AGRRA-Field-Equipmen

AGRRA: Survey Equipment Construction

Permission is granted to use this Powerpoint presentation for educational purposes with the AGRRA Program and, with attribution, for other valid educational purposes.

All other uses are strictly prohibited. Tools Needed for Equipment Construction

• hacksaw • drill and assorted bits (e.g., 5 mm / 3/16”, 6 mm / 1/4”) • clipper • pliers • screwdriver • metric measuring tape (or use metric fish survey tape reel) Useful Tools (if available)

An inexpensive PVC cutter like this BrassCraft model makes quick, easy, and clean cuts through PVC pipe and is highly recommended. A cable tie tension tool like this Stanley FATMAX model tightens and cuts flush cable ties much cleaner and quicker than using pliers and cutters.

Both of these tools were purchased from a home improvement store and are well worth the investment when making up multiple sets of gear. Needed for each BENTHOS surveyor • PVC tubing, ½ inch internal diameter (½” ID) ~ 2 m • female threaded connector, ½” ID 1 • male threaded connector, ½” ID 1 • 90° elbow, ½” ID 4 • PVC cement < 100 gm / 4 oz. • braided 3/16” diameter lead‐core rope at least 10.2 m • braided nylon cord at least 1 m • black vinyl electrical tape ~ 3 m • large cable ties ~ 15 (11 black) • smaller colored cable ties 90 (preferably 2 colors, with 45 of one and 45 of the other) • carabiner (or other secure clip) 1 • clipboard (or slate of similar size) 1 • rubber bands up to 12 • braided nylon string (alternative for some rubber bands) ~ 75 cm • appropriate UW‐BENTHOS datasheet 1 / dive • pencil at least 2 + needed for each detailed BENTHOS and CORAL surveyor • flexible, 15 cm plastic ruler (or equivalent) 1 Benthos Survey Equipment

slate/clipboard meter stick

25 × 25 cm quadrat

10 m transect line underwater datasheet

attached pencil and ruler Measuring Pole Construction

Will consist of two, marked poles.

The two halves combine to make a 1 meter long measuring pole.

PVC tube, ½” ID Use PVC cement to glue one end of a ½” ID PVC tube to a threaded female connector. When the glue has set, measure and cut the tube for a total length of exactly 50 cm from the outer end of the connector.

female 50 cm total length connector

(Shown after addition of the 10‐cm interval marks.) Glue a second PVC tube (must be at least 50 cm long) into a male threaded connector. Thread the male connector into the female connector (should be firm, but not overly tight). When the glue has set, measure and cut the second PVC tube so the overall length of the combined pole is exactly 100 cm.

male connector female connector

threaded firmly together Starting at the female connector end, wrap the tubes with black vinyl electrical tape to make alternating 10‐cm bands. If desired, add smaller 5‐cm bands at each end of the meter pole.

5‐cm

female connector = black male connector 10‐cm = unmarked

5‐cm When combined, both halves join to create a full 1‐meter pole. The pole half with the female connector is exactly 50 cm in total length. The other half pole is slightly longer due to the protruding threads on the male connector.

50 cm

female connector

1 meter total length Quadrat Construction Cut four pieces of ½” ID PVC tube so the inner dimension of the quadrat will be 25 cm × 25 cm. Glue all joints of 90° elbows. Try to make sure quadrat remains relatively flat while gluing together.

25 cm

25 cm Quadrat Construction

To make sure the inner dimensions of the completed PVC quadrat will be 25 cm × 25 cm, it is useful to cut two pieces of PVC to act as templates. A piece 24 cm long is used as a guide for cutting the PVC to length and a piece 25 cm long is used when fitting and gluing the quadrat together. Quadrat Construction Using the 24 cm template, cut four pieces of ½” ID PVC tube for each quadrat being constructed. Quadrat Construction Using slower setting PVC cement can be helpful during complicated assemblies like quadrats. Regardless of the glue type used it is necessary to work quickly and efficiently during assembly as the quadrat needs to be flat (planar) and the inside dimensions set to 25 cm before the glue sets. Use the 25 cm template to check the inner dimension between the sides. Make the measurement at the tubing and not the connectors. Quadrat Construction Use a hammer or rubber mallet to tap the corner connectors so that they slide onto the PVC pipe far enough so that the 25 cm template is snug inside the quadrat. Placing the quadrat vertically on a hard smooth surface and holding it in place with a foot will free the hands to be able to hold the template and hammer. Check inside dimensions at all four sides and make sure the quadrat is flat (planar) before the glue sets. Drill several holes through the sides to allow water penetration (otherwise quadrat will float). Attach a carabiner (or other style of clip) to the quadrat with one or more cable ties. Cut off the cable tie “tails” as short as possible with clippers or a tensioning tool.

drilled hole

clipped cable tie Transect Line Construction 300 ft spool of 3/16” braided, lead‐core rope, used for transect lines, may be sourced from commercial fishing supply companies such as http://www.memphisnet.net (stock number: LL201).

