Corals of the Raja Ampat Islands, Papua Province, Indonesia (Marine RAP survey)

Reef corals were surveyed at 45 sites in the Raja Ampat Islands, Papua Province, Indonesia, using rapid assessment methods, in 2001. Sites surveyed included a diverse range of habitats encompassing reefs and sediments within and around reefs. Habitats included sandy areas, walls, overhangs, slopes and shallow reef areas. Areas where few or no corals were expected to be found, such as sea grass beds and mangroves were not surveyed. Surveys were conducted using SCUBA to a maximum depth of 50m. The survey method consisted of direct underwater observation of corals, usually during a single 70 minute dive at each site. Corals were recorded on a slow ascent from the base of the reef, along a zigzag path to the shallowest part of the reef. Additional species were also recorded from outside the designated study sites.The primary group of corals surveyed were the zooxanthellate scleractinian corals. In addition, a small number of other coral taxa, which also contribute to the reef matrix were recorded. These included azooxanthellate scleractinian corals and non-scleractinian species.Corals that could not be identified in the field were photographed in situ and representative samples were collected and labelled for later identification. Specimens of Porites and Montipora were also collected for molecular studies. The aims of this survey were:1. to compile an inventory of corals on the reefs of the Raja Ampat Islands of Papua Province, Indonesia.2. to use this information to compare the faunal richness of these islands with other parts of Southeast Asia and adjoining regions. The Marine Rapid Assessment Program (RAP) is an initiative of Conservation International (CI). This survey was a component of the project "A marine rapid assessment of the Raja Ampat Islands, Papua Province, Indonesia".

2001年，研究团队采用快速评估方法，在印度尼西亚巴布亚省四王群岛（Raja Ampat Islands）的45个调查点位开展了礁体珊瑚普查。
本次调查覆盖的生境类型多样，涵盖礁体内部及周边的礁区与沉积环境，具体包括沙质区域、礁壁、悬垂结构、斜坡及浅礁区域。预计珊瑚分布稀少或无珊瑚分布的区域（如海草床、红树林）未纳入本次调查范围。
本次调查采用水肺潜水（SCUBA）开展，最大作业深度达50米。调查以水下直接观测珊瑚为核心方法，每个点位通常仅开展单次时长70分钟的潜水作业。观测过程中，研究人员从礁体基底缓慢上浮，沿之字形路径行进至礁体最浅区域，同步记录珊瑚相关信息。此外，研究人员还在指定调查点位之外记录到了额外的珊瑚物种。
本次调查的核心类群为虫黄藻共生造礁珊瑚（zooxanthellate scleractinian corals）。除此之外，研究人员还记录了少量同样参与礁体基质构建的其他珊瑚类群，包括非虫黄藻共生造礁珊瑚（azooxanthellate scleractinian corals）以及非造礁珊瑚类群（non-scleractinian species）。
对于野外无法现场鉴定的珊瑚，研究人员会在原位拍摄照片，并采集代表性样本并标注相关信息，用于后续的物种鉴定。此外，还专门采集了滨珊瑚属（Porites）与微孔珊瑚属（Montipora）的样本，用于分子生物学研究。
本次调查的目标如下：
1. 编制印度尼西亚巴布亚省四王群岛礁体珊瑚的物种名录；
2. 利用本次调查获得的数据，对比四王群岛与东南亚其他区域及邻近地区的物种丰富度差异。
海洋快速评估项目（Marine Rapid Assessment Program, RAP）是保护国际（Conservation International, CI）发起的一项专项行动。本次调查是“印度尼西亚巴布亚省四王群岛海洋快速评估”项目的组成部分。