CRED REA Reef Fish Assessment Survey at Rota Island, Marianas Archipelago in 2009

Identification_Information:

Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator:

Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED), Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

Publication_Date: 20090415
Title:

CRED REA Reef Fish Assessment Survey at Rota Island, Marianas Archipelago in 2009

Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: spreadsheet
Online_Linkage:

https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/pacific-islands/ecosystems/coral-reefs-pacific

Description:

Abstract:

To support a long-term NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP) for sustainable management and conservation of coral reef ecosystems, from 5 April - 14 April 2009, reef fish assessment surveys were conducted, as a part of Rapid Ecological Assessments (REA), during the Pacific Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program (RAMP) Cruise HI0902 in the Marianas Archipelago at biennial intervals by the Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED) at the NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC). During the cruise, 14 REA sites were surveyed at Rota Island in the Marianas Archipelago. At the specific REA sites, fish biologists along with coral biologists, algal biologists and marine invertebrate zoologist entered the water and conducted a fine-scale (~300 m2) and high degree of taxonomic resolution REA survey to assess and monitor species composition, abundance, percent cover, size distribution, diversity, and general health of fish, corals, macro-invertebrates, and algae in shallow-water (< 35 m) habitats. Reef fish assessment surveys were focused on cataloging the diversity (species richness), abundance (numeric density [# fish 100 m-2] and biomass density [kg 100 m-2]) of diurnally active reef fish assemblages. Three complementary noninvasive underwater survey methods were used, including belt-transect, stationary point count, and roving-diver surveys. For all methods, fish were identified at the species level, when possible, and assigned to a size bin ranging from 1 to 200 cm based on a visual estimate of total fish length. Belt-transect (BLT) surveys were used to quantify the entire diurnal fish community (all size classes). In belt-transect surveys, two fish biologists swam side-by-side along three consecutively-placed, 25m transect lines. The BLT team swam each transect two times. During the initial swim-out, each fish diver recorded all fish larger than 20 cm observed within a 4-m wide belt perpendicular to their respective side of the transect (200 m2 area per line, 100 m2 per diver). On the return swim, each fish diver recorded all fish less than 20 cm observed within a 2-m wide belt (100 m2 area per line, 50 m2 per diver). The survey of large fish took approximately 5 min to complete while the survey of smaller fish took about 10 min to complete. All reef-associated fish, including those in the water column (including planktivores), were counted. Any coastal pelagic species (e.g., clupeids [sardines], belonids [beakfish], antherinids [silversides]) seen near the surface were not recorded. The stationary point count (SPC) method were used to quantify larger, more mobile reef fish species that can be missed on belt-transect surveys. In stationary point count survey, a fish biologist swam approximately 15 m away from a transect line concurrently being surveyed by the other two BLT fish biologists. The SPC biologist then recorded all fish greater than 25 cm in length that passed within a visually estimated 20-m diameter cylinder centered on the diver's fixed position (10-m radius, total area = 314 m2). The survey time for each stationary point count survey was 5 min and a total of four stationary point count surveys were conducted at each REA site. Roving-diver surveys were followed belt-transect and stationary point count surveys. As diver bottom time permitted, the fish assessment team conducted random swim surveys throughout the REA site area, recording, to the species level or the lowest recognizable taxon, the presence of reef fish not encountered during previous methods.

Purpose:

Part of a long-term monitoring program at biennial intervals which documents the state of the reefs.

Supplemental_Information:

