32998
Coral reef fish biomass and benthic cover data from Timor-Leste in June 2013
Timor: Fish
Data Set
Published / External
27416
Timor Leste
Project
Completed
2015
Coral reef fish and benthos were surveyed at 150 shallow-water coral reef sites across the north coast of Timor-Leste and around Atauro Island in June 2013 during a 21-day survey mission. This project was conducted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center's Coral Reef Ecosystem Program (CREP) using consistent methods, survey design, and personnel.
Fish biomass and benthic cover were estimated at all survey sites using the stationary point count (SPC) method. The SPC method catalogs the diversity (species richness), abundance (numeric density) and biomass (fish mass per unit area) of diurnally active reef fish assemblages in shallow-water (less than 30 m) hard-bottom habitats. Visual estimates of benthic cover and topographic complexity are also recorded, with benthic organisms grouped into broad functional categories (e.g., 'Hard Coral', 'Macroalgae'). A stratified random sampling (StRS) design was employed, similar to surveys conducted by NOAA CREP of the coral reef ecosystems throughout the U.S.-Pacific regions.
The goal of the survey work was to generate baseline data on the nearshore coral reef fish assemblages and associated benthic communities around Timor-Leste's north coast and Atauro Island. Surveys were concentrated around these areas due to (1) limited time and resources, but also (2) low water visibility and safety concerns for potential dive survey operations along the south shore. In addition to the visual observations of reef fish and the associated benthos, photographs of the seafloor were taken using a photoquadrat method and were later analyzed for benthic cover. These two additional datasets are documented separately.
The reef fish and benthic estimate data collected during the 2013 mission in Timor-Leste can be accessed online via the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) Ocean Archive.
In 2011, NOAA and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Timor-Leste Mission formed a 5-year bi-lateral partnership agreement from 2012 to 2016, in support of the Government of Timor-Leste—particularly the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MAF)—by addressing significant information gaps in their nearshore marine ecosystems. Specifically, MAF asked NOAA to address the following questions:
1. Where are the nearshore marine resources?
2. What are the nearshore marine resources?
3. How are they changing over time and what threats are potentially causing these changes?
4. What approaches are needed to manage and conserve the nearshore marine resources?
With financial support from USAID and in-kind support from the NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP), the NOAA Coral Reef Ecosystem Program (NOAA-CREP) conducted baseline ecosystem assessment surveys to inform ecosystem-based management planning in Timor-Leste. The primary activities conducted by NOAA to answer these questions included:
1. satellite mapping of nearshore habitats,
2. conducting coral reef ecosystem assessments,
3. establishing ecological baselines for climate change, and
4. building management capacity by developing a spatial data framework
The reef fish survey data described herein resulted from the second activity to conduct coral reef ecosystem assessments.
McCoy K, Ayotte P, Gray A, Lino K, Schumacher B, Sudnovsky M. 2015. Coral reef fish biomass and benthic cover along the north coast of Timor-Leste based on underwater visual surveys in June 2013. Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, PIFSC Data Report, DR-15-004, 18 p. + Appendices. doi:10.7289/v5k0728f.
and
Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center. 2017. Interdisciplinary baseline ecosystem assessment surveys to inform ecosystem-based management planning in Timor-Leste: Final Report. Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, PIFSC Special Publication, SP-17-002, 234 p. https://doi.org/10.7289/V5/SP-PIFSC-17-002.
As the survey methods described and used herein are also implemented as part of the NOAA Pacific Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program (Pacific RAMP)—an ecosystem-scale interdisciplinary coral reef monitoring program—the data from Timor-Leste are directly comparable to and informed by data collected by NOAA-CREP throughout the U.S. Pacific Islands and Territories. Furthermore, the methods used for establishing ecological baselines for climate change in Timor-Leste (Chapter 4) are being adopted and implemented at 21 sites across eight member states of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission within the Western Pacific (WESTPAC) region. These data provide a foundation for comparing the ecological baselines under current and future stresses associated with climate change in the Coral Triangle region.
