Dataset: LTR - Thalassoma Surveys

Name: LTR - Thalassoma Surveys
Published: 2016-05-23
Keywords: oceans

Project:

Cryptic density dependence: the effects of spatial, ontogenetic, and individual variation in reef fish (CDD_in_Reef_Fish)

Principal Investigator:

Craig Osenberg (University of Georgia, UGA)

Co-Principal Investigator:

Thomas Frazer (University of Florida, UF)

International Collaborator:

Jeffrey Shima (Victoria University of Wellington)

Contact:

Craig Osenberg (University of Georgia, UGA)

BCO-DMO Data Manager:

Stephen R. Gegg (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, WHOI BCO-DMO)

Version:

23 May 2016

Version Date:

2016-05-23

Restricted:

Current State:

Preliminary and in progress

LTR - Thalassoma Surveys

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Description

Thalassoma surveys were conducted from 2003-2007, 2009, 2012, and 2014. These surveys were conducted at each of 192 reefs. Beginning in 2012, reefs 129-144 and added reefs 193-198 were manipulated for a project studying the effects of vermetid removals; information pertaining to this manipulation can be found in the project “Spatial patterns of coral-vermetid interactions: short-term effects and long-term consequences”. All data collected on reefs 129-144 and 193-198 beginning in 2012 can also be found under that project. These reefs are characterized in the “Long Term Reef Physical Characteristics” dataset. Thalassoma surveys are meant to characterize size structure of Thalassoma and other fish species thought to affect Thalassoma dynamics. We ultimately hope to use the data on size structure and numbers of Thalassoma to infer settlement rates, growth rates and survival.

Location: Moorea, French Polynesia (17.48 degrees S, 149.82 degrees W)

Methods & Sampling

Sampling and Analytical Methodology:
A single snorkeler approaches one of the 192 patch reefs (for size of reef, see “Physical Characteristics” dataset, each are ~ 1-8 m² in aerial extent) swam around it and attempted to recognize and estimate the size of all the Thalassoma on the reef. Large adults that were clearly attracted by the arrival of the snorkeler were ignored. We also estimated the number and size of resident Gomphosus varius, Pseudocheilinus lineatus all around the reef. Counts of small recruits of labrids and scarids were combined, excluding those three species. We also counted and identified species that we considered potential predators that were within ~ 3 meters of the reef for each patch reef. In 2012 settler counts were not completed.

Materials: Data slate with photographs of Thalassoma of different size classes to help with the visual estimates at each site.

Species Abbreviation Codes:

Abbreviation		Common Name					Scientific name
beb				big eye emperor					Monotaxis grandoculis
car				cardinal fish						Apogon spp.
fts				flame-tail snapper					Lutjanus fulvus
liz				lizardfish							Saurida spp.
lnf				lionfish							Pterois spp. or Dendrochirus spp.
mry				Moray							Gymnothorax spp. or Echidna spp. or Scuticaria spp.
mw				maori wrasse						Cheilinus spp.
sol				soldierfish						Myripristis spp.
sp				sand perch						Parapercis spp.
sq				squirellfish						Neoniphon spp. or Sargocentron spp.
stnf				Stonefish							Synanceia spp.
tpf				trumpetfish						Aulostomus chinensis
ydb				yellow dot bream					Gnathodentex aurolineatus
snp				snapper							Lutjanidae
carrec			cardinal fish recruit					Apogon spp.
mwj				maori wrasse juvenile				Cheilinus spp.
bebj				big eye bream juvenile				Monotaxis grandoculis
solj				soldierfish juvenile					Myripristis spp.
ydbj				yellow dot bream juvenile			Gnathodentex aurolineatus
carj				juvenile cardinal fish				Apogon spp.
oct				octopus			
spotted mry		spotted moray						Gymnothorax moringa or sp?
scorpaenid		scorpaenid			
pfr				pufferfish/puffer/puffer fish			Arothron sp
cornet fish		cornet fish						Fistularia commersonii
flounder			flounder							Canthigaster solandri or Arothon meleagris
box fish			box fish							Ostracion sp or Lactoria sp. (Ostraciidae)
bream			bream							nemipteridae
blck sq			black squirrelfish					Sargocentron spp
seabream		seabream						Acanthopargus sp? Or just Sparidae
razor fish			razor fish							Insiitstius sp
checker			checker wrasse					Rhinecanthus aculeatus
ot				octopus maybe? Orange trigger?			
blcktrig			black trigger						Melichthys sp
argus			peacock wrasse					Halichoeres argus
snowflake mry		snowflake moray					Echidna nebulosa
longface emperor	Longface emperor					Lethrinus olivaceus
clown coris		Clown coris						Coris aygula
orange trigger		Orange-lined triggerfish				Balistapus undulatus
scythe trigger		Scythe triggerfish					Sufflamen bursa
checker wrasse	Checkerboard wrasse				Halichoeres hortulanus
picasso			Picasso triggerfish					Rhinecanthus aculeatus
porcupine			Porcupine fish						Diodon sp
yellow anal fin snp	snapper							Lutjanus sp
yellow tail snp		snapper							Lutjanus sp
tripletail			triple tail wrasse					Cheilinus trilobatus
bw puffer			Black and white pufferfish			Arothron sp
uncertain			uncertain if a settler? 2003 reefs 99, 110

