STATION SUMMARIES
(See Appendix A for station information in tabular form, and Figure 1 for map of FFS stations)
Tern Island seawall
20 Mar 2002
N side of Tern Island, depth 0-5 rn
The seawall inspected in this survey extends along the north side of the island from about the middle
of the island to its western end. The seawall is relatively protected from wave exposure by an
offshore reef about 200-300 m north of the island. It is constructed from iron sheet piling which was
very deteriorated at the time of the survey, with gaping holes and sharp projections along its length.
Water depth along the seawall is shallow, generally less than 5 m. Offshore of the seawall, the
bottom is irregular in composition and depth, with intermittent areas of active coral growth
interspersed among fossilized reef and sandy areas.

FFS- TC-O6
23 degrees   52.5 N, 166 degrees   17.68 W ,
11 Sep 2000 ::; , 1
N foreree~ 1.5 krn N of Tern Island, depth 5- 12 rn
Spur and groove habitat with moderate current and surge. Top of spurs at 5 m depth were scoured
carbonate pavement with encrusting Porites. Some areas of dead coral matrix on spur top and
slopes. Most common macroinvertebrate was the boring urchin Echinostrephus aciculatus.
Grooves at 10 -12 m with carbonate sediments and rubble deposits shifting with surge.

FFS- TC-O7
23652.0 N, 166 degrees   18.28 W
11 Sep 2000
N forereet; 2 krn Wof Tern Island, depth 5- 10 rn
Spur and groove habitat with very little current or surge. Spurs about 5 m high and 5 m wide with
encrusting Porites lobata dominating upper exposed surfaces. Undercut spur base showed
evidence of occasional scour from intermittent surge. Groove floors at 10 m depth were about 5 m
wide. Groove channels with abundant carbonate sediments and coral rubble. Unlike the previous
station, Echinostrephus were relatively rare.

FFS- TC-O8
23 degrees   52.494 N, 166 degrees   15.032 W
12 Sep 2000
N forereet; N of Trig Island, depth 10- 17 rn
Spur and groove habitat with weak current and low surge at the time of the dive. Spurs more
massive than 

FFS- TC-02 and with moderate coral cover, mainly encrusting Porites lobata. Spur
slopes steep and groove floors with shifting carbonate sediments and rubble. Boring urchins,
especially Echinostrephus aciculatus, were numerous on the upper exposed surface of the spurs.

FFS- TC-O9
23 degrees   52.9 N, 166 degrees   15.1 W
12 Sep 2000
N forereet; N of Tern Island, depth 10- 15 rn
Spur and grove habitat with some surge. Spurs of moderate height (4 m) and width (4 m), with low
coral cover (encrusting Porites lobata) and considerable bare consolidated reef surfaces, evidence
of frequent scour. Echinostrephus aciculatus was abundant and patches of Palythoa caesia
(zoanthid) were common.

FFS- TC-10
23 degrees   52.9 N, 166 degrees   15.8
12 Sep 2000
N forereet; Wof Tern Island, near Shark Island, depth 3- 10 rn
Similar spur and groove habitat as FFS- TC- 7, but consolidated reef with relatively lower relief and
more discontinuous, separated by shallow sand/rubble grooves and patches. Surge was low at the
time if dive, but unconsolidated sediments harbored few macroinvertebrates which suggests this
area is frequently disturbed by ocean swell. Encrusting Porites lobata was the most abundant coral.

FFS- TC-11
23 degrees   47.7 N, 166 degrees   04.97 W
13 Sep 2000
E perirneterbackreet; 14 krn due E of East Island, depth 4- 6 rn
Shallow backreef habitat with heavy surge at the time of the dive. Reef is level but rugose pavement
with pockets of semi-consolidated rubble and sand deposits. Small Pocillopora rneandrina heads
were common. Large echinoderms were abundant, especially Echinornetra rnathaei.

FFS- TC-12
23 degrees   47.326 N, 166 degrees   13.198 W
13 Sep 2000
Central lagoon patch reet; 1 km W of East Island, depth 5 -15 m
Patch reef with base at 15 m, surrounded by coarse sand flats with some rubble fields and isolated
deposits. pontes lobata was the most abundant coral on some of the upward-facing surfaces. Reef
sides heavily eroded by an unusually dense population of Arca ventricosa with some Chama
iostoma, forming a virtual "bivalve reef"

FFS- TC-13
23 degrees   43.957 N, 166 degrees   10.375 W
14 Sep 2000
Central lagoon patch reet; 0.5 km W of Gin Islands, depth 3 -10 m
Isolated patch reef with base at about 10 m depth surrounded by flats of shifting coarse sediment
with some rubble deposits. Patch reef heavily eroded with abundant turf algae and blue-greens.
Top of reef with encrusting pontes compressa.

