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Preserve the health of Saipan’s Northern Barrier Reef
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Posted on Jan 19 2005
Over the past couple of months several of CNMI’s long-term coral reef monitoring sites have been introduced, and their health discussed. Previous articles have shown that reefs in Lau Lau Bay, Obayan, and Talakhaya (Rota) are declining in health due to man’s upland activities. However, our data also show that this trend does not hold for all of CNMI’s coral reefs.
Saipan’s northern barrier reef extends approximately 11km, from the Managaha preserve all the way to Wing Beach. Data from two long-term monitoring sites show the persistence of very healthy reefs over the past four years. Barrier reef communities outside of Wing Beach and Managaha Island are dominated by coralline algae and live coral, which are both considered healthy aspects of reef development. Coralline algae is extremely beneficial for reef development for two reasons; 1) it acts like glue to hold the reef substrate together, and 2) it is required for new coral larvae to settle and grow. Without coralline algae the barrier reef would never have structurally developed over the past 5,000 years.
The coral community on both reefs consists mainly of branching, three dimensional corals. This provides shelter for many fish and invertebrates, and is visually appealing for divers. Because predominant current patterns flow from north to south around Saipan island, coral larvae produced on the northern barrier reef have the potential to re-seed reefs in the south.
The Saipan Lagoon is partially responsible for the good health of these reefs. Polluted runoff water from land washes into the lagoon and becomes diluted before ever reaching the barrier reef. Additionally, the extensive reef flat in the lagoon back-reef helps dissipate intense wave energy that may otherwise break the relatively delicate, branching corals. Thus, the coral community has changed little over the past four years despite the recent typhoons that have unfortunately affected CNMI.
Keep reading past and future articles to learn more about CNMI’s marine environment!
