Island-hopping Coral Larvae in Hawaii
Science Center Objects
Information about the USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center's 2003 study on island-hopping coral larvae in Hawaii.
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Date published: January 20, 2021Status: ActiveCoral Reef Project
Explore the fascinating undersea world of coral reefs. Learn how we map, monitor, and model coral reefs so we can better understand, protect, and preserve our Nation's reefs.
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Date published: January 1, 2005Status: CompletedMud Damages Hawaiian Coral Reefs
Information about the USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center's research from 2000-2004, on how mud damages hawaiian coral reefs.
Contacts: Curt Storlazzi, PhD
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Year Published: 2004Application of GPS drifters to track Hawaiian coral spawning
Hatcher, Gerald A.; Reiss, Thomas E.; Storlazzi, Curt D.View CitationApplication of GPS drifters to track Hawaiian coral spawning; 2004; OFR; 2004-1309; Hatcher, Gerald A.; Reiss, Thomas E.; Storlazzi, Curt D.
Modeling fine-scale coral larval dispersal and interisland connectivity to help designate mutually-supporting coral reef marine protected areas: Insights from Maui Nui, Hawaii
Connectivity among individual marine protected areas (MPAs) is one of the most important considerations in the design of integrated MPA networks. To provide such information for managers in Hawaii, USA, a numerical circulation model was developed to determine the role of ocean currents in transporting coral larvae from natal reefs throughout the...
Storlazzi, Curt D.; van Ormondt, Maarten; Chen, Yi-Leng; Elias, Edwin P. L. Winds, Waves, Tides, and the Resulting Flow Patterns and Fluxes of Water, Sediment, and Coral Larvae off West Maui, Hawaii
A series of recent studies has focused on the flow patterns and particle fluxes along the coast of West Maui, Hawaii, USA, from Honolua south to Puumana. From those studies a relatively good understanding has emerged of the physical processes that influence the relative amount of suspended sediment in nearshore waters and the circulation patterns...
Storlazzi, Curt D.; Field, Michael E. The application of acoustic Doppler current profilers to measure the timing and patterns of coral larval dispersal
An experiment was conducted along the reefs off west Maui, Hawaii, during the summer of 2003 to monitor the spawning of the reef-building coral Montipora capitata and to determine the role of ocean currents in dispersing the larvae from the natal reef. Instruments documented the environmental forcing during the coral spawning season;...
Storlazzi, Curt D.; Brown, E.K.; Field, Michael E. Coastal circulation and sediment dynamics along West Maui, Hawaii; PART IV: measurements of waves, currents, temperature, salinity and turbidity in Honolua Bay, Northwest Maui: 2003-2004
High-resolution measurements of waves, currents, water levels, temperature, salinity and turbidity were made in Honolua Bay, northwest Maui, Hawaii, during 2003 and 2004 to better understand coastal dynamics in coral reef habitats. Measurements were acquired through two different collection methods. Two hydrographic survey cruises were conducted...
Storlazzi, Curt D.; Presto, M. Kathy Coastal circulation and sediment dynamics along West Maui, Hawaii; Part III - Flow and particulate dynamics during the 2003 summer coral spawning season
Storlazzi, Curt D.; Field, Michael E.; Ogston, Andrea S.; Logan, Joshua B.; Presto, M. Kathy; Gonzales, Dave G. Coastal circulation and sediment dynamics along West Maui, Hawaii; Part I, Long-term measurements of currents, temperature, salinity and turbidity off Kahana, West Maui; 2001-2003
Storlazzi, Curt D.; Jaffe, Bruce E. Coastal Circulation and Sediment Dynamics along West Maui, Hawaii: PART II--2003 Hydrographic Survey Cruises A-3-03-HW and A-4-03-HW Report on the spatial structure of currents, temperature, salinity and turbidity along Western Maui
Storlazzi, Curt D.; Logan, Joshua B.; McManus, Margaret A.; McLaughlin, Brian E.
U.S. coral reefs; imperiled national treasures
Coral reefs are home to 25% of all marine species. However, the tiny colonial animals that build these intricate limestone masses are dying at alarming rates. If this trend continues, in 20 years the living corals on many of the world's reefs will be dead and the ecosystems that depend on them severely damaged. As part of the effort to protect our...
Field, M.E.; Cochran, S.A.; Evans, K.R.
Island-hopping Coral Larvae in Hawaii
Large-scale poster describing USGS work.
Scientists from the USGS, the University of Hawaii (UH), and Maui tracked the movements of reef-building coral larvae near Maui, Hawaii. We built and used “drifters”—floating instruments with radios and GPS receivers that drift in the currents with the coral larvae. We released the drifters when the corals released their
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