Coral reefs in the Caribbean and western Atlantic are deteriorating in response to hurricanes, coral diseases, anchor damage, sedimentation, and other stresses. USGS biologists at the Caribbean Field Station are documenting the current status of coral reefs and the effects of some of these stresses within Virgin Islands National Park (St. John), Buck Island Reef National Monument (St. Croix), and Dry Tortugas National Park (Florida). The primary objective is to detect change in benthic cover over time using a statistically rigorous protocol.

The USGS/FISC Outer Continental Shelf Ecosystem Project conducts detailed studies of the community structure, habitat association and food web structure of deep reef fishes in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico. USGS biologists work cooperatively with federal and state researchers on various aspects of life history, management and conservation of deepwater reef fishes and their essential habitat.

List of printable information sheets:
Coral Reef Ecology
The Pinnacles Project