Skeletal cores were collected from Porites coral colonies in April 2010 (n = 4), May 2012 (n = 3), September 2012 (n = 6), November 2015 (n = 16), and May 2016 (n = 1). All cores were collected from colonies at 3-17 m depth using pneumatic or hydraulic drills with diamond drill bits. Cores collected in 2010 and 2012 were sampled from healthy colonies and were between 50 and 200 cm in length. In 2015, cores were collected from bleached Porites colonies, and were limited to 5-10 cm length in accordance with United States Fish and Wildlife Service permitting restrictions.
Core holes left in the coral colonies were filled with cement plugs, sealed with underwater epoxy, and secured flush with the existing colony surface. Visual inspections of coral colonies several years after coring demonstrated full recovery and complete tissue overgrowth of the cement plug.
Coral skeletal cores, were collected during expeditions aboard:
- NOAA ship Hi’ialakai (2–4 April 2010, 3–5 May 2012)
- Pangaea Exploration S/V Sea Dragon (13–16 September 2012)
- R/V Machias (12–15 November 2015)
Research activities and sample collection were conducted under U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Pacific Reefs National Wildlife Refuge Complex Research and Monitoring Special Use Permits:
- 12521-10001 (effective date: 15 Jan 2010; expiration date: 30 May 2010)
- 12521-12001 (effective date: 7 Feb 2012; expiration date: 31 Dec 2012)
- 12521-12005 (effective date: 29 Aug 2012; expiration date: 30 June 2014)
- 12521-14001 (effective date: 1 Jan 2015; expiration date: 31 Dec 2015)
- 12513-15001 (effective date: 11 Nov 2015; expiration date: 31 Dec 2015)
and in compliance with Presidential Proclamation 8336.
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