NF0903_FISH_DATA_REPORT.doc

Investigator Supplied metadata file which describes the file NF0903_FISH_DATA_REPORT.xls

Coral Reef Ecosystem Research (CRER)

Larval fish data collected on the NOAA Ship NANCY FOSTER cruise NF0903

April 7th -20th, 2009

Table 1) Fish identification summary by family abundance

Table 2) Table with detailed tow data from Bongo net

Table 3) Table with detailed tow data from MOCNESS net

The USVI larval distribution and supply study completed its third research cruise during April 7-20, 2009. Ichthyoplankton sampling yielded 314 samples (217 MOCNESS and 97 bongo) from 105 stations and 125 fish families were identified from a total of 24,593 larvae collected. MOCNESS (Multiple Opening and Closing Environmental Sampling System) samples were collected from 100 m to the surface at 25 m increments while Bongo samples were collected from just below the sea surface for 10 minute intervals at each station. A total of 23,512 larvae have been successfully identified to taxonomic family level or beyond, with only 4.2% or 1,041 categorized as unidentifiable due to early stage at development or damage that occurred during the sample collection and/or processing. Approximately 76 % of the fish larvae samples were represented by 20 principle families: Bregmacerotidae, Labridae, Myctophidae, Carangidae, Clupeidae, Mullidae, Sternoptychidae, Scombridae, Eleotridae, Gobiidae, Apogonidae, Sphyraenidae, Serranidae, Coryphaenidae, Pomacentridae, Gonostomatidae, Chauliodontidae, Epigonidae, Bythitidae, and Lutjanidae. All samples collected have been identified using taxonomic keys and a subsample will be identified using genetic techniques.