Theme
ISO 19115 Topic Category
biota
Theme
CoRIS Discovery Thesaurus
Numeric Data Sets > Fish Census
Theme
CoRIS Theme Thesaurus
EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Aquatic Habitat > Reef Habitat
Theme
CoRIS Theme Thesaurus
EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Ecological Dynamics > Species Richness
Theme
CoRIS Theme Thesaurus
EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment
Theme
CoRIS Theme Thesaurus
EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment > Reef Fish Census > Stationary
Theme
CoRIS Theme Thesaurus
EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef monitoring and assessment > Rapid assessment studies
Theme
CoRIS Theme Thesaurus
EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef monitoring and assessment > Reef fish census
Theme
CoRIS Theme Thesaurus
EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs
Theme
CoRIS Theme Thesaurus
EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs > Coral Reef Ecology > Coral Cover
Theme
CoRIS Theme Thesaurus
EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs > Coral reef ecology
Theme
CoRIS Theme Thesaurus
EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Marine Biology > Fish
Theme
CoRIS Theme Thesaurus
EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Marine Biology > Fish > Fish Assemblages
Theme
CoRIS Theme Thesaurus
EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Marine Biology > Macroinvertebrates
Theme
CoRIS Theme Thesaurus
EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Marine Biology > Marine Invertebrates
Theme
CoRIS Theme Thesaurus
EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Marine Biology > Marine Invertebrates > Macroinvertebrates
Theme
NODC DATA TYPES THESAURUS
FISH - CORAL REEF
Theme
NODC DATA TYPES THESAURUS
FISH BIOMASS
Theme
NODC DATA TYPES THESAURUS
FISH SPECIES
Theme
NODC DATA TYPES THESAURUS
SPECIES IDENTIFICATION
Theme
NODC DATA TYPES THESAURUS
SPECIES IDENTIFICATION - COUNT
Theme
NODC DATA TYPES THESAURUS
SPECIES IDENTIFICATION - ORGANISM LENGTH
Theme
NODC OBSERVATION TYPES THESAURUS
survey
Theme
NODC OBSERVATION TYPES THESAURUS
survey - biological
Theme
NODC OBSERVATION TYPES THESAURUS
survey - swimmer/diver
Theme
NODC OBSERVATION TYPES THESAURUS
visual estimate
Theme
NODC PROJECT NAMES THESAURUS
CORAL REEF STUDIES
Theme
NODC PROJECT NAMES THESAURUS
Coral Triangle Initiative
Theme
NODC SUBMITTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS
US DOC; NOAA; NMFS; Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center; Ecosystem Sciences Division; Coral Reef Ecosystem Program
Theme
CRED
Theme
CREP
Theme
Coral Reef Ecosystem Division
Theme
Coral Reef Ecosystem Program
Theme
PIFSC
Theme
Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center
Theme
REA
Theme
Rapid Ecological Assessment
Theme
Reef Fish
Theme
SPC
Theme
Stationary Point Count
Theme
USAID
Theme
United States Agency for International Development
Spatial
CoRIS Place Thesaurus
COUNTRY/TERRITORY > Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste (East Timor) (09S126E0001)
Spatial
CoRIS Place Thesaurus
OCEAN BASIN > Indian Ocean > Timor Sea > Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste (East Timor) (09S126E0001)
Spatial
NODC SEA AREA NAMES THESAURUS
Indian Ocean
Spatial
NODC SEA AREA NAMES THESAURUS
Timor Sea
Spatial
Atauro
Spatial
Baucau
Spatial
Bobonaro
Spatial
Dili
Spatial
Lautem
Spatial
Liquica
Spatial
Manatuto
Spatial
Oecusse
Spatial
Timor-Leste
Spatial
Vila MPA
Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center
Honolulu
HI
USA
Data Set
CSV Files
None Planned
Table (digital)
Raw survey data includes metadata for each survey (where, when, who, area); site characteristics (depth, reef type, habitat, benthic cover); individual reef fish observations identified to the lowest taxonomic level possible (usually species) including size, count, and observation type; and parameters needed to calculate biomass and density, which are also included.
For the benthic estimate data:
Habitat types are AGR (aggregate reef); MIX (mixed habitats); PAV (pavement); ROB (rock/boulder); RRB (reef rubble); and SCR (sand with scattered coral/rock). Slope and substrate height were also recorded.
Observed functional groups are as follows: hard (scleractinian) corals, macroalgae, crustose coralline algae, turf algae, sand, tunicate, zoanthic, corallimorph, clam, cyanobacteria, sponge, and upright soft coral. The percent cover of each of these groups was visually estimated, and the sum of the values for each record in the dataset is 100%. Urchins were recorded using the DACOR method, an abundance code based on visual estimation (dominant, abundant, common, occasional, and rare).
https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/35550
While every effort has been made to ensure that these data are accurate and reliable within the limits of the current state of the art, NOAA cannot assume liability for any damages caused by errors or omissions in the data, nor as a result of the failure of the data to function on a particular system. NOAA makes no warranty, expressed or implied, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty.
