Abstract:

Reef fish community structure and species diversity were examined by estimating reef fish densities (per 1,000m^3) using VideoRay Pro 4 remotely operated vehicle (ROV) video sampling. 22 individual natural reef sites were surveyed in the period 2012-03-13 to 2014-08-25. The density of 117 different species was measured over the period. Related data may be found under GRIIDC Unique Dataset Identifiers (UDIs): R1.x135.120:0020 (DOI: 10.7266/N7J38QKR, artificial reef sites) and Y1.x049.000:0003 (DOI: 10.7266/N72J68SF, natural reef sites 2010-2011).

Suggested Citation:

Glabach, Miaya, William Patterson, and Justin Lewis. 2020. Reef fish densities (per 1,000 m^3) at natural reefs sites estimated with ROV video sampling in the northern Gulf of Mexico from 2012-03-13 to 2014-08-25. Distributed by: GRIIDC, Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi. doi:10.7266/Y9N4TPS3

Publications:

Lewis, J. P., Tarnecki, J. H., Garner, S. B., Chagaris, D. D., & Patterson, W. F. (2020). Changes in Reef Fish Community Structure Following the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. Scientific Reports, 10(1). doi:10.1038/s41598-020-62574-y

Purpose:

To examine reef fish community structure and species diversity following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

Data Parameters and Units:

Fish common name, fish family, fish genus, fish species, fish density [individuals/1000^3] (columns labeled with reef site name and sampling date). ‘Additional Info’ worksheet includes sampling number [1-117], date [YYYY-MM-DD], site [reef name], latitude [degree, decimal minute N], longitude [degree, decimal minute W], camera [VideoRay ROV or GoPRo Hero2], FOV (field of view of lens, [degrees]), resolution [570 lines of resolution or 1080 pixels], color or black and white, fps (frames per second, [30 or 60]).

Methods:

The area surveyed was computed by multiplying transect width (m), estimated as the product of the height of bottom (1 or 2 m) and the tangent of half the camera field of view, by the sum of all four transect lengths (100 m). Individual species counts were summed among transects and divided by the total area surveyed to estimate fish density.​

Instruments:

VideoRay Pro 4 Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV), GoPro Hero2 camera

Individual Files: