover of corals by species; the cover of coral bleaching, paling, concentrated and isolated 

fish biting, and disease; and the cover of algae were determined by overlaying 300 random dots on 

each photograph using CPCe® point-count software with Excel extensions. Percent coverage was 

calculated from November 2005 images and compared to June 2005 repetitive-quadrat matches. 

Forty nine images were analyzed: 40 from within the 100 m x 100 m study site and 9 from the deep 

repetitive-quadrat stations (Appendix A). 

Planimetry was used to measure tissue change between select coral colonies within quadrat 

matches between June 2005 and November 2005. Forty image pairs were analyzed from within 

the 100 m by 100 m study site and nine image pairs were analyzed from the deep repetitive quadrat 

stations. Four to six coral colonies were chosen within each repetitive quadrat. Area measurements 

were created using Sigma Scan Pro 5® planimetry software in each year for matched coral colonies 

(Appendix B). 
8 

2.1.4 Data Presentation and Statistical Analysis of Repetitive Quadrats

Percent cover of coral species, algae, bleaching, fish biting, and disease were calculated using 

random-dot analysis with CPCe® software. To obtain a percent cover value per bank in a particular 

year the total number of dots within a category (i.e. coral) was divided by the total number of dots 

analyzed for all repetitive quadrats minus the number of dots that fell on tape, wand and shadow. 

Percent cover values were determined per quadrat and represent a range of estimates for each cover 

category, representative of each quadrat, but not necessarily the bank. The lateral extent of corals 

was compared between June 2005 and November 2005 by overlaying coral colonies and 

determining whether there was an increase or decrease between subsequent years. 

Descriptive statistics were used to characterize the effects of Hurricane Rita within 8 m2

repetitive quadrats. 

2.2 PERIMETER VIDEOGRAPHY

2.2.1 Methodological Rationale

Perimeter lines were videotaped for post-hurricane assessment in November 2005 in order to 

document change at known locations along the perimeter and within the study site. A general 

sense of coral condition and fish populations was obtained and compared between June and 

November 2005. 

2.2.2 Field Methods 

Divers videotaped two 100 m segments of the perimeter lines at the East Bank (north and east 

margins) in November 2005. Divers began at the northwest corner, completed a 360°

videographic panorama, videotaped the north line to the northeast corner, completed another 

360° videographic panorama, then videotaped the east line while swimming to the southeast 

corner, where they completed a third 360° videographic panorama. The videographer 

maintained ~2 m distance above the benthos using a weighted line attached to the video housing. 

The camera was aimed down at a 45° angle to capture the substratum. 

2.2.3 Laboratory Methods 

The video footage was reviewed to record the general condition of coral health and fish 

populations along the perimeter of the study sites. Individual coral heads displaying possible 

disease, bleaching, paling, and tissue loss due to fish biting were identified and recorded. 

Analysis categories were as follows: bleaching, paling, healthy colony, concentrated fish biting, 

isolated fish biting (damselfish territory), growth infilling (tissue regrowth), new incidence of 

fish biting, and unchanged. Concentrated fish biting (CFB) represents the concentrated biting 

which removes the coral polyps completely from an affected area and may be due to activity of 

the parrotfish Sparisoma viride (Bruckner and Bruckner 1998; Bruckner et al. 2000). Isolated 

fish biting describes less dense and smaller-scale fish biting, typically representative of 

damselfish territories. Affected coral colonies were compared between June 2005 and the posthurricane video footage (November 2005), and changes in their condition were recorded. In 
9 

addition to coral colony comparison, coral species composition and fish counts were assessed. 

These analyses were qualitative and therefore no statistical analyses were conducted. 

2.3 WATER QUALITY

2.3.1 YSI Datasondes 

The YSI 6600 Series datasonde used in this study is a multiparameter, deployable monitoring 

system capable of measuring and recording temperature, depth, pH, dissolved oxygen, specific 

conductance, turbidity, and photosynthetically active radiation. The sondes typically have up to 

a 75-day battery life (at 15-minute sampling intervals) and store 150,000 individual parameter 

readings. The sondes are 51.8 cm (20.4 inches) long and have an 8.9 cm (3.5 in) diameter. The 

sondes are internally powered by 8 C-size, alkaline batteries. 

One YSI datasonde was deployed at the East Bank (23 m water depth) and one at the West Bank 

(27 m water depth). Sand flats were used as deployment locations to accommodate the secure 

attachment of the datasondes to galvanized train wheels. Water quality data were gathered every 

30 min to every 1.5 hr, depending on battery life. 

The datasonde measurement methods were as follows: 

Specific Conductance. The sondes utilize a cell with four nickel electrodes to measure solution 

conductance. Two of the electrodes are current-driven, and two are used to measure the voltage 

drop. The measured voltage drop is then converted into a conductance value in milli-Siemens 

(millimhos). The sonde reports the conductance value as specific conductance, a calculated 

value that corrects for the effect of temperature. The reported salinity values are also calculated 

values. The values are calculated from the conductivity and temperature readings according to 

accepted algorithms and reported as parts per thousand (ppt).

Temperature. The sondes utilize a thermistor of sintered metallic oxide that changes 

predictably in resistance with temperature variation. The algorithm for conversion of resistance 

to temperature is built into the sonde software, and accurate temperature readings in degrees 

Celsius, Kelvin, or Fahrenheit are provided automatically. No user calibration or maintenance of 

the temperature sensor is possible.

pH. The sondes employ a field-replaceable pH electrode for the determination of hydrogen ion 

concentration. The probe is a combination electrode consisting of a proton selective glass 

reservoir filled with buffer at approximately pH 7, and a Ag/AgCl reference electrode that 

utilizes electrolyte that is gelled. A silver wire coated with AgCl is immersed in the buffer 

reservoir. Protons (H+

 ions) on both sides of the glass (media and buffer reservoir) selectively 

interact with the glass, setting up a potential gradient across the glass membrane. 

Depth. The sondes are equipped with depth sensors which measure depth by non-vented 

methods. The sensor uses a differential strain-gauge transducer to measure pressure, with one 

side of the transducer exposed to the water and the other side of the transducer is exposed to a 

vacuum. 
10 

Dissolved Oxygen. The sondes employ a proprietary YSI Rapid Pulse system for the 

measurement of dissolved oxygen (DO). The Rapid Pulse system utilizes a Clark-type sensor 

that is similar to other membrane-covered, steady-state, dissolved oxygen probes. The system 

measures the current associated with the reduction of oxygen which diffuses through a Teflon 

membrane. This current is proportional to the partial pressure (not the concentration) of oxygen 

in the solution being evaluated. The membrane isolates the electrodes necessary for this 

reduction from the external media, encloses the thin layer of electrolyte required for current flow, 

and prevents other non-gaseous, electrochemically active species from interfering with the 

measurement. 

Turbidity. Turbidity is the measurement of the content of suspended solids (cloudiness) in 

water. It is typically determined by shining a light beam into the sample solution and then 

measuring the light that is scattered off of the particles that are present. For turbidity systems 

capable of field deployment (including YSI), the usual light source is a light emitting diode 

(LED) that produces radiation in the near infrared region of the spectrum. The YSI turbidity 

system sondes consist of a probe that conforms to ISO recommendations. The output of the 

sonde turbidity sensor is processed via the sonde software to provide readings in nephelometric 

turbidity units (NTUs).

Photosynthetically Active Radiation. Photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) is the portion 

of the light spectrum from 400-700 nm and is measured underwater using a PAR sensor that 

points upward. Units are micromoles per second per square meter, which are equivalent to 

microeinsteins per second per square meter. PAR sensors capable of field deployment typically 

have wipers or other devices associated with them to keep fouling communities from settling on 

the sensor. Any fouling of PAR sensors compromises the PAR data acquired. 

2.3.2 HoboTemp Thermographs

HoboTemp recorders have an accuracy of ± 0.2°C and resolution is 0.02 °C at 25 °C. A 

HoboTemp thermograph was attached to each of the YSI instruments as a backup recorder of 

water temperature. The HoboTemp recorders were therefore deployed in 23 m water depth at the 

East Bank and in 27 m water depth at the West Bank. Temperature was recorded every hour. 
11 

3.0 RESULTS 

3.1 REPETITIVE QUADRAT DATA

3.1.1 Study Site Repetitive Quadrat Percent Cover Data

Forty repetitive quadrats were photographed in November 2005 in the post-hurricane assessment 

effort. Coral cover within repetitive quadrats remained high at approximately 61%, and species 

relative abundance showed continued stability with Montastraea annularis species complex, 

Diploria strigosa, P. astreoides, and M. cavernosa as the four dominant species (Figure 3.1.1; 

Appendix A). 

Relative Dominance of Coral Species at East Bank between June and November 2005 

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

Colpophyllia

natans

Diploria

strigosa

Madracis

spp.

Millepora

alcicornis

Montastraea

spp.

Complex

Montastraea

cavernosa

Mussa

angulosa

Porites

astreoides

Coral Species

Percent Cover

Jun-05

Nov-05

Figure 3.1.1. Relative dominance (+ SE) of predominant coral species in the 

East Bank study site repetitive quadrats in June and November 

2005. 

Approximately 1.5% of coral colonies within repetitive quadrats at the East Bank were missing, 

most likely due to the effects of Hurricane Rita. This did not noticeably affect coral-cover 

estimates, which did not vary substantially from June 2005 (Figure 3.1.1). Diploria strigosa, 

Porites astreoides, and Montastraea sp. comprised the majority of missing coral colonies with 

sizes ranging from 0.95 to 80.61 cm2

. 

The most noticeable difference in the study site repetitive quadrats photographed at the East 

Bank in November 2005 was the level of bleaching: 9.74% (± 1.07SE). Most bleaching occurred 

on colonies of Montastraea annularis species complex, M. cavernosa, and Millepora alcicornis

(Table 3.1.1). Paling and fish biting measurements were low at 1.48% or less, and disease was 

not observed (Table 3.1.2). 
12 

From June 2005 to November 2005 coral cover remained relatively constant (Table 3.1.3). In 

June 2005 macroalgae was high at 24%, while CTB was lower at 10%. After the hurricane, in 

November 2005 the inverse relationship between macroalgae and CTB was evident, with 24% 

CTB and 13% macroalgae. Macroalgae cover is seasonally influenced and with the passage of 

Hurricane Rita it is likely that macroalgae was removed from the substratum. The low levels of 

macroalgae in November 2005, more than a month after the storm’s passage, is likely due to the 

seasonality of algal species. 