PIFSC Coral Reef Ecosystem Program and funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Timor-Leste
Not applicable
Not applicable
Not applicable
35550
View: V0_FISH_REA
V0_FISH_REA
Published / External
Completed
Object Comments:. Fish REA foundational view
Data View
Yes
GISDAT
Object Comments:. Fish REA foundational view
1
OBJECTID
NUMBER
22
Yes
No
38
0
Active
Unique identifier for fish REA observations
NUMBER
2
ROUNDID
NUMBER
22
Yes
No
28
0
Active
Unique Identifier for ROUND record
NUMBER
3
MISSIONID
VARCHAR2
30
Yes
No
Active
Mission Identifier
VARCHAR2
4
REGION_NAME
VARCHAR2
30
No
No
Active
One of the five Pacific Island regions CRED surveys
VARCHAR2
5
ISLAND
NVARCHAR2
150
No
No
Active
Island or Atoll surveyed
NVARCHAR2
6
SECTOR
VARCHAR2
20
No
No
Active
This field is used by the fish team to represent a different stratification scheme based on fishing pressure and wave exposure around an island
VARCHAR2
7
DISTRICT
VARCHAR2
20
No
No
Active
District / municipality specifically for sites in Timor Leste
VARCHAR2
8
SITE
NVARCHAR2
150
Yes
No
Active
The 5- to 6-character code for the site surveyed. Combines a 3-letter island code with a site number
NVARCHAR2
9
LATITUDE
NUMBER
22
No
No
38
Active
Site latitude as recorded by divers on the Dive & Nav Info datasheets in decimal degrees
NUMBER
10
LONGITUDE
NUMBER
22
No
No
Active
Site longitude as recorded by divers on the Dive & Nav Info datasheets in decimal degrees
NUMBER
11
REEF_ZONE
NVARCHAR2
150
No
No
Active
The reef zone for the given site (Forereef, Backreef or Lagoon)
NVARCHAR2
12
DEPTH_BIN
NVARCHAR2
60
No
No
Active
Classification of depth (shallow, mid, deep) based on midpoint between minimum and maximum depths of replicates at this site. Shallow=0-6 m, Mid=6-18 m, Deep=18-30 m
NVARCHAR2
13
SITEVISITID
NUMBER
22
Yes
No
38
Active
Unique Identifier for SITE_VISIT record
NUMBER
14
DATE_
DATE
7
Yes
No
Active
Date the survey was conducted
DATE
15
OBS_YEAR
NUMBER
22
No
No
38
Active
Year the survey was conducted
NUMBER
16
DIVER
NVARCHAR2
150
Yes
No
Active
Initials of diver conducting survey
NVARCHAR2
17
REPLICATEID
NUMBER
22
Yes
No
38
0
Active
Unique identifier for the replicate sample within a Fish REA survey
NUMBER
18
REP
NVARCHAR2
150
No
No
Active
Letter associated to replicate (A, B, C, or D)
NVARCHAR2
19
METHOD
NVARCHAR2
150
Yes
No
Active
Fish method employed: belt transect (BLT), stationary point count (SPC), or new stationary point count (nSPC)
NVARCHAR2
20
PHOTOGRAPHER
NUMBER
22
No
No
5
0
Active
Flag to indicate photographer of benthic photos. Two divers simultaneously conduct a survey at a site (indicated by the initials of the observer in the DIVER field), only one of which captures the benthic photos. Value = -1 indicates the photographer.
