Dataset: LTVR - Fish Survey

Name: Survey of fish on reefs where vermetids were removed in Moorea, French Polynesia from 2012-2017
Published: 2018-01-26
Keywords: oceans

Cite This Dataset

Spatial Extent: N:-17.47499 E:-149.79251 S:-17.47499 W:-149.79251

Temporal Extent: 2012-01-25 - 2017-08-30

Project:

Spatial patterns of coral-vermetid interactions: short-term effects and long-term consequences (Vermetids_Corals)

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)

Scientist:

Andrew J Brooks (University of California-Santa Barbara, UCSB-MSI)

Contact:

Craig Osenberg (University of Georgia, UGA)

BCO-DMO Data Manager:

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

Amber D. York (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, WHOI BCO-DMO)

Version:

Version Date:

2018-01-26

Restricted:

Validated:

Yes

Current State:

Final no updates expected

Survey of fish on reefs where vermetids were removed in Moorea, French Polynesia from 2012-2017

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Description

Counts and estimated size of fish on each reef for each year sampled, categorized by family, genus and species as well as coarse and fine trophic group. These data are collected as part of a long-term study designed to investigate the effects of vermetid snails on several aspects of coral performance including host a diverse resident fish community.

Long Term Vermetid Removal (LTVR) Reef sites in this project are manipulated reefs characterized in the Long Term Reef Physical Characteristics dataset.

Reefs labeled "TOW" in this dataset, 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 - Percent Cover Point Contact
LTVR - Percent Visual Cover
LTVR - Pomacentrids
LTVR - Thalasssoma
LTVR - Vermetid Counts
LTVR - Vermetid Removal
LTVR - Vermetid Sizes in Quadrat

Methods & Sampling

Sampling and Analytical Methodology:

The number of individuals of all taxa of fishes closely associated with the experimental reefs were recorded by a diver using SCUBA. Additionally, the diver estimated the body size (TL in mm) of each individual fish counted. A small, handheld flashlight was used to search the internal cavities of the colonies for semi-cryptic species. The total time spent observing each colony varied with colony size such that the time spent searching per cubic meter of coral volume was approximately constant across all colony sizes.

Data Processing Description

Data Processing:
Fish biomass (body weight in g, fresh not dry weight) is estimated using the formula w = aL^b where L is the fish fork length (FL) in cm and parameters a and b depend on species. Parameters were obtained primarily from Kulbicki et al. 2005. Diver observations of fish length are collected and reported in this dataset as total length. Fork length (FL), defined as the length of a fish to its tail fin fork, is calculated from total length (TL) using the formula FL = Lb*TL. The conversion factor Lb was determined primarily using FishBase.

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

Data version 1 replaced by data version 2:2018-01-26. Dataset extended to 2017.

BCO-DMO Data Manager Processing Notes for version 2018-01-26:
* Added a conventional header with dataset name, PI name, version date
* Modified parameter names to conform with BCO-DMO naming conventions
* Rounded biomass to three decimal places
* Time format inconsistant. Converted those not in hh:mm to hh:mm
* Dates with value "2009-01-16" changed to "9/01/16" to match the format of the rest of the dataset (verified by R. Atkins)

Data Files

File
LTVR_FishSurvey.csv (Comma Separated Values (.csv), 321.67 KB) MD5:d353867240c43994ff304dcc6ae17917 Primary data file for dataset ID 645663

More Information about this dataset

Funding Sources

Funding Source	Award Number
NSF Division of Ocean Sciences	OCE-1130359

Deployments

Deployment	Synonyms	Start Date	Platform	Investigator
Osenberg_et_al_Moorea		2003-05-19	Osenberg et al Moorea	Craig Osenberg (Principal Investigator)	data info

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

Date and time formats are described in python strftime() syntax.

Supplied Name	Supplied description	Supplied Units	Standard Name
DATE	Date of data observation	DD-MMM-YYYY	date
Time_In	Time observer entered the water	HH:MM	time
Time_Out	Time observer exited the water	HH:MM	time
Coral_ID	Coral Id (number)	dimensionless	site
Vermetid	Treatment: Present=Control; Absent=Removal	text	treatment
Pairing	A function of the original experimental design showing how manipulated (vermetid removal) and unmaniupalted coral bommies were paired	dimensionless	no_bcodmo_term
Coarse_Trophic	A broad category of trophic group into which the species fits	text	animal_group
Fine_Trophic	A specific category of trophic group into which the species fits	text	animal_group
Family	Taxonomic Family	text	family
Genus_species	Taxonomic genus and species	text	taxon
Count	Number of individuals of given species/length	number of individuals	count
TL_mm	Total Length	mm	length
Biomass_g	Mass calculated using the TL of the fish; and the pre-determined species-specific; values; a; b; and TL_to_FL	grams	wet_weight_biomass
a	Length to weight parameter a from the following equation: W = aL^b; where W is weight in grams and L is length in cm.	ratio	no_bcodmo_term
b	Length to weight parameter b from the following equation: W = aL^b; where W is weight in grams and L is length in cm.	ratio	B
TL_to_FL	Total length (TL) to fork length (FL) conversion	ratio	no_bcodmo_term

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Database

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Dataset: LTVR - Fish Survey