Evaluating the use of roving diver and transect surveys to assess the coral reef fish assemblage off southeastern Hispaniola

Emily F. Schmitt Lavin; Robert D. Sluka; Kathleen M. Sullivan-Sealey

doi:10.1007/s00338-002-0216-y

Evaluating the use of roving diver and transect surveys to assess the coral reef fish assemblage off southeastern Hispaniola

Emily F. Schmitt Lavin
, Robert D. Sluka
, Kathleen M. Sullivan-Sealey

Department of Biological Sciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

The relatively little-studied fish fauna off southeastern Hispaniola was rapidly assessed using a combination of visual survey techniques including transects and roving diver surveys. It was found that when combined, both methods provided a more complete overall species assessment than either method was able to provide in isolation. Being able to conduct rapid species assessments is becoming increasingly more important as a conservation tool. Data on species composition, sighting frequency, and abundance of all fishes were collected using both methods. Abundance was recorded in four logarithmic-based categories (roving diver method) while the number of fishes were counted within 40-m2 transects (transect method). Both methods were similar in recording the most abundant species, while a greater number of rare species (especially fishery-targeted species) were recorded with the roving diver method. The most abundant groupers were Cephalopholis cruentata and C. fulva. The most abundant parrotfishes were Scarus taeniopterus, Sparisoma aurofrenatum, and Scarus iserti. The most conspicuous differences between fishes off southeastern Hispaniola and elsewhere in the tropical western Atlantic were the low abundance and smaller size of harvested species such as groupers, snappers (Fam. Lutjanidae), and grunts (Fam. Haemulidae). With the roving diver method, more time could be spent surveying (instead of placing transect lines), resulting in a greater number of species being recorded. Additionally, well-trained volunteers can adopt the roving diver method as part of their regular diving program. Transect surveys were able to provide information such as length (biomass) and actual density measures that were not recorded in roving diver surveys. Thus, these methods were complementary and should be used in conjunction when conducting rapid assessments of fish assemblages, especially to detect the effects of overfishing.

Original language	American English
Pages (from-to)	216-223
Number of pages	8
Journal	Coral Reefs
Volume	21
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-002-0216-y
State	Published - Jan 1 2002

Funding

Acknowledgments This work was carried out at the Nature Conservancy’s Marine Conservation Science Center at the University of Miami with support from the United States Agency for International Development ‘‘Parks in Peril’’ Program, International Development Bank, the Latin American and Caribbean Region of the Nature Conservancy, and the Dunn Foundation. The following people are greatly acknowledged for their field assistance: P. Buehler, J. Earnshaw, R. Grist, L. Hubert, B. Jacobsen, M. Jacobsen, R. Klocek, V. Kohn, C. Presperin, D. Probert, E. Pugibet, and L. Sang. M. Chiappone provided benthic summary data. The Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF) trained observers and developed the roving diver method. Comments from J. Bohnsack, P. Sale, and several anonymous reviewers improved the manuscript. The map illustration was created by Brian K. Walker, Biological and Geographical Information Specialist, National Coral Reef Institute, Dania Beach, Florida.

Funders
International Development Bank
Latin American and Caribbean Region of the Nature Conservancy
United States Agency for International Development
University of Miami
John S. Dunn Foundation

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

Aquatic Science

Keywords

Conservation
Coral reefs
Dominican Republic
Fish assemblages
Hispaniola
Survey methods

Disciplines

Biology

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10.1007/s00338-002-0216-y

http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00338-002-0216-y

Cite this

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title = "Evaluating the use of roving diver and transect surveys to assess the coral reef fish assemblage off southeastern Hispaniola",

abstract = " The relatively little-studied fish fauna off southeastern Hispaniola was rapidly assessed using a combination of visual survey techniques including transects and roving diver surveys. It was found that when combined, both methods provided a more complete overall species assessment than either method was able to provide in isolation. Being able to conduct rapid species assessments is becoming increasingly more important as a conservation tool. Data on species composition, sighting frequency, and abundance of all fishes were collected using both methods. Abundance was recorded in four logarithmic-based categories (roving diver method) while the number of fishes were counted within 40-m2 transects (transect method). Both methods were similar in recording the most abundant species, while a greater number of rare species (especially fishery-targeted species) were recorded with the roving diver method. The most abundant groupers were Cephalopholis cruentata and C. fulva. The most abundant parrotfishes were Scarus taeniopterus, Sparisoma aurofrenatum, and Scarus iserti. The most conspicuous differences between fishes off southeastern Hispaniola and elsewhere in the tropical western Atlantic were the low abundance and smaller size of harvested species such as groupers, snappers (Fam. Lutjanidae), and grunts (Fam. Haemulidae). With the roving diver method, more time could be spent surveying (instead of placing transect lines), resulting in a greater number of species being recorded. Additionally, well-trained volunteers can adopt the roving diver method as part of their regular diving program. Transect surveys were able to provide information such as length (biomass) and actual density measures that were not recorded in roving diver surveys. Thus, these methods were complementary and should be used in conjunction when conducting rapid assessments of fish assemblages, especially to detect the effects of overfishing.",

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T1 - Evaluating the use of roving diver and transect surveys to assess the coral reef fish assemblage off southeastern Hispaniola

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AB - The relatively little-studied fish fauna off southeastern Hispaniola was rapidly assessed using a combination of visual survey techniques including transects and roving diver surveys. It was found that when combined, both methods provided a more complete overall species assessment than either method was able to provide in isolation. Being able to conduct rapid species assessments is becoming increasingly more important as a conservation tool. Data on species composition, sighting frequency, and abundance of all fishes were collected using both methods. Abundance was recorded in four logarithmic-based categories (roving diver method) while the number of fishes were counted within 40-m2 transects (transect method). Both methods were similar in recording the most abundant species, while a greater number of rare species (especially fishery-targeted species) were recorded with the roving diver method. The most abundant groupers were Cephalopholis cruentata and C. fulva. The most abundant parrotfishes were Scarus taeniopterus, Sparisoma aurofrenatum, and Scarus iserti. The most conspicuous differences between fishes off southeastern Hispaniola and elsewhere in the tropical western Atlantic were the low abundance and smaller size of harvested species such as groupers, snappers (Fam. Lutjanidae), and grunts (Fam. Haemulidae). With the roving diver method, more time could be spent surveying (instead of placing transect lines), resulting in a greater number of species being recorded. Additionally, well-trained volunteers can adopt the roving diver method as part of their regular diving program. Transect surveys were able to provide information such as length (biomass) and actual density measures that were not recorded in roving diver surveys. Thus, these methods were complementary and should be used in conjunction when conducting rapid assessments of fish assemblages, especially to detect the effects of overfishing.

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DO - 10.1007/s00338-002-0216-y

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SN - 0722-4028

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IS - 2

ER -

Evaluating the use of roving diver and transect surveys to assess the coral reef fish assemblage off southeastern Hispaniola

Abstract

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Keywords

Disciplines

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