NUMBER
21
DEPTH
NUMBER
22
No
No
38
Active
Depth of survey area in meters
NUMBER
22
SURVEY_RADIUS_M
NUMBER
22
No
No
Active
Radius of survey area in meters
NUMBER
23
SURVEY_AREA_M2
NUMBER
22
No
No
38
Active
Survey area in square meters
NUMBER
24
HARD_CORAL
NUMBER
22
No
No
Active
Hard Coral %
NUMBER
25
SOFT_CORAL
NUMBER
22
No
No
38
Active
Soft Coral %
NUMBER
26
MA
NUMBER
22
No
No
Active
Macroalgae %
NUMBER
27
CCA
NUMBER
22
No
No
38
Active
Crustose Coralline Algae %
NUMBER
28
TA
NUMBER
22
No
No
Active
Turf Algae %
NUMBER
29
SAND
NUMBER
22
No
No
38
Active
Sand %
NUMBER
30
TUNICATE
NUMBER
22
No
No
Active
Tunicate %
NUMBER
31
ZOANTHID
NUMBER
22
No
No
38
Active
Zoanthid %
NUMBER
32
CORALLIMORPH
NUMBER
22
No
No
Active
Corallimorph %
NUMBER
33
CLAM
NUMBER
22
No
No
38
Active
Clam %
NUMBER
34
CYANO
NUMBER
22
No
No
Active
Cyanobacteria %
NUMBER
35
SPONGE
NUMBER
22
No
No
38
Active
Sponge %
NUMBER
36
HABITAT_CODE
VARCHAR2
50
No
No
Active
Habitat Type (see HABITAT_TYPE) for description of code.
VARCHAR2
37
HABITAT_DESC
VARCHAR2
50
No
No
Active
Habitat Description
VARCHAR2
38
CURRENT_STRENGTH
VARCHAR2
20
No
No
Active
Current Strength (None, Slight, Moderate, High)
VARCHAR2
39
VISIBILITY
NUMBER
22
No
No
38
8
Active
Visibility measured in meters
NUMBER
40
SLOPE_MIN_DEPTH
NUMBER
22
No
No
Active
Minimum slope depth in meters
NUMBER
41
SLOPE_MAX_DEPTH
NUMBER
22
No
No
38
Active
Maximum slope depth in meters
NUMBER
42
SUBSTRATE_HEIGHT_0
NUMBER
22
No
No
38
8
Active
Substrate complexity between 0cm and 20cm elevation
NUMBER
43
SUBSTRATE_HEIGHT_20
NUMBER
22
No
No
38
8
Active
Substrate complexity between 20cm and 50cm elevation
NUMBER
44
SUBSTRATE_HEIGHT_50
NUMBER
22
No
No
38
8
Active
Substrate complexity between 50cm and 100cm elevation
NUMBER
45
SUBSTRATE_HEIGHT_100
NUMBER
22
No
No
38
8
Active
Substrate complexity between 100cm and 150cm elevation
NUMBER
46
SUBSTRATE_HEIGHT_150
NUMBER
22
No
No
38
8
Active
Substrate complexity over 150cm elevation
NUMBER
47
MAX_HEIGHT
NUMBER
22
No
No
Active
Highest elevation point in SPC cylinder measured in centimeters
NUMBER
48
URCHIN_DACOR
VARCHAR2
1
No
No
Active
Urchin abundance, estimated by DACOR, an abundance code based on visual estimation (dominant, abundant, common, occasional, and rare)
VARCHAR2
49
BORING_URCHIN_DACOR
VARCHAR2
1
No
No
Active
Boring Urchin abundance, estimated by DACOR, an abundance code based on visual estimation (dominant, abundant, common, occasional, and rare)
VARCHAR2
50
SPECIES
NVARCHAR2
150
Yes
No
Active
4-letter species code
NVARCHAR2
51
TAXONNAME
NVARCHAR2
765
Yes
No
Active
Scientific name
NVARCHAR2
52
COMMONNAME
NVARCHAR2
150
No
No
Active
Common name (from FishBase)
NVARCHAR2
53
COMMONFAMILYALL
NVARCHAR2
150
No
No
Active
Common name of all families
NVARCHAR2
54
FAMILY
NVARCHAR2
150
No
No
Active
Taxonomic family classification
NVARCHAR2
55
RANK
VARCHAR2
20
No
No
Active
Lowest defined rank in taxonomic hierarchy
VARCHAR2
56
APHIAID
VARCHAR2
20
No
No
Active
AphiaID
VARCHAR2
57
TROPHIC
NVARCHAR2
150
No
No
Active
Trophic level: APEX (apex predator), Cor (corallivore), H (herbivore), MI (mobile invertivore), Om (Omnivore), Pisc (piscivore), Pk (planktivore), SI (sessile invertivore), Z (zooplantivore)
NVARCHAR2
58
CONSUMER_GROUP
NVARCHAR2
150
No
No
Active
Trophic level scheme used (Primary Consumer, Secondary Consumer, Planktivore, Piscivore)
NVARCHAR2
59
LW_A
NUMBER
22
No
No
38
8
Active
Parameter "a" used in length-weight calculations
NUMBER
60
LW_B
NUMBER
22
No
No
28
8
Active
Parameter "b" used in length-weight calculations
NUMBER
61
LMAX
NUMBER
22
No
No
28
8
Active
Maximum length of the fish published in literature
NUMBER
62
LENGTH_CONVERSION_FACTOR
NUMBER
22
No
No
28
8
Active
Factor to convert length as total length by to get it to right form (SL or FL or TL) for available length weight A and B parameters for this species
NUMBER
63
COUNT
NUMBER
22
No
No
5
0
Active
Number of fish observed during survey
NUMBER
64
SIZE_
NUMBER
22
No
No
38
8
Active
Total length of fish, measured from the tip of the snout to the tip of the longer lobe of the caudal fin, reported in centimeters. Total length for rays (Myliobatidae) is measured from pectoral fin tip to pectoral fin tip.
