Recovery of Queen Conch in the U. S. Virgin Islands

Metadata:

• Identification_Information
• Data_Quality_Information
• Spatial_Reference_Information
• Entity_and_Attribute_Information
• Distribution_Information
• Metadata_Reference_Information
• CoRIS

Identification_Information:

Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator: Jennifer Doerr

Publication_Date: Unknown

Publication_Time: Unknown

Title: Recovery of Queen Conch in the U. S. Virgin Islands

Description:

Abstract:

The queen conch is an important cultural component and an extremely valuable coral reef fishery resource throughout the Caribbean, historically second only to the spiny lobster. Comparisons of past studies with current densities from these areas continue to show that queen conch populations are depletd although we may be seeing small signs of increase. This data set investigates the population status of queen conch around St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands, through mark and recapture, habitat availability and utilization, sonic tracking, and seasonal migration studies to provide needed information for improved management.

Purpose:

The intent of this project is to investigate possible causes of the lack of recovery of queen conch, particularly juvenile, populations around St. John.

Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Range_of_Dates/Times:

Beginning_Date: 200505

Ending_Date: 201009

Currentness_Reference: ground condition

Status:

Progress: Complete

Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: None planned

Spatial_Domain:

Bounding_Coordinates:

West_Bounding_Coordinate: -64.794

East_Bounding_Coordinate: -64.661

North_Bounding_Coordinate: 18.388

South_Bounding_Coordinate: 18.286

Keywords:

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: NCEI Geoportal Filter

Theme_Keyword: CoRIS_Metadata

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: CRCP Project

Theme_Keyword: Recovery of conch populations in the U.S. Virgin Islands

Theme_Keyword: 1873

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: CoRIS Discovery Thesaurus

Theme_Keyword: Numeric Data Sets > Fish Census

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: CoRIS Theme Thesaurus

Theme_Keyword: EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Vegetation > Algae > Algal Cover

Theme_Keyword: EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Aquatic Habitat > Benthic Habitat

Theme_Keyword:

EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Marine Biology > Marine Invertebrates > Census

Theme_Keyword:

EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Marine Biology > Marine Invertebrates > Census > Population Density

Theme_Keyword:

EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Marine Biology > Marine Invertebrates > Census > Macroinvertebrates

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: ISO 19115 Topic Category

Theme_Keyword: biota

Theme_Keyword: 002

Theme_Keyword: environment

Theme_Keyword: 007

Theme_Keyword: oceans

Theme_Keyword: 014

Place:

Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: CoRIS Place Thesaurus

Place_Keyword:

COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > U. S. Virgin Islands > St. John > St. John (18N064W0011)

Place_Keyword:

OCEAN BASIN > Atlantic Ocean > Caribbean Sea > Virgin Islands > Virgin Islands > St. John (18N064W0011)

Place:

Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: CoRIS Region

Place_Keyword: USVI

Access_Constraints:

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) does not approve, recommend, or endorse any proprietary product or proprietary material contained in this data set. The NMFS Galveston Laboratory Fishery Ecology Branch compiled these data sets in order to develop a scientific basis for refining essential fish habitat designations for future amendments to fishery management plans. NMFS is not responsible for any uses of these data sets beyond those for which they were intended, and NMFS makes no claims regarding the accuracy of any data provided by agencies or individuals outside NMFS.

Use_Constraints: See Access Constraints.

Point_of_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Person_Primary:

Contact_Person: Jennifer Doerr

Contact_Organization: NOAA/NMFS/SEFSC/Galveston Laboratory/Fishery Ecology Branch

Contact_Position: Research Fishery Biologist

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: mailing and physical address

Address: 4700 Avenue U, Building 302

City: Galveston

State_or_Province: TX

Postal_Code: 77551

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 409-766-3705

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: Jennifer.Doerr@noaa.gov

Hours_of_Service: 8:00-4:30

Browse_Graphic:

Browse_Graphic_File_Name:

https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/data/oceans/coris/data/NOAA/nmfs/1873/locations_of_tagged_queen_conch.jpg

Browse_Graphic_File_Description:

All Tag Locations All Bays - Information from mark and recapture and habitat studies.

Browse_Graphic_File_Type: JPEG

Native_Data_Set_Environment:

Microsoft Windows Vista Version 6.1 (Build 7601) Service Pack 1; ESRI ArcCatalog 9.3.1.3000

Data_Quality_Information:

Logical_Consistency_Report: Not applicable.

Completeness_Report:

These data consist of multiple tagging locations of queen conch in several bays around St. John. Also included is habitat use, movement and migration information from visual surveys and long-term acoustic tracking, and environmental data such as temperature and salinity.

