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

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:

Department of Commerce(DOC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration(NOAA), National Marine Fisheries Service(NMFS), Southeast Fisheries Science Center(SEFSC)

Publication_Date: Unpublished material

Title:

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

Publication_Information:

Publication_Place: Beaufort, NC

Publisher:

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

Online_Linkage: <http://coastalscience.noaa.gov/about/centers/ccfhr>

Description:

Abstract:

We supply abundance information of fish species along multiple randomly oriented transects at the lowest possible taxonomic level. This information is collected from multiple stations on an annual or biennial basis.

Purpose:

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

Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Range_of_Dates/Times:

Beginning_Date: 2001

Ending_Date: Present

Currentness_Reference: ground condition

Status:

Progress: In Work

Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: Annually

Spatial_Domain:

Bounding_Coordinates:

West_Bounding_Coordinate: -83.15

East_Bounding_Coordinate: -82.95

North_Bounding_Coordinate: 24.7

South_Bounding_Coordinate: 24.4833

Keywords:

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: CRCP Project

Theme_Keyword: 20505

Theme_Keyword:

Coupling of passive and active acoustics to assess grouper aggregations in the TER

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: ISO 19115 Topic Category

Theme_Keyword: environment

Theme_Keyword: 007

Theme_Keyword: oceans

Theme_Keyword: 014

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 > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment > Reef Fish Census > Belt Transect

Place:

Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: CoRIS Place Thesaurus

Place_Keyword:

COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Florida > Monroe County > Dry Tortugas (24N082W0001)

Place_Keyword:

OCEAN BASIN > Atlantic Ocean > North Atlantic Ocean > Florida Reef Tract > Dry Tortugas > Dry Tortugas (24N082W0001)

Place:

Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: CoRIS Region

Place_Keyword: Florida

Access_Constraints: None

Use_Constraints: None

Point_of_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Person_Primary:

Contact_Person: Michael Burton

Contact_Organization:

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

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: mailing and physical

Address: 101 Piver Island Road

City: Beaufort

State_or_Province: North Carolina

Postal_Code: 28516

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 252-728-8756

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

Data_Quality_Information:

Logical_Consistency_Report: Not applicable

Completeness_Report:

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 .

Lineage:

Process_Step:

Process_Description:

, 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.

Process_Date: Not complete

Process_Step:

Process_Description:

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.

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

Entity_and_Attribute_Information:

Overview_Description:

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

Distribution_Information:

Distributor:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Person_Primary:

Contact_Person: Michael Burton

Contact_Organization:

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

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: mailing and physical

Address: 101 Piver Island Road

City: Beaufort

State_or_Province: North Carolina

Postal_Code: 28516

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 252-728-8756

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

Resource_Description: Offline Data

Distribution_Liability:

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.

Metadata_Reference_Information:

Metadata_Date: 20170311

Metadata_Review_Date: 20120613

Metadata_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Person_Primary:

Contact_Person: Erik Ebert

Contact_Organization: Center for Coastal Fisheries and Habitat Research(CCFHR)

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: mailing and physical

Address: 101 Pivers Island Rd.

City: Beaufort

State_or_Province: North Carolina

Postal_Code: 28516

Contact_Voice_Telephone: (252)728-3595

Metadata_Standard_Name: FGDC Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata

Metadata_Standard_Version: FGDC-STD-001-1998

Online_Linkage:

<http://www.ncddc.noaa.gov/metadataresource/metadata-references/files/ncddcmdprofile_v2.pdf>

CoRIS:

CoRIS_ID: 20120613052306

CoRIS_Children: None

CoRIS_Beginning_Date: 20010101

CoRIS_Ending_Date: 99991231

CoRIS_Metadata_Link:

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

CoRIS_Tracking_ID: 6495