A Cooperative Multiagency Reef Fish Monitoring Protocol for the U.S
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Natural Resource Stewardship and Science A Cooperative Multiagency Reef Fish Monitoring Protocol for the U.S. Virgin Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem, v. 1.00 Natural Resource Report NPS/SFCN/NRR—2013/672 ON THE COVER Clockwise from the top left; bluestripped grunt (Haemulon sciurus), bluehead wrasse (Thalassoma bifasciatum), bar jack (Caranx ruber), schoolmaster snapper (Lutjanus apodus), school of bluestriped grunts, gray anglefish (Pomacanthus arcuatus) and in the center yellowtail snapper (Ocyurus chrysurus). Photographs by: Evan D'Alessandro and Kirk Kilfoyle A Cooperative Multiagency Reef Fish Monitoring Protocol for the U.S. Virgin Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem, v. 1.00 Natural Resource Report NPS/SFCN/NRR—2013/672 David R. Bryan1,2, Andrea J. Atkinson2, Jerald S. Ault1, Marilyn E. Brandt3, James A. Bohnsack4, Michael W. Feeley2, Matt E. Patterson2, Ben I. Ruttenberg4, Steven G. Smith1, Brian D. Witcher2 1University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science 4600 Rickenbacker Cswy Miami, FL 33149 2National Park Service South Florida / Caribbean Network 18001 Old Cutler Rd., Suite 419 Village of Palmetto Bay, FL 33157 3University of the Virgin Islands Center for Marine & Environmental Studies 2 John Brewer’s Bay St. Thomas, VI 00802 4National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Southeast Fisheries Science Center 75 Virginia Beach Drive Miami, FL 33149 June 2013 U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service Natural Resource Stewardship and Science Fort Collins, Colorado The National Park Service, Natural Resource Stewardship and Science office in Fort Collins, Colorado, publishes a range of reports that address natural resource topics. These reports are of interest and applicability to a broad audience in the National Park Service and others in natural resource management, including scientists, conservation and environmental constituencies, and the public. The Natural Resource Report Series is used to disseminate high-priority, current natural resource management information with managerial application. The series targets a general, diverse audience, and may contain NPS policy considerations or address sensitive issues of management applicability. All manuscripts in the series receive the appropriate level of peer review to ensure that the information is scientifically credible, technically accurate, appropriately written for the intended audience, and designed and published in a professional manner. This report received formal peer review by subject-matter experts who were not directly involved in the collection, analysis, or reporting of the data, and whose background and expertise put them on par technically and scientifically with the authors of the information. Views, statements, findings, conclusions, recommendations, and data in this report do not necessarily reflect views and policies of the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use by the U.S. Government. This report is available from South Florida / Caribbean Network website (http://science.nature.nps.gov/im/units/sfcn/) and the Natural Resource Publications Management website (http://www.nature.nps.gov/publications/nrpm/). Please cite this publication as: Bryan, D. R., A. J. Atkinson, J. S. Ault, M. E. Brandt, J. A. Bohnsack, M. W. Feeley, M. E. Patterson, B. I. Ruttenberg, S. G. Smith, B. D. Witcher. 2013. A cooperative multiagency reef fish monitoring protocol for the U.S. Virgin Islands coral reef ecosystem. Natural Resource Report NPS/SFCN/NRR—2013/672. National Park Service, Fort Collins, Colorado. NPS 141/121295, 161/121295, 163/121295, 663/121295, June 2013 ii Change History Version # Date Revised by Changes Justification iii Contents Page Figures............................................................................................................................................ ix Tables ............................................................................................................................................. xi Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) ....................................................................................... xiii Appendices .................................................................................................................................... xv Summary ..................................................................................................................................... xvii Acknowledgments........................................................................................................................ xix Acronyms ...................................................................................................................................... xx 1.0 Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Rationale for Selecting this Resource to Monitor .............................................................. 1 1.2 Background ........................................................................................................................ 3 1.2.1 Fishing and Ecosystem Stressors ............................................................................... 3 1.2.2 Fisheries Management ............................................................................................... 4 1.2.3 Historical Reef Fish Research and Monitoring .......................................................... 4 1.2.4 Reef Visual Census Survey Method used in South Florida ....................................... 7 1.3 Measurable Objectives of Monitoring ............................................................................... 7 1.4 Overview of Monitoring Program ..................................................................................... 8 1.5 Link to Management Decision-Making ............................................................................. 8 2.0 Sample Design ........................................................................................................................ 11 2.1 Historic Survey Background ............................................................................................ 11 2.2 Rationale for Modifying Design ...................................................................................... 11 2.3 Target Population and Sample Frame .............................................................................. 12 2.4 Stratification .................................................................................................................... 12 2.5 Allocation and Site Selection........................................................................................... 13 v Contents (continued) Page 2.6 Frequency and Timing ..................................................................................................... 14 2.7 Change Detectable ........................................................................................................... 14 3.0 Field Methods ......................................................................................................................... 15 3.1 Requisites of a Data Collection Program ......................................................................... 15 3.2 Survey Method ................................................................................................................. 15 3.3 Calibration Study with Reef Visual Census Sampling Methods ..................................... 16 3.4 Field Season Preparations and Equipment Setup ............................................................ 16 3.5 Sequence of Events During Field Season ........................................................................ 17 3.6 Post-mission equipment maintenance and storage .......................................................... 17 4.0 Data Assimilation.................................................................................................................... 19 4.1 Post-collection Data Handling ......................................................................................... 19 4.2 Data Entry ........................................................................................................................ 19 4.3 Data Management ............................................................................................................ 19 4.4 Overview of Regional Database Design .......................................................................... 21 4.5 Metadata and Archiving .................................................................................................. 21 4.6 Sensitive Data .................................................................................................................. 22 4.7 NPS-SFCN Specific Details ............................................................................................ 22 5.0 Analysis and Reporting ........................................................................................................... 23 5.1 Recommendations for Routine Data Summaries and Statistical Analyses ..................... 23 5.2 Iterative Approach to Survey Design .............................................................................. 24 6.0 Participant Roles, Requirements and Training ....................................................................... 25 6.1 Roles and Responsibilities