FFS- TC-14
23 degrees   44.691 N, 166 degrees   10.363 W
14 Sep 2000
Central lagoon reet; 1 km NW of Gin Islands, depth 0 -6 m
Emergent linear reef subjected to breaking waves and surge from swells from the NW, top of which
was domed with a coralline algae veneer. Upper surfaces of the patch reef slope with encrusting
pontes lobata. Reef sides and base heavily eroded by dense populations of Arca ventricosa. Reef
surrounded by sand/rubble fields and other small eroded reef mounds.

FFS- TC-15
23 degrees   46.107 N, 166 degrees   15.689 W
14 Sep 2000 .
Centrallagoon, W side of La Perouse Pinnacle, depth 3 -7 m
Caved-pocked vertical slope of basalt pinnacle with adjacent coral mounds and sand/rubble
channels and patches. Coral mounds dominated by pontes lobata and pontes sp. Some large
table coral (Acropora sp.) were present.

FFS- TC-16
23 degrees   38.265 N, 166 degrees   10.768 W
15 Sep 2000
S perimeter forereet; 1 km S of Disappearing Island, depth 12 -18 m
Sloping forereef terrace with moderate relief of mounds, short ledges, shallow grooves and holes
with some sand and rubble deposits. Dominant corals were pontes lobata and Pocillopora spp.

FFS- TC-17
23 degrees   38.894' N, 166 degrees   09.311' W
15 Sep 2000
S perimeter backreet; 2 km E of Disappearing Island, depth 3 -7 m
Shallow backreef site with heavy surge at the time of the dive. Scoured pavement with shallow
depressions with overlaying coarse sand and some rubble. Some Pocillopora spp. colonies were
present.

FFS-R-14
23 degrees   38.984' N, 166 degrees   10.592 W
23 Sep 2000
S perimeter backreet; 1 km NW of Disappearing Island, depth 11 -13 m
Eroded, level consolidated backreef flat with evenly distributed shallow depressions filled with
coarse sand and loose rubble transected by shallow sand channels running perpendicular to outer
reef crest. Encrusting Porites lobata and small Pocil/opora and Acropora heads present.

FFS-R-15
23 degrees   38.530' N, 166 degrees   10.427' W
23 Sep 2000
S perimeter forereet; 0.5 km S of Disappearing Island, depth 2 -7 m
Shallow forereef flat with substrate predominantly unconsolidated and poorly sorted reef rubble
deposits mixed with carbonate sediments. Small patches and mounds of uneven consolidated
substrate harbored the sparse coral at this site, predominantly Pocil/opora meandrina. A strong
current from east and surge from the south were present at the time of dive and suspended
sediments were present in the water column. Many larger corals were broken or overtumed
suggesting recent or chronic disturbance from large waves striking the reef from the south.

FFS-R-16
23 degrees   38.109' N, 166 degrees   05.998' W
24 Sep 2000
SE perimeter forereet; 8 km E of Disappearing Island, depth 10 -15 m
Forereef terrace of rutted consolidated carbonate pavement with overlaying thin veneer of coarse
sand and loose coral rubble. Exposed to ocean swell from the south, this site showed evidence of
chronic disturbance and scour by unconsolidated sediments. Coral cover was low and rock boring
urchins were very abundant.

FFS-R-17
23 degrees   38.738' N, 166 degrees   10.468' W
23 Sep 2000 -
S perimeter backreet; 0.5 km W of Disappearing Island, depth 2 -7 m
Shallow reef passage and backreef pool with large heads of Porites lobata surrounded by deep
rippled sand bottom. Site appeared to be protected from impact of chronic ocean swell and recent
storms. Coral cover was high on reef mounds and two rare table corals, Acropora valida and A.
cytherea were present.

