Reef Fish Biogeography:
Linking Fish Distributions to Benthic Habitats in a GIS to Characterize, Monitor and Assess Reef Fish Populations around the US Caribbean

Overview | Monitoring Protocols | Reef Fish Database |
Caribbean Habitat Maps | National Coral Reef Monitoring Program

NEW!!! NOAA Ship Nancy Foster Deepwater Mapping and Biological Resource Assessment Cruise Debrief LINK

NEW!!! Upcoming mission to map and characterize the deep water regions around Buck Island and Virgin Island National Monuments on the NOAA Research Vessel the Nancy Foster. For more information please follow this LINK.

NEW!!! The following links are taken from a recent interview at Buck Island National Monument and include some underwater footage of our methodology. These are stored in QuickTime format. modem friendly version (5.29MB); low file size version (13.15MB); high file size version (37.11MB)

OBJECTIVES

1. To spatially characterize the distribution, abundance, and size of both reef fishes and conch
2. To relate this information to in-situ data collected on associated habitat parameters
3. To use this information to establish the knowledge base necessary for enacting management decisions in a spatial setting and to establish the efficacy of those management decisions
4. To work with the National Coral Reef Monitoring Program to develop data collection standards and easily implemented methodologies for transference to other agencies and to work toward standardizing data collection throughout the US states and territories.

DESCRIPTION

To achieve the above objectives, the Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment's Biogeography Program (BP) has completed its third year and is beginning its fourth year of work in the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico . It is critical, with recent changes in management at both locations (e.g. implementation of MPAs) as well as proposed changes (e.g. zoning to manage multiple human uses) that action is taken now to accurately describe and characterize the fish/conch populations in these areas. It is also important that BP work closely with the individuals responsible for recommending and implementing these management strategies. Recognizing this, BP has been collaborating with partners at the University of Puerto Rico , National Park Service, and the US Geological Service from the beginning and has recently added the Virgin Islands Department of Planning and Natural Resources to that list.

To quantify patterns of spatial distribution and make meaningful interpretations, we must first have knowledge of the underlying variables determining species distribution. The basis for this work therefore, is the nearshore benthic habitats maps (<100 ft depth) created by NOAA's Biogeography Program in 2001 and NOS' bathymetry models. Using ArcView GIS software, the digitized habitat maps are stratified to select sampling stations. Sites are randomly selected within these strata to ensure coverage of the entire study region and not just a particular reef or seagrass area. At each site, fish, conch, and associated habitat information is then quantified via visual survey techniques. By relating the data collected in the field back to the habitat maps and bathymetric models, BP is able to model and map species level and community level information. These protocols are standardized throughout the US Caribbean to enable quantification and comparison of reef fish abundance and distribution trends between locations. Armed with the knowledge of where "hot spots" of species richness and diversity are likely to occur in the seascape, the BP is in a unique position to answer questions about the efficacy of marine zoning strategies (e.g. placement of no fishing, anchoring, or snorkeling locations), and what locations are most suitable for establishing MPAs. Knowledge of the current status of fish/conch communities coupled with longer term monitoring will enable evaluation of management efficacy, thus it is essential to future management actions.

Status (October 2003):

To date, over 1400 fish surveys have been conducted in the US Caribbean: 546 in Puerto Rico, 589 in St. Croix, and 312 in St. John. Using these data, the BP has developed spatially-explicit modeling techniques used to perform seascape-level analyses, and has modeled estimates of biodiversity throughout the Islands. FY2003 efforts have resulted in the acceptance of two more manuscripts on the status and trends of reef fish communities to peer-reviewed publications (see below). By the end of FY2004, BP will have completed the initial spatial characterizations of all three sites and will be shifting focus to monitoring. Additionally, a web accessible database will be completed that will allow for data input as well as data queries of all the data.

Publications:

Christensen, J.D., C. Jeffrey, M.E. Monaco, C. Caldow, M. Kendall and R. Appledorn. (2003) Cross-shelf habitat utilization patterns of reef fishes in southwestern Puerto Rico. Gulf and Caribbean Research 14: 9-27.

Kendall, M.S., J.D. Christensen, C. Caldow, M. Coyne, C. Jeffrey, M. Monaco, W. Morrison, Z. Hillis-Starr (2004) The influence of bottom type and shelf position on biodiversity of tropical fish inside a recently enlarged marine reserve. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems 14: 113-132.

Kendall, M.S., J.D. Christensen, Z. Hillis-Starr. (2003) Multi-scale data used to analyze the spatial distribution of French grunts, Haemulon flavolineatum, relative to hard and soft bottom in a benthic landscape. Environmental Biology of Fishes 66: 19-26.

Monaco, M.E., J.D. Christensen, A.M. Friedlander, M.S. Kendall, C. Caldow (2003) Quantifying habitat utilization patterns of U.S. Caribbean and Hawaii reef fish to define marine protected area boundaries: the coupling of GIS and ecology. In Proc. 13th Biennial Coastal Zone Conference, Baltimore, MD, July 13-17, 2003. NOAA/CSC/20322-CD. CD-ROM. Charleston, SC: NOAA Coastal Services Center.

Collaborators:

University of Puerto Rico: Assisted in fieldwork; analyzed fish specimens; provided general logistic support, and provided local expertise.

National Park Service: Aided in fieldwork; provided logistic support, provided local expertise.

US Geologic Service: Aided in fieldwork; provided logistic support, provided local expertise.

The Oceanic Institute: Aided in fieldwork; provided local expertise. University of Hawaii: Aided in fieldwork; provided local expertise.

For more information on the Biogeography Program's reef fish work in the US Caribbean please contact: Chris Caldow (email: chris.caldow@noaa.gov; phone: 301-713-3028 X164)