Maximum depth was 28 meters. Fish species observed: Year Region Island Species TaxonName 2009 MARIAN Rota ABSO Abudefduf sordidus 2009 MARIAN Rota ABVA Abudefduf vaigiensis 2009 MARIAN Rota ACAC Acanthurus achilles 2009 MARIAN Rota ACBL Acanthurus blochii 2009 MARIAN Rota ACGU Acanthurus guttatus 2009 MARIAN Rota ACLI Acanthurus lineatus 2009 MARIAN Rota ACNC Acanthurus nigricans 2009 MARIAN Rota ACNI Acanthurus nigricauda 2009 MARIAN Rota ACNF Acanthurus nigrofuscus 2009 MARIAN Rota ACOL Acanthurus olivaceus 2009 MARIAN Rota ACPY Acanthurus pyroferus 2009 MARIAN Rota ACTH Acanthurus thompsoni 2009 MARIAN Rota ACTR Acanthurus triostegus 2009 MARIAN Rota ACXA Acanthurus xanthopterus 2009 MARIAN Rota ALSC Aluterus scriptus 2009 MARIAN Rota ANCA Anampses caeruleopunctatus 2009 MARIAN Rota ANMG Anampses meleagrides 2009 MARIAN Rota ANTW Anampses twistii 2009 MARIAN Rota APFU Aphareus furca 2009 MARIAN Rota APSP Apogon sp 2009 MARIAN Rota APTR Apolemichthys trimaculatus 2009 MARIAN Rota APVI Aprion virescens 2009 MARIAN Rota ARHI Arothron hispidus 2009 MARIAN Rota ARME Arothron meleagris 2009 MARIAN Rota ARNI Arothron nigropunctatus 2009 MARIAN Rota AUCH Aulostomus chinensis 2009 MARIAN Rota BAUN Balistapus undulatus 2009 MARIAN Rota BACO Balistoides conspicillum 2009 MARIAN Rota BAVI Balistoides viridescens 2009 MARIAN Rota BLEN Blenniidae sp 2009 MARIAN Rota BOAX Bodianus axillaris 2009 MARIAN Rota CACA Calotomus carolinus 2009 MARIAN Rota CADU Cantherhines dumerilii 2009 MARIAN Rota CASO Canthigaster solandri 2009 MARIAN Rota CAVA Canthigaster valentini 2009 MARIAN Rota CAME Caranx melampygus 2009 MARIAN Rota CAAB Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos 2009 MARIAN Rota CAML Carcharhinus melanopterus 2009 MARIAN Rota CEFL Centropyge flavissima 2009 MARIAN Rota CEHE Centropyge heraldi 2009 MARIAN Rota CESH Centropyge shepardi 2009 MARIAN Rota CEAR Cephalopholis argus 2009 MARIAN Rota CESP Cephalopholis spiloparaea 2009 MARIAN Rota CEUR Cephalopholis urodeta 2009 MARIAN Rota CHAU Chaetodon auriga 2009 MARIAN Rota CHCI Chaetodon citrinellus 2009 MARIAN Rota CHEP Chaetodon ephippium 2009 MARIAN Rota CHKL Chaetodon kleinii 2009 MARIAN Rota CHLI Chaetodon lineolatus 2009 MARIAN Rota CHLU Chaetodon lunula 2009 MARIAN Rota CHML Chaetodon melannotus 2009 MARIAN Rota CHMR Chaetodon mertensii 2009 MARIAN Rota CHOR Chaetodon ornatissimus 2009 MARIAN Rota CHPU Chaetodon punctatofasciatus 2009 MARIAN Rota CHQU Chaetodon quadrimaculatus 2009 MARIAN Rota CHRE Chaetodon reticulatus 2009 MARIAN Rota CHTR Chaetodon trifascialis 2009 MARIAN Rota CHUL Chaetodon ulietensis 2009 MARIAN Rota CHUN Chaetodon unimaculatus 2009 MARIAN Rota CHOX Cheilinus oxycephalus 2009 MARIAN Rota CHTL Cheilinus trilobatus 2009 MARIAN Rota CHUD Cheilinus undulatus 2009 MARIAN Rota CHFN Chlorurus frontalis 2009 MARIAN Rota CHMC Chlorurus microrhinos 2009 MARIAN Rota CHSO Chlorurus sordidus 2009 MARIAN Rota CHAC Chromis acares 2009 MARIAN Rota CHAG Chromis agilis 2009 MARIAN Rota CHAM Chromis amboinensis 2009 MARIAN Rota CHMA Chromis margaritifer 2009 MARIAN Rota CHVA Chromis vanderbilti 2009 MARIAN Rota CHXA Chromis xanthura 2009 MARIAN Rota CHBR