FFS-R-18
23 degrees   43.744' N, 166 degrees   03.268' W
24 Sep 2000
E perimeter forereet; 12 km E of Gin Islands, depth 5 -10 m
Shallow gently seward-sloping forereef terrace, just N of a shallow reef pass. Pavement with
coralline algae and thin sand veneer surface pocked with holes and depressions with undercut
ledges forming complex microhabitat structure for macroinvertebrates. Reef holes with coarse sand
floors. Encrusting Porites lobata and Pocil/opora spp. were the most abundant corals.

FFS-R-19
23 degrees   37.963' N, 166 degrees   07.465' W
24 Sep 2000
SE perimeter backreet; 5 km E of Disappearing Island, depth 6 -9 m
Shallow backreef flat near a shallow reef pass with strong seaward-flowing current. Level
consolidated bottom was jagged and pocked with evenly distributed shallow depressions with coarse
sand and loose rubble. A few isolated Pontes lobata heads and Acropora tables were present, but
overall coral cover was low. Macro-coralline and fleshy algae were abundant. A large floating
dislodged FAD buoy held in place by a section of heavy chain was present at this site.

FFS-R-20
23 degrees   50.036' N, 166 degrees   06.948' W
24 Sep 2000
E perimeter forereet; 12 km NE of East Island, depth 15 -20 m
Gently sloping forereef consolidated carbonate terrace with short blind channels (3- 4 m deep) and
holes with sand and rubble floors. Reef surface with sand and turf veneer with some encrusting
Pontes lobata and scattered Pocillopora spp. heads present.

FFS-R-21
23 degrees   42.937' N, 166 degrees   03.452' W
24 Sep 2000
Eperimeterforereet; 12 km E of Gin Islands, depth 7- 10 m
Gently sloping rutted consolidated forereef bench with holes and crevices with rubble and sand
deposits. Small crevices and holes served as refugia for corals and macroalgae. The tops of
mounds and rises also seemed to concentrate corals. Small young stubs buds of table coral
(Acropora cytherea) were observed, evidence of recovery from a previous episode of storm or wave
damage. Scattered Pocil/opora spp. were common, but overall coral cover was below 10%.

FFS-R-22
23 degrees  52.121' N, 166 degrees   18.412' W
25 Sep 2000
N perimeter forereet; 2 km W of Tern Island, depth 10- 15 m
Gently sloping rutted consolidated forereef bench with holes and crevices with rubble and sand
deposits. Similar features as FFS-R-21. Encrusting Pontes lobata was most abundant coral.

FFS-R-23 -
23 degrees   49.845' N, 166 degrees   06.740' W
24 Sep 2000
E perimeter forereet; 5 km E of Whale-Skate Islands, depth 11 -18 m
Gently sloping forereef bench above steeper forereef slope. Irregular consolidated substrate with
holes, short channels, overhangs, small caves, and ledges. Channels with sand-rubble floors and
undercut sides. More vertical relief than Station 21, but similar benthic community. Surface of hard
substrate with turf and sand veneer, few macroalgae. Rock boring urchins were very abundant.

FFS-R-24
23 degrees   51.680' N, 166 degrees   17.979' W
25 Sep 2000
N perimeter backreef, 1.5 km SW of Tern Island, depth 8- 12 m
Shallow backreef flat adjacent to a shallow reef pass. Reef surface with a thin sand veneer. Habitat
moderately complex with potholes and channels with short overhangs. Coarse sand and rubble
deposits in holes and channels. Encrusting Pontes lobata common.

FFS-R-25
23 degrees   51.614' N, 166 degrees   19.523' W
25 Sep 2000
NW perimeter forereet; 1 km N of Shark Island, depth 6 -12 m
Forereef slope with massive spurs (5 m high and wide) and wide channels (5 m wide) with shifting
sandy floors. Spur upper surfaces with extensive pontes lobata crust. Spur sides steep with deeply
undercut ledges. Surge from NW swells were breaking off the west end of the reef, and there was
evidence of severe scour on the bottom.

FFS-R-26
23 degrees   49.292' N, 166 degrees   14.924 W
25 Sep 2000
N lagoon pinnacle, 6 km S of Trig Island, depth 3 -8 m
Lagoon pinnacle reef surrounded by sand and rubble flat. Pinnacle reef sides steep with an
undercut base forming a short overhanging ledge and some small shallow caves. Reef sides
dominated by two large bivalves, Arca ventricosa and Spondylus spp., forming a virtual bivalve reef.

FFS-R-27
23 degrees   50.907' N, 166 degrees   17.215' W
25 Sep 2000
N central lagoon pinnacle, 2 km S of Tem Island, depth 2 -9 m
Lagoon pinnacle reef complex with mosaic of peaks, mounds, flat surfaces, shallow caves, and
overhangs exhibiting high habitat complexity and vertical relief. Top of pinnacle exposed to ocean
swell and dominated by coralline algae. Steeply sloping middle-depth regions of pinnacle dominated
by Porites lobata and Pocil/opora meandrina. Base of pinnacles undercut and scoured. Shifting
sand patches and channels within and surrounding reef complex.

FFS-R-28
23 degrees   46.057' N, 166 degrees   15.882' W
26 Sep 2000
W central lagoon, S side of La Perouse Pinnacle, depth 15 -20 m
Reef terrace adjacent to basalt pinnacle with deep sand channels and rounded buttresses or spurs
with steep sides and undercut bases forming short overhanging ledges. Mounds of Porites lobata
and Acropora spp. tables were the dominant corals.

FFS-R-29
23 degrees   50.214' N, 166 degrees   15.961'W
25 Sep 2000
N central lagoon pinnacle, 4 km SE of Tern Island, depth 4 -10 m
Lagoon pinnacle with uneven consolidated substrate forming mounds with many holes, crevices,
shallowoverhangs, and short channels. Top of pinnacle dominated by hearty corals and coralline
algae, at mid-depth pinnacle dominated by Porites lobata sheets and heads, and base of pinnacle
dominated by Porites compressa fingers. Lagoon floor surrounding pinnacle is coarse sand, coral
rubble and empty bivalve shells of Arca and Trachycardium. Pinnacle base undercut and Arca
ventricosa very abundant on vertical and shaded surfaces.

FFS-R-30
23 degrees   46.380' N, 166 degrees   11.938' W
26 Sep 2000
Central lagoon pinnacle, 2 km SE of East Island, depth 4- 12 m
Lagoon pinnacle with shallow top influenced by ocean swell and dominated by coralline algae.
Porites lobata is most abundant coral on pinnacle sides, and Porites compressa abundant near
base. Like previously surveyed lagoon pinnacles at FFS, the lower portions and undercut base of
the pinnacle was dominated by very dense populations of the bivalves Arca ventricosa and
Spondylus spp. The pinnacle is surrounded by an expanse of poorly sorted sand and coral rubble.
-

FFS-R-31
23 degrees   46.280' N, 166 degrees   15.737' W
26 Sep 2000
Wcentrallagoon, N side of La Perouse Pinnacle, depth 10- 15 m
Reef terrace adjacent to basalt pinnacle sloping from 10 to 15 m where and expansive sand flat
extended indefinitely to the west. Coral abundance and diversity were spectacular on the reef slope
with dozens of large table corals (Acropora spp.), and massive heads and sheets of lobe and finger
coral (Porites spp.) and branching Pocillopora spp. corals. Live coral cover averaged 80% on the
reef. Deep sand channels cut the reef parallel to reef-sand interface. Arca ventricosa was common
on vertical and shaded reef surfaces along deep sand channels.

FFS-R-32
23 degrees   45.844' N, 166 degrees   10.143' W
26 Sep 2000
Central lagoon reef; 5 km SE of East Islands, depth 5 -8 m
Isolated linear reef with high habitat complexity surrounded by extensive deep sand-rubble-shell
flats. Again the vertical surfaces of reef sides and the undercut base with a very dense populations
of Arca vetricosa and Spondylus spp.

FFS-R-33
23 degrees   46.519' N, 166 degrees   12.343' W
26 Sep 2000
Central lagoon patch ree~ 2 km S of East Island, depth 2- 10 m
Lagoon patch reef with domed top of coralline algal pavement subjected to breaking waves and
surge from swells traversing the lagoon from the NW. The upper slopes of the patch reef to depths
of 5m were vertical dominated by Porites lobata with numerous overhangs and caves. The base of
patch reef was undercut and again dominated by a dense population of large bivalves Arca and
Spondylus. The reef was surrounded by an extensive sand-rubble-shell field. Halimeda was very
abundant around the base of reef and extending out onto the rubble flat.

