3. Statistical Analyses
Taxonomic structure similarity of sessile-benthic and fish communities between depths was
analyzed from standardized data on relative abundances by each species at transects (6)
surveyed from each depth. Dendrograms were constructed using the single linkage method
(nearest neighbor), with distances calculated from the 1-Pearson correlation coefficient
(Systat, 2000). Differences of fish abundance between winter and summer surveys were
tested using a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA).
V.
Results and Discussion
A. Literature Review
1. Historical Overview
Investigations of marine communities associated with deep reefs in Puerto Rico and the
U. S. Virgin Islands started with the dredge samplings of the H.M.S Challenger off the north
(Atlantic) coast of St. Thomas, USVI during its pioneering oceanographic expedition in 1873
(Thompson and Murray, 1895). The H. M. S. Challenger sampled station 24, north of St.
Thomas (USVI) at a depth of 390 fathoms (709 m). Over 350 specimens of invertebrates
were obtained at this station (excluding protozoans), belonging to 245 species, of which 129
were new to science. One of the seven coral species collected included Lophohelia
prolifera, which is a synonym of Lophelia pertusa, the main reef-building, deep-water coral.
The first collections from the Caribbean Sea were produced by the United States Coast
Survey Steamer “Blake” during its second dredging season in 1878-79 (Agassiz, 1888). A
total of 30 stations were occupied by the “Blake” around Puerto Rico and the USVI, but due
to the prevailing rough sea conditions of that winter season deep sea dredging operations
were only possible at a few stations near St. Thomas and St. Croix, USVI (Agassiz, 1888).
Nevertheless, rich collections of deep benthic habitats of the Lesser Antilles, including St.
Kitts, Virgin Gorda, St. Vincent, St. Lucia, Guadalupe and Dominique were obtained by
dredge samplings of the “Blake”. Given the close proximity of these sites to the USVI,
taxonomic records of these samplings have been included in this report as species most
likely to be distributed within the U. S. Caribbean EEZ.
During 1899, immediately after the United States gained political possession of Puerto Rico,
the Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries launched an exploratory expedition of the island’s
marine and terrestrial resources, with particular interest on its fisheries potential. The “Fish
Hawk” expedition produced the first samplings of benthic habitats in the Puertorrican insular
15
Taxonomic structure similarity of sessile-benthic and fish communities between depths was
analyzed from standardized data on relative abundances by each species at transects (6)
surveyed from each depth. Dendrograms were constructed using the single linkage method
(nearest neighbor), with distances calculated from the 1-Pearson correlation coefficient
(Systat, 2000). Differences of fish abundance between winter and summer surveys were
tested using a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA).
V.
Results and Discussion
A. Literature Review
1. Historical Overview
Investigations of marine communities associated with deep reefs in Puerto Rico and the
U. S. Virgin Islands started with the dredge samplings of the H.M.S Challenger off the north
(Atlantic) coast of St. Thomas, USVI during its pioneering oceanographic expedition in 1873
(Thompson and Murray, 1895). The H. M. S. Challenger sampled station 24, north of St.
Thomas (USVI) at a depth of 390 fathoms (709 m). Over 350 specimens of invertebrates
were obtained at this station (excluding protozoans), belonging to 245 species, of which 129
were new to science. One of the seven coral species collected included Lophohelia
prolifera, which is a synonym of Lophelia pertusa, the main reef-building, deep-water coral.
The first collections from the Caribbean Sea were produced by the United States Coast
Survey Steamer “Blake” during its second dredging season in 1878-79 (Agassiz, 1888). A
total of 30 stations were occupied by the “Blake” around Puerto Rico and the USVI, but due
to the prevailing rough sea conditions of that winter season deep sea dredging operations
were only possible at a few stations near St. Thomas and St. Croix, USVI (Agassiz, 1888).
Nevertheless, rich collections of deep benthic habitats of the Lesser Antilles, including St.
Kitts, Virgin Gorda, St. Vincent, St. Lucia, Guadalupe and Dominique were obtained by
dredge samplings of the “Blake”. Given the close proximity of these sites to the USVI,
taxonomic records of these samplings have been included in this report as species most
likely to be distributed within the U. S. Caribbean EEZ.
During 1899, immediately after the United States gained political possession of Puerto Rico,
the Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries launched an exploratory expedition of the island’s
marine and terrestrial resources, with particular interest on its fisheries potential. The “Fish
Hawk” expedition produced the first samplings of benthic habitats in the Puertorrican insular
15