Table 43. Size-frequency distribution of large and/or commercially important reef fishes
identified during an ASEC survey at Lechuga Reef (50 meters), SW Isla Desecheo
during January,2005 and March, 2005
Depth range : 47 - 53 m (156 - 175 feet)
Duration - 30 min.
January, 2005
March, 2005
SPECIES
COMMON NAME
# (cm)
Acanthosibium solanderi
1(120)
Wahoo
Balistes vetula
Queen Triggerfish
2(40)
1(45)
2(40)
Cara
ubris
Black Jack
1(35)
nx lug
Centr
Pigmy Angelfish
(1-7)
(1- 7)
opyge argi
Chae don aculeatus
Longsnout Butterflyfish
2(4-5)
10(6-7)
1(4-5)
8(6-7)
to
Chaeto
entarius
Reef Butterflyfish
2(10)
1(12)
2(10)
don sed
Chromis cyanea
romis
(1-6)
(1-6)
Blue Ch
Chro s insolata
Sunshine Chromis
(1-5)
(1-5)
mi
Epinephelus guttatus
Red Hind
2(6-8)
5(15-20) 3(25)
2(30-35) 1(20)
4(20-25)
Gramma loreto
Royal Gramma
(1-6)
(1-6)
Holac nthus tricolor
Rock Beauty
1(15-20)
2(20-25)
a
Mycteroperca venenosa
Yellowfin Grouper
2(40-45)
Scomberomorus regalis
Cero Mackerel
1(50)
Seriola rivoliana
Almaco Jack
2(35-40)
Sphyraena barracuda
Great Barracuda
1(60)
1(75)
in relatively high abundance at depths of 15 – 20 m over low relief colonized pavement
habitats with abundant benthic algae in the north coast of Rincón, P. R. (García-Sais,
unpublished data). Although there is a marked difference in depth between these
habitats, the overall morphology of the reef system at Rincon is similar to the low relief,
benthic algae dominated environment at Agelas.
A dendrogram analysis of fish taxonomic structure similarities between belt-transects
surveyed at 30, 40 and 50 m depths in Isla Desecheo produced three distinct clusters of
transects separated from each other by survey depth (Figure 18). At 50 m, the bicolor
damselfish (Stegastes partitus) was the numerically dominant species in all transects
surveyed, but ranked between third and eigth at 40m and between third and sixth at 30
m. Also, the peppermint goby (Coryphopterus lipernes) and sunshine chromis (Chromis
insolata) occupied consistently higher ranks at 50 m than at 30. The Creole wrasse
(Clepticus parrae), bridled goby (C. glaucofraenum) and the masked goby (C.
147
identified during an ASEC survey at Lechuga Reef (50 meters), SW Isla Desecheo
during January,2005 and March, 2005
Depth range : 47 - 53 m (156 - 175 feet)
Duration - 30 min.
January, 2005
March, 2005
SPECIES
COMMON NAME
# (cm)
Acanthosibium solanderi
1(120)
Wahoo
Balistes vetula
Queen Triggerfish
2(40)
1(45)
2(40)
Cara
ubris
Black Jack
1(35)
nx lug
Centr
Pigmy Angelfish
(1-7)
(1- 7)
opyge argi
Chae don aculeatus
Longsnout Butterflyfish
2(4-5)
10(6-7)
1(4-5)
8(6-7)
to
Chaeto
entarius
Reef Butterflyfish
2(10)
1(12)
2(10)
don sed
Chromis cyanea
romis
(1-6)
(1-6)
Blue Ch
Chro s insolata
Sunshine Chromis
(1-5)
(1-5)
mi
Epinephelus guttatus
Red Hind
2(6-8)
5(15-20) 3(25)
2(30-35) 1(20)
4(20-25)
Gramma loreto
Royal Gramma
(1-6)
(1-6)
Holac nthus tricolor
Rock Beauty
1(15-20)
2(20-25)
a
Mycteroperca venenosa
Yellowfin Grouper
2(40-45)
Scomberomorus regalis
Cero Mackerel
1(50)
Seriola rivoliana
Almaco Jack
2(35-40)
Sphyraena barracuda
Great Barracuda
1(60)
1(75)
in relatively high abundance at depths of 15 – 20 m over low relief colonized pavement
habitats with abundant benthic algae in the north coast of Rincón, P. R. (García-Sais,
unpublished data). Although there is a marked difference in depth between these
habitats, the overall morphology of the reef system at Rincon is similar to the low relief,
benthic algae dominated environment at Agelas.
A dendrogram analysis of fish taxonomic structure similarities between belt-transects
surveyed at 30, 40 and 50 m depths in Isla Desecheo produced three distinct clusters of
transects separated from each other by survey depth (Figure 18). At 50 m, the bicolor
damselfish (Stegastes partitus) was the numerically dominant species in all transects
surveyed, but ranked between third and eigth at 40m and between third and sixth at 30
m. Also, the peppermint goby (Coryphopterus lipernes) and sunshine chromis (Chromis
insolata) occupied consistently higher ranks at 50 m than at 30. The Creole wrasse
(Clepticus parrae), bridled goby (C. glaucofraenum) and the masked goby (C.
147