CRED Rapid Ecological Assessment of Invertebrate in the Pacific Ocean 2002-2008

Rainforest ecosystems are viewed from the perspective of the canopy components but are made up of a wealth of less charismatic fauna that contribute greatly to the biodiversity. In the case of coral reefs this is also true; the cryptic sponge, mollusk, echinoderm, crustacea, annelid, bryozoan, and tunicate fauna are an integral component to the overall biodiversity. The Coral Reef Ecosystem Investigation (CRED) program of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration-National Marine Fisheries Service, Honolulu Laboratory includes a marine invertebrate component as part of its rapid ecological assessment (REA) activities in the tropical Pacific.

The marine invertebrate component is done in conjunction with surveys of fish, corals, and macroalgae to create a complete benthic survey of coral reef areas that are included in the scope of the program. SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION Data was published on the OBIS-USA web site March 31, 2010 and is available at usgs.gov/obis-usa. Record Count 64,435, Taxa Count 444 Please see the CRED homepage for additional information at pifsc.noaa.gov/cred/index.php