Chrysiptera brownriggii 2009 MARIAN Rota CHGL Chrysiptera glauca 2009 MARIAN Rota CHTY Chrysiptera traceyi 2009 MARIAN Rota CIKA Cirrhilabrus katherinae 2009 MARIAN Rota CIFL Cirrhitichthys falco 2009 MARIAN Rota CIVR Cirripectes variolosus 2009 MARIAN Rota COAY Coris aygula 2009 MARIAN Rota COGA Coris gaimard 2009 MARIAN Rota CTBI Ctenochaetus binotatus 2009 MARIAN Rota CTCY Ctenochaetus cyanocheilus 2009 MARIAN Rota CTSR Ctenochaetus striatus 2009 MARIAN Rota DARE Dascyllus reticulatus 2009 MARIAN Rota DATR Dascyllus trimaculatus 2009 MARIAN Rota DEMA Decapterus macarellus 2009 MARIAN Rota ECBC Ecsenius bicolor 2009 MARIAN Rota EPIN Epibulus insidiator 2009 MARIAN Rota EPFA Epinephelus fasciatus 2009 MARIAN Rota EXBR Exallias brevis 2009 MARIAN Rota FOFL Forcipiger flavissimus 2009 MARIAN Rota FOLO Forcipiger longirostris 2009 MARIAN Rota GNAU Gnathodentex aureolineatus 2009 MARIAN Rota GOBI Gobiidae sp 2009 MARIAN Rota GOVA Gomphosus varius 2009 MARIAN Rota HABI Halichoeres biocellatus 2009 MARIAN Rota HAHO Halichoeres hortulanus 2009 MARIAN Rota HAMT Halichoeres margaritaceus 2009 MARIAN Rota HAMA Halichoeres marginatus 2009 MARIAN Rota HAOR Halichoeres ornatissimus 2009 MARIAN Rota HATR Halichoeres trimaculatus 2009 MARIAN Rota HEFA Hemigymnus fasciatus 2009 MARIAN Rota HEPO Hemitaurichthys polylepis 2009 MARIAN Rota HEAC Heniochus acuminatus 2009 MARIAN Rota HECH Heniochus chrysostomus 2009 MARIAN Rota HEMO Heniochus monoceros 2009 MARIAN Rota HILO Hipposcarus longiceps 2009 MARIAN Rota HODO Hologymnosus doliatus 2009 MARIAN Rota CHUB Kyphosidae sp 2009 MARIAN Rota KYPA Kyphosus pacificus 2009 MARIAN Rota LABI Labroides bicolor 2009 MARIAN Rota LADI Labroides dimidiatus 2009 MARIAN Rota LAXA Labropsis xanthonota 2009 MARIAN Rota EMPE Lethrinidae sp 2009 MARIAN Rota LEHA Lethrinus harak 2009 MARIAN Rota LEOB Lethrinus obsoletus 2009 MARIAN Rota LEXA Lethrinus xanthochilus 2009 MARIAN Rota LUBO Lutjanus bohar 2009 MARIAN Rota LUFU Lutjanus fulvus 2009 MARIAN Rota LUGI Lutjanus gibbus 2009 MARIAN Rota LUKA Lutjanus kasmira 2009 MARIAN Rota LUMO Lutjanus monostigma 2009 MARIAN Rota MAMA Macolor macularis 2009 MARIAN Rota MANI Macolor niger 2009 MARIAN Rota MAME Macropharyngodon meleagris 2009 MARIAN Rota MABR Malacanthus brevirostris 2009 MARIAN Rota MALA Malacanthus latovittatus 2009 MARIAN Rota MEAT Meiacanthus atrodorsalis 2009 MARIAN Rota MENI Melichthys niger 2009 MARIAN Rota MEVI Melichthys vidua 2009 MARIAN Rota MOGR Monotaxis grandoculis 2009 MARIAN Rota MUFL Mulloidichthys flavolineatus 2009 MARIAN Rota MUVA Mulloidichthys vanicolensis 2009 MARIAN Rota MYAM Myripristis amaena 2009 MARIAN Rota MYBE Myripristis berndti 2009 MARIAN Rota MYKU Myripristis kuntee 2009 MARIAN Rota MYMU Myripristis murdjan 2009 MARIAN Rota NABR Naso brevirostris 2009 MARIAN Rota NAHE Naso hexacanthus 2009 MARIAN Rota NALI Naso lituratus 2009 MARIAN Rota NATO Naso tonganus 2009 MARIAN Rota NAVL Naso vlamingii 2009 MARIAN Rota NEMA Nemateleotris magnifica 2009 MARIAN Rota NEAR Neocirrhites armatus 2009 MARIAN Rota NESA Neoniphon sammara 2009 MARIAN Rota NOTA Novaculichthys taeniourus 2009 MARIAN Rota ODNI Odonus niger 2009 MARIAN Rota OPPU