Description:
Author(s):
Minton, D., Burdick, D., den Haan, J., Kolinski, S., Schils, T.
Title:
Comparison of a photographic and an in situ method to assess the coral reef benthic community in Apra Harbor, Guam
Publication Date:
2009
Issue:
UOGML Technical Report 135
Page(s):
48
Abstract:
"Many methods exist to assess coral reef benthic communities, all of which have specific advantages and limitations. Selecting an appropriate method is one of the most important decisions made by researchers and must consider the project-specific objectives; the type, resolution, and precision of the data to be collected; and the site-specific conditions of the study area. In this study, an in situ quadrat method (ISM) and a photographic quadrat method (PM) were compared using eight different data types collected on a heterogeneous coral reef in Apra Harbor, Guam. These data types included: 1) percent cover of all benthic taxa, 2) density of coral colonies, 3) size of coral colonies, 4) number of coral fragments, 5) percent of coral colonies undergoing complete fission, 6) percent mortality of colonies having undergone complete fission, 7) occurrence of gross growth or tissue loss anomalies on coral, and 8) taxonomic richness. Data collected using each method were compared to assess the direct comparability of the methods when describing the coral reef community within the same site and to assess the similarity of the communities described by each method across the study area."
Electronic Access:
Notes:
Prepared for Naval Facilities Engineering Command Pacific, Pearl Harbor, HI
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