Using a citizen science program to monitor coral reef biodiversity through space and time
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Published source details
Branchini S., Pensa F., Neri P., Tonucci B.M., Mattielli L., Collavo A., Sillingardi M.E., Piccinetti C., Zaccanti F. & Goffredo S. (2015) Using a citizen science program to monitor coral reef biodiversity through space and time. Biodiversity and Conservation, 24, 319-336.
Published source details Branchini S., Pensa F., Neri P., Tonucci B.M., Mattielli L., Collavo A., Sillingardi M.E., Piccinetti C., Zaccanti F. & Goffredo S. (2015) Using a citizen science program to monitor coral reef biodiversity through space and time. Biodiversity and Conservation, 24, 319-336.
Actions
This study is summarised as evidence for the following.
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Designate a Marine Protected Area and prohibit/limit recreational activities (including anchoring) Action Link |
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Designate a Marine Protected Area and prohibit some fishing and collection (including where restrictions are unspecified) Action Link |
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Designate a Marine Protected Area and prohibit/limit recreational activities (including anchoring)
A replicated, site comparison study in 2007–2010 in five coral reef sites in the Red Sea off Egypt (Branchini et al. 2015) found that in protected areas that introduced mooring buoys for dive boats and also prohibited some fishing and collection, a biodiversity index (which included corals) was higher in two of three protected areas compared to one of two unprotected areas. There was no difference between sites in other comparisons (data reported as statistical model results). For fire corals Millepora sp., frequency of sightings increased over time in one of three protected areas (2007: 85% of surveys, 2010: 90%), but did not increase in the two unprotected areas. Other coral species did not show trends over time (data reported as statistical model results). Three protected areas in Sharm el-Sheikh where commercial and sport fishing were prohibited and two unprotected areas were selected. In 2007–2010, over 7,000 volunteer divers carried out surveys at 100 locations across the five sites (17,900 surveys, 14,500 hours of survey time). Divers completed a questionnaire where they recorded species that they had seen (14 named coral species and option to report other corals) and estimated the number of individuals. Volunteer surveys were validated against surveys carried out by experts.
(Summarised by: William Morgan)
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Designate a Marine Protected Area and prohibit some fishing and collection (including where restrictions are unspecified)
A replicated, site comparison study in 2007–2010 in five coral reef sites in the Red Sea off Egypt (Branchini et al. 2015) found that in protected areas that prohibited some fishing and collection and also introduced mooring buoys for dive boats, a biodiversity index (which included corals) was higher in two of three protected areas compared to one of two unprotected areas. There was no difference between sites in other comparisons (data reported as statistical model results). For fire corals Millepora sp., frequency of sightings increased over time in one protected area (2007: 85% of surveys, 2010: 90%). Other coral species did not show trends over time (data reported as statistical model results). Three protected areas in Sharm el-Sheikh where commercial and sport fishing were prohibited and two unprotected areas were selected. In 2007–2010, over 7,000 volunteer divers carried out surveys at 100 locations across the five sites (17,900 surveys, 14,500 hours of survey time). Divers completed a questionnaire where they recorded species that they had seen (14 named coral species and option to report other corals) and estimated the number of individuals. Volunteer surveys were validated against surveys carried out by experts.
(Summarised by: William Morgan)
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