Assess/monitor effects of MPA status on reef fish populations and spawning aggregations in the Tortugas Ecological Reserves

Frequently anticipated questions:

• What does this data set describe?
  1. How might this data set be cited?
  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?
  3. What does it look like?
  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?
  5. What is the general form of this data set?
  6. How does the data set represent geographic features?
  7. How does the data set describe geographic features?
• Who produced the data set?
  1. Who are the originators of the data set?
  2. Who also contributed to the data set?
  3. To whom should users address questions about the data?
• Why was the data set created?
• How was the data set created?
  1. From what previous works were the data drawn?
  2. How were the data generated, processed, and modified?
  3. What similar or related data should the user be aware of?
• How reliable are the data; what problems remain in the data set?
  1. How well have the observations been checked?
  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?
  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?
  4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?
  5. How consistent are the relationships among the data, including topology?
• How can someone get a copy of the data set?
  1. Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?
  2. Who distributes the data?
  3. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set?
  4. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?
  5. How can I download or order the data?
• Who wrote the metadata?

What does this data set describe?

1. How might this data set be cited?
   Department of Commerce(DOC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration(NOAA), National Marine Fisheries Service(NMFS), Southeast Fisheries Science Center(SEFSC), Unpublished material, Assess/monitor effects of MPA status on reef fish populations and spawning aggregations in the Tortugas Ecological Reserves: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration(NOAA), National Marine Fisheries Service(NMFS), Southeast Fisheries Science Center(SEFSC), Center for Coastal Fisheries and Habitat Research (CCFHR), Beaufort, NC.

   Online Links:

   • https://coastalscience.noaa.gov/

2. What geographic area does the data set cover?

   West_Bounding_Coordinate: -83.15

   East_Bounding_Coordinate: -82.95

   North_Bounding_Coordinate: 24.7

   South_Bounding_Coordinate: 24.4833

3. What does it look like?
4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?

   Beginning_Date: 2001

   Ending_Date: Present

   Currentness_Reference: ground condition

5. What is the general form of this data set?

6. How does the data set represent geographic features?
   1. How are geographic features stored in the data set?
      
   2. What coordinate system is used to represent geographic features?
      Horizontal positions are specified in geographic coordinates, that is, latitude and longitude. Latitudes are given to the nearest 0.00001. Longitudes are given to the nearest 0.00001. Latitude and longitude values are specified in Decimal Degrees.
7. How does the data set describe geographic features?

   Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:

   Logistic information - diver name, dive buddy, date, time of survey, station code, replicate no., transect bearing, visibility. Taxa presence - as the tape roles out at a relatively constant speed, the diver records all target fish species to the lowest taxonomic level possible that he sees. If the fish can only be identified to the family or genus level then this is all that is recorded. If the fish cannot be identified to the family level then no entry is necessary. Abundance & size - the number of individuals per species is tallied. Sizes were not recorded until 2010, although sporadic opportunistic sizes exist in the early years on some dives.

   Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation: NOAA/NMFS/SEFSC/CCFHR

Who produced the data set?

1. Who are the originators of the data set? (may include formal authors, digital compilers, and editors)
   • Department of Commerce(DOC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration(NOAA), National Marine Fisheries Service(NMFS), Southeast Fisheries Science Center(SEFSC)
2. Who also contributed to the data set?
3. To whom should users address questions about the data?
   Michael Burton

   National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration(NOAA), National Marine Fisheries Service(NMFS), Southeast Fisheries Science Center(SEFSC), Center for Coastal Fisheries and Habitat Research (CCFHR)

   101 Piver Island Road

   Beaufort, North Carolina
   

   252-728-8756 (voice)

   Hours_of_Service: Monday-Friday 8:00am-5:00pm EST

Why was the data set created?

Collection of fish abundance data for the assessment of effectiveness of marine protected areas in recovering overexploited fish populations in the Tortugas Ecological Reserves.

How was the data set created?

1. From what previous works were the data drawn?
2. How were the data generated, processed, and modified?

   Date: Not complete (process 1 of 2)

   , South Reserve: Once in the field, the boat captain navigates to previously selected station locations using a vessel-mounted GPS unit. On-site, divers are deployed on the exact station GPS numbers and maintain contact with each other throughout the entire census. One diver is responsible for collecting data on the fish communities utilizing the belt-transect visual census technique over an area of 30m length X limit of visibility width. The belt-transect diver obtains a random compass heading from his data sheet upon arrival at the bottom, swims that heading for a random number of fin kicks written on his pre-printed data sheet, and then swims out his 30 m transect tape along a second random compass heading course, identifying and counting all snappers, groupers, and other major predator species he sees to the limit of visibility. Visibility is measured as the tape is reeled in so that a density calculation can be made later. Once the transect is finished and the diver is back at his starting point, he consults his data sheet for the next random compass heading and random number of fin kicks for the next transect and repeats the process. Up to four transects can be done at each station, depending on time and air supply. Visibility at each site must be sufficient to allow for identification of fish at a minimum of 3m away or the transect counts will be aborted. The second diver accompanies the primary counter, staying behind and off to the side of him, so as not to disturb the count. He may be tasked to do other data collection, such as species diversity, gross habitat characterizations, etc.