NUMBER
65
OBS_TYPE
VARCHAR2
1
No
No
Active
A single letter representation of the observation type (I: Instantaneous, N: Non-Instantaneous, F: After 5 minutes, T: After 10 minutes, P: Presence, U: Unknown)
VARCHAR2
66
OBS_DESC
VARCHAR2
20
Yes
No
Active
The definition of the observation type
VARCHAR2
67
DENSITY
NUMBER
22
No
No
38
Active
Density (number of fish per square meter)
NUMBER
68
BIOMASS_G_M2
NUMBER
22
No
No
Active
Biomass (grams per square meter)
NUMBER
Data Steward
2013
Person
McCoy, Kaylyn S
kaylyn.mccoy@noaa.gov
1845 Wasp Blvd.
Honolulu
HI
96818
USA
(808)725-5471
Email preferred
Distributor
2017
Organization
National Centers for Environmental Information - Silver Spring, Maryland
NCEI-MD
NOAA/NESDIS E/OC SSMC3, 4th Floor, 1351 East-West Highway
Silver Spring
MD
20910-3282
(301) 713-3277
Distributor
2013
2017
Person
Kanemura, Troy T
troy.kanemura@noaa.gov
1845 Wasp Blvd.
Honolulu
HI
96818
USA
(808)725-5422
Contact via email
Metadata Contact
2013
Person
DesRochers, Annette M
annette.desrochers@noaa.gov
1845 Wasp Blvd.
Honolulu
HI
96818
USA
(808)725-5461
8 am - 5 pm
Email preferred
Originator
2013
Organization
Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center
PIFSC
pifsc.info@noaa.gov
1845 Wasp Blvd.
Honolulu
HI
96818
USA
808-725-5360
https://www.pifsc.noaa.gov
Pacific Island Fisheries Science Center homepage
Online Resource
8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Point of Contact
2013
Person
Williams, Ivor D
ivor.williams@noaa.gov
1845 Wasp Blvd.
Honolulu
HI
96818
USA
(808)725-5427
Contact via email
Ground Condition
Extent of reef fish surveys conducted by NOAA CREP at Timor-Leste in June 2013.
124
127.5
-8.1
-9.4
Extent of reef fish surveys conducted by NOAA CREP at Timor-Leste in June 2013.
Range
2013-06-04
2013-06-27
SB1310
Time frame of reef fish surveys conducted by NOAA CREP at Timor-Leste in June 2013.
Unclassified
Not applicable
Not applicable
NOAA Coral Reef Ecosystem Program (CREP) Data Sharing Recommendations, version 9.0 updated August 12, 2015:
CREP welcomes the opportunity to collaborate on research issues contributing to the scientific basis for better management of marine ecosystems. CREP has a very diverse set of field activities that generates large volumes of data using an array of data collection protocols.
The following recommendations are for your consideration as you use this data:
1) Data analyses should take all field exigencies into account. The most effective way to do this would be active collaboration with CREP principal investigators.
2) In all presentations, product releases, or publications using data generated by CREP, proper acknowledgement of both CREP and the individuals responsible for data collection is expected. Citing the DOI (if available) is preferred, a non-DOI example is listed below.
3) If you collect or generate data for the same study areas, CREP requests that you share relevant information on complimentary data collections.
4) Those receiving data are strongly urged to inform the CREP Data Management Team of any errors and discrepancies that are discovered during the course of using these data. They are further urged to bring to the attention of the Team all problems and difficulties encountered in using these data. This information is necessary in order to improve the collections and to facilitate more efficient and economical data processing and retrieval. The users are asked to supply copies of any missing data that may be located, and to provide information as to significant subsets and special aggregations of data that are developed in using the material provided.