Table 3.1.1. 

Percent cover per coral species of isolated fish biting, concentrated 

fish biting, paling, and bleaching at the East Bank in November 

2005, from random-dot analysis. 

East Bank November 2005 Coral Species IFB CFB P BL 

Colpophyllia natans 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Diploria strigosa 0.00 0.00 0.13 0.17 

Millepora alcicornis 0.00 0.00 0.00 1.13 

Montastraea annularis complex 0.42 0.02 0.88 3.28 

Montastraea annularis 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.02 

Montastraea cavernosa 0.00 0.00 0.47 4.81 

Montastraea faveolata 0.02 0.00 0.08 0.58 

Montastraea franksi 0.41 0.02 0.80 2.69 

Porites astreoides 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.08 

Unidentifiable Coral 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.27 

Total 0.42 0.02 1.48 9.74 

Table 3.1.2. 

Percent cover (± SE) of isolated fish biting, 

concentrated fish biting, paling, bleaching, and 

disease at the East Bank in November 2005, from 

random-dot analysis. 

Observation East Bank 

November 2005 

Paling 1.48 ± 0.39 

Bleaching 9.74 ± 1.07 

Concentrated Fish Biting 0.02 ± 0.01 

Isolated Biting 0.42 ± 0.09 

Disease 0 
13 

Table 3.1.3. 

Percent cover of coral, macroalgae, and CTB at the East Bank in June and 

November 2005. 

June 2005 November 2005 

Percent 

Cover 

Standard 

Error 

Percent 

Cover 

Standard 

Error 

Coral 62.78 2.60 61.34 2.75 

Macroalgae 23.78 2.13 13.04 1.02 

CTB 10.38 1.16 23.81 1.73 

3.1.2 Study Site Repetitive Quadrat Planimetry 

Repetitive quadrat planimetry data showed stability in lateral growth measurements of the 

Montastraea annularis species complex in November 2005 (Appendix B). 

Twenty one coral heads from the 40 quadrats photographed within the 100 m x 100 m study site 

were removed between June 2005 and November 2005; only 14 of these were part of the 

planimetry analysis. Measurements of all missing corals were made from the June 2005 

photographs to obtain a total area of coral cover loss. A total of ~4 m2 of coral cover was 

removed from the 40 quadrats between June 2005 and November 2005 (Table 3.1.4). This is 

equivalent to approximately 1.5% of coral cover on the East Bank shallow coral cap. 
14 

Table 3.1.4. 

Area of coral colonies removed between June 2005 and 

November 2005 at the East Bank. (*) represents those coral 

colonies that were not used during the planimetry 

analysis. 

Repetitive 

Quadrat 

Station # 

Coral Species Area (cm2) 

3 Diploria strigosa 32.43 

4 Diploria strigosa 16.00 

Montastraea sp. 7.03 

7 Porites astreoides 0.95 

Diploria strigosa 3.16 

Diploria strigosa * 80.61 14b Diploria strigosa 7.23 

Madracis decactis * 18.70 18 Porites astreoides * 5.73 

20b Montastraea sp 16.57 

21b Diploria strigosa * 8.28 

Porites astreoides * 3.05 22 Porites astreoides * 1.41 

26 Diploria strigosa 20.70 

Diploria strigosa 44.37 29 Diploria strigosa 16.58 

29b Diploria strigosa 13.67 

Diploria strigosa 71.70 30b Diploria strigosa 4.92 

UNK1 Diploria strigosa 21.16 

UNK12 Montastraea 

cavernosa* 2.72 

 Total 396.97 

3.1.3 Deep Station Repetitive Quadrat Percent Cover Data

Nine deep stations were photographed in November 2005 and 0.5% (2 colonies) of coral 

colonies within the deep station repetitive quadrats photographed were missing. Deep station 

analysis revealed less bleaching (3.05%) than in the shallower, study site quadrats. Coral cover 

remained high (74.5%), and the dominant corals were Montastraea annularis complex, M. 

cavernosa, Colpophyllia natans, and Diploria strigosa (Figure 3.1.2; Appendix A). 
15 

Relative Dominance of Coral Species at East Bank Deep Stations 

June 2005 and November 2005

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Colpophyllia

natans

Diploria

strigosa

Madracis

mirabilis 

Millepora

alcicornis 

Montastraea

cavernosa

Montastraea

spp. Complex

Mussa

angulosa

Porites

astreoides

Coral Species

Percent Cover

 June 2005

Nov 2005

Figure 3.1.2. Relative dominance (+ SE) of predominant coral species in the 

East Bank deep station repetitive quadrats in June and November 

2005. 

3.1.4 Deep Station Repetitive Quadrat Planimetry 

Deep station repetitive quadrat planimetry data showed an increase (5.74% ± 3.25 SE) in lateral 

growth measurements of the Montastraea annularis complex in November 2005 (Appendix B). 

Due to the high standard error associated with this increase it can be concluded that this value 

does not represent the actual change in margins from June 2005 to November 2005. Between 

June 2005 and November 2005, deep station repetitive quadrats lost a total of 2 colonies 

(Diploria strigosa and M. cavernosa). The total area lost was 0.24 m2 or 0.5%. 

3.2 EAST BANK PERIMETER VIDEOGRAPHY

Corals along the perimeter lines (east and north) showed evidence of hurricane impacts, 

including the dislodgement, loss, or deposition of entire coral heads as well as breaking of corals, 

and abrasion on the reef. There was evidence of bleaching and fish biting, while fish population 

levels remained stable. Most distressed corals were affected by bleaching (6.4%), with slightly 

fewer incidences of fish biting (1.2%). No evidence of disease was observed in November 2005. 

Perimeter video still images are provided here as evidence of hurricane damage. Due to the 

shifting of perimeter lines and associated video footage from sampling effort to sampling effort, 

images from year to year show different angles, positions and occur at varying depths along the 

perimeter lines. 
16 

3.2.1 Perimeter Lines 

Physical damage was observed at several locations along the north perimeter line in November 

2005, most likely due to Hurricane Rita. A partially bleached, dislodged colony of Montastraea 

faveolata was deposited along the perimeter line (Figure 3.2.1). Several colonies of Diploria 

strigosa were either shattered or completely dislodged (Figures 3.2.2-3.2.4). 

Documented signs of coral stress in November 2005 included bleaching, isolated fish biting, 

concentrated fish biting, and paling (Table 3.2.1). As in June 2005, Montastraea faveolata and 

M. franksi were the most affected coral species. Brown and Blue chromis, Creole fish, and the 

Bluehead wrasse had the highest counts (Table 3.2.2). 
17 

Table 3.2.1. 

Comparison of observations of the condition of coral colonies at the East Bank 

along perimeter lines and 360o panoramic views between June 2005 (n≈730) and 

November 2005 (n≈815). (CFB= Concentrated fish biting, IFB= Isolated fish 

biting, B= Bleaching, P= Paling, H= Healthy colony, ICFB= Increased 

tissue loss due to concentrated fish biting, IIFB= Increased tissue loss due 

to isolated fish biting, GI= Growth in filling [tissue regrowth], U= 

Unchanged condition). 

Number of 

Colonies Coral Species East Bank June 2005 

East Bank 

November 2005 

2 Colpophyllia natans H B 

4 Diploria strigosa H B 

1 Madracis decactis B U 

7 Millepora alcicornis H B 

1 Millepora alcicornis B U 

1 Montastraea annularis H B 

4 Montastraea cavernosa H B 

2 Montastraea faveolata IFB IIFB 

1 Montastraea faveolata H P 

5 Montastraea faveolata H B 

1 Montastraea faveolata CFB ICFB 

1 Montastraea faveolata IFB B 

4 Montastraea franksi IFB IIFB 

14 Montastraea franksi IFB B 

8 Montastraea franksi H B 

1 Montastraea franksi H IFB 

1 Montastraea franksi H B 

1 Montastraea franksi CFB P 

1 Montastraea franksi H CFB 

1 Montastraea franksi IFB GI 

1 Porites astreoides H B 

2 Porites astreoides B GI 

1 Porites astreoides H CFB 

2 Siderastrea siderea H B 
18 

Table 3.2.2. 

Fish species composition and individual counts for the East Bank in November 2005 along 

perimeter lines and 360o panoramic views at corner markers. (*) represents those 

individuals belonging to the Labridae, Pomacentridae, “Scaridae” (= Labridae: Scarinae), 

and Serranidae that could only be identified to the family level.

