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Summary

Description

A new method is described and evaluated for visually sampling reef fish community structure in environments with highly diverse and abundant reef fish populations. The method is based on censuses of reef fishes taken within a cylinder of 7.5 m radius by a diver at randomly selected, stationary points. The method provides quantitative data on frequency of occurrence, fish length, abundance, and community composition, and is simple, fast, objective, and repeatable. Species are accumulated rapidly for listing purposes, and large numbers of samples are easily obtained for statistical treatment. The method provides an alternative to traditional visual sampling methods.

Observations showed that there were no significant differences in total numbers of species or individuals censused when visibility ranged between 8 and 30 m. The reefs and habitats sampled were significant sources of variation in number of species and individuals censused, but the diver was not a significant influence. Community similarity indices were influenced significantly by the specific sampling site and the reef sampled, but were not significantly affected by the habitat or diver.

Document Information

Document Type
Technical Memorandum

Document Format
Acrobat Portable Document Format

Distribution Information

Contact Information

Distributor
NOAA Institutional Repository (REPOS)
noaa.repository@noaa.gov
NOAA Institutional Repository Home Page

Item Identification

Title: A Stationary Visual Census Technique for QuantitativelyAssessing Community Structure of Coral Reef Fishes
Status: Completed
Abstract:

A new method is described and evaluated for visually sampling reef fish community structure in environments with highly diverse and abundant reef fish populations. The method is based on censuses of reef fishes taken within a cylinder of 7.5 m radius by a diver at randomly selected, stationary points. The method provides quantitative data on frequency of occurrence, fish length, abundance, and community composition, and is simple, fast, objective, and repeatable. Species are accumulated rapidly for listing purposes, and large numbers of samples are easily obtained for statistical treatment. The method provides an alternative to traditional visual sampling methods.

Observations showed that there were no significant differences in total numbers of species or individuals censused when visibility ranged between 8 and 30 m. The reefs and habitats sampled were significant sources of variation in number of species and individuals censused, but the diver was not a significant influence. Community similarity indices were influenced significantly by the specific sampling site and the reef sampled, but were not significantly affected by the habitat or diver.

Purpose:

To describe and evaluate a technique for providing quantitative data on frequency of occurrence, fish length, abundance, and community composition, in a simple, fast, objective manner, for visually sampling reef fish community structure in environments with highly diverse and abundant reef fish populations.

Other Citation Details:

Title : A stationary visual census technique for quantitatively assessing community structure of coral reef fishes

Personal Author(s) : Bohnsack, James A. (James Anthony), 1947-;Bannerot, Scott P., 1959-;

Corporate Authors(s) : United States, National Marine Fisheries Service;United States, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,;Coral Reef Conservation Program (U.S.);

Published Date : 1986

Document Information

Document Type: Technical Memorandum
Format: Acrobat Portable Document Format
Status Code: Published

Support Roles

Author

CC ID: 386295
Date Effective From: 1985
Date Effective To:
Contact (Person): Bohnsack, James A
URL: Researchgate Page Dr Jim Bohnsack

Distributor

CC ID: 1264258
Date Effective From: 2015
Date Effective To:
Contact (Organization): NOAA Institutional Repository (REPOS)
Email Address: noaa.repository@noaa.gov
URL: NOAA Institutional Repository Home Page

Access Information

Security Class: Unclassified
Data Access Policy:

Open to everyone

Data Access Procedure:

download from provided link

Distribution Information

Distribution 1

CC ID: 1264257
Start Date: 2015
End Date: Present
Download URL: https://repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/1005
Distributor: NOAA Institutional Repository (REPOS) (2015 - Present)
File Name: /noaa_1005_DS1.pdf

Catalog Details

Catalog Item ID: 37042
GUID: gov.noaa.nmfs.inport:37042
Metadata Record Created By: Lee M Weinberger
Metadata Record Created: 2017-03-07 13:26+0000
Metadata Record Last Modified By: Lee M Weinberger
Metadata Record Last Modified: 2023-08-11 01:11+0000
Metadata Record Published: 2022-02-28
Owner Org: SEFSC
Metadata Publication Status: Published Externally
Do Not Publish?: N
Metadata Last Review Date: 2022-02-28
Metadata Review Frequency: 1 Year
Metadata Next Review Date: 2023-02-28