Cooperative Multi-agency Reef Fish Monitoring Protocol for the Florida Keys Coral Reef Ecosystem

2009·7.1 MB·English

by  Brandt, Marilyn, Zurcher, Natalia, Acosta, Alejandro, Ault, Jerald, Bohnsack, James

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NPS/SFCN/NRR-2009/150
National ParkService
U.S. Departmentofthe Interior
Natural Resource Program Center
A
Cooperative Multi-agency
Reef Fish Monitoring Protocol for
the Florida Keys Coral Reef Ecosystem
Natural Resource Report NPS/SFCN/NRR—2009/150
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A
Cooperative Multi-Agency
Reef Fish Monitoring Protocol for
the Florida Keys Coral Reef Ecosystem
Natural Resource Report NPS/SFCN/NRR—2009/150
Marilyn E. Brandt1 ", Natalia Zurcher1 Alejandro Acosta3,Jerald S. Ault1 James A.
, ,
Bohnsack4 Michael W. Feeley3 Douglas E. Harper4 John H. Hunt3 Todd Kellison4
, , , , ,
David B. McClellan4 Matt E. Patterson2 Steven G. Smith1
, ,
University ofMiami
Rosenstiel School ofMarine and Atmospheric Science
4600 Rickenbacker Cswy
Miami, FL 33149
"National Park Service
South Florida / Caribbean Network
18001 Old Cutler Rd., Suite 419
Village ofPalmetto Bay, FL 33157
3Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Fish and Wildlife Research Institute
South Florida Regional Lab
2796 Overseas Hwy., Suite 119
Marathon, FL 33050
4National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Southeast Fisheries Science Center
75 Virginia Beach Drive
Miami, FL 33149 universityofGeorgia
MAY h 2012
LIBRARIES
DEPOSITORY
September 2009
U.S. Department ofthe Interior
National Park Service
Natural Resource Program Center
Fort Collins, Colorado
The National Park Service, Natural Resource Program Center publishes a range of
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Views, statements, findings, conclusions, recommendations, and data in this report
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by the National Park Service.
This report is available from the 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:
Brandt, M. E., N. Zurcher, A. Acosta, S. Ault, A. Bohnsack, M. W. Feeley, D. E.
J. J.
Harper, H. Hunt, T. Kellison, D. B. McClellan, M. E. Patterson, and S. G. Smith.
J.
2009. A cooperative multi-agency reeffish monitoring protocol for the Florida Keys
coral reefecosystem. Natural Resource Report NPS/SFCN/NRR—2009/150. National
Park Service, Fort Collins, Colorado.
NPS 910/100304, September 2009
n
1
Contents
Figures
vii
Tables ix
Appendices x
Executive Summary xi
Acknowledgements
xiii
Introduction
1
Rationale behind this Document and ReefFish Monitoring 1
Fishing and Other Pressures on the Reef 2
Fishing Management 3
Background and Objectives 5
History 5
Measurable Objectives ofMonitoring 7
Sampling Design 7
Rationale for Selecting This Sampling Design over Others 7
Sampling Domain 9
Sampling Frequency and Replication 9
Number and Location ofSampling Sites 9
Frequency and Timing ofSampling 10
Level ofChange that can be Detected for Sampling Being Instituted 10
Field Methods 11
Field Season Preparations and Equipment Setup 1
iii
Sequence ofEvents during Field Season 11
Details ofMaking Observations 11
Post-collection Data Sheet and Logs Processing 12
End-of-Season Procedures 12
Data Handling, Analysis and Reporting 12
Data Entry, Verification and Editing 12
Recommendations for Routine Data Summaries and Statistical Analyses 12
Personnel Requirements and Training 13
Roles and Responsibilities 13
Qualifications 13
Training 13
Contacts 14
Standard Operating Procedure A: Statistical Sampling Design
A.l Introduction A-l
A.2 Stratification A-l
A.3 Sample Allocation A-5
A.4 Sample Unit (Location) Selection A-7
