The Ecological Monitoring Program (Indo-Pacific Version) is a course designed to provide divers in-depth knowledge on coral reef ecology and teach the skills necessary to perform scientific monitoring surveys. This manual includes everything you need to know about coral reef organisms, the ways in which they interact, and their importance to the ecosystem as a whole. The information included is relevant to reefs all over the globe, but takes a special focus on the reefs the Indo-Pacific, containing up to date information on their health and status. the third edition provides interesting reading for any diver, and essential for all dive leaders working in coral reefs.

Topics covered in this 3rd Edition include:

•   Coral Reef Ecology and Coral Anatomy
•   Reef Invertebrate Identification and Assessments
•   Coral Reef Fish ID and Monitoring
•   Coral Identification and Health Assessments
•   Coral Taxonomy
•   Coral Diseases
•   Advanced Reef Monitoring Techniques
•   And much more.

Ecological Monitoring Program (EMP) Description

Prerequisites

Course Outline

Certification Options

Safety Notes For Scientific Diving

Chapter 1: Introduction to Coral Reef Ecology

The Value of Coral Reefs

Symbiosis and Interactions of reef organisms

Coral Anatomy

Requirements for a Healthy Reef

Threats to Coral Reef Health

Chapter 2: Collecting Data Along a Transect Line

Using Indicator Species

Transect Lines

Conducting the Invertebrate survey

Conducting the Fish Survey

Conducting the Substrate Survey

Estimating Visibility using a secchi disk

Chapter 3: Invertebrate Indicator Species

Introduction to Invertebrates

Invertebrate Indicator Species

Chapter 4: Fish Indicator Species

Fish Survey Indicator Species

Chapter 5: The Substrate Survey

Substrate types and Codes - Non-Living

Substrate Types and Codes - Living

Hard Coral Growth Forms

Coral health

Review of the EMP Substrate Codes

Chapter 6 - EMP Dive Planning

Required Equipment

Pre-Dive Planning

Ecological Monitoring Program Manual 3

The EMP Dive Procedure for 4 divers

Chapter 7: Coral Taxonomy

Introduction to coral families and Genera

How to identify coral genera

Identifying corals for the EMP survey

Common Coral Genera

Chapter 8: Surveying for Coral Diseases

Coral disease basics and terminology

Identifying problems with coral health

Coral Diseases of the Indo-Pacific

Chapter 9: Specialized reef survey Methods

Photographic Surveys

Quadrant Surveys

Benthic Surveys in Non-Reef Areas

Coral size-class, recruitment, and fragment survey

The Compromised Coral Health Survey (Disease Survey)

Mass Coral Bleaching Surveys

Advanced Fish Surveys

Chapter 10: Setting up a permanent transect line

Finding the transect starting points (point A) on existing lines

Setting up a new line

Mapping your new site

Appendix A - Fish and Invertebrate Example Slate Set-up

Appendix B - Substrates Example Slate Set-up

Appendix C - Substrate Cheat Sheet

Appendix D - List of Coral Genera (for Advanced EMP Surveyors)

Appendix E - Example Compromised Coral Health Survey Form

Appendix F - Coral Bleaaching Example Survey Slate

Appendix G - Dangerous Marine Animals of the Indo-Pacific

Glossary

List of Figures and Photo Credit

References and works cited