Dataset: fairy basslet census Eleuthera

During the summer of 2012, a field experiment was conducted on 14 isolated patch reefs near the Cape Eleuthera Institute, Eleuthera, Bahamas. Reefs were paired into blocks by location, size, depth, and vertical relief so that reefs in each block demonstrated similar environmental characteristics. Reefs were then randomly assigned to one of two lionfish treatments:  low lionfish reefs (where divers regularly removed lionfish), and high lionfish reefs  (where lionfish were added to maintain differential lionfish densities. At each reef, the investigator selected two isolated populations of fairy basslet on small ledges sufficiently separated from each other and from other suitable basslet habitat to inhibit emigration or immigration. Populations were then randomly assigned to either receive artificially increased recruitment or remain unmanipulated. Following the establishment of treatments, the investigator returned to census each population after two days, four days and weekly thereafter, with a final census after four weeks. During each census, the investigator recorded the size of each basslet (adult and juvenile), the total population size, any predators within 2-m of the target basslet ledge, and whether those predators where actively hunting among the experimental basslet populations.