Dataset: Octocoral height, density, and genera from in situ observations within octocoral forests in Lameshur Bay St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands from July 2019 to Jan 2020

ValidatedFinal no updates expectedDOI: 10.26008/1912/bco-dmo.892265.1Version 1 (2023-03-21)Dataset Type:Other Field Results

Principal Investigator: Peter J. Edmunds (California State University Northridge)

Student: John Girard (California State University Northridge)

BCO-DMO Data Manager: Amber D. York (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)

Project: Collaborative Research: Pattern and process in the abundance and recruitment of Caribbean octocorals (Octocoral Community Dynamics)

Project: RUI: Pattern and process in four decades of change on Caribbean reefs (St John Coral Reefs)

Abstract

These data represent the individual octocoral genera, height, and density that compose octocoral forests in in Lameshur Bay St. John U.S. Virgin Islands. These data were used in conjunction with invertebrate abundance data to test for an association between octocoral forest parameters and benthic invertebrate community composition. Surveys of octocoral forests were conducted on SCUBA during July – August of 2019 and in January of 2020 quadrats (1 m2) placed at ≤ 13-m depth. These data were c...

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Location: Lameshur Bay St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands at depth ≤ 13 m. Research conducted from the University of the Virgin Islands Marine Station in Lameshure Bay during July – August 2019 and January 2020.

Methods:
Quadrats were randomly placed along 20 m, non-overlapping transects that were positioned haphazardly along fringing reefs. Organisms were identified to genera in situ. Octocorals were counted and measured when their holdfast was present in a quadrat. Octocoral height was measured from the holdfast to most distal branch perpendicular to benthos.

Instruments:

PVC Quadrats (1 m2)
Transect tapes
Measuring ribbons with mm graduations

Related Datasets

IsRelatedTo
Dataset: Benthic Invertebrate Abundances associated with Octocoral Forests of St. John, US Virgin Islands
Relationship Description: Octocoral measurements and invertebrate counts were done in the same quadrats. Therefore, the quadrat IDs correspond to each other across community & canopy data sets.
Girard, J., Edmunds, P. J. (2023) Benthic invertebrate abundances associated with octocoral forests in St. John, US Virgin Islands from July 2019 to Jan 2020. Biological and Chemical Oceanography Data Management Office (BCO-DMO). (Version 1) Version Date 2023-03-21 doi:10.26008/1912/bco-dmo.892248.1
IsRelatedTo
Dataset: St. John Octocoral Forest Closure Photo Analysis for Community Quadrats
Relationship Description: Octocoral measurements and invertebrate counts were done in the same quadrats. Therefore, the quadrat IDs correspond to each other across community & canopy data sets.
Girard, J., Edmunds, P. J. (2023) Canopy closure values from photographs taken within octocoral forests in Lameshur Bay St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands from July 2019 to Jan 2020. Biological and Chemical Oceanography Data Management Office (BCO-DMO). (Version 1) Version Date 2023-03-21 doi:10.26008/1912/bco-dmo.892258.1
IsRelatedTo
Dataset: Canopy Closure Data of the Octocoral Forests sampled for Light Intensity, St. John U.S. Virgin Islands
Relationship Description: Octocoral measurements and invertebrate counts were done in the same quadrats. Therefore, the quadrat IDs correspond to each other across community & canopy data sets.
Girard, J., Edmunds, P. J. (2023) Canopy closure values from photographs taken within octocoral forestsalong the south shore of St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands in March of 2019. Biological and Chemical Oceanography Data Management Office (BCO-DMO). (Version 1) Version Date 2023-03-21 doi:10.26008/1912/bco-dmo.892323.1
IsRelatedTo
Dataset: Light intensity measurements associated with Octocoral Canopies from East Cabritte, St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands
Relationship Description: Octocoral measurements and invertebrate counts were done in the same quadrats. Therefore, the quadrat IDs correspond to each other across community & canopy data sets.
Girard, J., Edmunds, P. J. (2023) Light intensity (lux) of downwelling light upon the benthos along differing conditions of octocoral canopy formation in East Cabritte, in Grootpan Bay, St. John U.S. Virgin Islands in March of 2019. Biological and Chemical Oceanography Data Management Office (BCO-DMO). (Version 1) Version Date 2023-03-21 doi:10.26008/1912/bco-dmo.892300.1
IsRelatedTo
Dataset: Light intensity measurements associated with Octocoral Canopies from Yawzi Point, St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands
Relationship Description: Octocoral measurements and invertebrate counts were done in the same quadrats. Therefore, the quadrat IDs correspond to each other across community & canopy data sets.
Girard, J., Edmunds, P. J. (2023) Light intensity (lux) of downwelling light upon the benthos along differing conditions of octocoral canopy formation in Lameshur Bay St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands in March of 2019. Biological and Chemical Oceanography Data Management Office (BCO-DMO). (Version 1) Version Date 2023-03-21 doi:10.26008/1912/bco-dmo.892272.1

Related Publications

Results
Girard, J. F., & Edmunds, P. J. (2023). Effects of arborescent octocoral assemblages on the understory benthic communities of shallow Caribbean reefs. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 561, 151870. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jembe.2023.151870

Girard, J., Edmunds, P. J. (2023) Octocoral height, density, and genera from in situ observations within octocoral forests in Lameshur Bay St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands from July 2019 to Jan 2020. Biological and Chemical Oceanography Data Management Office (BCO-DMO). (Version 1) Version Date 2023-03-21 [if applicable, indicate subset used]. doi:10.26008/1912/bco-dmo.892265.1 [access date]

Terms of Use

This dataset is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0.


If you wish to use this dataset, it is highly recommended that you contact the original principal investigators (PI). Should the relevant PI be unavailable, please contact BCO-DMO (info@bco-dmo.org) for additional guidance. For general guidance please see the BCO-DMO Terms of Use document.

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Funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation