US Migrating
type: Agent

Digital Data
type: Distribution
access URL: https://doi.org/10.5066/P95PE2S5
media type: application/http
description: Landing page for access to the data
format: XML
issued: 2022-07-28T21:15:07.264557
modified: 2025-11-20T01:45:39.665694

Original Metadata
type: Distribution
access URL: https://data.usgs.gov/datacatalog/metadata/USGS.5ac628bde4b0e2c2dd0e2784.xml
media type: text/xml
description: The metadata original format
format: XML
issued: 2022-07-28T21:15:07.264550
modified: 2025-11-20T01:45:39.665270

Corallimorph Invasion Palmyra: Data
type: Dataset
contact point: Organization
  fn: Thierry Work
keyword: coral-reefs
keyword: environment
keyword: north-america
keyword: biota
keyword: invasion-dynamics
keyword: amerigeoss
keyword: ecosystem-management
keyword: geoss
keyword: united-states
keyword: usgs-5ac628bde4b0e2c2dd0e2784
keyword: fishery-management
keyword: geo
keyword: control
keyword: amerigeo
keyword: biological-population-management
keyword: natural-resource-management
keyword: national
keyword: corralimorpharian
keyword: phase-shifts
keyword: ckan
keyword: health
theme: {geospatial}
description: In 2007, a phase shift from corals to corallimorpharians (CM) was documented at Palmyra Atoll, Line Islands, centered around a shipwreck. Subsequent surveys revealed CM to be overgrowing the reef benthos, including corals and coralline algae, potentially placing coral ecosystems in the atoll at risk. This prompted the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the lead management agency of the atoll, to remove the shipwreck. Subsequent surveys showed reversal of spread of CM around the ship impact site. We explain patterns of spread of the CM in terms of life history and local currents and show with a pilot study that pulverized bleach may be an effective tool to eradicate CM on a local scale. If applied strategically, particularly in heavily infested (>66% cover) areas, active intervention such as this could be an effective management tool to reduce CM impact on localized areas and decrease colonization rate of remaining reefs. This is the first documentation of the response of an invasive cnidarian to shipwreck removal. While this was a singular event in Palmyra, the spatial and temporal patterns of this invasion, as well as the eradications lessons described herein, are useful for anticipating and controlling similar situations elsewhere.
issued: 2025-11-20T01:45:39.676785
modified: 20201002
spatial: Location