Example acknowledgment:
"This publication makes use of data products gathered by the Coral Reef Ecosystem Program (CREP), Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), with funding support from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Timor-Leste. The analysis and interpretations presented here are solely that of the current authors.”
Data can be accessed online via the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) Ocean Archive.
None
Please cite NOAA Coral Reef Ecosystem Program (CREP) and acknowledge the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Timor-Leste when using the data.
Suggested citation:
Coral Reef Ecosystem Program; Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (2017). Coral reef fish biomass and benthic cover data from Timor-Leste in June 2013. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/32998.
None
None
https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0165354
2017
Organization
National Centers for Environmental Information - Silver Spring, Maryland
DR-15-004.pdf
Coral Reef Fish Biomass and Benthic Cover Along the North Coast of Timor-Leste Based on Underwater Visual Surveys in June 2013
2015-03-20T00:00:00
PDF
PDF - Adobe Portable Document Format
https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0165354
2017
Organization
National Centers for Environmental Information - Silver Spring, Maryland
Timor-Leste_Fish_Data.csv
Observations from reef fish surveys in Timor-Leste in June 2013.
2016-10-12T00:00:00
csv (comma-separated values)
CSV - Comma Separated Values (Text)
https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0165354
2017
Organization
National Centers for Environmental Information - Silver Spring, Maryland
PIFSC_Admin_Rep_11-08.pdf
Coral Reef Ecosystem Division Standard Operating Procedures: Data Collection for Rapid Ecological Assessment Fish Surveys
2011-12-01T00:00:00
PDF
PDF - Adobe Portable Document Format
http://www.pifsc.noaa.gov/cred/img/diver_counting_fish_using_spc_sm.jpg
Browse Graphic
JPG
Diver counting coral reef fishes using the SPC method.
http://www.pifsc.noaa.gov/cred/fish.php
Online Resource
PHP
PIFSC CREP website: Fish Ecology and Monitoring
http://www.pifsc.noaa.gov/cred/survey_methods.php
Online Resource
PHP
NOAA Coral Reef Ecosystem Program website, survey methods page, which includes a brief description of the Stationary Point Count (nSPC) Method used to survey coral reef fishes (2007-present).
https://pifscblog.wordpress.com/2013/06/03/fish-acidification-timor-leste/
Online Resource
HTML
PIFSC CREP blog post:
Scientists assess reef fish and benthic communities, monitor effects of ocean acidification off Timor-Leste, 03 Jun. 2013.
https://pifscblog.wordpress.com/2013/06/18/coral-triangle-day-timor-leste/
Online Resource
HTML
PIFSC CREP blog post:
NOAA scientists, local partners mark Coral Triangle Day in Timor-Leste with capacity-building activities, 18 Jun. 2013.
https://pifscblog.wordpress.com/2013/06/19/update-timor-leste-first-week/
Online Resource
HTML
PIFSC CREP blog post:
Update from Timor-Leste: team completes 50 surveys of reef fish and benthic communities in first week, 19 Jun. 2013.
https://pifscblog.wordpress.com/2013/07/08/timor-leste-live-aboard/
Online Resource
HTML
PIFSC CREP blog post:
Update from Timor-Leste: scientists complete live-aboard mission to survey reef fishes and benthos, assess ocean acidification, 08 Jul. 2013.
https://pifscblog.wordpress.com/2013/08/13/final-count-timor-leste-2/
Online Resource
HTML
PIFSC CREP blog post:
The final count: summary of mission to assess reef fish assemblages, build capacity in Timor-Leste, 13 Aug. 2013.
https://www.coris.noaa.gov/activities/projects/timor-leste/
Online Resource
HTML
Timor-Leste project portal on the NOAA Coral Reef Information Service website
https://www.pifsc.noaa.gov/cred/coral_triangle_initiative.php
Online Resource
PHP
Information about the NOAA Coral Reef Ecosystem Program's activities in the Coral Triangle.
PIFSC Oracle database view: V0_FISH_REA
Data are from haphazardly located surveys and are believed to be highly representative
Observations at each site were made by divers who have been trained, and met minimum standards in identifying species present at the survey locations and in estimating size of fishes in survey counts. However, all species identifications are made visually, sometimes in situations where a fish is only briefly seen. Visual estimates of benthic cover are useful as broad indication of the reef benthic assemblages present at each survey site, but there is considerable scope for error in rapid diver estimates of this kind.