Start by unspooling and accurately measuring the actual length of the line (usually a little over 91 m / 300 ft). Each transect line needs to be 10 m plus enough extra to form an eyelet at each end (minimally around 10.2 m). If there is enough line, divide the total length by 9 (otherwise divide by 8) to calculate the length of each transect line. First mark the proposed cut points with tape bands to verify the measurements before making any cuts to avoid errors. (Alternatively, sequentially cut 8 lines each 11 meters.) Form a small eyelet at each end of the transect line and secure it with several, very tight cable ties. Tighten cable ties with a pair of pliers and clip off the “tails” or (recommended) use a cable tie tensioning tool to do this in one step. Cut pieces of braided nylon cord or parachute cord (each about 75 cm long) and tie their ends together to form a loop. Secure to each end of the transect line as shown.

clipped cable ties

braided nylon cord or parachute cord looped through eyelet at end of transect line As an additional means of securing the ends of the transect line during the survey dive, small fishing weights (4‐6 ounce) can be attached to the loops at the end of the transect line with cable ties. Secure a large black cable tie for the 0‐m mark at one end of the transect line. Measure out and add additional black ties every meter up to the final 10‐m mark near the other end of the transect line (for a total of 11 black cable ties). Tighten each cable tie with pliers to secure its location and clip its “tail” or (recommended) use a cable tie tensioning tool to do this in one step.

clipped cable tie at each meter mark Measure out, and add smaller, colored cable ties every 10 cm between the 11 black meter marks (for a total of 90 colored cable ties). If possible, use two colors that alternate every meter for ease of use underwater. Tighten all colored cable ties with pliers and clip their “tails” or (recommended) use a cable tie tensioning tool to do this in one step.

meter mark

Smaller colored cable tie every 10‐cm mark

10 cm loops at each end of transect line

90 cm 80 cm 50 cm 60 cm 70 cm 20 cm 30 cm 40 cm 0 m 10 cm 1 m

2 m 3 m

4 m

small colored cable ties at 10‐cm intervals, when 5 m

6 m possible two colors that alternate every meter for convenience of benthic surveyors. 7 m

8 m

9 m

10 m

large black cable ties at unusually long “tail” 1‐meter intervals before first meter mark Attach the loop at one end of the transect line to the carabiner.

vent holes

vent hole loop clipped to carabiner

(Note vent holes drilled in quadrat to keep it from floating.) Wind the transect line around the quadrat to keep it from tangling. Secure the free end of the transect line with a simple looping knot.

loop tied off around quadrat side Clipboard Example

Attach a mechanical pencil and a flexible plastic ruler (for macroalgal heights) to the plastic slate or clipboard with a braided nylon cord with the pencil and ruler secured to either end. Bring a spare pencil in a secure location (BC pocket or tucked into wetsuit).

Trim the tip of the flexible plastic ruler (from Fisher Scientific) at the 0 cm end so that is easier to reach the base of dense clumps of macroalgae.

Secure the appropriate underwater datasheet to the slate with rubber bands. A strip of electrical tape placed at the top and bottom of the sheet can help to keep it from moving during the survey dive. Slide slate and meter stick between transect line wrapped around the quadrat for ease of transport. TIP: Surveyors should wear spare rubber bands around their wrists to replace any that break during a dive. And don’t forget the spare pencils!

Also, bring a spare parts kit in a zip‐top baggie containing supplies like replacement cable ties, rulers, tape or other items can be useful to make emergency repairs at the survey site which could save the day. Coral Survey Equipment Same as the BENTHOS survey equipment, except that the transect line only needs marking with black cable ties at every meter. However, it may be useful to make all transect lines with both black and colored cable ties allowing each line to be used interchangeably for benthic or corals surveys.

Can use the same benthic survey gear substituting the CORAL datasheet for the BENTHIC Needed for each FISH surveyor • PVC tubing, ¾ inch internal diameter (¾” ID) ~1.6 m • T‐connector, ¾” ID 1 • 45° elbow, ¾” ID 1 • PVC cement < 100 gm / 4 oz. • braided nylon cord at least 40 cm / 15” • black vinyl electrical tape ~ 400 cm / 150” • fiberglass tape reel, 30 m / 100 ft 1 • diving weight, 0.5‐1 kilo / 1‐2 lb 1 • large cable ties at least 4 • carabiner (or other secure clip) 1 • REEF slate (or any ~ 15 cm × 23 cm —6” × 9” slate) 1 • stainless steel pan‐head Phillips drive machine screws and nylon insert lock nuts, 4 mm × 40 mm / # 8‐32 × 1½” 2 of each • stainless steel washers to fit the screws at least 4 • rubber bands ~ 4‐6 • appropriate UW FISH datasheet 1‐2 / dive (varies with number of transects for each surveyor) • pencil at least 2 • D‐ring or clip (attached to BC or weight belt) 1 Fish Survey Equipment

T‐bar

slate with UW‐ FISH datasheet

transect tape reel Fish T‐Bar Construction Glue the base of a T‐connector to one end of a ¾” ID PVC tube that is about 70‐cm long (will become the center bar). Insert a piece of PVC tube that is > 50 cm long into each side of the T‐connector (will become the arms). DO NOT GLUE! Measure and cut each arm to a length of exactly 50 cm from the center of the connector. Wrap side arms and part of the T‐connector with black vinyl electrical tape to make alternating 10‐cm bands.

