| Contributors | Affiliation | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Osenberg, Craig | University of Georgia (UGA) | Principal Investigator, Contact |
| Frazer, Thomas | University of Florida (UF) | Co-Principal Investigator |
| Shima, Jeffrey | Victoria University of Wellington | International Collaborator |
| Gegg, Stephen R. | Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI BCO-DMO) | BCO-DMO Data Manager |
Surveys of fish in the families Scaridae and Labridae were conducted on Long Term Vermetid Removal (LTVR) Reefs 129-144 and 193-198 beginning in 2012. Thalassoma surveys are meant to characterize size structure of Thalassoma and other fish species thought to affect Thalassoma dynamics. We ultimately hope to use the data on size structure and numbers of Thalassoma to infer settlement rates, growth rates and survival.
Long Term Vermetid Removal (LTVR) Reef sites in this project are manipulated reefs characterized in the Long Term Reef Physical Characteristics dataset.
Reefs numbered 129-144, are a subset of a larger number of Long Term Reefs (LTR) that were monitored as part of the project "Cryptic density dependence: the effects of spatial, ontogenetic, and individual variation in reef fish" beginning in 2003. This long term study continues to monitor those reefs in addition to reefs 193-198 starting in 2012. Data for these reefs between the years 2003 and 2009 can be found on the project site http://www.bco-dmo.org/project/540423.
Location: Moorea, French Polynesia (17.48 degrees S, 149.82 degrees W)
Other associated LTVR datasets:
LTVR - Fate of Reefs - Contains latitude and longitude of reefs used in this dataset
LTVR - Physical Characteristics - Contains characteristics of reefs used in this dataset.
LTVR - Fish Survey
LTVR - Percent Cover Point Contact
LTVR - Percent Visual Cover
LTVR - Pomacentrids
LTVR - Vermetid Counts
LTVR - Vermetid Removal
LTVR - Vermetid Sizes in Quadrat
Sampling and Analytical Methodology:
A single snorkeler approaches one of the 22 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
Calculations: Data were entered into excel and then restructured with a macro to create the final data set. Because of this data entry method there maybe two similar entries. (e.g., if there were two fish of species or type X that were the same size (Y), they would each be on the final data sheet as Fish X, Size Y, count: 1, instead of Fish X and Y size count: 2)
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 "LTVR_ThalassomaSurveys.csv" contributed by Rebecca Atkins
- Parameter names edited to conform to BCO-DMO naming convention found at Choosing Parameter Name
- Any blank rows removed
| File |
|---|
LTVR_ThalassomaSurveys.csv (Comma Separated Values (.csv), 33.76 KB) MD5:b2deaea2aa9f10bf255c00486e9c71fa Primary data file for dataset ID 645908 |
| Parameter | Description | Units |
| DATE | date of data observation | DD-MMM-YYYY |
| Observer | name of observer (name of observer (JS-Jeff Shima) | text |
| Time | time of begin observation period for site | HH:MM |
| Reef | Number corresponding to reef ID | dimensionless |
| Treatment | Specifies whether or not vermetids were removed | text |
| Species | Species or category | text |
| Size | visual estimate of length | mm |
| Number | number of individuals of given species/length | number of individuals |
| No_Settlers | number of new settlers | number of individuals |
| Predators | Also gives ID of "other predators"; as per abbreviation codes listed below | number of individuals |
| Notes | free text notes corresponding to observation; site; date; etc; Also gives ID of "other predators"; as per abbreviation codes listed in Aquisition decription | text |
| Dataset-specific Instrument Name | Mask and snorkel |
| Generic Instrument Name | Diving Mask and Snorkel |
| Generic Instrument 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. |
| Dataset-specific Instrument Name | Transect Tape |
| Generic Instrument Name | Measuring Tape |
| Dataset-specific Description | Materials: transect tape and slates |
| Generic Instrument 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. |
| Dataset-specific Instrument Name | Slate |
| Generic Instrument Name | Underwater Writing Slate |
| Dataset-specific Description | Materials: transect tape and slates |
| Generic Instrument 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. |
| Website | |
| Platform | Osenberg et al Moorea |
| Start Date | 2003-05-19 |
| End Date | 2015-07-12 |
Description from NSF abstract:
Ecological surprises are most likely to be manifest in diverse communities where many interactions remain uninvestigated. Coral reefs harbor much of the world's biodiversity, and recent studies by the investigators suggest that one overlooked, but potentially important, biological interaction involves vermetid gastropods. Vermetid gastropods are nonmobile, tube-building snails that feed via an extensive mucus net. Vermetids reduce coral growth by up to 80%, and coral survival by as much as 60%. Because effects vary among coral taxa, vermetids may substantially alter the structure of coral communities as well as the community of fishes and invertebrates that inhabit the coral reef.
The investigators will conduct a suite of experimental and observational studies that: 1) quantify the effects of four species of vermetids across coral species to assess if species effects and responses are concordant or idiosyncratic; 2) use meta-analysis to compare effects of vermetids relative to other coral stressors and determine the factors that influence variation in coral responses; 3) determine the role of coral commensals that inhabit the branching coral, Pocillopora, and evaluate how the development of the commensal assemblage modifies the deleterious effects of vermetids; 4) determine how vermetid mucus nets affect the local environment of corals and evaluate several hypotheses about proposed mechanisms; and 5) assess the long-term implications of vermetids on coral communities and the fishes and invertebrates that depend on the coral.
Note: The Principal Investigator, Dr. Craig W. Osenberg, was at the University of Florida at the time the NSF award was granted. Dr. Osenberg moved to the University of Georgia during the summer of 2014 (current contact information).
| Funding Source | Award |
|---|---|
| NSF Division of Ocean Sciences (NSF OCE) |