.

General Information

File Identifier:	gov.noaa.nodc:0204647
Metadata Date Stamp:	2024-01
Organization:	NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
Organization Role:	custodian

Identification Information

Title:

Puerto Rico Long-Term Coral Reef Monitoring Program database compilation: substrate cover percent, octocoral colony counts, macro invertebrate densities, fish densities, and fish biomass from 1999 to 2023 (NCEI Accession 0204647)

Abstract:

The Puerto Rico Coral Reef Monitoring Program data files include raw data (by transect) for 86 stations where substrate cover by sessile-benthic categories and fish, and motile megabenthic invertebrate taxonomic composition and densities have been characterized from 1999-2023. At present, 42 permanent stations are surveyed biannually (21 per year). For the benthic characterization, a set of five 10-meter-long permanent transects are surveyed at each station. Sessile-benthic reef communities are characterized by the continuous intercept chain-link method, following the Caribbean Coastal Marine Productivity (CARICOMP) (1994) protocol. Demersal diurnal non-cryptic reef fish populations and motile megabenthic invertebrates are surveyed by sets of five 10 x 3 meters wide (30 m2) belt-transects centered along the reference line of transects used for sessile-benthic characterizations at each reef station. From 2004-2013, a diver completed a Active Search Census (ASEC) survey for 30 minutes annotating sizes and abundances of fish and macro invertebrate’s species of interest. From 2015-2023, upon completion of the 10 meters belt-transect survey the diver swims along the same depth and physiographic reef zone for an extra 10 meters (20 x 3 meters band transect) in order to identify commercially and ecologically important fish and megabenthic invertebrates species (parrotfishes, doctorfishes, snappers, groupers, hogfishes, barracuda, mackerels, sharks, lobsters and queen conch). For each fish individual within the 30-minute ASEC survey and 60m2 band transects, a visual total length (TL) estimate in centimeters is recorded. The cephalothorax length (measurement from the tip of the rostrum to end of the thorax), also known as carapace length (CL) in centimeters is used to report the size of lobsters (Panulirus spp., Scyllarides spp.) within belt-transects. Queen conch (Lobatus gigas) length is reported as the total (diagonal) shell length in centimeters. With the length-weight relationship information available in FishBase.org, biomass estimates are calculated for commercially and ecologically important fish species. The PRCRMP data files also include a site classification spreadsheet with descriptors for each monitoring station, some of which can be used as spatial and temporal factors for statistical analyses. These descriptors include information about depth, habitat type, distance from shore, marine protected areas attributes, coordinates, and other metadata.

Browse Graphic

Browse Graphic URL:	https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/metadata/landing-page/bin/gfx?id=gov.noaa.nodc:0204647
Browse Graphic Caption:	Preview graphic
Browse Graphic Type:	PNG

Data Theme

Theme Topics:

Environment and Conservation, Oceans and Estuaries, Biology and Ecology

Spatial Domain

West Bounding Longitude:	-67.95077
South Bounding Latitude:	17.8843
East Bounding Longitude:	-65.1971
North Bounding Latitude:	18.4896

Data Quality Information

Scope (quality information applies to):

Dataset

Contact Information

Email:	ncei.info@noaa.gov
Contact Website:	https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/contact

Metadata Reference Information

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