Oplegnathus punctatus 2009 MARIAN Rota OSCU Ostracion cubicus 2009 MARIAN Rota OXDI Oxycheilinus digramma 2009 MARIAN Rota OXUN Oxycheilinus unifasciatus 2009 MARIAN Rota PAAR Paracirrhites arcatus 2009 MARIAN Rota PAFO Paracirrhites forsteri 2009 MARIAN Rota PAHE Paracirrhites hemistictus 2009 MARIAN Rota PAPR Paraluteres prionurus 2009 MARIAN Rota PACL Parapercis clathrata 2009 MARIAN Rota PABA Parupeneus barberinus 2009 MARIAN Rota PACY Parupeneus cyclostomus 2009 MARIAN Rota PAIN Parupeneus insularis 2009 MARIAN Rota PAMU Parupeneus multifasciatus 2009 MARIAN Rota PAPL Parupeneus pleurostigma 2009 MARIAN Rota PEOU Pempheris oualensis 2009 MARIAN Rota PLPI Plectorhinchus picus 2009 MARIAN Rota PLDI Plectroglyphidodon dickii 2009 MARIAN Rota PLIM Plectroglyphidodon imparipennis 2009 MARIAN Rota PLJO Plectroglyphidodon johnstonianus 2009 MARIAN Rota PLLA Plectroglyphidodon lacrymatus 2009 MARIAN Rota POIM Pomacanthus imperator 2009 MARIAN Rota POVA Pomacentrus vaiuli 2009 MARIAN Rota POGU Pomachromis guamensis 2009 MARIAN Rota PSPA Pseudanthias pascalus 2009 MARIAN Rota PSEV Pseudocheilinus evanidus 2009 MARIAN Rota PSHE Pseudocheilinus hexataenia 2009 MARIAN Rota PSOC Pseudocheilinus octotaenia 2009 MARIAN Rota PSTE Pseudocheilinus tetrataenia 2009 MARIAN Rota PSMO Pseudodax moluccanus 2009 MARIAN Rota PSCE Pseudojuloides cerasinus 2009 MARIAN Rota PTEV Ptereleotris evides 2009 MARIAN Rota PTHE Ptereleotris heteroptera 2009 MARIAN Rota PTZE Ptereleotris zebra 2009 MARIAN Rota PTTI Pterocaesio tile 2009 MARIAN Rota PTAN Pterois antennata 2009 MARIAN Rota PYDI Pygoplites diacanthus 2009 MARIAN Rota RHRE Rhinecanthus rectangulus 2009 MARIAN Rota SACA Sargocentron caudimaculatum 2009 MARIAN Rota SADI Sargocentron diadema 2009 MARIAN Rota SASP Sargocentron spiniferum 2009 MARIAN Rota SATI Sargocentron tiere 2009 MARIAN Rota SAGR Saurida gracilis 2009 MARIAN Rota PARR Scaridae sp 2009 MARIAN Rota SCAL Scarus altipinnis 2009 MARIAN Rota SCFO Scarus forsteni 2009 MARIAN Rota SCFR Scarus frenatus 2009 MARIAN Rota SCGH Scarus ghobban 2009 MARIAN Rota SCGL Scarus globiceps 2009 MARIAN Rota SCNI Scarus niger 2009 MARIAN Rota SCPS Scarus psittacus 2009 MARIAN Rota SCRU Scarus rubroviolaceus 2009 MARIAN Rota SCSC Scarus schlegeli 2009 MARIAN Rota GROU Serranidae sp 2009 MARIAN Rota RABB Siganidae sp 2009 MARIAN Rota SIAR Siganus argenteus 2009 MARIAN Rota STFA Stegastes fasciolatus 2009 MARIAN Rota STNI Stegastes nigricans 2009 MARIAN Rota STBN Stethojulis bandanensis 2009 MARIAN Rota STST Stethojulis strigiventer 2009 MARIAN Rota SUBU Sufflamen bursa 2009 MARIAN Rota SUCH Sufflamen chrysopterum 2009 MARIAN Rota SUFR Sufflamen fraenatum 2009 MARIAN Rota LIZA Synodontidae sp 2009 MARIAN Rota THAM Thalassoma amblycephalum 2009 MARIAN Rota THLU Thalassoma lutescens 2009 MARIAN Rota THQU Thalassoma quinquevittatum 2009 MARIAN Rota TROB Triaenodon obesus 2009 MARIAN Rota VAST Valenciennea strigata 2009 MARIAN Rota VAAL Variola albimarginata 2009 MARIAN Rota VALO Variola louti 2009 MARIAN Rota ZACO Zanclus cornutus 2009 MARIAN Rota ZEFL Zebrasoma flavescens 2009 MARIAN Rota ZESC Zebrasoma scopas 2009 MARIAN Rota ZEVE Zebrasoma veliferum

Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Range_of_Dates/Times:

Beginning_Date: 20090409
Ending_Date: 20090410

Currentness_Reference: Ground condition

Status:

Progress: In Work
Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: asNeeded

Spatial_Domain:

Bounding_Coordinates:

West_Bounding_Coordinate: 145.082127
East_Bounding_Coordinate: 145.313205
North_Bounding_Coordinate: 14.208789
South_Bounding_Coordinate: 14.08137

Keywords:

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: NCEI Geoportal Filter
Theme_Keyword: CoRIS_Metadata

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: CRCP Project
Theme_Keyword:

Pacific Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program (Pacific RAMP): Biennial monitoring for the U.S. Pacific Islands and Atolls

Theme_Keyword: 1221

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: None
Theme_Keyword: Marine Ecosystem
Theme_Keyword: Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program (RAMP)
Theme_Keyword: Rapid Ecological Assessments (REA)
Theme_Keyword: Coral Reef
Theme_Keyword: Reef Fishes
Theme_Keyword: Belt Transect (BLT) Survey
Theme_Keyword: Stationary Point Count (SPC )Surveys
Theme_Keyword: Roving-diver surveys
Theme_Keyword: Marianas Archipelago
Theme_Keyword: Rota Island
Theme_Keyword: HI0902

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: CoRIS Discovery Thesaurus
Theme_Keyword: Numeric Data Sets > Biology

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: CoRIS Theme Thesaurus
Theme_Keyword: EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs
Theme_Keyword:

EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs > Coral reef ecology

Theme_Keyword:

EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef monitoring and assessment

Theme_Keyword:

EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef monitoring and assessment > Rapid assessment studies

Theme_Keyword:

EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef monitoring and assessment > Reef fish census

Theme_Keyword:

EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef monitoring and assessment > Reef fish census > Stationary

Theme_Keyword:

EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef monitoring and assessment > Reef fish census > Random swimming

Theme_Keyword:

EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef monitoring and assessment > Reef fish census > Belt transect

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: ISO 19115 Topic Category
Theme_Keyword: biota
Theme_Keyword: 002

Place:

Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: None
Place_Keyword: Marianas Archipelago
Place_Keyword: Rota Island

Place:

Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: CoRIS Place Thesaurus
Place_Keyword:

OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Rota Island > Rota Island ( Luta ) (14N145E0007)

Place_Keyword:

COUNTRY/TERRITORY > Northern Mariana Islands > Rota > Rota Island ( Luta ) (14N145E0007)

Place:

Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: CoRIS Region
Place_Keyword: CNMI

Access_Constraints: Data are available two years following data collection date.
Use_Constraints:

Please cite CRED when using the data. Coral Reef Ecosystem Division, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Point_of_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Organization_Primary:

Contact_Organization:

Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED), Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

Contact_Person: Ivor Williams

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: mailing and physical address
Address: NOAA IRC
Address: NMFS/PIFSC/CRED
Address: 1845 WASP Blvd., Building 176
City: Honolulu
State_or_Province: HI
Postal_Code: 96818
Country: USA

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 808 725-5360
Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 808 725-5429
Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: nmfs.pic.credinfo@noaa.gov
Contact_Instructions: e-mail preferred

Data_Set_Credit:

"Robert Schroeder, Marc Nadon, Paula Ayotte, Valerie Brown", Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED), Pacific Islands Fisheries Sciences Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA

Security_Information:

Security_Classification_System: Not applicable
Security_Classification: Unclassified
Security_Handling_Description: Not applicable

Native_Data_Set_Environment: Oracle

Data_Quality_Information:

Attribute_Accuracy:

Attribute_Accuracy_Report:

Observations at each site were made by three divers who are experts in fish taxonomy. The team of three REA fish divers rotated roles with two divers performing belt-transect surveys and one diver performing stationary point counts at each survey site. Observations were periodically checked during the expedition for consistency between divers, and little discrepancy was ever noted between divers. It should be noted, however, that this data set is quite large, and probably includes typographical or other errors that might be discovered at a future date.

Logical_Consistency_Report:

The same methods of data collection were used at each of the sites surveyed at this location, and were conducted by the same scientists. Periodic examination of the data through the duration of the trip showed no signs of diver bias or other discrepancies.

Completeness_Report:

The survey sites were selected to be representative of the coral reef habitats at this reef system. Efforts were made to include broad spatial coverage of the reef area, but weather conditions or other environmental constraints may have precluded the team from surveying windward or exposed sites.

Positional_Accuracy:

Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy:

Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Report: GPS unit
Quantitative_Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Assessment:

Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Value: 1
Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Explanation: Instrument parameters

Vertical_Positional_Accuracy:

Vertical_Positional_Accuracy_Report: Dive computer and SCUBA depth gauge
Quantitative_Vertical_Positional_Accuracy_Assessment:

Vertical_Positional_Accuracy_Value: 0.3
Vertical_Positional_Accuracy_Explanation: Instrument parameters

Lineage:

Process_Step:

Process_Description:

REA surveys are investigations that provide a high degree of taxonomic resolution for coral, algae, other macroinvertebrate, and reef fish communities. The surveys were conducted using a combination of dive teams which generally included a two to three person fish team, a two person coral/coral disease team, and a combined team of two algae biologists and one macroinvertebrate biologist. The majority of REA surveys were conducted along the forereef slopes of individual islands at depths between 10 and 20 m. However, additional surveyed habitats included a lagoonal-type patch reef and offshore oceanic banks. During REA surveys, biological assessment teams follow highly structured protocols that are repeated at each REA site. Upon arrival at an REA site, three teams of divers enter the water over spaced time intervals. The fish team firstly enters the water and deploys a 25-m transect line. Two of the fish divers begin to survey along that transect while the remaining fish diver begins stationary point count assessments in the general vicinity. After approximately 20 min, the coral team enters the water and begins to work along the first transect line. By this time the fish team has deployed and begun surveys along a second 25-m transect. About 10 min later, the algal/invertebrate team enters the water and begins surveying the first transect. In total, the fish team surveys three transects at each site (transects 1, 2, and 3), and the coral and algal/invertebrate teams survey transects 1 and 2. The sampling effort takes between 60 and 80 min to complete. The selection of REA sites was made in close consultation with Coral Reef Advisory Group (CRAG) and local agencies. Factors considered during REA site selection included: (1) ensuring a range of sample sites representative of the benthic and reef fish habitats around each island; (2) selecting a mixture of sites within and outside of marine protected areas; (3) selecting a mixture of both 'impacted' and 'least impacted' sites; (4) selecting some sites adjacent to local villages, and (5) selecting a number of sites that could be compared to and complement previous assessment and monitoring work as well as future coral reef monitoring proposed by CRAG and local agencies. It is important to note that access to REA sites can be limited by wave exposure, weather conditions, and other environmental factors such as currents, which can affect the ability to resurvey sites between years. Transect placement was guided by: (1) a focus on hard-bottom communities; (2) deploying lines along an isobath to the extent possible at each site, and (3) laying the transect lines into the prevailing current.

Process_Date: Unknown

CRED REA Reef Fish Assessment Survey at Rota Island, Marianas Archipelago in 2009

Metadata: