Corals of Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea (Marine RAP survey II)

In 2000, coral diversity at 57 sites in Milne Bay Province was assessed during the Marine RAP survey. This was the second Marine RAP survey to be conducted in Milne Bay Province and focused on sites not previously visited in the 1997 survey. The list of sites includes 16 sites on the mainland in the Milne Bay area, 5 sites in the D'Entrecasteaux Islands, 7 sites in the Amphlett Island Group, 26 sites in the Louisiade/ Conflict Islands and 3 sites in the vicinity of the Engineer Group and Basilaki-Sideia islands.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. 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. 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 include zooxanthellate non-scleractinian corals (Heliopora, Tubipora and Millepora), azooxanthellate scleractinian corals (Tubastrea, Dendrophyllia and Rhizopsammia) and azooxanthellate non-scleractinian corals (Distichopora and Stylaster).Corals that could not be identified in the field were photographed in situ and representative samples were collected and labelled for later identification.
The aim of this component of the survey was to compile an inventory of corals on the reefs of Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea.
The Marine Rapid Assessment Program (RAP) is an initiative of Conservation International (CI). Surveys were carried out in collaboration with the Milne Bay Provincial Government.

2000年，研究人员在米尔恩湾省（Milne Bay Province）开展了海洋快速评估项目（Marine Rapid Assessment Program，RAP）调查，以评估该区域57个位点的珊瑚多样性。本次调查为米尔恩湾省第二次海洋RAP调查，重点覆盖1997年首次调查未涉足的位点。本次调查共涵盖57个位点，其中米尔恩湾本土区域16个、当特尔卡斯托群岛5个、安弗莱特群岛7个、路易西亚德/冲突群岛26个，以及恩金尼尔群岛与巴萨拉基-西代亚群岛周边区域3个。

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物环境，具体包括沙质区域、礁壁、悬垂结构、斜坡及浅礁区域。

调查采用直接水下观测法，通常在每个位点开展单次70分钟的潜水作业。调查人员沿礁体从深至浅，以锯齿形路径缓慢上浮，在此过程中记录珊瑚种类。本次调查的核心类群为虫黄藻共生型石珊瑚（zooxanthellate scleractinian corals），同时也记录了少量参与礁体构建的其他珊瑚类群：包括非石珊瑚类的虫黄藻共生型珊瑚（如苍珊瑚属Heliopora、笙珊瑚属Tubipora与千孔珊瑚属Millepora）、非共生型石珊瑚（如筒星珊瑚属Tubastrea、树珊瑚属Dendrophyllia与根珊瑚属Rhizopsammia），以及非石珊瑚类的非共生型珊瑚（如丛柳珊瑚属Distichopora与柱星珊瑚属Stylaster）。

对于野外无法识别的珊瑚，调查人员会原位拍摄照片，并采集代表性样本进行标记，用于后续物种鉴定。

本次调查子项目的目标是编制巴布亚新几内亚米尔恩湾省礁体珊瑚物种名录。

海洋快速评估项目（RAP）是保护国际（Conservation International，CI）发起的专项计划，本次调查由米尔恩湾省政府协作开展。