A.5 Example A-8
Standard Operating Procedure B: Participant Training
B.l Initial Participant Training B-l
B.2 Annual Refresher Training for Previous Participants B-2
B.3 Data Entry and ProofingTraining B-3
IV
Standard Operating Procedure C: Field Data Collection Methods
C.l Equipment C-l
C.2 Sequence ofEvents in the Field C-2
C.2.i Locating and Assessing the Sample Site (Primary Unit) C-2
C.2.ii Diver Deployment, Descent, and Location of Survey Sites C-2
C.3 Details ofObservations Made in the Field C-5
C.3.i Field Forms C-5
C.3.ii Collecting Fish Data C-8
C.3.iii Sample-Specific Data C-10
C.3.iv Habitat Data C-10
C.4 Post-Collection Data Sheet and Logs Processing C-13
Standard Operating Procedure D: Data Entry, Editing and Proofing
D.l Introduction D-l
D.2 Data Entry D-l
D.2.i The RVC Data Entry Program D-l
D.2.ii Directions for Use ofthe RVC Data Entry Program D-2
D.3 Editing Saved Data D-8
D.4 Data Cataloguing D-9
D.5 Data QA/QC and Verification D-9
D.5.i Initial Diver Proofing D-9
D.5.ii Participant-Level Proofing D-9
D.5.iii Agency-Level Proofing D-12
D.5.iv Final Verification and Oracle Database D-13
Standard Operating Procedure E: Data Analyses and Reporting
E.l Introduction E-l
E.2 Descriptive Ecological Analysis E-l
E.3 Fishery Assessment and Calculation ofFish Stock Status Indices E-l
E.3.i Mean Density E-2
E.3.ii Average Size in the Exploited Phase E-3
E.3.iii Assessing Changes to ReefFish Metrics E-4
E.4 Multi-Species Fishery Stock Assessments E-5
E.5 Design Performance Analysis E-5
Literature Cited
Appendices
VI
Figures
Figure 1.1 Designated management zoning ofthe Florida Keys coastal marine
ecosystem, including the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, Biscayne
National Park and Dry Tortugas National Park 4
Figure A.l Cross-shelfdistribution ofcoral reefand hard-bottom habitat classes
in the vicinity ofWestern Sambo NTMR overlain with the 200 m by 200 m
primary unit samplinggrid A-2
Figure A.2 Conceptual diagram ofthe sampling domain and sample units for a
two-stage stratified random survey design \ A-3
Figure A.3 Percent ofall second-stage units sampled in the Florida Keys (2003-
2007) which fell within different distances (m) from the primary unit center A-8
Figure A.4 Performance data for annual estimates offish density for eight
focal species and ten additional non-targeted species in Biscayne National
Park during 2005-2007 A-ll-14
Figure C.l The RVC All Purpose Tool (APT) used as a reference device for
measuring habitat vertical relief, estimating fish lengths and the location ofthe
center and outer edge ofthe sample cylinder C-l
Figure C.2 Schematic representing location ofcounts along a deployed
measuring tape C-4
Figure C.3 Field/Boat Log form C-6
Figure C.4 Water Quality/Environmental Log form C-7
Figure C.5 Fish/Habitat Data Sheet C-8
Figure C.6 Conceptual diagram ofRVC diver within 7.5m-radius survey cylinder..C-9
Figure C.7 Example photos oftarget habitats C-ll
Figure C.8 Diagram showing how to measure substrate slope, max vertical relief
and surface reliefcoverage C-14
Figure D.l The "Sample Data" window D-4
Figure D.2 The "Substrate data" window D-6
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Figure D.3 The "Species data" window D-8
Figure D.4 Example proofing report sheet in common species names style D-ll
Figure D.5 Example proofing report sheet in RVC species code style D-12
Figure D.6 Flow chart ofverification procedures and production oforacle tablesD-14
Figure D.7 The Entity-Relationship diagram (ER diagram) ofthe schema with
relationships between different tables in Oracle D-22
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