Species Common Name East Bank 

June 2005 

East Bank 

November 2005 

Acanthurus bahianus Ocean surgeonfish 5 0 

Acanthurus chirurgus Doctorfish 0 5 

Acanthurus coeruleus Blue tang 7 5 

Canthidermis sufflamen Ocean triggerfish 3 1 

Chaetodon aculeatus Longsnout butterflyfish 0 1 

Chaetodon sedentarius Reef butterflyfish 4 2 

Kyphosus 

sectatrix/incisor Bermuda/Yellow chub 20 15 

Labridae Wrasses * 12 3 

Bodianus rufus Spanish hogfish 2 0 

Clepticus parrae Creole wrasse 14 2 

Halichoeres garnoti Yellowhead wrasse 0 3 

Thalassoma 

bifasciatum Bluehead wrasse 43 17 

Lactophrys triqueter Smooth trunkfish 0 0 

Pomacentridae Damselfishes * 24 14 

Abudefduf saxatilis Sergeant major 3 0 

Chromis cyanea Blue chromis 16 39 

Chromis multilineata Brown chromis 55 102 

Microspathodon 

chrysurus Yellowtail damselfish 1 1 

Stegastes partitus Bicolor damselfish 15 7 

Stegastes planifrons Threespot damselfish 7 5 

Stegastes variabilis Cocoa damselfish 5 0 

“Scaridae” Parrotfishes * 2 1 

Scarus taeniopterus Princess parrotfish 7 0 

Scarus vetula Queen parrotfish 11 7 

Sparisoma viride Stoplight parrotfish 5 0 

Serranidae Sea Basses* 0 4 

Mycteroperca tigris Tiger grouper 2 0 

Paranthias furcifer Creole fish 15 98 

Canthigaster rostrata Sharpnose puffer 1 0 

Total 279 332 
19 

(A) 

(B) 

Figure 3.2.1. Photographs taken in June (A) and November (B) 2005 of a 

partially bleached colony of Montastraea faveolata deposited 

along the perimeter line. The yellow box highlights the 

approximate location of hurricane impact. 
20 

(A) 

(B) 

Figure 3.2.2. Photographs taken in June (A) and November (B) 2005 of a 

shattered colony of Diploria strigosa located on the left side of 

photograph B. The yellow boxes highlight the approximate 

location of hurricane impact. 
21 

(A) 

(B) 

Figure 3.2.3. Photographs taken in June (A) and November (B) 2005 of a 

Diploria strigosa colony that appeared to be deposited in a new 

location. The yellow box highlights the approximate location 

of hurricane impact. 
22 

(A) 

(B) 

Figure 3.2.4. Photographs taken in June (A) and November (B) 2005 of a colony 

of Diploria strigosa that is missing from the center of photograph 

B. The yellow box highlights the approximate location of 

hurricane impact. 
23 

3.2.2 360° Panoramic Views

At the northwest corner during June 2005, there were very few incidences of bleaching and fish 

biting. In November 2005, several colonies of Montastraea franksi and M. faveolata were either 

partially or entirely bleached (Table 3.2.1). In both June and November, schools of Creole 

wrasse, Creole fish, and chromis appeared (Table 3.2.2). 

At the northeast corner in June 2005, the presence of bleaching and fish biting was low and coral 

colonies appeared normal. In November 2005, colonies of Montastraea franksi, M. faveolata 

and M. cavernosa were bleached (Table 3.2.1). The fish assemblage consisted of schools of 

Creole fish and Creole wrasse in June, while in November the assemblage was dominated by 

Creole fish, Bluehead wrasse, and schools of chromis (Table 3.2.2). 

At the southeast corner in June 2005, there were low levels of bleaching and fish biting. Fish 

populations consisted of Black durgon and Creole fish. In November 2005 there were several 

incidences of coral bleaching of Diploria strigosa, Montastraea faveolata, and Millepora 

alcicornis colonies (Table 3.2.1). Ocean triggerfish, Creole wrasses, Creole fish, and chromis 

were observed (Table 3.2.2). 

3.3 WATER QUALITY

The YSI datasondes and the HoboTemp thermistors recorded temperature, salinity, and dissolved 

oxygen during the passage of Hurricane Rita. However, no reliable pH, turbidity, or PAR data 

were collected. Upon retrieval of the East Bank YSI on 12 October 2005, it was found that the 

datasonde had undergone significant abrasion as evidenced by abundant scratches on the 

housing. The entire railroad wheel was covered with sediment, and only the angle-iron 

attachment arms remained exposed. PAR readings stopped at 1330 hours on 23 September 2005. 

Dissolved oxygen (DO) readings were also affected during the hurricane, as the DO membrane 

was torn and the DO electrolyte cavity was filled with sediment. 

Temperature. With the passage of Hurricane Rita, there was a sudden drop in temperature on 

the reef caps of the East and West Flower Garden Banks (Figure 3.3.1). The temperature dropped 

from 29.6 °C at 0033 hours to 27.4 °C at 1933 hours on 23 September 2005. Temperature rose 

gradually after the passage of the hurricane. By 0733 hours on 9/24/05, the temperature on the 

reef cap had reached 28.4 °C. 
24 

18.0

20.0

22.0

24.0

26.0

28.0

30.0

32.0

3/11/053/26/054/10/054/25/055/10/055/25/05

6/9/05

6/24/05

7/9/05

7/24/05

8/8/05

8/23/05

9/7/05

9/22/0510/7/05

10/22/05

11/6/05

11/21/05

Date

Temperature (°C)

EFGB YSI 2005 EFGB Hobo 2005

Mean EFGB 1990-1997 WFGB Hobo 2005

Figure 3.3.1. Water temperature at the East Bank in 2005 and mean temperature at 

the Flower Garden Banks from 1990 to 1997. A vertical line drawn 

through the temperature profiles shows the timing of the passage of 

Hurricane Rita near the Flower Garden Banks (23 September 

2005). The 1990-1997 temperature data are from Gittings et al. 

(1992). 

Salinity. No YSI water quality data are reported at the West Bank after 25 August 2005. During 

the passage of Hurricane Rita on 23 September 2005, mean daily salinity at the East Bank was 

35.7 ppt. 

Dissolved Oxygen. When Hurricane Rita passed over the Flower Garden Banks, the last 

measurements that were captured by the DO probe on 23 September 2005 averaged 4.7 mg/l. 

However, the 23 September data are questionable considering the damage the DO sensor 

incurred during the passage of the storm. 
25 

4.0 DISCUSSION 

4.1 HURRICANE AND THERMAL ANOMALY EFFECTS ON THE BENTHIC COMMUNITY

Hurricane Rita. Hurricane Rita affected corals at the East Bank in a number of ways. 

Approximately 1.5% of coral colonies photographed at the East Bank were missing from 

repetitive quadrat stations. Diploria strigosa, Porites astreoides, and Montastraea sp. comprised 

the majority of missing coral colonies, with sizes ranging from 0.95 to 80.61 cm2. 

Approximately 0.5% of coral colonies photographed at the deep stations were missing. These 

two colonies (Diploria strigosa and Montastraea cavernosa) measured 0.24 m2

, collectively. 

Coral cover measured from the repetitive quadrats, was not greatly affected by the loss of these 

corals. 

The field of Madracis mirabilis, which occurs at a similar depth to the deep stations, suffered 

severe breakage and damage during Hurricane Rita. Corals within the deep repetitive quadrats 

are mainly plating morphologies and, therefore, may not be as susceptible to breakage as more 

fragile, branching morphologies, such as M. mirabilis (but see Aronson et al. 1994). 

Bleaching Event. Coral reefs at locations throughout the region experienced low to high levels 

of bleaching in 2005, including Trinidad and Tobago, the British Virgin Islands, Florida, and the 

Flower Garden Banks (Table 4.1.1). Sea temperatures at the East Bank were elevated above 30 

°C, the HotSpot bleaching threshold for the Flower Garden Banks, for 38 days from 30 July to 8 

September 2005 (Figure 4.1.1). Although bleaching events are a natural occurrence, the 

increased frequency and severity of bleaching events is of concern because the likelihood of 

bleaching-associated mortality increases with exposure (Hoegh-Guldberg 1999). Additionally, 

higher temperatures have been linked to increased virulence of marine pathogens implicated in 

coral diseases (Harvell et al. 2002). 
26 

Temperature near and above 30°

28.00

28.50

29.00

29.50

30.00

30.50

31.00

31.50

7/30/2005

8/1/2005

8/3/2005

8/5/2005

8/7/2005

8/9/2005

8/11/2005

8/13/2005

8/15/2005

8/17/2005

8/19/2005

8/21/2005

8/23/2005

8/25/2005

8/27/2005

8/29/2005

8/31/2005

9/2/2005

9/4/2005

9/6/2005

9/8/2005

Date

Temperature °C

YSI Temperature °C 

Figure 4.1.1. Temperature near, at, or above 30 °C from 30 July to 8 September 2005, 

as recorded by the YSI datasonde. Water quality data was gathered 

every 30 min to every 1.5 hours depending on battery life. 

Table 4.1.1. 

Bleaching of coral reefs throughout the western Atlantic during the fall of 2005. 

Compiled from ReefBase, NOAA Coral-list; available on NOAA website. 

Location Severity Percent Affected 

Bahamas Low to High 75 

Belize Medium 20-80 

British Virgin Islands High 50-90 

Colombia Low 1-20 

Cuba Low to High 8-75 

Flower Garden Banks Medium 48 

Jamaica Medium 20-80 

Mexico Medium 40 

Panama Medium 70 

Trinidad and Tobago High 70-90 

Unprecedented coral bleaching was documented at the East Bank in November 2005. Repetitive 

quadrats photographed at that time showed ~10% bleaching of the coral population, a marked 
27 

increase from June 2005 (Figure 4.1.2). Video perimeter results showed similar bleaching rates 

and similar differences in relation to video perimeter data taken in June 2005 (Figure 4.1.3). 

Coral Bleaching within Study Site Repetitive Quadrats

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

June 2005 November 2005

% of coral colonies bleached

Figure 4.1.2. Percent of coral colonies bleached (+ SE) in the East 

Bank study site repetitive quadrats, June 2005 and 

November 2005. 

Coral bleaching along Video Perimeter

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

June 2005 Nov 2005

% of coral colonies bleached

Figure 4.1.3. Percent of coral colonies bleached along the East 

Bank study site perimeter in June 2005 and in 

November 2005 after Hurricane Rita. Data are 

from perimeter videography. 
28 

Despite the loss of corals, coral cover remained high on the reef cap (61%) and at the deep 

stations (74.5%). A comparison of shallow study site quadrats with deep station quadrats 

showed different bleaching patterns related to depth (Figure 4.1.4). Shallow quadrats had higher 

levels of bleaching and experienced a loss of 1.5% of coral colonies. The deep quadrats had 

lower levels of coral bleaching and approximately 0.5% of coral colonies were missing. 

Planimetry measurements showed that Montastraea annularis complex expanded their margins 

by 5.74% (± 3.25 SE) at deep station between June 2005 and November 2005. This is a huge 

increase in a very short period of time and likely does not represent a true increase in lateral 

growth. Considering the high error associated with these data more photographs may need to be 

taken in order to get a more accurate representation of the actual marginal growth or loss in these 

repetitive quadrat images. 

