Vermetid counts from long-term vermetid removal reefs in Moorea, French Polynesia from 2012-2016

Website: https://www.bco-dmo.org/dataset/645936
Data Type: Other Field Results
Version: 2
Version Date: 2017-12-05

Project
» Spatial patterns of coral-vermetid interactions: short-term effects and long-term consequences (Vermetids_Corals)
ContributorsAffiliationRole
Osenberg, CraigUniversity of Georgia (UGA)Principal Investigator, Contact
Frazer, ThomasUniversity of Florida (UF)Co-Principal Investigator
Shima, JeffreyVictoria University of WellingtonInternational Collaborator
Gegg, Stephen R.Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI BCO-DMO)BCO-DMO Data Manager
York, Amber D.Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI BCO-DMO)BCO-DMO Data Manager


Coverage

Spatial Extent: Lat:-17.47499 Lon:-149.79251
Temporal Extent: 2012-01-24 - 2016-08-06

Dataset Description

This dataset contains counts of the vermetid species Ceraesignum maximum at each Long Term Vermetid Removal (LTVR) Reef at the "TOW" site in Moorea, French Polynesia (-17.4745,-149.7925).  The surveys were conducted between 2012 and 2014 as part of an ongoing census. These data are meant to provide contextual information for how vermetids affect reef communities. 

Long Term Vermetid Removal (LTVR) Reef sites in this project are manipulated reefs characterized in the Long Term Reef Physical Characteristics dataset.

Reefs labeled "TOW" in this dataset, numbered 129-144, are a subset of a larger number of Long Term Reefs (LTR) that were monitored as part of the project "Cryptic density dependence: the effects of spatial, ontogenetic, and individual variation in reef fish" beginning in 2003. This long term study continues to monitor those reefs in addition to reefs 193-198 starting in 2012. Data for these reefs between the years 2003 and 2009 can be found on the project site http://www.bco-dmo.org/project/540423.

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

Other associated LTVR datasets:
LTVR - Fate of Reefs - Contains latitude and longitude of reefs used in this dataset 
LTVR - Physical Characteristics - Contains characteristics of reefs used in this dataset.
LTVR - Fish Survey
LTVR - Percent Cover Point Contact
LTVR - Percent Visual Cover
LTVR - Pomacentrids
LTVR - Thalasssoma
LTVR - Vermetid Removal
LTVR - Vermetid Sizes in Quadrat

 


Methods & Sampling

Sampling and Analytical Methodology:
At each of the reefs monitored for the vermetid removal study, Ceraesignum maximum (vermetid snail) were counted by a diver swimming up to each of the 22 patch reefs.

Materials: snorkel gear, dive slate


Data Processing Description

Data Processing:
(NA/No Processing notes)

NA- Not applicable (never recorded) to this data set
NR- Not recorded at certain times throughout the data setnd stands for "no data" and is the default missing data indentifier in the BCO-DMO system.

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

Current data version 2: 2017-12-05 replaces version 1: 2016-05-23 and extends the dataset time range to 2016


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Data Files

File
LTVR_VermetidCounts.csv
(Comma Separated Values (.csv), 4.84 KB)
MD5:0f0cf2f2aa50a5891a50117d4bdfd6ba
Primary data file for dataset ID 645936

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Parameters

ParameterDescriptionUnits
DATEDate data collected DD-MMM-YYYY
OBSERVInitials of observer (Craig Osenberg; Jeff Shima) (CWO; JS ) text
SITESite name (TOW) text
REEFReef # (129-144; 193-198) dimensionless
TREATMENTTreatment type (Control/Removal) text
C_maximum_counts_JSCounts of D. maximum by JS (0-230) number of individuals
C_maximum_counts_CWOCounts of D. maximum by CWO (0-230) number of individuals
NotesNotes text


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Instruments

Dataset-specific Instrument Name
Transect Tape
Generic Instrument Name
Measuring Tape
Dataset-specific Description
Materials: transect tape and slates
Generic Instrument 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.

Dataset-specific Instrument Name
Slate
Generic Instrument Name
Underwater Writing Slate
Dataset-specific Description
Materials: transect tape and slates
Generic Instrument 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.

Dataset-specific Instrument Name
Mask and snorkel
Generic Instrument Name
Diving Mask and Snorkel
Generic Instrument 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.


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Deployments

Osenberg_et_al_Moorea

Website
Platform
Osenberg et al Moorea
Start Date
2003-05-19
End Date
2015-07-12


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Project Information

Spatial patterns of coral-vermetid interactions: short-term effects and long-term consequences (Vermetids_Corals)

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


Description from NSF abstract:
Ecological surprises are most likely to be manifest in diverse communities where many interactions remain uninvestigated. Coral reefs harbor much of the world's biodiversity, and recent studies by the investigators suggest that one overlooked, but potentially important, biological interaction involves vermetid gastropods. Vermetid gastropods are nonmobile, tube-building snails that feed via an extensive mucus net. Vermetids reduce coral growth by up to 80%, and coral survival by as much as 60%. Because effects vary among coral taxa, vermetids may substantially alter the structure of coral communities as well as the community of fishes and invertebrates that inhabit the coral reef.

The investigators will conduct a suite of experimental and observational studies that: 1) quantify the effects of four species of vermetids across coral species to assess if species effects and responses are concordant or idiosyncratic; 2) use meta-analysis to compare effects of vermetids relative to other coral stressors and determine the factors that influence variation in coral responses; 3) determine the role of coral commensals that inhabit the branching coral, Pocillopora, and evaluate how the development of the commensal assemblage modifies the deleterious effects of vermetids; 4) determine how vermetid mucus nets affect the local environment of corals and evaluate several hypotheses about proposed mechanisms; and 5) assess the long-term implications of vermetids on coral communities and the fishes and invertebrates that depend on the coral.

Note: The Principal Investigator, Dr. Craig W. Osenberg, was at the University of Florida at the time the NSF award was granted. Dr. Osenberg moved to the University of Georgia during the summer of 2014 (current contact information).



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Funding

Funding SourceAward
NSF Division of Ocean Sciences (NSF OCE)

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