Crown of thorns starfish, Acanthaster planci, feeding on live coral adjacent to artificial reef.

The filefish, Alutera scripta

School of Mulloidichthys samoensis (Weke) in large concrete pipe

Nested pipes, one within another, provide more secure habitat for these three species of black trigger fish, Melichthys vidua, spiny puffer, Diodon hystrix, and squirrel fish, Myripristis sp. yellow tang surgeon fish, Zebrasoma flavescens. This type of

Large school of the spiny puffer, Diodon hystrix, in the deepest part of the artificial reef at approximately 90 ft.

Large school of the spiny puffer, Diodon hystrix, in the deepest part of the artificial reef at approximately 90 ft.

Mixed school of squirrel fish, Myripristis sp. and Holocentrus sp., in crevice between two pipes.

Epiphytic algae on top surface of pipe.

Mixed school of surgeon fish, Ctenochaetus striogosus, surgeon fish, Acanthurus olivaceus, goatfish, Mulloidichthys samoensis (Weke), goatfish Parapeneus porphyreus (Kumu), yellow tang surgeon fish, Zebrasoma flavescens. This type of aggregation usually occurred on low visibility days.

Mixed school of surgeon fish, Ctenochaetus striogosus, surgeon fish, Acanthurus olivaceus, goatfish, Mulloidichthys samoensis (Weke), goatfish Parapeneus porphyreus (Kumu), yellow tang surgeon fish, Zebrasoma flavescens. This type of aggregation usually occurred on low visibility days.

Mixed school of butterfly fishes, Chaetodon miliaris, Heniochus acuminatus.

Mixed school of butterfly fishes, Chaetodon miliaris, Heniochus acuminatus.

Experiment to determine growth rates of oysters, Crassostrea virginica, under high salinity, oceanic conditions.

Large school of the surgeon fish, Naso unicornis, associated with low visibility days on the artificial reef.

The trumpet fish, Aulostomus chinensis, and big eye, Priacanthus cruentatus (Aweoweo)

Squirrel fish, Myripristis berndti (Menpachi), in typical artificial reef habitat for that species.

Ctenochaetus striogosus, surgeon fish, and damsel fish, Dascyllus albisella

Chaetodon ornatissimus, butterfly fish, on natural reef area .

Diver laying transect line for conducting fish survey.

Diver laying transect line for conducting fish survey.

Installing a 1/4 square meter grid for counting invertebrate species attaching to interior, roof of pipe. This location was a distinct habitat type ideal for larval settlement of oysters, sponges, bryozoa, and tunicates.

Diver laying transect line for conducting fish survey. This picture taken very soon after placement of artificial reef materials and very little growth of biota had occurred on pipes.

Attaching 1/4 square meter grid to pipes by rope. The method did not work and eventually a hole was drilled in the four corners of the grid area, a stainless steel screw was attached, and nylon string was strung between the four corners.

Exclusion cages were used to determine the effect of grazing on algal and invertebrate populations on the reef. The carport like extension was used to determine the effect of light reduction on pipe surfaces that were still open to grazing. Pipe surfaces in the cage had distinctly different algal and invertebrate communities than pipes open to grazing.

Installing exclusion to determine the effect of grazing on algal and invertebrate populations on the reef.

Moving pipe pieces into exclusion cages for grazing study.

Moving pipe pieces into exclusion cages for grazing study.

Small pipes were moved to the interior of larger pipes to create more complex habitats for comparative studies.

Small pipes were moved to the interior of larger pipes to create more complex habitats for comparative studies.

Small pipes were moved to the interior of larger pipes to create more complex habitats for comparative studies.

Divers preparing for dive on the artificial reef site off the Leeward Coast of Oahu close to Pokai Bay.

Collecting fish by Hawaiian style spear for determining stomach contents.

Navy divers assisting in the placement of used tires as an alternate reef material on the artificial reef site at Pokai Bay, Oahu. The tires did not stay in place because of the strong surge of the large Pacific swells at the site.

Investigating some of biota on the reef took close observations in difficult circumstances.

Secchi disc readings were used to determine turbidity at the reef site on a regular basis. The rope was marked at five foot intervals to determine at what distance the disc could no longer be seen on a horizontal axis.

Underwater tape recorders were used to record the number and size of each fish species on a set transect. A conversion table was used to convert estimated length of fish to estimated weight.

Underwater tape recorders were used to record the number and size of each fish species on a set transect. A conversion table was used to convert estimated length of fish to estimated weight.

Collecting fish by Hawaiian style spear for determining stomach contents.

Invertebrate samples were collected from pipe surfaces for identification.

Navy divers assisting in the placement of used tires as an alternate reef material on the artificial reef site at Pokai Bay, Oahu. The tires did not stay in place because of the strong surge of the large Pacific swells at the site.

Navy divers assisting in the placement of used tires as an alternate reef material on the artificial reef site at Pokai Bay, Oahu. The tires did not stay in place because of the strong surge of the large Pacific swells at the site.

Tires being placed in an array to determine their effectiveness as habitat for fish.

Tires being placed in an array to determine their effectiveness as habitat for fish.

Tires being placed in an array to determine their effectiveness as habitat for fish.

Underwater writing slates were used to record the different species adhering to the top, side and interior roof of pipes over time.

Underwater tape recorders were used to record the number and size of each fish species on a set transect. A conversion table was used to convert estimated length of fish to estimated weight.

Underwater tape recorders were used to record the number and size of each fish species on a set transect. A conversion table was used to convert estimated length of fish to estimated weight.

Underwater writing slates were used to record the different species adhering to the top, side and interior roof of pipes over time.

Underwater writing slates were used to record the different species adhering to the top, side and interior roof of pipes over time. Counting the interior surface of pipes took considerable flexibility on the part of the diver.

Straightening out one of the underwater transect lines used for counting fish. All fish ten feet to each side of the line were counted.