CRCP Fish assemblages of western and southwestern Puerto Rico 2004-2009

This data set is derived from complementary projects operated in western and southwestern Puerto Rico. The research was designed 1) to compare the prevalence and impact of coral diseases on reefs across a gradient of human affects from mainland Puerto Rico, to more remote shelf edge reefs, and also uninhabited offshore islands (Mona Island and Desecheo Island) to understand factors that enhance or decrease disease impacts and document the resulting effects on reef fish assemblages, and 2) to monitor restoration success at the site of the M/V Fortuna Reefer grounding on Mona Island using Acropora palmata fragment reattachment, growth, and survival, incidence of coral disease, and composition of reef fish assemblages as indicators of recovery and reef health. The data consist of transect surveys (30 x 2 m) and stationary point counts (5m radius) of reef fish assemblages taken around permanent sites: identification to the lowest taxon possible (generally, genus and species), abundance, size estimates (fork length to the nearest cm). Samples are identified by location, date, time, and observer. Benthic data are maintained separately by co-PI (A. Bruckner).