For most NOAA CREP reef fish assessments, survey allocation is determined by area of hard-bottom reef habitat within 3 depth ranges; shallow (0–6 m), mid (6–18 m), and deep (18–30 m). The deep area of reef habitat was not surveyed as a result of safety restrictions set by the NOAA dive program. Also, surveys were not conducted along the south shore of Timor-Leste due to (1) limited time and resources, and also (2) low water visibility and safety concerns.
The same methods of data collection were used at each of the sites surveyed at this location, and were conducted by the same scientists. The same methods of data collection are used at each surveyed site.
Observations, including species identification and sizing, were periodically checked during the expedition for consistency between divers, such as diver bias or other discrepancies, and little discrepancy was noted. Size estimates were checked against known size ranges per species. Data entry was conducted using a data entry interface with several data controls employed, and were quality controlled by the divers using a two-person system.
Following the mission, the data was then run through rigorous quality control checks by the data management team before the data were migrated to the Oracle database, but there remains some possibility of typographical or other errors.
Yes
Unknown
Yes
No
Unknown
NCEI-MD
Unknown
NOAA IRC and NOAA Fisheries ITS resources and assets.
All sites were surveyed using CREP's standard coral reef fish assemblage survey method, stationary point counts (SPC). The current SPC protocol involves pairs of divers recording the number, size, and species of all fishes observed within visually estimated cylinders 15 m in diameter. At the start of a survey dive, a pair of divers first lay down a 30-m transect line along a predetermined depth contour, and then the two divers move to the 7.5- and 22.5-m marks on that line; these marks serve as the centers of two adjacent SPC cylinders. During the first 5 min of a survey, the divers create a list of the fish species observed in or passing through their cylinder. After the first 5 min, divers systematically proceed down their species lists, counting and estimating the size (TL) of each fish present to the nearest centimeter. Species seen after the 5 min or outside of the survey area are recorded as present.
Coral Reef Ecosystem Division Standard Operating Procedures: Data Collection for Rapid Ecological Assessment Fish Surveys
Organization
Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, PIFSC
2011-12-01
https://pifsc-www.irc.noaa.gov/library/pubs/admin/PIFSC_Admin_Rep_11-08.pdf
Coral Reef Fish Biomass and Benthic Cover Along the North Coast of Timor-Leste Based on Underwater Visual Surveys in June 2013
Organization
Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, PIFSC
2015-03-20
https://pifsc-www.irc.noaa.gov/library/pubs/DR-15-004.pdf
1
Step 1: Survey Design
The surveys were based on a common stratified random survey design, with site locations selected randomly. As a result of the large area of coastline and time and personnel constraints, survey efforts were focused on 8 sections of coastline within 7 districts hereafter referred to as sectors. Each sector was treated as an independent survey area, and was separated by at least 18 km of coastline from adjacent sectors (with the exception of East and West Atauro, which are separated by 2 km). The target survey area was hard-bottom reef habitat in either a shallow (0–6 m) or mid-depth (6–18 m) range. Bathymetry and hard-bottom reef habitat maps were not available at the time of the mission planning, so sites were randomly selected within a rough 30-m depth contour. Once the divers arrived at the randomly located survey site, they assessed the benthos to determine whether habitat and visibility were suitable and moved to the target depth range.
Coral Reef Fish Biomass and Benthic Cover Along the North Coast of Timor-Leste Based on Underwater Visual Surveys in June 2013
2
Step 2: Field Method, fish surveys
All sites were surveyed using NOAA CREP’s standard coral reef fish assemblage survey method; stationary point counts (SPC). The SPC protocol involves a pair of divers conducting simultaneous counts in adjacent, visually estimated 15-meter-diameter cylindrical plots extending from the substrate to the limits of vertical visibility.
Each count consisted of two components. The first of these was a 5-min species enumeration period in which the diver recorded the taxa of all species observed within their cylinder. At the end of the 5-min period, divers began the tallying portion of the count, in which they systematically worked through their species listing for each species and recorded the number of fish and size (total length, TL, to nearest centimeter) of each individual fish. The tallying portion was conducted as a series of rapid visual sweeps of the plot, with one species-grouping counted per sweep. In cases where a species was observed during the enumeration period but was not present in the cylinder during the tallying period, divers recorded their best estimates of size and number observed in the first encounter during the enumeration period and marked the data record as ‘non-instantaneous.’ For more detailed information, see Ayotte et al. (2011) for the complete fish survey standard operating procedure.
