Quantitative video data collected from each permanent transect was analyzed to determine
percent coverage of the following substrate types and epibiota:
• Live corals – reported by species and total live coral cover. Includes scleractinian
corals, hydrocorals and black (Antipatharian) corals (e.g. Montastrea cavernosa,
Stylaster roseus, Stichopathes sp.)
• Octocorals – reported by species and total live coral cover (soft corals, includes sea
fans, such as Gorgonia ventalina, sea whips, and encrusting forms, such as
Erythropodium sp.)
• Sponges – reported as total sponges, or lowest possible taxon
• Benthic Algae
• Turf Algae - reported as total turf algae (consisting of a mixed assemblage of short
articulate coralline algae, intermixed with red, brown macroalgae and other small
epibenthic biota forming a mat or carpet over hard substrate)
• Fleshy Algae – vertically projected, mostly brown, red and green macroalgae.
Identified to species in most cases (e.g. Lobophora variegata)
• Coralline Algae – (red encrusting, crustose algae) reported as total coralline algae,
or lowest possible taxon
• Abiotic Substrate – includes unconsolidated sediment, bare rock, deep holes and
gaps.
2. Fishes and Motile Megabenthic Invertebrates
Diurnal, non-criptic, predominantely demersal reef fish populations and motile megabenthic
(> 10 cm) invertebrates were surveyed by belt-transects (10-meter long by 3m wide = 30m
2 )
centered along the reference line of transects used for sessile-benthic reef
characterizations. Six (6) belt-transects were surveyed at the 30 and 40 m depths from the
SW Wall Reef, and eight (8) transects were surveyed at 50 m in Agelas Reef. Transect
width was marked with flagging tape stretched and tied to small weights on both ends. Each
transect was surveyed during 15 minutes. The survey protocol for identification and
enumeration of fishes and invertebrates within belt-trasects was the following: First minutethe diver remained still at one end of the transect in order to record any elusive, or transitory
species within the transect that may not return (e.g. snappers, doctorfishes-acanthurids,
13
percent coverage of the following substrate types and epibiota:
• Live corals – reported by species and total live coral cover. Includes scleractinian
corals, hydrocorals and black (Antipatharian) corals (e.g. Montastrea cavernosa,
Stylaster roseus, Stichopathes sp.)
• Octocorals – reported by species and total live coral cover (soft corals, includes sea
fans, such as Gorgonia ventalina, sea whips, and encrusting forms, such as
Erythropodium sp.)
• Sponges – reported as total sponges, or lowest possible taxon
• Benthic Algae
• Turf Algae - reported as total turf algae (consisting of a mixed assemblage of short
articulate coralline algae, intermixed with red, brown macroalgae and other small
epibenthic biota forming a mat or carpet over hard substrate)
• Fleshy Algae – vertically projected, mostly brown, red and green macroalgae.
Identified to species in most cases (e.g. Lobophora variegata)
• Coralline Algae – (red encrusting, crustose algae) reported as total coralline algae,
or lowest possible taxon
• Abiotic Substrate – includes unconsolidated sediment, bare rock, deep holes and
gaps.
2. Fishes and Motile Megabenthic Invertebrates
Diurnal, non-criptic, predominantely demersal reef fish populations and motile megabenthic
(> 10 cm) invertebrates were surveyed by belt-transects (10-meter long by 3m wide = 30m
2 )
centered along the reference line of transects used for sessile-benthic reef
characterizations. Six (6) belt-transects were surveyed at the 30 and 40 m depths from the
SW Wall Reef, and eight (8) transects were surveyed at 50 m in Agelas Reef. Transect
width was marked with flagging tape stretched and tied to small weights on both ends. Each
transect was surveyed during 15 minutes. The survey protocol for identification and
enumeration of fishes and invertebrates within belt-trasects was the following: First minutethe diver remained still at one end of the transect in order to record any elusive, or transitory
species within the transect that may not return (e.g. snappers, doctorfishes-acanthurids,
13