Dataset: LTR - Percent Visual Cover
Deployment: Osenberg_et_al_Moorea

Percent Visual Cover on Long Term Reefs

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/645069/data

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Description

Coral, algae, and invertebrates were observed, and their percent cover on each of the patch reefs estimated. These data were collected from 2003-2005, 2007, 2009, 2012, and 2014. These surveys were conducted at each of 192 reefs. Beginning in 2012, reefs 129-144 and 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. Descriptions of each reef are located in the “Long Term Reef Physical Characteristics” dataset. Estimating benthic composition of each reef provides serial data over time and space. These data are meant to provide contextual information for vermetid and Thalassoma dynamics.

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

Methods & Sampling

Dataset acquisition description

Sampling and Analytical Methodology:

One person swims around the reef and visually estimates the relative cover of different substrates. In early years there was some confusion about Stegastes turf and grazed turf (Surgeonfish fish grazed turf). By 2012, grazed turf is now considered bare space. Divers ignored taxa that covered less than 1 percent of the benthos in 2003 and 2004. Starting in 2005, they looked at cover of 2% and above. In 2004, additional lettered reefs were monitored for benthic cover. These lettered reefs were experimentally added to the site for another experiment. After 2004 they were not monitored again. For a limited number of reefs between 2003-2005, the investigators completed a limited number of point contacts to verify their estimates.

Materials: dver, slate

Data Processing Description

Dataset Processing Description

Data Processing:
Calculations: To get “TOTALPOINTS”, sum across the columns. Use that sum to estimate percent cover each substrate by dividing the number in the cell by the total points.

NA- Not applicable (never recorded) to this data set
NR- Not recorded at certain times throughout the data set
tr - “Trivial” amount

BCO-DMO Processing Notes
- Generated from original file "LTR_PercentVisualCover.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	DD-MMM-YYYY	date
OBSERV	Initials of observer (JSW-Jada Simone White)	text	person
Reef_let	Reef_let (does not apply to this data set)	NA	site
SITE	Location of reefs (TOW)	text	site
REEF	Reef # (two representative reefs chosen from each site) (1-192)	dimensionless	site
TREATMENT	Treatment (does not apply to this data set)	NA	treatment
PSPSMOO	Porites sp. (Smooth) (Range: 0-100)	number of individuals	number
PSPRIDG	Porites sp. (Ridged) (Range: 0-100)	number of individuals	number
PSPCOLUM	Porites sp. (Columnar) (Range: 0-100)	number of individuals	number
PRUS	Porites rus (Range: 0-100)	number of individuals	number
MONTIP	Montipora spp. (Range: 0-100)	number of individuals	number
POC	Pocillopora spp. (Range: 0-100)	number of individuals	POC
ACROP	Acropora spp. (Range: 0-100)	number of individuals	number
OTHCORAL	Total coverage of other live coral (Range: 0-100)	number of individuals	number
TURF	Stegastes sp. turf (Range: 0-100)	number of individuals	number
TURF_steg	Turf in Stegastes territories (Range: 0-100)	number of individuals	number
TURF_surg	Turf grazed by Acanthurids (Range: 0-100)	number of individuals	number
TURBINAR	Turbinaria sp. (Range: 0-100)	number of individuals	number
Bare	Bare substrate; including coralline algae (Range: 0-100)	number of individuals	number
PIRREG	Porites irregularis (Range: 0-100)	number of individuals	number
LEPTASTR	Leptastrea spp. (Range: 0-100)	number of individuals	number
PAVONA	Pavona cactus (Range: 0-100)	number of individuals	number
FUNGIA	Fungia spp. (Range: 0-100)	number of individuals	number
MUSSIDAE	other corals (Range: 0-100)	number of individuals	number
CAULERPA	Caulerpa spp. (Range: 0-100)	number of individuals	number
DICTYOTA	Dictyota spp. (Range: 0-100)	number of individuals	number
HALIMEDA	Halimeda spp. (Range: 0-100)	number of individuals	number
PADINA	Padina spp. (Range: 0-100)	number of individuals	number
CYANO	Various growth forms of cyanobacteria (Range: 0-100)	number of individuals	number
GALAXAUR	Galaxaura sp. (Range: 0-100)	number of individuals	number
AMANSIA	Amansia rhodantha (Range: 0-100)	number of individuals	number
SPONGE	Fleshy grey sponge (Range: 0-100)	number of individuals	number
CCA	CCA (crustose coraline algae) (Range: 0-100)	number of individuals	number
OTHER	Total coverage of other dominant substrate: algae; sponges; etc. (Range: 0-100)	number of individuals	number
TOTALPOINTS	sum of points (Range: 0-100)	number of individuals	number
NOTES	Notes	text	comment
NOTES_2	NOTES 2 (no.acanthaster) (2009 only)	text	comment

Database

Contribute Data

Dataset: LTR - Percent Visual Cover
Deployment: Osenberg_et_al_Moorea

Dataset acquisition description

Dataset Processing Description

Database

Contribute Data

Dataset: LTR - Percent Visual CoverDeployment: Osenberg_et_al_Moorea

Dataset acquisition description

Dataset Processing Description

Dataset: LTR - Percent Visual Cover
Deployment: Osenberg_et_al_Moorea