Reef Life Survey: Cryptic Fish

Method steps

1. Line transects 50 m in length are laid along a depth contour. Densities of fishes are recorded along duplicate 50 m x 5 m transects. For this, the diver swims at 2.5 m from the transect line, recording all fish 2.5 m to either side, replicating this for both sides of the transect line. Large invertebrates such as rock lobsters, abalone and sea urchins are recorded within duplicate 50 m x 1 m blocks along the transect. For this the diver searches a 1 m strip to one side of the transect line (brushing away algae, searching crevices etc) recording invertebrates > 2.5 cm, and also recording cryptic fish (that would have been missed in the fish swim). GPS location, date, time, depth and visibility are also recorded. A Standardized Survey Procedures for Monitoring Reef Ecosystems is under revision, please contact the project for access (reeflife.survey@utas.edu.au).