Percent Bleaching in November 2005

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

Shallow Stations Deep Stations

% of coral colonies bleached

Figure 4.1.4. Percent of coral colonies bleached (+ SE) at the East Bank 

shallow stations and the East Bank deep stations in November 

2005. 

Transect data collected by FGBNMS staff in October 2005 showed that 48% of colonies 

monitored on the reef cap were partially or entirely bleached (Hickerson, personal 

communication, 9 November 2005). FGBNMS methodology involved counting and scoring 

every coral colony within four, 15 m belt transects (radiating from the mooring buoy) as totally 

bleached, partially bleached, or unbleached. Although some recovery may have taken place 

between October and November, it is unlikely that bleaching declined in one month from 48% to 

the 10% level we recorded. The discrepancy is mostly likely due to differences in sampling 

methods. 
29 

The 2005 bleaching event was the most severe ever documented at the Flower Garden Banks. In 

1990, 4.8% bleaching was reported at the East Bank in association with high seawater 

temperatures (Hagman and Gittings 1992). Minor seasonal bleaching events were reported in 

1992, 1994, 1995, and 1998 (Gittings et al. 1992; Continental Shelf Associates Inc. 1996; Dokken et 

al. 1999; Dokken et al. 2001). These episodes were followed by recovery. 

4.2 WATER QUALITY

Storm Intensity. The tracking of Hurricane Rita shows that it was a category 3 storm when it 

passed close to the Flower Garden Banks on 23 September 2005. Mean daily significant wave 

height at NOAA data buoy 42019 was 4.52 m during the hurricane (Figure 4.2.1.). Depth, 

measured by the YSI instrument at the East Bank, rose from 23 to 25 m from 0300 hours on 23 

September to 0400 hours on 24 September. The highest point of the storm took place at 2000 

hours on September 23 when maximum wave height reached 5.9 m at buoy 42019 (Figure 4.2.2). 

The intensity of Hurricane Rita at the Flower Garden Banks is clear from its physical effects, 

including the large amounts of sediment removed from sand flats, the dislodgment of corals, and 

the indentations on corals caused by waterborne reef material. 

0.0

1.0

2.0

3.0

4.0

5.0

1/1/04

1/31/04

3/1/04

3/31/044/30/045/30/046/29/047/29/048/28/049/27/04

10/27/0411/26/0412/26/04

1/25/052/24/053/26/054/25/055/25/056/24/057/24/058/23/059/22/05

10/22/0511/21/05

Date

Significant Wave Height (m)

Figure 4.2.1. Significant wave height in 2004 and 2005 at NOAA data buoy 42019, 

located 172 km west of the East Bank (27°54.783’ N, 95°21.600’ W; 

(National Data Buoy Center 2005)). Significant wave height is 

calculated as the average of the highest one-third of all of the wave 

heights during the 20-minute sampling period. 
30 

Figure 4.2.2. Maximum wave height measured at buoy 42019 during the passage 

of Hurricane Rita. 

Current velocity and direction, measured by current meters placed near the sea surface on Texas 

Automated Buoy System (TABS) “Buoy V” (27° 53.796'N, 93° 35.838'W), located near the East 

Bank, and “Buoy N” (27° 53.418'N, 94° 02.202'W), located near the West Bank, provide another 

way to estimate the power of the storm. Buoy N recorded data up until 0830 hours on 23 

September; current velocity at that time was 58.09 cm/sec. Current velocity was 57.59 cm/sec at 

1100 hours at “Buoy V” (Bender et al., personal communication, 1 December 2005). Summaries 

of current velocity and direction are depicted as stick plots. These plots show that at the East 

Bank, water was moving in a southeasterly and southerly direction at speeds ranging from 19.7 

to 57.9 cm/sec from 23 to 24 September (Figure 4.2.3). The stick plot for the West Bank shows 

that from 22 to 23 September, current speed ranged from 10.2 cm/sec to 58.09 cm/sec and water 

was moving in a southeasterly direction (Figure 4.2.4). The current direction recorded at the 

TABS buoys corroborates our observations at the East Bank of permanent stainless-steel posts 

on the reef cap being bent in a southerly direction. 
31 

Figure 4.2.3. Stick plot of currents (speed (cm/sec)) and direction (north is top)) at Texas 

Automated Buoy System “Buoy V” (27°53.796' N, 93°35.838' W), located 

near the East Bank, from 9/16/05 to 9/24/05. Data courtesy of L.C. Bender 

III, L. L. Lee III, and N.L. Guinasso Jr., Geochemical and Environmental 

Research Group, Texas A&M University. 

Figure 4.2.4. Stick plot of currents (speed (cm/sec)) and direction (north is top)) at Texas 

Automated Buoy System “Buoy N” (27°53.418' N, 94°02.202' W), located 

near the West Bank, from 9/15/05 to 9/23/05. Data courtesy of L.C. Bender 

III, L. L. Lee III, and N.L. Guinasso Jr., Geochemical and Environmental 

Research Group, Texas A&M University. 

Temperature. In 2005, corals at the Flower Garden Banks were exposed to a prolonged period 

of thermal stress that was interrupted temporarily by the passage of Hurricane Rita (Figure 

3.3.1). Thermal conditions on the reef cap were unquestionably more severe in 2005 than the 

average temperature at the Flower Garden Banks, including during 1990 when extensive 

bleaching occurred. The heating of the upper water column in 2005 probably caused more severe 

stress to sessile organisms on the reef cap than they experienced in 1990. Water temperatures at 

the reef cap cooled by approximately 1.5 °C (from 29.5 °C to 28 °C) after the passage of 
32 

Hurricane Rita, from 25 to 30 September 2005. This temporary cooling of the reef cap was likely 

the result of the mixing of cold deep water with the warm superficial water (the upper 50 m). At 

the foot of the Flower Garden Banks (~100 m), seawater temperatures average 19°C. Further 

down in the water column at 130 m, average water temperature is about 15°C (Nowlin et al. 

1998). 

Sediment Resuspension. The mixing of superficial water with the deeper water surrounding the 

Flower Garden Banks may also have temporarily exposed the reef cap to the nepheloid layer. 

Since the banks are large topographic prominences rising from a seafloor depth of 120 m to 

within 18 m of the sea surface, they obstruct and modify water transport passing through an area 

of the shelf edge that is otherwise relatively flat (McGrail 1985). However, despite the fact that 

such obstructions to water movement cause flow divergences and the deflection of water, the 

near-bottom water surrounding the base of the Flower Garden Banks typically does not flow over 

the banks (McGrail 1985; Lugo-Fernandez 1998). This near-bottom water, or bottom boundary 

layer, is characteristically turbid and known as the “nepheloid layer” (McGrail 1985). 

The turbidity of the nepheloid layer is caused by the resuspension of terrigenous sediments 

(muddy sands, sandy mud, and mud (Rezak 1985)) at the base of the Flower Garden Banks. This 

turbid layer is confined near the bottom because the general water flow over the Flower Garden 

Banks is horizontal, even when extreme current velocities occur (e.g., 90 cm/sec; McGrail 1985). 

The maximum observed thickness of the nepheloid layer is 20 m. Hence, fine sediments 

resuspended at the base of the Flower Garden Banks typically cannot be transported onto the 

Flower Garden Banks reef cap by the local circulation (McGrail 1985). Under exceptional 

hurricane conditions such as those experienced on September 23, it is conceivable that sudden 

and intense vertical mixing caused the temporary resuspension of fine sediments from the base of 

the Flower Garden Banks into the water flowing over the reef cap. Such vertical mixing was 

probably not confined to the immediate vicinity of the Flower Garden Banks and may have 

caused the resuspension of fine sediments well within the 4-Mile Zone surrounding the Flower 

Garden Banks, including areas containing drilling discharges shunted to the seafloor. 

During Hurricane Rita coarse sediments on the reef cap were likely resuspended over the reef 

cap and into deeper water surrounding the banks, judging from the transport of sediments from 

the sand flats, the scouring of corals, and the collision impacts on corals. Sediments on and 

immediately surrounding the living reef cap form the “coral debris facies” at 20-50 m water 

depth (Rezak 1985). The coral debris facies originate from the living reef and are composed of 

coarse coral sand and gravel, with inclusions of molluscan and coralline algal debris. The coral 

debris facies occur on and around the living reef and include large coral sand flats. Under typical 

conditions, gravity causes the sand to be transported to an apron of sand and gravel surrounding 

the living reef. Currents disperse the coarse sand and gravel into large ripples (with wavelengths 

up to 50 m) that are perpendicular and not parallel to the isobaths. This indicates that water 

typically moves around and not over the living reef (Rezak 1985). 

Potential Exposure to Nearshore Pollutants. Following Hurricane Rita four to six inches of 

rainfall was recorded along the Mississippi and Atchafalaya rivers on September 24 2005. Other 

areas along the coast of Louisiana experienced up to 12 inches of rainfall on September 24 

(Figure 4.2.5). Satellite imagery of total suspended matter in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico 
33 

showed that nearshore water associated with the high levels of precipitation was driven across 

the shelf and onto the shelf edge, including the area of the Flower Garden Banks (Figure 4.2.6). 

The discolored water seen reaching the Flower Garden Banks could have contained pollutants 

delivered directly into the northern Gulf of Mexico from industrial sites. Such pollutants include 

>0.14 km3/yr of sewage effluent from municipalities, and routine discharges from petroleum 

refineries and petrochemical plants (Weber et al. 1992) and materials contained in 610 km3/yr of 

discharge from the Mississippi and Atchafalaya Rivers (Dai and Trenberth 2002). Coastal and 

river-borne pollutants probably include inorganic nutrients, organic carbon, insecticides and 

herbicides, and pathogens. FGBNMS staff (Emma Hickerson and G.P. Schmahl) collected coral 

tissue, sediment, and water samples for contaminant analysis. 

Figure 4.2.5. Rainfall data (inches) for the Gulf of Mexico region on September 24, 

2005. Data provided by (NOAA National Weather Service 2005). 
34 

Figure 4.2.6. Dispersal of nearshore turbid water across the Louisiana-Texas 

(LATEX) shelf onto the shelf edge and the Flower Garden 

Banks on 25 September 2005. Image courtesy of NOAA 

CoastWatch. 

