NF0805_FISH_DATA_REPORT.doc

Investigator Supplied metadata file which describes the file NF0805_FISH_DATA_REPORT.xlsx

Coral Reef Ecosystem Research (CRER) Project

Larval fish data collected on the NOAA Ship NANCY FOSTER cruise NF0805

March 11, 2008 through March 24, 2008

Table 1) Fish biomass and abundance with station and gear utilized

Table 2) Identification summary by family density

Table 3) Table with detailed fish net tow data

Within the U.S. and British Virgins Island stations, 95 families were identified from 27,967 fish. Seventy nine stations (51 Bongo, 38 MOCNESS and 7 Neuston samples) were collected from this area. MOCNESS samples were collected from 100 meters to the surface at 25 meter increments. Samples from station 63 were not sorted due to MOCNESS failure. A total of 18,296 larvae have been identified, with only 11 % or 2,019 unidentifiable due to early stage at development or damage in sample collection and processing. Of those identified, 75 % of the samples were represented by 15 principle families: Gobiidae, Myctophidae, Labridae, Scaridae, Apogonidae, Gonostomatidae, Labrisomidae, Serranidae, Holocentridae, Carangidae, Pomacentridae, Bothidae, Mullidae, Balistidae, and Opistognathidae (Table 1). Additional samples collected from stations in the Leeward Islands are currently being identified using taxonomic keys and a subsample will be identified using genetic techniques.