Abstract:
The project was planned to document the habitat value of Acropora cervicornis, staghorn coral, colonies or stands/thickets as they changed in configuration through growth and disturbance. Research addressed environmental condition and productivity of A. cervicornis by investigating variations over time in health, vitality, and growth and use as habitat for reef fishes, including disturbances by human or natural events.
Purpose:
Data are intended to elucidate the relationship between colony configuration and fish assemblages to foster understanding of ecological services provided by the branching coral and guide manager's decisions and restoration activities. Data include 1) reef fish assemblage measures (i.e., abundance, individual sizes, and identification to the lowest taxonomic level possible) and 2) colony measures of size, coverage, growth, mortality, and indications of stress (e.g., presence of disease or predation).
Description_of_Geographic_Extent:
The study sites range from St. John, USVI westward to Mona Island, off the west coast of Puerto Rico
Bounding_Coordinates:
West_Bounding_Coordinate: -67.68
East_Bounding_Coordinate: -64.57
North_Bounding_Coordinate: 18.54
South_Bounding_Coordinate: 17.80
Theme:
Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: NCEI Geoportal Filter
Theme_Keyword: CoRIS_Metadata
Theme:
Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: CRCP Project
Theme_Keyword:
Productivity of Acropora cervicornis habitat and impacts from natural and human disturbance
Theme_Keyword: 10292
Theme:
Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: none
Theme_Keyword: Acropora cervicornis
Theme_Keyword: staghorn coral
Theme_Keyword: reef fishes
Theme_Keyword: habitat damage
Theme_Keyword: coastal pollution
Theme_Keyword: fishing practices
Theme:
Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: ISO 19115 Topic Category
Theme_Keyword: biota
Theme_Keyword: 002
Theme:
Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: CoRIS Discovery Thesaurus
Theme_Keyword: Geographic Information > 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 > Coral Cover
Theme_Keyword: EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Coral Diseases
Theme_Keyword: EARTH SCIENCE > Hydrosphere > Water Quality
Theme_Keyword:
EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment > Damage Assessment
Theme_Keyword:
EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Damage Assessment > Natural
Theme_Keyword:
EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Aquatic Habitat > Reef Habitat > Description
Theme_Keyword:
EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment > Benthos Analysis > Transect Monitoring > Linear Transect (point)
Theme_Keyword:
EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment > Benthos Analysis > Quadrat Monitoring > Photograph Analysis
Theme_Keyword:
EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment > Reef Fish Census > Belt Transect
Place:
Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: none
Place_Keyword: Puerto Rico
Place_Keyword: St. John
Place_Keyword: St. Thomas
Place_Keyword: Mona Island
Place_Keyword: USVI
Place_Keyword: La Parguera
Place_Keyword: Thatch Key
Place_Keyword: No Name Bay
Place_Keyword: Lovango Key
Place:
Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: CoRIS Place Thesaurus
Place_Keyword:
OCEAN BASIN > Atlantic Ocean > Caribbean Sea > Virgin Islands > Lesser Antilles > U. S. Virgin Islands (17N064W0000)
Place_Keyword:
COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > U. S. Virgin Islands > U. S. Virgin Islands > U. S. Virgin Islands (17N064W0000)
Place_Keyword:
OCEAN BASIN > Atlantic Ocean > Caribbean Sea /North Atlantic Ocean > Puerto Rico > Puerto Rico (18N066W0000)
Place_Keyword:
COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Puerto Rico > Puerto Rico (18N066W0000)
Place_Keyword:
OCEAN BASIN > Atlantic Ocean > Caribbean Sea /North Atlantic Ocean > Puerto Rico > Isla de Mona (18N067W0002)
Place_Keyword:
COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Puerto Rico > Isla de Mona (18N067W0002)
Place_Keyword:
OCEAN BASIN > Atlantic Ocean > Caribbean Sea /North Atlantic Ocean > Puerto Rico > Lajas > La Parguera (17N067W0013)
Place_Keyword:
COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Puerto Rico > Lajas > La Parguera (17N067W0013)
Place_Keyword:
OCEAN BASIN > Atlantic Ocean > Caribbean Sea > Virgin Islands > Leeward Islands > St. Thomas (18N064W0033)
Place_Keyword:
COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > U. S. Virgin Islands > St. Thomas > St. Thomas (18N064W0033)
Place_Keyword:
OCEAN BASIN > Atlantic Ocean > Caribbean Sea > Virgin Islands > Virgin Islands > St. John (18N064W0011)
Place_Keyword:
COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > U. S. Virgin Islands > St. John > St. John (18N064W0011)
Place:
Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: CoRIS Region
Place_Keyword: PR
Place_Keyword: USVI
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Galveston Laboratory Fishery Ecology Branch compiled this data set in order to develop a scientific basis for understanding coral reef ecosystem dynamics and for refining essential fish habitat designation 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. NMFS does not approve, recommend, or endorse any proprietary product or proprietary material mentioned in these files. Dataset credit requested and NMFS would appreciate recognition as the resource from which these data were obtained in any publications and/or other representations of these data.
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