Approximate location of the FGBNMS 
35 

5.0 CONCLUSIONS 

The effects of Hurricane Rita which passed within 50 miles (83 km) of the Flower Garden Banks 

on September 23, 2005, were documented at the East Flower Garden Bank long-term monitoring 

site in November 2005, and in October 2005 by the Flower Garden Banks National Marine 

Sanctuary (FGBNMS). Documented damage associated with the storm included large, dislodged 

coral heads; corals gouged and damaged from waterborne projectiles; displaced sand and 

sediment, scoured coral heads; and an ongoing coral-bleaching event. No evidence of oil rigs, oil 

rig parts or rig discharges were documented at the East Bank. 

Repetitive quadrat percent cover and planimetry data as well as perimeter video of the 100m by 

100m permanent study site at the East Bank revealed higher than normal bleaching (10%) in 

November 2005. Bleaching had been observed in August 2005, before the passage of the 

hurricane and was associated with above normal sea surface temperatures recorded for the 

Flower Garden Banks. The repetitive quadrats revealed the removal of approximately 4m2 of 

coral from the 40 repetitive quadrats photographed. This area represented a 1.5% loss of all coral 

colonies photographed. Interestingly, missing corals consisted mainly of Diploria strigosa. 

Perimeter video along the north line revealed that several coral colonies were either shattered or 

missing. Most of the apparently missing or damaged colonies were Diploria strigosa. 

Interestingly, no missing, dislodged or broken corals were seen along the east perimeter line. 

Winds and waves moving in a southerly or southeasterly direction might explain this fact. 

Hurricane effects were different at depth. Deep station repetitive quadrats (32-40 m) showed a 

0.5% decrease in coral colonies from nine repetitive quadrat stations photographed. 

Water quality at the Flower Garden Banks was affected during the storm by suspension of 

sediments, which would have decreased available light and abraded corals. Water temperature 

decreased at the Banks as a result of the storm, which likely brought relief to bleaching corals. 

After the storm large volumes of freshwater run-off from the Mississippi and Atchafalaya Rivers 

as well as coastal Louisiana washed over the Banks and may have brought pollution out to the 

Flower Garden Banks, but these would not have been detected in November, two months after 

the storm. 

Future work should include the detailed biological and geological characterization of banks 

closer to the path of Hurricane Rita (Sonnier, Geyer, McGrail Banks). In addition, no activity 

zones should be considered around unique banks other than the Flower Garden Banks given the 

prediction of increased hurricane activity in the upcoming decades. 
37 

6.0 LITERATURE CITED 

Aronson, R.B., K.P. Sebens and J.P. Ebersole. 1994. Hurricane Hugo's impact on Salt River 

Submarine Canyon, St. Croix, US Virgin Islands. In: Ginsburg, R.N., compiler. 

Proceedings of the Colloquium on Global Aspects of Coral Reefs: Health, Hazards, and 

History. Miami: Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of 

Miami. Pp. 189-195. 

Bender, L.C., L.L. Lee and N.L. Guinasso Jr. 2005. Personal communication. Geochemical and 

Environmental Research Group, Texas A&M University. 

Bruckner, A.W. and R.J. Bruckner. 1998. Destruction of coral by Sparisoma viride. Coral Reefs 

17:350. 

Bruckner, A.W., R.J. Bruckner and P. Sollins. 2000. Parrotfish predation on live coral: "spot 

biting" and "focused biting". Coral Reefs 19:50. 

Combs, C.L. 1989. Personal communication. Texas A&M University. 

Continental Shelf Associates Inc. 1996. Long-Term Monitoring at the East and West Flower 

Garden Banks. U.S. Dept. of the Interior, Minerals Management Service, Gulf of Mexico 

OCS Region, New Orleans, LA. OCS Study MMS 96-0046. 77 pp. 

Dai, A. and K.E. Trenberth. 2002. Estimates of freshwater discharge from continents: Latitudinal 

and seasonal variations. Journal of Hydrometeorology 3:660-687. 

Dokken, Q.R., I.R. MacDonald, J.W. Tunnell, C.R. Beaver, G.S. Boland and D.K. Hagman. 

1999. Long-term monitoring at the East and West Flower Garden Banks, 1996-1997. 

U.S. Dept. of the Interior, Minerals Management Service, Gulf of Mexico Region, New 

Orleans, Louisiana. OCS Study MMS 99-0005. 101 pp. 

Dokken, Q.R., I.R. MacDonald, J.W. Tunnell, T. Wade, C.R. Beaver, S.A. Childs, K. Withers 

and T.W. Bates. 2001. Long-term monitoring of the East and West Flower Garden Banks, 

1998-1999. U.S. Dept. of the Interior, Minerals Management Service, Gulf of Mexico 

OCS Region, New Orleans, Louisiana. OCS Study MMS 2001-101. 120 pp. 

Gittings, S.R., G.S. Boland, K.J.P. Deslarzes, D.K. Hagman and B.S. Holland. 1992. Long-term 

Monitoring at the East and West Flower Garden Banks. U.S. Dept. of the Interior, 

Minerals Management Service, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region, New Orleans, Louisiana. 

OCS Study MMS 92-0006. 206 pp. 

Hagman, D.K. and S.R. Gittings. 1992. Coral bleaching on high latitude reefs at the Flower 

Garden Banks, NW Gulf of Mexico. Proceedings of the 7th International Coral Reef 

Symposium. Guam 1:38-43. 

Harvell, C.D., C.E. Mitchell, J.R. Ward, S. Altizer, A.P. Dobson, R.S. Ostfeld and M.D. Samuel. 

2002. Climate warming and disease risks for terrestrial and marine biota. Science 

296:2158-2162. 
38 

Hickerson, E.L. 2005. Personal communication. Flower Garden Banks National Marine 

Sanctuary. Galveston, Texas. 

Hickerson, E.L. and G.P. Schmahl. 2005. Personal communication. Flower Garden Banks 

National Marine Sanctuary. Galveston, Texas. 

Hoegh-Guldberg, O. 1999. Climate change, coral bleaching and the future of the world's coral 

reefs. Marine and Freshwater Research 50:839-866. 

Lugo-Fernandez, A. 1998. Ecological implications of hydrography and circulation to the Flower 

Garden Banks, Northwest Gulf of Mexico. Gulf of Mexico Science 16(2):144-160. 

McGrail, D.W. 1985. Currents and suspended sediments at the East Flower Garden Bank. In: 

Bright, T.J., D.W. McGrail, R. Rezak, G.S. Boland, and A. Trippett, compilers. The 

Flower Gardens: A compendium of information. U.S. Dept. of the Interior, Minerals 

Management Service, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region, New Orleans, Louisiana. OCS Study 

MMS 85-0024. 103 pp. 

National Climatic Data Center. 2005. Climate of 2005: Atlantic hurricane season. Internet 

website: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/research/2005/hurricanes05.html. 

National Data Buoy Center. 2005. 42019 significant wave height (meters) 5/1990 - 2/2001. 

Internet website: http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/images/climpot/42019_wh.jpg. 

National Hurricane Center. 2006. Tropical cyclone report: Hurricane Rita. Internet website: 

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/2005atlan.shtml. 

NOAA CoastWatch. 2005. CoastWatch. Internet website: http://coastwatch.noaa.gov/index.html 

NOAA National Weather Service. 2005. Internet website: 

http://www.srh.noaa.gov/rfcshare/precip_analysis.php?location=LMRFC&duration=no&

archive=20050924&product=pbs&zoom_map=state&yyyy=2005&mm=09&dd=24. 

Nowlin, W.D., A.E. Jochens, R.O. Reid and S.F. DiMarco. 1998. Texas-Louisiana shelf 

circulation and transport processes study: Synthesis report. U.S. Dept. of the Interior, 

Minerals Management Service, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region, New Orleans, Louisiana. 

OCS Study MMS 98-0036. 288 pp. 

Rezak, R. 1985. Geology of the Flower Garden Banks area. In: Bright, T.J., D.W. McGrail, R. 

Rezak, G.S. Boland, and A. Trippett, compilers. The Flower Gardens: A compendium of 

information. U.S. Dept. of the Interior, Minerals Management Service, Gulf of Mexico 

OCS Region, New Orleans, Louisiana. OCS Study MMS 85-0024. 103 pp. 

Scholten, T.L. and K.J.P. Deslarzes. 1998. Meteorology. In: Deslarzes, K.J.P., ed. The Flower 

Garden Banks (northwest Gulf of Mexico): Environmental characteristics and human 

interaction. U.S. Dept. of the Interior, Minerals Management Service, Gulf of Mexico 

OCS Region, New Orleans, Louisiana. OCS Report MMS 98-0010. Pp. 1-4. 
39 

The Weather Underground. 2005a. Hurricane archive: 2004. Internet website: 

http://www.wunderground.com/hurricane/at2004.asp. 

The Weather Underground. 2005b. Hurricane archive: 2005. Internet website: 

http://wunderground.com/hurricane/at2005.asp. 

Weber, M., R.T. Townsend and R. Bierce. 1992. Environmental quality in the Gulf of Mexico: A 

citizen's guide. 2nd edition. Center for Marine Conservation, Washington, D.C. 132 pp. 
Appendix A 
Appendix A

Percent Cover Data for Repetitive 8 m2 Quadrats at East Flower Garden Bank 

June 2005 and November 2005

Mean Standard 

Error Mean Standard Error

Colpophyllia natans 2.94 0.70 0.59 0.27

Unidentifiable coral 1.99 0.38 2.06 0.33

Diploria strigosa 8.88 1.49 9.02 1.55

Madracis decactis 0.33 0.16 0.40 0.15

Madracis mirabilis 0.11 0.11 0.00 0.00

Millepora alcicornis 1.47 0.28 0.68 0.16

Montastraea sp. complex 40.51 2.92 40.34 2.91

Montastraea cavernosa 3.60 0.87 3.85 0.88

Mussa angulosa 0.09 0.06 0.02 0.01

Porites astreoides 2.69 0.51 4.06 0.51

Siderastrea siderea 0.11 0.07 0.09 0.08

Stephanocoenia intersepta 0.08 0.04 0.24 0.11

Total Coral 62.78 2.60 61.34 2.75

Agelas clathrodes 0.00 0.00 0.17 0.08

Pseudoceratina crassa 0.01 0.01 0.07 0.03

Unidentifiable sponge 0.11 0.06 0.19 0.06

Xestospongia sp. 0.00 0.00 0.06 0.04

Total Sponge 0.12 0.06 0.49 0.16

Dictyota sp. 0.00 0.00 0.42 0.19

Lobophora sp. 23.72 2.12 0.00 0.00

Turf (greater than 3mm) 0.06 0.05 11.22 0.82

Unidentifiable macroalgae 0.00 0.00 1.40 0.35

Total Macroalgae 23.78 2.13 13.04 1.02

Crustose coralline algae 1.59 0.42 3.29 0.57

CTB (including crustose coralline, fine turf, bare rock) 8.79 1.04 20.53 1.65

Total CTB 10.39 1.16 23.81 1.73

Ascidian 0.02 0.02 0.00 0.00

Other 0.10 0.03 0.12 0.05

Serpulidae 0.00 0.00 0.19 0.05

Rubble 0.04 0.04 0.00 0.00

Sand 0.42 0.26 0.79 0.44

Other Live

CTB 

Macroalgae

Sponges

 June 2005 November 2005

Study Site Repetitive Quadrats

n = 41* n = 40

Corals

Rubble/Sand

A-1
Appendix A

Percent Cover Data for Repetitive 8 m2 Quadrats at East Flower Garden Bank 

June 2005 and November 2005

Mean Standard 

Error Mean Standard Error

 June 2005 November 2005

Study Site Repetitive Quadrats

n = 41* n = 40

Unknown 2.37 0.40 0.21 0.06

TOTAL 100.00 100.00

*41 study site repetitive quadrat stations analyzed (includes 40 recently established stations and old 

station number 185)

UNKNOWNS

A-2
Appendix A

Percent Cover Data for Repetitive 8 m2 Quadrats at East Flower Garden Bank 

June 2005 and November 2005

Mean Standard 

Error Mean Standard Error

Colpophyllia natans 5.01 1.92 8.86 3.16

Unidentifiable coral 0.93 0.53 1.24 1.17

Diploria strigosa 4.93 2.03 2.91 1.15

Madracis decactis 0.00 0.00 0.08 0.08

Madracis mirabilis 0.16 0.05 0.16 0.16

Millepora alcicornis 1.41 0.76 0.68 0.46

Montastraea sp. complex 50.75 3.61 42.02 4.81

Montastraea cavernosa 9.57 1.82 15.84 3.02

Mussa angulosa 3.88 0.96 2.71 1.38

Porites astreoides 0.89 0.49 0.00 0.00

Total Coral 77.51 3.77 74.50 4.44

Unidentifiable Sponge 0.00 0.00 0.28 0.29

Total Sponge 0.00 0.00 0.28 0.29

Lobophora 10.34 1.86 0.00 0.00

Turf (greater than 3mm) 0.48 0.17 8.98 4.18

Unidentifiable macroalgae 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

Total Macroalgae 10.82 1.89 8.98 4.18

Crustose coralline algae 0.89 0.53 4.51 2.23

CTB (including crustose coralline, fine turf, bare rock) 7.95 1.39 7.74 2.50

Total CTB 8.84 1.85 12.25 2.91

Ascidian 0.04 0.04 0.00 0.00

Other 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.05

Dead coral with algae 0.00 0.00 0.36 0.23

Rubble 0.00 0.00 2.11 2.22

Sand 0.97 0.70 0.00 0.00

Unknown 1.78 0.86 1.48 1.46

TOTAL 100.00 100.00

CTB 

Algae

Sponges

Corals

UNKNOWNS

Other

DEAD CORAL WITH ALGAE

Other Live

 June 2005 November 2005

Deep Station Repetitive Quadrats

n = 9 n = 9

A-3
Appendix B 
Appendix B

Repetitive 8 m2 Quadrat Proportional Change for Selected Coral Heads at East Flower Garden Bank

June 2005 and November 2005

RQS # * Coral Head # Species

Area of coral 

head in June 

2005 (cm2

)

Area of 

coral 

head in 

Nov 

2005 

(cm2

)

Change in 

Area (cm2

)

% Change 

in Area 

% change in 

coral colony 

area

Total 

change 

in Area 

within 

Quadrat 

(cm2

)

Total % 

change 

in Area 

within 

Quadrat

Proportional 

Change

1 Montastraea sp. 17.73 17.28 -0.44 -0.05 -2.51 -0.03

2 Diploria strigosa 4.83 4.94 0.11 0.01 2.24 0.02

3 Montastraea sp. 6.71 4.89 -1.82 -0.19 -27.17 -0.27

4 Montastraea sp. 9.67 7.39 -2.28 -0.24 -23.62 -0.24

5 Montastraea sp. 6.47 5.69 -0.78 -0.08 -12.08 -0.12

1 Montastraea sp. 35.58 37.65 2.08 0.22 5.84 0.06

2 Montastraea sp. 19.30 21.08 1.79 0.19 9.25 0.09

3 Montastraea sp. 10.62 11.60 0.98 0.10 9.22 0.09

4 Montastraea sp. 12.99 9.35 -3.64 -0.38 -28.02 -0.28

1 Diploria strigosa 86.86 67.62 -19.24 -2.01 -22.15 -0.22

2 Montastraea sp. 27.46 17.75 -9.71 -1.02 -35.37 -0.35

3 Diploria strigosa 11.36 11.83 0.47 0.05 4.18 0.04

4 Montastraea sp. 44.88 37.66 -7.22 -0.76 -16.09 -0.16

1 Diploria strigosa 14.22 16.28 2.05 0.21 14.43 0.14

2 Montastraea sp. 46.66 59.23 12.57 1.32 26.94 0.27

3 Diploria strigosa 7.74 10.49 2.75 0.29 35.60 0.36

4 Diploria strigosa 32.43 0.00 -32.43 -3.40 -100.00 -1.00

5 Montastraea sp. 33.67 29.47 -4.21 -0.44 -12.49 -0.12

1 Montastraea sp. 15.88 15.02 -0.86 -0.09 -5.44 -0.05

2 Montastraea sp. 24.71 9.27 -15.44 -1.62 -62.48 -0.62

3 Diploria strigosa 16.00 0.00 -16.00 -1.68 -100.00 -1.00

4 Montastraea sp. 17.86 8.18 -9.67 -1.01 -54.18 -0.54

5 Montastraea sp. 12.20 8.08 -4.12 -0.43 -33.78 -0.34

1 Montastraea sp. 29.65 30.97 1.32 0.14 4.46 0.04

2 Montastraea sp. 18.85 20.21 1.36 0.14 7.20 0.07

3 Montastraea sp. 53.09 57.01 3.92 0.41 7.38 0.07

4 Diploria strigosa 11.62 13.52 1.91 0.20 16.40 0.16

5 Montastraea sp. 236.46 253.49 17.04 1.78 7.21 0.07

1 Montastraea sp. 19.55 24.35 4.81 0.50 24.58 0.25

2 Montastraea sp. 29.20 36.77 7.57 0.79 25.94 0.26

3 Montastraea sp. 11.95 12.90 0.95 0.10 7.93 0.08

4 Montastraea sp. 47.37 46.25 -1.11 -0.12 -2.35 -0.02

5 Montastraea sp. 5.95 6.19 0.24 0.03 4.06 0.04

1 Montastraea sp. 27.32 48.58 21.26 2.23 77.83 0.78

2 Montastraea sp. 7.03 0.00 -7.03 -0.74 -100.00 -1.00

3 Porites astreoides 0.95 0.00 -0.95 -0.10 -100.00 -1.00

4 Diploria strigosa 3.16 0.00 -3.16 -0.33 -100.00 -1.00

5 Diploria strigosa 4.32 4.63 0.31 0.03 7.17 0.07

1 Montastraea sp. 21.76 49.25 27.49 0.29 126.32 1.26

2 Montastraea sp. 27.54 30.70 3.15 0.03 11.45 0.11

3 Montastraea sp. 67.66 76.42 8.77 0.09 12.96 0.13

4 Montastraea sp. 34.14 41.86 7.73 0.08 22.63 0.23

5 Montastraea sp. 137.73 124.80 -12.93 -0.14 -9.39 -0.09

1 Diploria strigosa 17.67 13.12 -4.55 -0.48 -25.76 -0.26

2 Diploria strigosa 11.21 16.93 5.73 0.60 51.13 0.51

3 Montastraea sp. 110.87 79.94 -30.93 -3.24 -27.90 -0.28

4 Diploria strigosa 19.52 17.19 -2.33 -0.24 -11.95 -0.12

1 Diploria strigosa 11.55 7.86 -3.69 -0.39 -31.98 -0.32

2 Montastraea sp. 107.26 99.41 -7.85 -0.82 -7.32 -0.07

3 Montastraea sp. 52.30 50.28 -2.02 -0.21 -3.86 -0.04

4 Montastraea sp. 45.93 32.78 -13.16 -1.38 -28.64 -0.29

1 Porites astreoides 4.36 4.53 0.17 0.02 4.00 0.04

2 Porites astreoides 3.57 3.91 0.34 0.04 9.59 0.10

3 Diploria strigosa 5.27 6.07 0.80 0.08 15.14 0.15

4 Diploria strigosa 3.41 4.12 0.71 0.07 20.98 0.21

5 Diploria strigosa 15.87 13.88 -1.99 -0.21 -12.55 -0.13

1 Diploria strigosa 46.10 47.49 1.39 0.15 3.02 0.03

2 Montastraea sp. 2.75 3.45 0.70 0.07 25.40 0.25

3 Diploria strigosa 84.50 82.50 -2.00 -0.21 -2.37 -0.02

4 Montastraea cavernosa 28.74 1.16 -27.58 -2.89 -95.97 -0.96

Study Site Repetitive Quadrats

7 10.44 1.09

34.21 0.36

-27.49 -2.88

1

4 -46.10

25.54

3

2b

4b

2

-4.83

-5.22 -0.55

-35.70 -3.74

-19.26 -2.02

1.20 0.13

2.67

12.45 1.30

0.00

-3.36

-2.80

0.04

-32.08

-26.72

5

11

9

10

12

12b

* The RQS # is an identifier used during planimetry analysis

(not necessarily corresponding to the station number). B-1
Appendix B

Repetitive 8 m2 Quadrat Proportional Change for Selected Coral Heads at East Flower Garden Bank