FFS-R-34
23 degrees   39.654' N, 166 degrees   15.066' W
27 Sep 2000
SWend of perimeter reef, SWlagoon, 12 km S of La Perouse Pinnacle, depth 14- 16 m
Isolated low-profile lagoon reef transected by sand channels, skirted by Porites compressa rubble,
and surrounded by extensive sand flats. Patches of Porites compressa and Acropora spp. tables
made up most of the structure of this reef.

FFS-R-35
23 degrees   47.322' N, 166 degrees   10.886' W
26 Sep 2000
E central lagoon patch ree~ 3 km E of East Island, depth 1 -7 m
Lagoon linear reef, with contorted pinnacles and projections of eroded consolidated substrate. Near
surface coralline algae abundant. Reef surfaces uneven, pocked with holes and channels from rock
boring urchins, but live urchins apparently no longer abundant. Coral cover low, mainly Porites
lobata and some Pocillopora damicomis, reef surface mostly covered with brown encrusting algae
Lobophora. Halimeda abundant on some shaded surfaces and in sandy patches. Base of reef with
vertical or undercut surfaces dominated by Arca ventricosa. Reef surrounded by expansive coral
rubble flat with numerous empty bivalve shells, mainly Arca and Trachycaro'ium. Water clarity was
reduced from suspension of fine particulate carbonates.

FFS-R-36
23 degrees   39.554' N, 166 degrees   12.481' W
27 Sep 2000
S lagoon reef; 4 km WNWof Disappearing Island, depth 10- 13 m
Same habitat as R-34. Isolated low-profile lagoon reef transected by sand channels, skirted by
Pontes compressa rubble, and surrounded by extensive sand flats. Patches of Pontes compress
and Acropora spp. tables made up most of the structure of this reef.

FFS-R-37
23 degrees   39.166' N, 166 degrees   13.2251 W
27 Sep 2000
SWend of perimeter reef; SW lagoon, 6 km W of Disappearing Island, depth 10 -14 m
Similar to R-34 & R-36. Lagoon reef in a series of low coral mounds and platforms, raised about
2 m above the surrounding broad expanses of rippled sand deposits. Visibility was exceptional
(50+ m) at the time of the dive despite periodic swells traversing the site, stirring up sand on the
bottom and bathing the coral formations in billowing clouds of suspended coarse sediments whict
would settle out for several minutes before the next set of large swells would approach from the f\
Coral coverage was high (- 75%), dominated by Pontes spp., Pocillopora meandrina, and some
table Acropora sp., with little noticeable evidence of sediment stress.

FFS-R-38
23 degrees   40.4721 N, 166 degrees   09.959' W
27 Sep 2000
S central lagoon reef; 6 km S of Gin Islands, depth 3 -7 m
Lagoon linear reef with high microhabitat complexity. Top of reef near surface and dominated by
coralline algae veneer. West side of reef sloping steeply with some vertical surfaces, overhangs,
and small caves. Base of reef undercut with vertical surfaces dominated again by bivalves Arca c
Spondylus. Reef surrounded by expanse of poorly sorted sand-rubble-shell deposits. Dominant
coral was Pontes lobata.

FFS-R-39
23 degrees   42.556' N, 166 degrees   12.148' W
27 Sep 2000
S central lagoon patch reef; 8 km S of East Island, depth 2 -20 m
Large isolated patch reef in the central south lagoon where the lagoon floor averages 10 or more
fathoms in depth. Large NW swells would break on its crest, which was dominated by pavement-Ii
crustose coralline algae. At the time of the dive, water visibility was poor (3-4 m) and a strong 2 kn
current was setting from the east. The sides of the reef were steep and dominated by Pontes
lobata. The base of reef, with nearly vertical sides, was dominated by dense populations of Arca
and Spondylus. Pontes compressa and Halimeda were also abundant. The lagoon bottom was a!
expanse of sand and rubble deposits surrounding the reef in all directions.

FFS-R-41
23 degrees   41.481'N, 166 degrees   09.575' W
27 Sep 2000
SE lagoon linear reef; 4 km S of Gin Islands, depth 1 -7 m
Linear segment of a long reticular reef unit stretching along a north-south access in the SE lagoon
with waves breaking on the crest and strong currents passing around both ends of the reef at the
time of the dive. Visibility was low. The crest of the reef was dominated by coralline algae and the
steep sides by dead and living Pontes lobata. The floor of the lagoon around the reef was
dominated by semi-consolidated accumulations of rubble.

