Roving diver surveys 2015

Roving Diver Surveys

Purpose

• To estimate species diversity and abundance across sites and different habitats.

Materials

• 1 underwater slate for each diver

• 1 watch or bottom timer for each diver

• 1 fish ID card for each diver/diver pair

• 1 data sheet

Methods

Two indices of fish abundance:

1. Time score scaled from 0 to 10

2. An estimated count expressed in categories (single = 1, few = 2-10, common = 11-100, and many = >100)

Time score

Minute intervals Score

0-5 10

5-10 9

10-15 8

15-20 7

20-25 6

25-30 5

Did not observe 0

Abundance estimate

S (single = 1)

F (few = 2-10)

C (common = 11-100)

M (many = >100)

How to ID fish

• Shape of body

• Shape of tail

• Location of mouth

• Placement of fins

• Shape of lateral line

• Size

• Color

• Habitat

Deep bodied Elongate

Fish key cards

Species name Common name

Myctoperca bonaci Black grouper

Albula vulpes Bonefish

Heteroconger longissimus Brown garden eel

Gobiosoma genie Cleaner goby

Caranx hippos Crevalle jack

Lutjanus jocu Dog snapper

Sphyraena barracuda Great barracuda

Seriola dumerili Greater amberjack

Gymnothorax funebris Green moray

Lachnolaimus maximus Hogfish

Ginglymostoma cirratum Nurse shark

Bothus lunatus Peacock flounder

Scarus vetula Queen Parrotfish

Balistes vetula Queen triggerfish

Epinephelus guttatus Red Hind

Aetobatus narinari Spotted eagle ray

Indicator species

Black grouper (Myctoperca bonaci)

Bonefish (Albula vulpes)

Brown garden eel (Heteroconger longissimus)

Cleaner goby (Gobiosoma genie)

*Crevalle jack (Caranx hippos)

*Dog snapper (Lutjanus jocu)

*Great barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda)

Greater amberjack (Seriola dumerili)

Green moray (Gymnothorax funebris)

Hogfish (Lachnolaimus maximus)

Nurse shark (Ginglymostoma cirratum)

*Peacock flounder (Bothus lunatus)

*Queen Parrotfish (Scarus vetula)

Queen triggerfish (Balistes vetula)

*Red Hind (Epinephelus guttatus)

*Spotted eagle ray (Aetobatus narinari)

Recording during the snorkel/dive

• Begin survey as soon as you enter the water

• Swim continuously throughout entire survey and keep your eyes moving

• For seagrass beds, stay within the bed; for coral reefs, stay within the reef

• Swim slowly; avoid splashing or jerky movements

• Take notes on species you were unsure of

Time into dive: 5 minutes

Fulana 11 Nov 15 S F C M


Fulana 11 Nov 15 S F C M S major Bi-co Damsel Needle


Fulana 11 Nov 15 S F C M S major x Bi-co Damsel x Needle x


Fulana 11 Nov 15 S F C M S major x Bi-co Damsel x Needle x Bl tang Gry angel Chub


Fulana 11 Nov 15 S F C M S major x x Bi-co Damsel x Needle x x Bl tang x Gry angel x Chub x


Fulana 11 Nov 15 S F C M S major x x Bi-co Damsel x Needle x x Bl tang x Gry angel x Chub x Comb Bl Crevalle N shark


Fulana 11 Nov 15 S F C M S major x x Bi-co Damsel x Needle x x Bl tang x Gry angel x Chub x Comb Bl x x Crevalle x N shark


Fulana 11 Nov 15 S F C M S major x x Bi-co Damsel x Needle x x Bl tang x Gry angel x Chub x Comb Bl x x Crevalle x N shark x



1 2 3 4 5

Sample data sheet

Roving Diver Fish Count CIAM 6117 Coastal Environments

Location: Nearshore Playa Escambron, San Juan Date: 11 Nov 2015 Time: 10:00 Page 1 of 5

ABUNDANCE KEY: S = single (1) F = few (2-10) C = common (11-100) M = many (over 100) - = not observed

* = monitoring species (must have a count or a zero!) Score = 10 to 5 (10 = first 5 min, etc)

ObserverName: Fulana

Ramirez

Fulano

Quiñones

Common Name Score Abun Score Abun Score Abun Score Abun Score Abun Score Abun

Sgt Major 10 C 10 C

Bi-color damsel 10 F 9 M

Needle fish 10 F

Blue tang 9 M 8 C

Gray Angel 9 S 7 F



1 2 3 4 5

10 9 8 7 6

Scores:

Sample data sheet

Roving Diver Fish Count CIAM 6117 Coastal Environments

Location: Nearshore Playa Escambron, San Juan Date: 11 Nov 2015 Time: 10:00 Page 1 of 5

ABUNDANCE KEY: S = single (1) F = few (2-10) C = common (11-100) M = many (over 100) - = not observed

* = monitoring species (must have a count or a zero!) Score = 10 to 5 (10 = first 5 min, etc)

ObserverName: Fulana

Ramirez

Fulano

Quiñones

Common Name Score Abun Score Abun Score Abun Score Abun Score Abun Score Abun

Sgt Major 10 C 10 C

Bi-color damsel 10 F 9 M

Needle fish 10 F

Blue tang 9 M 8 C

Gray Angel 9 S 7 F

Invertebrate sensus

1. Same format as for fish

2. Focus is on macroinvertebrates

3. Review the fish key and guide book before the dive

4. Consult the keys after the dive before recording to the data sheet

5. Only record positive ID’s

Common Invertebrates

Common Invertebrates

I. Porifera Encrusting, barrel or ball sponges II. Cnidarians Corkscrew anemone (Bartholomea annulata) Turtle grass anemone (Viatrix globulifera) Transparent tube-dwelling anemone (unidentified) III. Ctenophores Sea walnut (Mnemiopsis mccradyi) Winged comb jelly (Leucothea multicornis) Sea gooseberry (Euplokamis sp.) IV. Annelids Bearded fireworm (Hermodice carunculata) Spaghetti worm (Eupolymnia crassicornis) V. Arthropods Caribbean spiny lobster (Panulirus argus) Spotted spiny lobster (Panulirus guttatus) Giant hermit (Petrochirus diogenes) Blue crab (Callinectes sp.) Arrow crab (Stenorhynchus seticornis) Decorator crab (unidentified) Mantis shrimp (Pseudosquilla ciliata)

VI. Bryozoans Bugula sp. VII. Molluscs Queen conch (Strombus gigas) Triton’s trumpet (Charonia variegata) King helmet (Cassis tuberosa) Sea hare (Aplysia sp.) Ragged sea hare (Bursatella leachii) Nudibranchs (various) Reef squid (Sepioteuthis sepioidea) Common octopus (Octopus vulgaris) VIII. Echinoderms Cushion sea star (Oreaster reticulatus) Circle marked brittle star (Ophioderma cinereum) Brittle stars (Ophiothrix or Ophioderma sp.) Long-spined urchin (Diadema antillarum) Variegated urchin (Lytechinus variegatus) West Indian sea egg (Tripneustes ventricosus) Inflated sea biscuit (Clypeaster rosaceus) Sand dollar (Clypeaster subdepressus) Donkey dung sea cucumber (Holothuria mexicana)

How to improve proper ID’s

1. Learn the indicator species

2. Become familiar with the key

3. Review the fish key and guide book before the dive

4. Consult the keys after the dive before recording to the data sheet

5. Only record positive ID’s

Education

Roving diver surveys 2015