   Date: Not complete (process 2 of 2)

   North Reserve: Once in the field, the boat captain navigates to previously selected station locations using a vessel-mounted GPS unit. On-site, divers are deployed on the exact station GPS numbers and maintain contact with each other throughout the entire census. One diver is responsible for collecting data on the fish communities utilizing the belt-transect visual census technique over an area of 30m length X limit of visibility width. North Reserve habitat is configured differently, in a more spur and groove style of reef alignment, and thus the transects are conducted differently from the way they are in the South Reserve. Upon arrival on the bottom, divers swim to the ledge-sand interface. The data collector will swim one transect to the left (270 degrees while facing the reef), the next transect to the right (90 degrees while facing the reef), one transect to the diagonal left up the reef slope (315 degrees) and one transect to the diagonal right up the reef slope (45 degrees). All other data collection strategies employed in the South Reserve dives are used here. The habitat is never altered in any manner by lifting or moving structure, as the observer is recording only fish he sees out in the open. The diver is instructed to look forward toward to the end of the transect and to his sides, but not behind him. On-site, no attempt to avoid structural features within a habitat such as a sand patch, coral head, an anchor or a derelict fish trap should be made as these features affect fish communities and are "real" component of the habitats. The only instances when the transect should deviate from the designated path is to stay above 130 ft (limitations imposed by diving). The typical transect should take only about 5 minutes regardless of habitat type or number of animals present, as we are counting only the larger more visible species.

3. What similar or related data should the user be aware of?

How reliable are the data; what problems remain in the data set?

1. How well have the observations been checked?
   
2. How accurate are the geographic locations?
   
3. How accurate are the heights or depths?
   
4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?
   This data consists of two fish community surveys conducted in the offshore marine habitats of the Tortugas South Ecological Reserve and the Tortugas North Ecological Reserve of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Original station selections for the South Reserve study were made based on habitat characterizations made from echosounders aboard a NOAA research vessel. Additional stations were added using knowledge and observations provided by local experienced fishermen used in the project. Original station locations for the North Reserve study were obtained from NCCOS CCFHR reearchers at the Beaufort NOAA lab who had been conducting seagrass research in the North Reserve. One additional station was added using input from FWC's senior coral biologist. Over time, some changes were made to the universe of sampling stations and the frequency of sampling .
5. How consistent are the relationships among the observations, including topology?
   Not applicable

How can someone get a copy of the data set?

Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?

Access_Constraints: None

Use_Constraints: None

1. Who distributes the data set? (Distributor 1 of 1)
   
   Michael Burton

   National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration(NOAA), National Marine Fisheries Service(NMFS), Southeast Fisheries Science Center(SEFSC), Center for Coastal Fisheries and Habitat Research (CCFHR)

   101 Piver Island Road

   Beaufort, North Carolina
   

   252-728-8756 (voice)

   Hours_of_Service: Monday-Friday 8:00am-5:00pm EST

2. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set? Offline Data
3. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?

   These data were prepared by an agency of the United States Government. Neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, make any warranty, expressed or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference therein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof. Any views and opinions expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government or any agency thereof. Although all data have been used by NOAA, no warranty, expressed or implied, is made by NOAA as to the accuracy of the data and/or related materials. The act of distribution shall not constitute any such warranty, and no responsibility is assumed by NOAA in the use of these data or related materials.NOAA makes no warranty regarding these data, expressed or implied, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty. NOAA can not assume liability for and damages caused by any errors or omissions in these data, nor as a result of the failure of these data to function on a particular system.

4. How can I download or order the data?

Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:

Last modified: 25-Jul-2023
Last Reviewed: 13-Jun-2012

Metadata author:

Erik Ebert

Center for Coastal Fisheries and Habitat Research(CCFHR)

101 Pivers Island Rd.

Beaufort, North Carolina

(252)728-3595 (voice)

Metadata standard:

FGDC Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata (FGDC-STD-001-1998)