T‐connector electrical tape

50‐cm side arm 10‐cm tape bands

center bar glued to T‐connector Drill a hole at the inner end of each side arm. Push the end of a reel of braided nylon cord (or at least ~40 cm / 15”) through one of the side arm holes. Pull the cord from the end of this side arm and then push it through the T ‐connector. Using a loop of monofilament fishing line or other string inserted through the hole in the second arm will help in “fishing” the cord out through the second hole. Cut the cord to length, allowing the side arms to hang beside the center bar, and secure the loose ends of the cord with knots.

T‐connector glued braided cord to central bar

cord pulled through hole and knotted Glue a 45° elbow to the base of the center bar to make a more comfortable handle than just the cut end of the PVC tube.

handle handle (upper side) (lower side) Drills holes about 1 cm from the top and bottom edges along the midline of a REEF slate (or any 15 cm × 23 cm —6” × 9” slate) large enough to insert 4 mm / # 8‐32 pan‐head Phillips drive machine screws. Position the slate with its bottom edge ~ 5 cm / 2” above the 45° elbow on the handle and use the holes drilled in the slate to mark the placement of holes to drill through the top and bottom of the center bar. Attachment Hardware —Side View

head end of a pan‐head Phillips drive machine screw

washers

nylon insert lock nut Position the slate on top of the center bar and insert the pan‐head Phillips drive machine screws through the holes drilled in the slate and through the PVC tube. Using washers can help prevent the slate from cracking at the attachment points. Top View

slate

pan‐head of a Phillips drive machine screw

~ 5 cm / 2”

handle Secure each machine screw with a matching nylon insert lock nut on the underside of the center bar, and tighten with a screwdriver.

Wrap several rubber bands around the slate to hold survey sheets.

Bottom View

nylon insert lock nuts

rubber bands Alternative attachment method: Cable ties can be used to attach the slate to the center bar if stainless hardware is difficult to obtain. With the slate positioned over the center bar, drill matching holes through the slate and the center bar (near the top and bottom of the slate).

holes drilled through slate and center bar

© Ian Drysdale Add additional holes through the center bar (but not the slate) for the return of the cable tie (additional holes in the slate will only increase the chance of it breaking). Loop the cable tie through the holes and around the slate. Secure the cable tie tightly from the bottom and clip the end.

tightened and clipped

passed through looped slate here around slate here

The appropriate FISH‐UW datasheets (when folded) fit perfectly on a REEF slate (or one of equivalent size). FISH datasheet Tuck at least as many data sheets as needed to conduct one survey under rubber bands. Use as many rubber bands as needed to secure the sheets to the slate. TIP: Wear spare rubber bands around your wrist to replace any that break during a dive.

rubber band Pull the side arms out of the T‐connector, fold them down along center bar, and tuck them under the rubber bands for convenience in transit and storage. The side arms can be quickly released and inserted into the T‐connector at the start of a survey dive.

side arms tucked under rubber band Fish Transect Line Construction 30 m / 100 ft fiberglass surveyor tape reels are available at most large home improvement/hardware stores or are available through online retailers. Recently, we have found Komelon tape reels available from suppliers through Amazon.com and we’ve been happy with the compact nature of these reels. Model 6611 is marked only in feet on both sides but model W6611M (shown below) is marked in feet on one side and meters on the other. Attach a small 0.5‐1 kilo / 1‐2 lb diving weight to the end of the tape using several cable ties. Tighten and clip the cable ties.

small clipped weight cable ties Attach a clip or carabiner to the handle of the tape reel with several cable ties. This will allow the tape reel to be clipped to a D‐ring on a BC, allowing hands‐free unreeling. Aluminum carabiners with a strip of nylon webbing sold as key rings work well and provide twisting flexibility that keeps the cable ties from breaking. A small cable tie through the webbing keeps it from sliding off the carabiner.

carabiner or brass clip

clipped cable ties Detailed FISH Surveys: Use a permanent marker or black spray paint to place a band on both sides of the tape at the six points where the Maximum Relief measurements will be made along the transect line. The tape will twist underwater so marking both sides will make sure the points are always visible. On metric tapes, put bands by the 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, and 24 m marks. On imperial marked tapes, put bands by the 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, and 90 ft marks. Note: marking all transect tapes allows each to be used interchangeably for both basic and detailed FISH surveys. Many tape reels have very little clearance between the edges of the fiberglass tape and the plastic cage that holds the tape. If these type reels are used the black marks made every 4 m / 15 ft must be made with spray paint or a permanent marker—both of which tend to bleed or fade over time.

A better approach can be used if the tape reel permits enough clearance between the sides of the tape and the inner edges of the plastic cage that houses the tape. A ring of black plastic electrical tape around the tape provides a clean and lasting set of marks that may be easily replaced as needed. AGRRA Survey Gear