Lineage:

Process_Step:

Process_Description:

Three field expeditions per year were completed beginning in May 2005 and ending in September 2010, each lasting from 10-14 days. During each sampling period, we haphazardly surveyed each bay for the presence of queen conch. The majority of these surveys were conducted by snorkel, but occasional SCUBA surveys were completed. At each conch's location we measured dissolved oxygen, salinity, depth, water temperature, air temperature, and wind speed. Spatial coordinates were collected using a portable wide area augmentation system-enabled global positioning system (WAAS GPS) unit. Siphonal (shell) length and lip thickness were measured with vernier calipers. Upon initial capture each conch was tagged with a uniquely numbered disk or T-bar anchor tag by drilling a small hole adjacent to the lip of the shell and injecting the tag through the hole. A small drop of super glue secured the tag in place until the conch deposited new material permanently integrating the tag into the shell. High resolution determination of habitat type at each conch's location was completed by centering a 1-m2 quadrat over the conch and visually identifying all benthic organisms contained within the quadrat. Vemco model VR2 omnidirectional hydrophone receivers were deployed throughout each study site such that an array of overlapping detection zones was created corresponding with changes in benthic habitat structure. Range tests were performed at each location on several occasions until a maximum range of tag detection was established. Locations were tested and adjusted accordingly to ensure adequate overlap in zones between neighboring receivers. Hydrophones were mounted on steel tie-down anchors, sunk approximately 1 m into the sediment such that the receiver base rested just above the sediment surface. Receivers were secured to the anchor with a combination of cable ties, hose clamps, and a padlock to minimize the possibility of equipment loss from vandalism or natural events. During the course of the project, we deployed 12 hydrophones in Fish Bay, 4 in No Name Bay, 5 in Brown Bay, and 5 in Coral Bay. HOBO temperature loggers (Onset Computer Corp.) were deployed at each hydrophone location, as well as several surface locations throughout each bay. Prior to deploying acoustic tags, varying sizes and maturity categories of queen conch were selected to effectively represent the composition of the population at large. Individuals matching the chosen size classes were randomly captured and tagged with Vemco V7-4L-R64K acoustic transmitters (20.5 mm length, 7 mm diameter) with a time interval of 60-180 seconds and an average life expectancy of 220 days. Tags were cemented using Liquid Roc 700 Acrylic Twin Tube epoxy (MKT Fastening, LLC) onto the highest portion of the spire where signal transmission was least likely to be obstructed. After the epoxy had cured (10-15 minutes) conch were returned to their exact location, marked previously by a fluorescent flag. On each field trip data files were downloaded from the receivers using an underwater cable. Temperature loggers were downloaded by temporarily removing them from the anchors, downloading, and replacing them in their previous location. After 12 months of continuous deployment receivers were removed from their anchors, cleaned, and batteries replaced to ensure no gaps in data collection. Data files were converted to MS Excel spreadsheets and transferred into ArcView 9.1. Spatial locations of tagged conch were overlayed onto categorized NOAA benthic habitat maps (NOAA/NCCOS Biogeography Program) to examine distributions through habitat types. Movement patterns and position estimates for queen conch with acoustic tags were interpreted from locational data collected on capture/recapture and detection patterns in hydrophone data.

Process_Date: Not complete

Spatial_Reference_Information:

Horizontal_Coordinate_System_Definition:

Geographic:

Latitude_Resolution: 0.00001

Longitude_Resolution: 0.00001

Geographic_Coordinate_Units: Decimal degrees

Geodetic_Model:

Horizontal_Datum_Name: North American Datum of 1983

Ellipsoid_Name: Geodetic Reference System 80

Semi-major_Axis: 6378137

Denominator_of_Flattening_Ratio: 298.257

Entity_and_Attribute_Information:

Overview_Description:

Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:

Temp = temperature in degrees Celsius; D.O. = dissolved oxygen in mg/L; depth = water depth in meters; sal = salinity in parts per thousand; shell length = total length of each conch measured in millimeters; lip = lip thickness of each conch measured in millimeters.

Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation: NOAA/NMFS/SEFSC/Galveston Laboratory/Fishery Ecology Branch

Distribution_Information:

Distributor:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Person_Primary:

Contact_Person: Jennifer Doerr

Contact_Organization: NOAA/NMFS/SEFSC/Galveston Laboratory/Fishery Ecology Branch

Contact_Position: Research Fishery Biologist

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: mailing and physical address

Address: 4700 Avenue U, Building 302

City: Galveston

State_or_Province: TX

Postal_Code: 77551

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 409-766-3705

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: Jennifer.Doerr@noaa.gov

Hours_of_Service: 8:00-4:30

Resource_Description: Map Files

Distribution_Liability:

While every effort has been made to ensure that these data are accurate and reliable within the limits of the currrent state of the art, NOAA cannot assume liability for any damages caused by errors or omissions in the data, nor as a result of the failure of the data to function on a particular system. NOAA makes no warranty, expressed or implied, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty.

Metadata_Reference_Information:

Metadata_Date: 20200329

Metadata_Review_Date: 20120621

Metadata_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Person_Primary:

Contact_Person: Jennifer Doerr

Contact_Organization: NOAA/NMFS/SEFSC/Galveston Laboratory/Fishery Ecology Branch

Contact_Position: Research Fishery Biologist

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: mailing and physical address

Address: 4700 Avenue U, Building 302

City: Galveston

State_or_Province: TX

Postal_Code: 77551

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 409-766-3705

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: Jennifer.Doerr@noaa.gov

Hours_of_Service: 8:00-4:30

Metadata_Standard_Name: FGDC Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata

Metadata_Standard_Version: FGDC-STD-001-1998

Metadata_Time_Convention: Local Time

Online_Linkage: http://www.esri.com/metadata/esriprof80.html

CoRIS:

CoRIS_ID: 20120621074010

CoRIS_Children: None

CoRIS_Beginning_Date: 20050501

CoRIS_Ending_Date: 20100931

CoRIS_Metadata_Link:

https://www.coris.noaa.gov/metadata/records/html/queen_conch_metadata_1873.html

CoRIS_Tracking_ID: 6497