Sampling and Analytical Methodology:
A single snorkeler approaches one of the 192 patch reefs (for size of reef, see “Physical Characteristics” dataset, each are ~ 1-8 m² in aerial extent) swam around it and attempted to recognize and estimate the size of all the Thalassoma on the reef. Large adults that were clearly attracted by the arrival of the snorkeler were ignored. We also estimated the number and size of resident Gomphosus varius, Pseudocheilinus lineatus all around the reef. Counts of small recruits of labrids and scarids were combined, excluding those three species. We also counted and identified species that we considered potential predators that were within ~ 3 meters of the reef for each patch reef. In 2012 settler counts were not completed.

Materials: Data slate with photographs of Thalassoma of different size classes to help with the visual estimates at each site.

Species Abbreviation Codes:

Abbreviation		Common Name					Scientific name
beb				big eye emperor					Monotaxis grandoculis
car				cardinal fish						Apogon spp.
fts				flame-tail snapper					Lutjanus fulvus
liz				lizardfish							Saurida spp.
lnf				lionfish							Pterois spp. or Dendrochirus spp.
mry				Moray							Gymnothorax spp. or Echidna spp. or Scuticaria spp.
mw				maori wrasse						Cheilinus spp.
sol				soldierfish						Myripristis spp.
sp				sand perch						Parapercis spp.
sq				squirellfish						Neoniphon spp. or Sargocentron spp.
stnf				Stonefish							Synanceia spp.
tpf				trumpetfish						Aulostomus chinensis
ydb				yellow dot bream					Gnathodentex aurolineatus
snp				snapper							Lutjanidae
carrec			cardinal fish recruit					Apogon spp.
mwj				maori wrasse juvenile				Cheilinus spp.
bebj				big eye bream juvenile				Monotaxis grandoculis
solj				soldierfish juvenile					Myripristis spp.
ydbj				yellow dot bream juvenile			Gnathodentex aurolineatus
carj				juvenile cardinal fish				Apogon spp.
oct				octopus			
spotted mry		spotted moray						Gymnothorax moringa or sp?
scorpaenid		scorpaenid			
pfr				pufferfish/puffer/puffer fish			Arothron sp
cornet fish		cornet fish						Fistularia commersonii
flounder			flounder							Canthigaster solandri or Arothon meleagris
box fish			box fish							Ostracion sp or Lactoria sp. (Ostraciidae)
bream			bream							nemipteridae
blck sq			black squirrelfish					Sargocentron spp
seabream		seabream						Acanthopargus sp? Or just Sparidae
razor fish			razor fish							Insiitstius sp
checker			checker wrasse					Rhinecanthus aculeatus
ot				octopus maybe? Orange trigger?			
blcktrig			black trigger						Melichthys sp
argus			peacock wrasse					Halichoeres argus
snowflake mry		snowflake moray					Echidna nebulosa
longface emperor	Longface emperor					Lethrinus olivaceus
clown coris		Clown coris						Coris aygula
orange trigger		Orange-lined triggerfish				Balistapus undulatus
scythe trigger		Scythe triggerfish					Sufflamen bursa
checker wrasse	Checkerboard wrasse				Halichoeres hortulanus
picasso			Picasso triggerfish					Rhinecanthus aculeatus
porcupine			Porcupine fish						Diodon sp
yellow anal fin snp	snapper							Lutjanus sp
yellow tail snp		snapper							Lutjanus sp
tripletail			triple tail wrasse					Cheilinus trilobatus
bw puffer			Black and white pufferfish			Arothron sp
uncertain			uncertain if a settler? 2003 reefs 99, 110

LTR_ThalassomaSurveys.csv