Data Processing Description

Data Processing:

Calculations: Note: data were entered into excel and then restructured with a macro to create the final data set. Because of this data entry method there maybe two similar entries. (e.g., if there were two fish of species or type X that were the same size (Y), they would each be on the final data sheet as Fish X, Size Y, count: 1, instead of Fish X and Y size count: 2)

BCO-DMO Processing Notes
- Generated from original file "LTR_ThalassomaSurveys.csv" contributed by Rebecca Atkins
- Parameter names edited to conform to BCO-DMO naming convention found at Choosing Parameter Name
- Any blank rows removed

Data Files

File
LTR_ThalassomaSurveys.csv (Comma Separated Values (.csv), 3.58 MB) MD5:f09095b94e32aa322e97dafd89d6e2d9 Primary data file for dataset ID 645195

More Information about this dataset

Funding Sources

Funding Source	Award Number
NSF Division of Ocean Sciences	OCE-0242312

Deployments

Deployment	Synonyms	Start Date	Platform	Investigator
Osenberg_et_al_Moorea		2003-05-19	Osenberg et al Moorea	Craig Osenberg (Principal Investigator)	data info

Instruments

Diving Mask and Snorkel

Supplied Name: Mask and snorkel

Supplied Description:

Instrument Type

Generic Name: Diving Mask and Snorkel

Generic Description:

A diving mask (also half mask, dive mask or scuba mask) is an item of diving equipment that allows underwater divers, including, scuba divers, free-divers, and snorkelers to see clearly underwater.

Snorkel: A breathing apparatus for swimmers and surface divers that allows swimming or continuous use of a face mask without lifting the head to breathe, consisting of a tube that curves out of the mouth and extends above the surface of the water.

Measuring Tape

Supplied Name: Transect Tape

Supplied Description:

Materials: transect tape and slates

Instrument Type

Generic Name: Measuring Tape

Generic Description:

A tape measure or measuring tape is a flexible ruler. It consists of a ribbon of cloth, plastic, fibre glass, or metal strip with linear-measurement markings. It is a common tool for measuring distance or length.

Underwater Writing Slate

Supplied Name: Slate

Supplied Description:

Materials: transect tape and slates

Instrument Type

Generic Name: Underwater Writing Slate

Generic Description:

Underwater writing slates and pencils are used to transport pre-dive plans underwater, to record facts whilst underwater and to aid communication with other divers.

Parameters

Date and time formats are described in python strftime() syntax.

Supplied Name	Supplied description	Supplied Units	Standard Name
DATE	date of data observation	DD-MMM-YYYY	date
Reef	Number corresponding to reef ID	dimensionless	site
Time	time of begin observation period for site	HH:MM	time
Size	visual estimate of length	mm	length
Treatment	Treatment (does not apply to this data set)	NA	treatment
Number	number of individuals of given species/length	number of individuals	number
No_Settlers	number of new settlers	number of individuals	number
Predators	Also gives ID of "other predators"; as per abbreviation codes listed below	number of individuals	number
Species	Species or category	text	species
Notes	free text notes corresponding to observation; site; date; etc; Also gives ID of "other predators"; as per abbreviation codes listed in Aquisition decription	text	comment
Observer	name of observer (name of observer (Jeff Shima; Sean Geange; Craig W. Osenberg; Jada S. White; Colette St. Mary; Chris McDermot); (JS; Geange; CWO; White; JSW; CSTM; CMcD; LR; Kindsvater)	text	person

Database

Contribute Data

Dataset: LTR - Thalassoma Surveys