Dataset: Mo’orea Baseline Survey - CAFI Community

See the "Related Datasets" section for other closely related data from the same project/study/experiments. 

Study Description (describes this and related datasets):

Two field experiments and one observational survey were performed investigating how cryptic invertebrate communities (CAFI - Coral Associated Fauna and Invertebrates) interact with and influence coral reef ecosystems in Mo'orea, French Polynesia (2019-2021). The research addresses how spatial configuration of coral habitat affects CAFI community assembly and the reciprocal effects of CAFI on coral health and growth.

Study Experiments and Surveys:
(1) Maatea Size Experiment examining effects of coral colony size on CAFI communities using 60 Pocillopora colonies spanning a natural size gradient.
(2) MRB Amount Experiment testing effects of coral habitat density on CAFI colonization using 54 Pocillopora colonies in low, medium, and high density treatments arranged on a 9x6 experimental grid.
(3) Mo'orea Survey characterizing natural CAFI communities across 114 Pocillopora colonies at multiple reef sites.

Acronyms:

MRB = Maharepa Research Base
CAFI = Coral Associated Fauna and Invertebrates
AFDW = Ash-Free Dry Weight
WoRMS = World Register of Marine Species (marinespecies.org)
AphiaID = Aphia ID (ID for taxonomic names at WoRMS)
LSID = Life Sciences Identifier (ID for taxonomic names - ID includes what database it is for)

​Project location description:

Mo'orea Island, French Polynesia. Data were collected at three primary study sites on backreef habitats at 2-10 meter depth: (1) Maatea site on the south shore east of Atiha Pass (17.60°S, 149.81°W), (2) MRB (Maharepa Research Base) site on the north shore near Maharepa township (17.48°S, 149.81°W), and (3) multiple survey sites distributed around the island including northern and western shores. All sites were located 30-300 meters from the reef crest in sand and coral rubble habitats dominated by Pocillopora corals. Field work was conducted from the UC Berkeley Richard B. Gump South Pacific Research Station.