Coral Reef Ecosystem Division Standard Operating Procedures: Data Collection for Rapid Ecological Assessment Fish Surveys
3
Step 3: Field Method, benthic images
Upon completion of the fish survey, one diver photographed the benthos at 1-m intervals along the transect line (30 photographs per site). A 1-m PVC stick was used to position a digital camera directly above the substrate to frame a photograph approximately 0.7 m2 in area.
Coral Reef Ecosystem Division Standard Operating Procedures: Data Collection for Rapid Ecological Assessment Fish Surveys
4
Step 4: Analysis: Estimation of Biomass by Fish Groupings
Fish biomass was calculated using the following allometric equation to estimate weight (w) from length (L) measurements: w = a × Lb
The parameter a is a scaling coefficient for the weight at length of the fish species, and the parameter b is a shape parameter for the body form of the fish species. Biomass was calculated for each species at each site by averaging the two divers’ estimates.
In estimating fish biomass, species data were pooled into “all fishes,” and into a number of trophic, taxonomic, and size groupings. The four trophic groupings used were: “primary consumers” (herbivores and detritivores); “secondary consumers” (omnivores and benthic invertivores); “planktivores”; and “piscivores”. Family-level data on emperors, snappers, breams, parrotfish, and groupers was also presented because of their general importance as fishery targets. Biomass was also pooled into size classes: small (0–20 cm), medium (21–50 cm), and large- bodied reef fish (greater than 50 cm).
Results were compared to averages of reef fish biomass at populated and remote areas across the Pacific where NOAA CREP has conducted reef fish surveys at approximately 40 islands and atolls since 2009 using the same survey methods and largely the same personnel. Total biomass and each of the fish groupings from Timor-Leste were compared to Pacific-wide averages of remote and populated islands and atolls. Mean reference values are extensively used from NOAA CREP’s other surveys of those ‘remote’ and ‘populated’ islands to provide context to fish biomass values from Timor-Leste. While there are important other sources of natural variability among reefs, including biogeographic differences, the reference values serve as useful baselines for Pacific coral reefs—for example, reefs with significant human impacts including fishing are expected to be more similar to the Pacific ‘populated’ average than to the ‘remote’ average.
Coral Reef Fish Biomass and Benthic Cover Along the North Coast of Timor-Leste Based on Underwater Visual Surveys in June 2013
35550
Entity
View: V0_FISH_REA
46159
Data Set
Assessing cryptic reef diversity of colonizing marine invertebrates using Autonomous Reef Monitoring Structures (ARMS) deployed at coral reef sites in Timor-Leste from 2012 to 2014
Cross Reference
46160
Data Set
Benthic images collected at coral reef sites in Timor-Leste from 2012-2014
Cross Reference
46161
Data Set
Benthic percent cover derived from analysis of benthic images collected at coral reef sites in Timor-Leste in 2013 and 2014
Cross Reference
46162
Data Set
Calcification Rates of Crustose Coralline Algae (CCA) Derived from Calcification Accretion Units (CAUs) Deployed at Coral Reef Sites in Timor-Leste from 2012 to 2014
Cross Reference
25307
Data Set
Depth soundings from a single beam echo sounder collected around the nearshore areas of Timor-Leste in 2012 and 2013
Cross Reference
29128
Data Set
Nearshore Benthic Habitats of Timor-Leste Derived from WorldView-2 Satellite Imagery
Cross Reference
46150
Data Set
Satellite-derived bathymetry for nearshore benthic habitats in Timor-Leste
Cross Reference
46163
Data Set
Water chemistry at coral reef sites in Timor-Leste from discrete surface and bottom water samples collected in 2013 and 2014
Cross Reference
46164
Data Set
Water temperature data from Subsurface Temperature Recorders (STRs) deployed at coral reef sites in Timor-Leste from 2012 to 2014
Cross Reference
46151
Data Set
WorldView-2 Satellite Image Inventory for Timor-Leste
Cross Reference
gov.noaa.nmfs.inport:32998
Nicole Kamalu
2016-06-23T21:10:53
SysAdmin InPortAdmin
2023-10-17T16:12:08
2017-08-29
Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center
PIFSC
1845 Wasp Blvd.
Honolulu
HI
96818
USA
808-725-5300
http://www.pifsc.noaa.gov
8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
1001
Public
No
2017-08-29
1 Year
2018-08-29