Puerto Rico Long-Term Coral Reef Monitoring Program Database Compilation

Miguel G. Figuerola Hernández; José Santiago

doi:10.15468/heuugg

Puerto Rico Long-Term Coral Reef Monitoring Program Database Compilation

Citation

Department of Natural and Environmental Resources of Puerto Rico (2019) Puerto Rico Long-Term Coral Reef Monitoring Program Database Compilation (1999-2019). [indicate subset used]. Ocean Biogeographic Information System. Dataset. https://obis.org/dataset/52f99f08-fc90-4684-aea8-a015150968ea https://doi.org/10.15468/heuugg accessed via GBIF.org on 2024-12-03.

Description

The Puerto Rico Long-Term Coral Reef Monitoring Program (PRCRMP) database compilation includes raw biological data (by transect) from reef locations around the Puerto Rican archipelago. Substrate cover by sessile-benthic categories and fish, and motile megabenthic invertebrate taxonomic composition and densities have been characterized in these stations, with variable sampling event frequencies between 1999 to 2021. At present, 42 permanent stations are surveyed biannually (21 per year). For the benthic characterization, a set of five 10-meter-long permanent transects are surveyed at each station. Sessile-benthic reef communities are characterized by the continuous intercept chain-link method, following the Caribbean Coastal Marine Productivity (CARICOMP) (1994) protocol. Demersal diurnal non-cryptic reef fish populations and motile megabenthic invertebrates are surveyed by sets of five 10 x 3 meters wide (30 m2) belt-transects centered along the reference line of transects used for sessile-benthic characterizations at each reef station. From 2004-2013, a diver completed an Active Search Census (ASEC) survey for 30 minutes annotating sizes and abundances of fish and macroinvertebrate species of interest. From 2015, the ASEC survey methodology was replaced by 20 x 3 meters (60 m2) band transects to identify commercially and ecologically important fish and megabenthic invertebrate species. Upon completion of the 10 meters belt-transect survey, the diver swims along the same depth and physiographic reef zone for an extra 10 meters to complete the 60 m2 transect. For each fish individual within the ASEC survey (2004-2013) and 60m2 band transects (2015-2021), a visual fork length (FL) estimate in centimeters is recorded. Fish length estimations are provided by the median of 5cm interval size classes. The cephalothorax length (measurement from the tip of the rostrum to end of the thorax), also known as carapace length (CL) in centimeters is used to report the size of lobsters (Panulirus spp., Scyllarides spp.) within belt-transects. Queen conch (Lobatus gigas) length is reported as the total (diagonal) shell length in centimeters. With the length-weight relationship information available in FishBase.org, biomass estimates are calculated for a subset of commercially and ecologically important fish species. The PRCRMP database was made possible with support from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations Coral Reef Conservation Program.

Additional info

marine, harvested by OBIS

Taxonomic Coverages

Geographic Coverages

This dataset covers the archipelago of Puerto Rico located in the northeastern Caribbean Sea, Western North Atlantic Ocean. The Puerto Rican archipelago includes east to west: Culebra-Vieques islands, the main island of Puerto Rico, Caja de Muertos (south coast of Puerto Rico), and Desecheo-Mona islands.

Bibliographic Citations

Contacts

Miguel G. Figuerola Hernández
originator
position: Technical Support Staff
Caribbean Coastal Ocean Observing System (CARICOOS) / Puerto Rico Coral Reef Monitoring Program and Outreach Coordinator, PR DNER
email: mfiguerolahernandez@gmail.com

José Santiago
originator
position: Technical Support Staff
Caribbean Coastal Ocean Observing System (CARICOOS)
email: jose.santiago90@upr.edu

Miguel G. Figuerola Hernández
metadata author
position: Technical Support Staff / Puerto Rico Coral Reef Monitoring Program and Outreach Coordinator,
Caribbean Coastal Ocean Observing System (CARICOOS) / Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (PR DNER)
email: mfiguerolahernandez@gmail.com

Abby Benson
publisher
position: Biologist
U.S. Geological Survey
email: albenson@usgs.gov
userId: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4391-107X

Ernesto Díaz
administrative point of contact
position: Director of the Office for Coastal Management and Climate Change
Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (PR DNER)

Jorge Capella
administrative point of contact
position: Data Management and Communications Coordinator
Caribbean Coastal Ocean Observing System (CARICOOS)
email: jorge.capella@upr.edu

Julio Morell
administrative point of contact
position: Executive Director
Caribbean Coastal Ocean Observing System (CARICOOS)
email: julio.morell@upr.edu