Coral reef fish biomass and benthic cover data from Timor-Leste in June 2013

Description

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.

Resources

Name Format Description Link
0 Coral Reef Fish Biomass and Benthic Cover Along the North Coast of Timor-Leste Based on Underwater Visual Surveys in June 2013 https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0165354
0 Observations from reef fish surveys in Timor-Leste in June 2013. https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0165354
0 Coral Reef Ecosystem Division Standard Operating Procedures: Data Collection for Rapid Ecological Assessment Fish Surveys https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0165354
0 View the complete metadata record on InPort for more information about this dataset. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/32998
0 Pacific Island Fisheries Science Center homepage https://www.pifsc.noaa.gov
0 Information about the NOAA Coral Reef Ecosystem Program's activities in the Coral Triangle. https://www.pifsc.noaa.gov/cred/coral_triangle_initiative.php
0 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). http://www.pifsc.noaa.gov/cred/survey_methods.php
0 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/2013/06/18/coral-triangle-day-timor-leste/
0 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/2013/06/03/fish-acidification-timor-leste/
0 PIFSC CREP blog post: The final count: summary of mission to assess reef fish assemblages, build capacity in Timor-Leste, 13 Aug. 2013. https://pifscblog.wordpress.com/2013/08/13/final-count-timor-leste-2/
0 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/2013/06/19/update-timor-leste-first-week/
0 PIFSC CREP website: Fish Ecology and Monitoring http://www.pifsc.noaa.gov/cred/fish.php
0 Timor-Leste project portal on the NOAA Coral Reef Information Service website https://www.coris.noaa.gov/activities/projects/timor-leste/
33 NOAA Data Management Plan for this record on InPort. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inportserve/waf/noaa/nmfs/pifsc/dmp/pdf/32998.pdf
0 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/2013/07/08/timor-leste-live-aboard/
0 The information provided on this page seeks to define how the GCMD Keywords are structured, used and accessed. It also provides information on how users can participate in the further development of the keywords. https://www.earthdata.nasa.gov/learn/find-data/idn/gcmd-keywords

Tags

  • fish species
  • crep
  • coral cover
  • doc/noaa/nmfs/pifsc
  • spc
  • species identification - organism length
  • reef monitoring and assessment
  • aquatic habitat
  • corals
  • coral reef ecosystem division
  • fish - coral reef
  • pifsc
  • biosphere
  • species identification
  • survey
  • oceans
  • atauro
  • reef fish
  • marine invertebrates
  • survey - biological
  • noaa
  • numeric data sets
  • rapid ecological assessment
  • nmfs
  • dili
  • macroinvertebrates
  • us doc
  • timor-leste
  • fish
  • pacific islands fisheries science center
  • u.s. department of commerce
  • earth science
  • bobonaro
  • national marine fisheries service
  • indian ocean
  • lautem
  • liquica
  • rea
  • oecusse
  • reef fish census
  • coral triangle initiative
  • marine biology
  • fish assemblages
  • cred
  • united states agency for international development
  • survey - swimmer/diver
  • visual estimate
  • reef habitat
  • baucau
  • timor sea
  • coral reef ecology
  • ocean basin
  • ecosystem sciences division
  • stationary
  • manatuto
  • coastal processes
  • timor leste
  • species richness
  • zoology
  • coral reefs
  • fish census
  • rapid assessment studies
  • usaid
  • ecological dynamics
  • stationary point count
  • species identification - count
  • country/territory
  • vila mpa
  • democratic republic of timor-leste (east timor) (09s126e0001)
  • fish biomass
  • coral reef studies
  • coral reef ecosystem program

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