2000

Multi-site multi-species trends: a new tool for coral reef managers

B.X. Semmens, J.L. Ruesink, and C.V. Pattengill-Semmens

This is the first large scale trend analysis done using REEF data. The paper looked at 21 sites throughout the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Analysis methods were modified from those applied to the Breeding Bird Survey in order to detect sites with multi-species declines. A sub-set of sites were identified and potential management options were discussed. Click here to read the abstract.

Proc. 9th International Coral Reef Symposium, October 2000
1071-1078
2000
Program: 
Volunteer Fish Survey Project

1999

Applications of the REEF Fish Survey Project for Monitoring Fishes in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary

Schmitt, E. F., K. M. Sullivan-Sealy, and D.W. Feeley

Data collected by expert observers were used to evaluate the effect of Sanctuary Preservation Areas in the Florida Keys NMS on fishery-targeted species. Frequency of occurrence of species such as snappers, groupers, and hogfish were greater in sites that had protection from harvesting.

International Conference on Scientific Aspects of Coral Reef Assessment, Monitoring, and Restoration. April 14-16, 1999. National Coral Reef Institute. Ft. Lauderdale, FL.
1999
Program: 
Volunteer Fish Survey Project

Assessment and monitoring applications of a community-based monitoring program: The Reef Environmental Education Foundation

Pattengill-Semmens, C. V. and B. X. Semmens

A poster presentation on the REEF/TNC Fish Survey Project with examples of three applications of data generated by the Project. These include evaluating the effect of marine protected areas, mapping species distribution, and applications in general assessment.

International Conference on Scientific Aspects of Coral Reef Assessment, Monitoring, and Restoration. April 14-16, 1999. National Coral Reef Institute. Ft. Lauderdale, FL.
1999
Program: 
Volunteer Fish Survey Project

Revision of Indo-Pacific garden eels (Congridae: Heterocongrinae), with descriptions of five new species.

Castle, P.H.J. and J.E. Randall

In 1997, REEF surveyors discovered a colony of garden eels during survey dives in the Gulf of Mexico that didn't' look quite right to be the usual brown garden eel. After sending images and ultimately a specimen to Dr. John Randall, the mystery species was identified as a new species of conger eel, the yellow garden eel (Heteroconger luteolus). The description of the new species was published in 1999.

Indo-Pacific Fishes
(30):52 p.
1999
Program: 
Volunteer Fish Survey Project

1998

An analysis of fish survey data generated by nonexperts in the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary

Pattengill-Semmens, C. V. and B. X. Semmens

The quality of fish census data generated by REEF volunteers of various experience levels is examined and compared with data generated by experts. The similarity in species reported, the similarity in abundance category recorded, and the statistical power to detect change are used in the comparison. Species composition and structure is comparable between the skill levels. When sighted, most species are reported with similar abundance categories. The ability to detect change in many species is better for the nonexpert data, a result of higher survey effort for the nonexperts. Species that are cryptic or rare have low power (change had to be large before it could be detected) regardless of the skill level, but are generally better using expert data.

Journal of the Gulf of Mexico Science
2: 196-207
1998
Program: 
Volunteer Fish Survey Project

Surveying coral reef fishes

a manual for data collection, processing, and interpretation of fish survey information for the tropical northwest Atlantic

Schmitt, E. F., D. F. Wells, and K. M. Sullivan-Sealey

This manual describes all aspects of REEF data collection and processing. It also provides examples of interpretation of the Fish Survey Project data, and how REEF data are used for The Nature Conservancy's Conservation Profiles.

Coral Gables, FL: The Nature Conservancy, Marine Conservation Center.
84pp.
1998
Program: 
Volunteer Fish Survey Project

The structure and persistence of reef fish assemblages of the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary

Pattengill, C. V.

Chapters 2, 4, and 5 of this dissertation present data collected using the RDT. Chapter 2 presents the complete fish assemblage reported by RDT and Stationary Diver Technique (SDT; referred to in Bohnsack, 1996, as the SST) surveys over three years of semi-annual surveys of the Flower Gardens and Stetson Bank, in the northwest Gulf of Mexico. Chapter 4 examines the quality of fish census data generated by REEF nonexperts, and was published in the Journal of Gulf of Mexico Science (Pattengill-Semmens and Semmens, 1998). Chapter 5 provides discussion on the applications and reasons for choosing the RDT and the SDT for this project. A comparison between the abundance estimates of the two methods and the biases inherent in each is also given.

Doctoral Dissertation, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX.
176pp.
1998
Program: 
Volunteer Fish Survey Project

1996

Analysis of a volunteer method for collecting fish presence and abundance data in the Florida Keys

Schmitt, E. F., and K. M. Sullivan

Roving diver data gathered by expert volunteers in the Florida Keys are presented and discussed. These data are found to be comparable to other Florida Keys published studies. Differences in the fish assemblages between the three regions of the Keys, the upper, lower, and the Dry Tortugas, are reported and evaluated. This paper was the first published account of the Roving Diver Technique (RDT).

Bulletin of Marine Science
59(2): 404-416
1996
Program: 
Volunteer Fish Survey Project

Status of Reef Fishes in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary: Regional Project Summary

Schmitt, E., compiler

This report is a summary of the first 3 years of the Fish Survey Project in the Florida Keys, with comparisons among FKNMS sites and with other distant regions. It demonstrates some ways in which data from the Project can be used.

The Nature Conservancy, Florida and Caribbean Marine Conservation Science Center, University of Miami. Miami, FL.
37pp.
1996
Program: 
Volunteer Fish Survey Project

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