Eggleston, David; Bohnenstiehl, Del

Integrating Visual Ecological Surveys, Passive Acoustics and Habitat Photogrammetry to Characterize Reef Fish Assemblages, Spawning Activity & Resilience Among Management Zones in the FKNMS Post-Hurricane Irma

2021

NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program; North Carolina State University

"This project used a multidisciplinary approach to quantify reef fish species composition, reef structural complexity and habitat associations among the various management zones (Sanctuary Preservation Areas, SPA; Special Use, Research Only Areas, SUA; Ecological Reserve, ER SPA; and Open to fishing, no management designation) in the lower (Zone D) Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS). Methods included a combination of visual surveys, passive acoustic monitoring, and habitat mapping using visual survey techniques, as well as relatively novel habitat photogrammetry techniques. The data and results are providing fine-scale information among the various management zones on: (i) coral assemblages and their contribution to habitat complexity, (ii) fish density and diversity, (iii) the underwater soundscape, and (iv) resilience of the coral reef soundscape to hurricane impacts."

passive acoustic monitoring, habitat mapping, photogrammetry, reef fish, coral reef, reef visual census, soundscape, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary

NOS

OCM

FY2021; CRCP Project ID 31209; Project Title: FY18 - Domestic Coral Reef Conservation Grants; Principal Investigator: Liz Fairey; Grant NA18NOS4820113.

NA18NOS4820113