June 2005 and November 2005

RQS # * Coral Head # Species

Area of coral 

head in June 

2005 (cm2

)

Area of 

coral 

head in 

Nov 

2005 

(cm2

)

Change in 

Area (cm2

)

% Change 

in Area 

% change in 

coral colony 

area

Total 

change 

in Area 

within 

Quadrat 

(cm2

)

Total % 

change 

in Area 

within 

Quadrat

Proportional 

Change

Study Site Repetitive Quadrats

1 Montastraea sp. 13.40 20.64 7.24 0.76 54.06 0.54

2 Montastraea sp. 24.30 18.72 -5.57 -0.58 -22.94 -0.23

3 Diploria strigosa 2.37 2.30 -0.07 -0.01 -2.75 -0.03

4 Montastraea sp. 22.62 25.11 2.49 0.26 10.99 0.11

5 Montastraea cavernosa 17.73 0.59 -17.14 -1.79 -96.68 -0.97

1 Diploria strigosa 8.58 9.74 1.16 0.12 13.57 0.14

2 Montastraea sp. 1.81 2.83 -5.75 -0.60 -316.77 -3.17

3 Montastraea sp. 14.02 19.59 17.77 1.86 126.82 1.27

4 Diploria strigosa 8.63 6.72 -7.30 -0.76 -84.57 -0.85

5 Diploria strigosa 7.23 0.00 -7.23 -0.76 -100.00 -1.00

1 Montastraea sp. 22.75 32.33 9.58 1.00 42.08 0.42

2 Montastraea sp. 12.35 11.08 -1.27 -0.13 -10.31 -0.10

3 Montastraea sp. 19.61 18.00 -1.61 -0.17 -8.20 -0.08

4 Montastraea sp. 5.83 5.86 0.03 0.00 0.52 0.01

1 Montastraea sp. 32.86 33.67 0.81 0.08 2.45 0.02

2 Diploria strigosa 20.86 20.61 -0.25 -0.03 -1.18 -0.01

3 Diploria strigosa 30.35 34.95 4.60 0.48 15.17 0.15

4 Diploria strigosa 66.91 77.25 10.34 1.08 15.46 0.15

5 Montastraea sp. 13.85 13.19 -0.67 -0.07 -4.80 -0.05

1 Montastraea sp. 69.60 59.14 -10.46 -1.10 -15.03 -0.15

2 Montastraea sp. 185.00 192.76 7.76 0.81 4.19 0.04

3 Diploria strigosa 14.85 14.83 -0.02 0.00 -0.13 0.00

4 Diploria strigosa 20.88 18.18 -2.71 -0.28 -12.96 -0.13

5 Montastraea sp. 67.54 64.66 -2.88 -0.30 -4.26 -0.04

1 Montastraea sp. 4.51 5.01 0.49 0.05 10.92 0.11

2 Diploria strigosa 1.07 1.28 0.21 0.02 19.42 0.19

3 Montastraea sp. 5.13 4.65 -0.47 -0.05 -9.22 -0.09

4 Diploria strigosa 5.46 5.41 -0.05 0.00 -0.84 -0.01

1 Montastraea sp. 89.40 85.19 -4.21 -0.44 -4.71 -0.05

2 Montastraea cavernosa 43.21 0.07 -43.14 -4.52 -99.84 -1.00

3 Diploria strigosa 22.50 23.91 1.41 0.15 6.29 0.06

4 Montastraea cavernosa 25.52 0.05 -25.47 -2.67 -99.81 -1.00

1 Montastraea sp. 2.75 2.67 0.20 0.02 7.25 0.07

2 Diploria strigosa 2.99 3.36 0.03 0.00 1.04 0.01

3 Diploria strigosa 4.42 3.80 -0.50 -0.05 -11.21 -0.11

4 Montastraea sp. 8.33 9.59 0.20 0.02 2.45 0.02

5 Montastraea sp. 16.57 0.00 -12.90 -1.35 -77.89 -0.78

1 Montastraea sp. 22.38 17.82 -4.57 -0.48 -20.40 -0.20

2 Montastraea sp. 15.50 6.09 -9.41 -0.99 -60.71 -0.61

3 Montastraea sp. 22.26 23.81 1.55 0.16 6.98 0.07

4 Montastraea cavernosa 52.87 0.36 -52.51 -5.50 -99.31 -0.99

5 Montastraea sp. 53.20 68.43 15.23 1.59 28.63 0.29

1 Montastraea sp. 83.30 44.85 -38.45 -4.03 -46.16 -0.46

2 Montastraea cavernosa 13.55 12.17 -1.39 -0.15 -10.25 -0.10

3 Diploria strigosa 46.30 54.58 8.29 0.87 17.90 0.18

4 Diploria strigosa 46.36 49.96 3.61 0.38 7.78 0.08

5 Diploria strigosa 21.78 18.12 -3.66 -0.38 -16.81 -0.17

1 Montastraea sp. 10.62 20.51 9.89 1.04 93.20 0.93

2 Diploria strigosa 22.98 21.50 -1.47 -0.15 -6.42 -0.06

3 Colpophyllia natans 11.47 0.06 -11.41 -1.20 -99.47 -0.99

4 Diploria strigosa 34.89 31.59 -3.30 -0.35 -9.45 -0.09

5 Montastraea sp. 53.94 33.97 -19.97 -2.09 -37.02 -0.37

1 Montastraea sp. 28.48 22.35 -6.13 -0.64 -21.53 -0.22

2 Montastraea sp. 64.89 48.27 -16.62 -1.74 -25.61 -0.26

3 Montastraea sp. 21.68 18.61 -3.08 -0.32 -14.18 -0.14

4 Diploria strigosa 7.28 8.67 1.39 0.15 19.10 0.19

5 Diploria strigosa 20.11 17.44 -2.68 -0.28 -13.31 -0.13

1 Montastraea sp. 23.02 16.58 -6.44 -0.67 -27.97 -0.28

2 Montastraea cavernosa 20.62 0.01 -20.60 -2.16 -99.93 -1.00

3 Montastraea sp. 48.33 43.81 -4.52 -0.47 -9.34 -0.09

4 Diploria strigosa 9.37 11.01 1.64 0.17 17.53 0.18

5 Montastraea sp. 62.26 84.79 22.53 2.36 36.19 0.36

18b

14b

17

18

21

15

14 -13.05 -1.37

-0.14

-3.31

-8.31 -0.87

14.84 1.55

-1.36

20 -71.41

-27.11

24

21b

0.18 0.02

-26.26

-7.48

20b -12.96

-7.39

-1.34

-2.75

-2.84

-49.71 -5.20

-31.61

6.72 0.70

22

-0.77

23

* The RQS # is an identifier used during planimetry analysis

(not necessarily corresponding to the station number). B-2
Appendix B

Repetitive 8 m2 Quadrat Proportional Change for Selected Coral Heads at East Flower Garden Bank

June 2005 and November 2005

RQS # * Coral Head # Species

Area of coral 

head in June 

2005 (cm2

)

Area of 

coral 

head in 

Nov 

2005 

(cm2

)

Change in 

Area (cm2

)

% Change 

in Area 

% change in 

coral colony 

area

Total 

change 

in Area 

within 

Quadrat 

(cm2

)

