| Summary | density per trophic group is used as a proxy for ecosystem health. The reefs in the NWHI are among the few remaining large-scale, intact, predator-dominated reef ecosystems left in the world, with 54% of the total fish biomass in the NWHI consisting of apex predators (Friedlander & DeMartini 2002) |
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| Project | SESMAD |
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| Subtype | Natural Resource System |
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| Sector | Marine protected areas |
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| Commons Boundaries | Somewhat unclear boundaries (2) |
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| Explanation | Some species are habitat-associated species and tend to mirror patterns in habitat cover. However, the resource is mobile horizontally and vertically and often crosses administrative boundaries (e.g., zoning) so is considered to have somewhat unclear boundaries. |
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| Environmental Medium | Oceanic |
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| Explanation | Oceanic |
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| Inter Annual Predictability | Moderate (2) |
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| Explanation | |
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| Intra Annual Predictability | Moderate (2) |
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| Explanation | |
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| Commons Renewability | Renewable (1) |
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| Explanation | Some high trophic species are slow to reproduce |
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| Productivity | Moderately Productive (2) |
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| Explanation | Most fish species would be moderate to highly productive. However, some can be very slow growing taking years to mature and reproduce hence the evaluation here that the resource is moderately productive. |
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| Commons Accessibility | Somewhat accessible (2) |
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| Explanation | By boat and plane only, with permission. |
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| Commons Heterogeneity | Moderate (2) |
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| Explanation | |
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| Commons Spatial Extent | 362601 |
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| Explanation | area of NWHI |
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| Technical Substitute | No |
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| Explanation | There is no technical substitute or manmade technology that can take the place of the different trophic densities within the NWHI. |
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