Species Richness of Coral
Prior to surveys undertaken in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands by CRED and its partners in 2000, only 20 species of scleractinian (reef-building) corals had been documented in the NWHI, in contrast to 48 species known from the main Hawaiian Islands (MHI). Following surveys conducted in 2000 and 2001, 52 species were documented from the NWHI, of which 3 to 5 were new species, yet to be described taxonomically and by definition endemic to Hawaii. Of these 52 species, 12 are not known to occur in the MHI. During surveys conducted in 2002, several possible new records and/or new species were documented, the taxonomic analyses for which have yet to be conducted.
Similarly, surveys undertaken in the U.S. Line & Phoenix Islands by CRED and its partners in 2000, 2001, and 2002 have led to significant increases in coral species richness previously known from these regions (Table 1).
Table 1. Number of coral species recorded in the U.S. Line and Phoenix Islands following CRED-initiated surveys in three successive years.
| AREA | YEAR | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | |
| Baker | 59 | 77 | 80 |
| Howland | 53 | 85 | 91 |
| Jarvis | 32 | 44 | 49 |
| Palmyra | 109 | 156 | 170 |
| Kingman | 102 | 142 | 155 |
Surveys undertaken by CRED and its partners in American Samoa in 2002 added to the coral species lists previously tallied for Tutuila/Manu’a Group and Rose Atoll (255 and 103, respectively). Surveys that included the initiation of a coral species’ list at Swain’s Island were conducted for the first time in 2002, establishing a base list of 40 species.