Total % 

change 

in Area 

within 

Quadrat

Proportional 

Change

Study Site Repetitive Quadrats

1 Montastraea sp. 1.49 1.60 0.11 0.01 7.14 0.07

2 Montastraea sp. 7.82 9.66 1.84 0.19 23.49 0.23

3 Montastraea sp. 1.91 2.40 0.49 0.05 25.64 0.26

4 Montastraea sp. 3.69 4.05 0.36 0.04 9.78 0.10

1 Diploria strigosa 8.83 10.48 1.65 0.17 18.71 0.19

2 Diploria strigosa 19.70 21.73 2.03 0.21 10.31 0.10

3 Diploria strigosa 7.94 7.35 -0.59 -0.06 -7.49 -0.07

4 Diploria strigosa 20.70 0.00 -20.70 -2.17 -100.00 -1.00

5 Diploria strigosa 15.04 5.37 -9.67 -1.01 -64.29 -0.64

1 Montastraea sp. 12.52 11.14 -1.38 -0.14 -11.03 -0.11

2 Montastraea sp. 8.26 8.51 0.25 0.03 3.03 0.03

3 Diploria strigosa 4.42 3.97 -0.45 -0.05 -10.23 -0.10

4 Diploria strigosa 20.25 18.78 -1.47 -0.15 -7.28 -0.07

5 Diploria strigosa 10.84 10.41 -0.43 -0.04 -3.93 -0.04

1 Montastraea sp. 4.60 5.11 -3.72 -0.39 -80.85 -0.81

2 Montastraea sp. 16.68 22.18 2.48 0.26 14.90 0.15

3 Montastraea sp. 11.01 12.17 4.23 0.44 38.38 0.38

4 Diploria strigosa 15.16 18.64 -2.06 -0.22 -13.60 -0.14

5 Montastraea sp. 241.20 184.83 169.79 17.78 70.39 0.70

1 Diploria strigosa 21.76 27.56 5.80 0.61 26.67 0.27

2 Diploria strigosa 26.91 30.70 3.79 0.40 14.10 0.14

3 Diploria strigosa 97.97 92.35 -5.62 -0.59 -5.73 -0.06

4 Diploria strigosa 44.37 0.00 -44.37 -4.65 -100.00 -1.00

5 Diploria strigosa 16.58 0.00 -16.58 -1.74 -100.00 -1.00

1 Diploria strigosa 11.23 10.66 -0.57 -0.06 -5.09 -0.05

2 Montastraea sp. 10.26 10.93 0.67 0.07 6.57 0.07

3 Montastraea cavernosa 71.95 0.61 -71.34 -7.47 -99.16 -0.99

4 Diploria strigosa 13.67 0.00 -13.67 -1.43 -100.00 -1.00

1 Montastraea cavernosa 53.02 1.26 -51.76 -5.42 -97.62 -0.98

2 Colpophyllia natans 56.14 56.05 -0.09 -0.01 -0.16 0.00

3 Montastraea cavernosa 82.55 0.48 -82.06 -8.59 -99.42 -0.99

4 Montastraea cavernosa 32.05 3.02 -29.03 -3.04 -90.57 -0.91

5 Diploria strigosa 49.65 27.35 -22.31 -2.34 -44.92 -0.45

1 Montastraea sp. 16.46 8.48 -7.98 -0.84 -48.46 -0.48

2 Diploria strigosa 71.70 0.00 -71.70 -7.51 -100.00 -1.00

3 Diploria strigosa 4.92 0.00 -4.92 -0.52 -100.00 -1.00

4 Diploria strigosa 7.62 7.58 -0.03 0.00 -0.42 0.00

5 Diploria strigosa 9.59 10.63 1.04 0.11 10.84 0.11

1 Montastraea sp. 23.67 26.94 3.27 0.34 13.83 0.14

2 Montastraea sp. 1.96 2.22 0.26 0.03 13.11 0.13

3 Montastraea sp. 5.46 6.60 1.14 0.12 20.91 0.21

4 Montastraea sp. 6.98 7.68 0.71 0.07 10.15 0.10

5 Montastraea sp. 25.58 23.76 -1.83 -0.19 -7.14 -0.07

1 Montastraea sp. 10.58 10.38 -0.20 -0.02 -1.88 -0.02

2 Montastraea sp. 15.47 11.89 -3.59 -0.38 -23.18 -0.23

3 Montastraea sp. 55.16 55.49 0.33 0.03 0.60 0.01

4 Montastraea cavernosa 21.42 0.40 -21.03 -2.20 -98.14 -0.98

1 Montastraea sp. 121.54 48.42 -73.12 -7.66 -60.16 -0.60

2 Montastraea sp. 78.55 0.35 -78.20 -8.19 -99.55 -1.00

3 Montastraea sp. 47.03 2.31 -44.73 -4.68 -95.10 -0.95

4 Montastraea sp. 15.12 0.19 -14.93 -1.56 -98.77 -0.99

1 Diploria strigosa 74.52 62.14 -12.38 -1.30 -16.61 -0.17

2 Diploria strigosa 15.18 15.00 -0.18 -0.02 -1.18 -0.01

3 Colpophyllia natans 78.89 91.83 12.94 1.36 16.40 0.16

4 Diploria strigosa 10.33 11.26 0.93 0.10 9.04 0.09

5 Diploria strigosa 26.31 30.66 4.35 0.46 16.53 0.17

6 Diploria strigosa 41.88 43.17 1.30 0.14 3.09 0.03

1 Montastraea sp. 7.95 8.34 0.40 0.04 4.97 0.05

2 Diploria strigosa 19.15 22.04 2.89 0.30 15.07 0.15

3 Montastraea sp. 26.47 26.14 -0.33 -0.03 -1.25 -0.01

4 Diploria strigosa 21.16 0.00 -21.16 -2.22 -100.00 -1.00

5 Montastraea sp. 14.68 12.91 -1.76 -0.18 -12.01 -0.12

38 6.96 0.73

29

30

26

26b

30b

29b

33

-5.96

-19.97

-3.48

27

25

-56.97

-22.09

-2.09

-2.86

2.79 0.29

-24.48

-83.58

-45.73

-27.29

UNK1

-2.56

36 -210.98

-8.75

3.55 0.37

-0.36

31

-4.79

-185.24 -19.40

-84.92 -8.89

* The RQS # is an identifier used during planimetry analysis

(not necessarily corresponding to the station number). B-3
Appendix B

Repetitive 8 m2 Quadrat Proportional Change for Selected Coral Heads at East Flower Garden Bank

June 2005 and November 2005

RQS # * Coral Head # Species

Area of coral 

head in June 

2005 (cm2

)

Area of 

coral 

head in 

Nov 

2005 

(cm2

)

Change in 

Area (cm2

)

% Change 

in Area 

% change in 

coral colony 

area

Total 

change 

in Area 

within 

Quadrat 

(cm2

)

Total % 

change 

in Area 

within 

Quadrat

Proportional 

Change

Study Site Repetitive Quadrats

1 Colpophyllia natans 10.75 11.71 -0.23 -0.02 -2.12 -0.02

2 Diploria strigosa 15.61 26.76 11.23 1.18 71.98 0.72

3 Montastraea sp. 22.62 16.12 -9.13 -0.96 -40.38 -0.40

4 Diploria strigosa 21.04 22.01 1.75 0.18 8.31 0.08

5 Montastraea sp. 28.56 27.47 0.99 0.10 3.45 0.03

UNK2 4.61 0.48

* The RQS # is an identifier used during planimetry analysis

(not necessarily corresponding to the station number). B-4
Appendix B

Repetitive 8 m2 Quadrat Proportional Change for Selected Coral Heads at East Flower Garden Bank

June 2005 and November 2005

RQS # * Coral Head # Species

Area of 

coral 

head in 

June 

2005 

(cm2

)

Area of 

coral head 

in 

November 

2005 (cm2

)

Change 

in Area 

(cm2

)

% 

Change 

in Area 

% 

change 

in coral 

colony 

area

Total change 

in Area 

within 

Quadrat 

(cm2

)

Total % 

change in 

Area 

within 

Quadrat

Proportional 

Change

1 Colpophyllia natans 89.49 86.65 -2.84 -0.30 -3.17 -0.03

2 Colpophyllia natans 4.11 5.06 0.95 0.10 22.99 0.23

3 Diploria strigosa 68.85 55.06 -13.78 -1.44 -20.02 -0.20

4 Montastraea sp. 62.28 76.90 14.61 1.53 23.46 0.23

1 Montastraea cavernosa 2.50 3.39 0.90 0.09 35.89 0.36

2 Montastraea cavernosa 16.90 24.07 7.16 0.75 42.38 0.42

3 Colpophyllia natans 15.51 15.24 -0.27 -0.03 -1.75 -0.02

4 Montastraea sp. 29.71 29.72 0.01 0.00 0.04 0.00

1 Montastraea sp. 13.36 14.08 0.71 0.07 5.34 0.05

2 Montastraea cavernosa 5.33 4.98 -0.35 -0.04 -6.55 -0.07

3 Montastraea sp. 25.10 29.15 4.05 0.42 16.13 0.16

4 Montastraea cavernosa 23.45 28.50 5.05 0.53 21.53 0.22

5 Montastraea sp. 23.00 26.42 3.41 0.36 14.83 0.15

1 Montastraea sp. 1.97 2.23 0.26 0.03 13.44 0.13

2 Montastraea cavernosa 0.63 1.09 0.46 0.05 72.46 0.72

3 Montastraea cavernosa 39.87 37.30 -2.58 -0.27 -6.46 -0.06

4 Montastraea sp. 13.55 16.34 2.78 0.29 20.53 0.21

5 Montastraea cavernosa 17.00 16.19 -0.81 -0.08 -4.75 -0.05

1 Colpophyllia natans 159.85 183.68 23.83 2.50 14.91 0.15

2 Montastraea cavernosa 49.02 68.44 19.42 2.03 39.62 0.40

3 Montastraea cavernosa 25.29 27.52 2.22 0.23 8.79 0.09

4 Montastraea cavernosa 43.83 29.35 -14.48 -1.52 -33.03 -0.33

1 Montastraea sp. 30.63 26.62 -4.02 -0.42 -13.12 -0.13

2 Montastraea sp. 11.30 10.10 -1.20 -0.13 -10.66 -0.11

3 Montastraea sp. 34.94 38.58 3.64 0.38 10.41 0.10

4 Montastraea sp. 22.44 22.68 0.25 0.03 1.11 0.01

5 Diploria strigosa 1.74 1.57 -0.17 -0.02 -9.58 -0.10

1 Montastraea sp. 15.48 15.72 0.24 0.03 1.56 0.02

2 Montastraea cavernosa 31.38 31.39 0.01 0.00 0.04 0.00

3 Montastraea sp. 12.74 15.60 2.86 0.30 22.44 0.22

4 Colpophyllia natans 7.09 5.79 -1.30 -0.14 -18.32 -0.18

5 Montastraea sp. 30.43 32.97 2.54 0.27 8.34 0.08

1 Montastraea cavernosa 39.48 32.72 -6.76 -0.71 -17.12 -0.17

2 Montastraea cavernosa 19.47 18.64 -0.82 -0.09 -4.23 -0.04

3 Colpophyllia natans 11.22 11.43 0.21 0.02 1.91 0.02

4 Montastraea sp. 22.78 25.74 2.96 0.31 13.01 0.13

5 Montastraea cavernosa 6.03 7.51 1.48 0.16 24.64 0.25

1 Montastraea sp. 11.11 10.62 -0.48 -0.05 -4.36 -0.04

2 Montastraea cavernosa 4.26 3.66 -0.60 -0.06 -14.18 -0.14

3 Montastraea cavernosa 42.11 41.38 -0.73 -0.08 -1.73 -0.02

4 Montastraea sp. 4.87 3.66 -1.21 -0.13 -24.82 -0.25

5 Montastraea cavernosa 10.20 13.27 3.08 0.32 30.16 0.30

1.35

UNK8 -2.92 -0.31

-1.50 -0.16

85 0.12

-0.11

82

87

UNK9

0.01

3.25

0.05 0.01

88

12.87

Deep Station Repetitive Quadrats

4.35 0.46

86 31.00

83

7.80 0.82

81 -1.07

* The RQS # is an identifier used during planimetry analysis

 (not necessarily corresponding to the station number). B-5
The Department of the Interior Mission

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