Dataset: LTR - Physical Characteristics
Deployment: Osenberg_et_al_Moorea

Long Term Reef Physical Characteristics

Principal Investigator:

Craig Osenberg (University of Georgia, UGA)

Co-Principal Investigator:

Thomas Frazer (University of Florida, UF)

International Collaborator:

Jeffrey Shima (Victoria University of Wellington)

Contact:

Craig Osenberg (University of Georgia, UGA)

BCO-DMO Data Manager:

Stephen R. Gegg (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, WHOI BCO-DMO)

Project:

Cryptic density dependence: the effects of spatial, ontogenetic, and individual variation in reef fish (CDD_in_Reef_Fish)

Current State:

Preliminary and in progress

Version:

23 May 2016

Version Date:

2016-05-23

Data URL:

https://www.bco-dmo.org/dataset-deployment/645122/data

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Description

Reef morphological dimensions (physical characteristics) were measured for each of 192 reefs in 2003, 2004 (reefs marked be letters only in this year), 2007, and 2009, 2012 and 2014. Beginning in 2012, reefs 129-144 and the added reefs 193-198 were manipulated for a project studying the effects of vermetid removals; information pertaining to this manipulation can be found in the project “Spatial patterns of coral-vermetid interactions: short-term effects and long-term consequences.” All data collected on reefs 129-144 and 193-198 beginning in 2012 can also be found under that project. In 2003, percent cover of nearest neighbor reefs were also estimated. Physical characteristic surveys are meant to characterize the size dimensions of each reef. We ultimately hope to use these data to inform how reef size and shape influence benthic composition and Thalassoma populations.

Location: Moorea, French Polynesia (17.48 degrees S, 149.82 degrees W)

Methods & Sampling

Dataset acquisition description

Sampling and Analytical Methodology:

Data were collected for reefs 1-192, in 2003, 2004, 2007, 2009, 2012, and 2014. In 2004, letter-marked reefs were monitored. A diver swims up to one of the reefs. If the reef has two distinct sections they are labeled A and B randomly. Using a transect tape, the diver determines the maximum length and perpendicular width. Three height measurements are taken. After 2003, measurements were made by dropping a weighted transect tape from the water surface to an average high point on the reef (typical height), to the highest point on a reef (max height), and to the seafloor (H20 max height). In 2003, a diver measured from the sea floor to an average high point on the reef (typical height) and a high point on the reef (max height) with transect tape. In 2003, H20MHeight was the distance from the maximum height to the surface, measurements were made with a transect tape. 2003 data were converted to be congruent with 2004 onward. The percent cover and direction of the nearest neighbor reefs were also measured. These “Nearest Neighbor (NN)” estimates are conducted by visually estimating the percent area within 2 meters of the edge of the sampled reef that is comprised of hard/other substrate (in other words, it is the percent hard/other substrate cover surrounding the sampled reef within a 2 meter radius).

Materials: transect tape

Data Processing Description

Dataset Processing Description

Data Processing:
“NNAVGEST” was calculated as the average of each observer’s estimate (NNJEST, NNCWOEST, NNJSWETS, NNTAEST). When only one observer who was not originally listed in a column heading ((i.e., JS, CWO, JSW, TA) made observations, data was recorded directly into the NNAVGEST column.

NA- Not applicable (never recorded) to this data set
NR- Not recorded at certain times throughout the data set

BCO-DMO Processing Notes
- Generated from original file "LTR_PhysicalCharacteristics.csv" contributed by Rebecca Atkins
- Parameter names edited to conform to BCO-DMO naming convention found at Choosing Parameter Name
- Any blank rows removed

More information about this dataset deployment

Funding

Award Number	Funding Source
OCE-0242312	NSF Division of Ocean Sciences

Instruments

Diving Mask and Snorkel

Supplied Name: Mask and snorkel

Supplied Description:

Instrument Type

Generic Name: Diving Mask and Snorkel

Generic Description:

A diving mask (also half mask, dive mask or scuba mask) is an item of diving equipment that allows underwater divers, including, scuba divers, free-divers, and snorkelers to see clearly underwater.

Snorkel: A breathing apparatus for swimmers and surface divers that allows swimming or continuous use of a face mask without lifting the head to breathe, consisting of a tube that curves out of the mouth and extends above the surface of the water.

Measuring Tape

Supplied Name: Transect Tape

Supplied Description:

Materials: transect tape and slates

Instrument Type

Generic Name: Measuring Tape

Generic Description:

A tape measure or measuring tape is a flexible ruler. It consists of a ribbon of cloth, plastic, fibre glass, or metal strip with linear-measurement markings. It is a common tool for measuring distance or length.

Underwater Writing Slate

Supplied Name: Slate

Supplied Description:

Materials: transect tape and slates

Instrument Type

Generic Name: Underwater Writing Slate

Generic Description:

Underwater writing slates and pencils are used to transport pre-dive plans underwater, to record facts whilst underwater and to aid communication with other divers.

Parameters

Supplied Name	Supplied description	Supplied Units	Standard Name
DATE	Date Data Collected (2003-2005)	DD-MMM-YYYY	date
OBSERV	Name of observer (Jada S. White; Tom Adam; Jeff Shima; Chris McDermot; Craig W. Osenberg; Rose Terborg; Tom Frazer) (JSW; TA; JS; CmcD; CWO; Rose; TF)	text	person
SITE	Name of site (1-192; LETTERS A-X)	text	site
REEF_let	Letter corresponding to reef ID	text	site
REEF_NUMBER	Number corresponding to reef ID	dimensionless	site
TREATMENT	Treatment (does not apply to this data set)	text	treatment
COMPON	Component of the reef (individual bommies all joined to form a larger patch reef)	text	site
LENGTH	Max Length	meters	length
WIDTH	Perpendicular Width	meters	width
THEIGHT	Typical height of reef; from water to reef (except in 2003; from reef base to the typical height of reef; this was changed in the spreadsheet to reflect the typical height measured from 2004 onward by substracting the H20MHEIG or depth by the measurement recorded by the observer )	meters	no_bcodmo_term
MHEIGHT	Maximum Height from top of water to reef (except in 2003; measurements were made from reef base to the maximum height of reef so these data were manipulated to match the rest of the data by subtracting the depth from the number measured by the observer. Data in the spreadsheets have already been converted to reflect the same type of measurement from 2004 onward)	meters	no_bcodmo_term
H20MHEIG	Water depth (except in 2003: raw measurementers were distance between the top of the water to the maximum height of the reef. These data were converted in the spreadsheet to depth by adding max height to the number measured by the observer. )	meters	no_bcodmo_term
NNAVGEST	Average of Nearest Neighbor Estimate (% cover of “donut” from reef edge out 2 meters)	percentage	no_bcodmo_term
NNJSEST	Jeff Shima’s estimate of Nearest Neighbor Cover; 0-100 or NA (= did not estimate)	number of individuals	number
NNCWOEST	Craig Osenberg’s estimate of Nearest Neighbor Cover; 0-100 or NA (= did not estimate)	number of individuals	number
NNJSWEST	Jada White’s estimates of Nearest Neighbor Cover; 0-100 or NA (= did not estimate)	number of individuals	number
NNTAEST	Tom Adam’s estimate of Nearest Neighbor Cover; 0-100 or NA (= did not estimate)	number of individuals	number
DEPTH	Depth	meters	depth
NOTES	Notes	text	comment

Database

Contribute Data

Dataset: LTR - Physical Characteristics
Deployment: Osenberg_et_al_Moorea

Dataset acquisition description

Dataset Processing Description

Database

Contribute Data

Dataset: LTR - Physical CharacteristicsDeployment: Osenberg_et_al_Moorea

Dataset acquisition description

Dataset Processing Description

Dataset: LTR - Physical Characteristics
Deployment: Osenberg_et_al_Moorea