ERDDAP > info > bcodmo_dataset_674116

Grid DAP Data	Sub- set	Table DAP Data	Make A Graph	W M S	Source Data Files	Acces- sible	Title	Sum- mary	FGDC, ISO, Metadata	Back- ground Info	RSS	E mail	Institution	Dataset ID
		data	graph		files	public	[Biomass and density data] - Biomass and density data from in and outside of an MPA in Viti Levu, Fiji from 2010-2012 (Killer Seaweeds project) (Killer Seaweeds: Allelopathy against Fijian Corals)		I   M	background			BCO-DMO	bcodmo_dataset_674116

The Dataset's Variables and Attributes

Row Type	Variable Name	Attribute Name	Data Type	Value
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	access_formats	String	.htmlTable,.csv,.json,.mat,.nc,.tsv
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	acquisition_description	String	The study was conducted from November 2010 through February 2011 and between November 2011 and January 2012 on shallow (~1 m below the surface at low tide, equal or shallower than 2 m at high tide), intertidal fringing reefs platforms (up to 800-m wide) along the Coral Coast (18\u00ba\u00a013.05\u2019S, 177\u00ba\u00a042.97\u2019E) of Viti Levu, Fiji\u2019s main island. Many of the owners of traditional fishing rights along the Coral Coast have established small, customary no-take MPAs to improve and sustain their adjacent fishing grounds. The MPAs in this region are delimited by surface markings and enforced by local villagers, and they have been closed to all fishing activities since their inception (about 10 years). The only exception to this closure was a small experimental hook and line fishing research project that was conducted in the MPAs of Votua and\u00a0Namada. In the \u00a0non-MPAs, the main fishing targets are species of Acanthuridae (Nasinae), Epinephelidae, Labridae, Mullidae, and Lutjanidae. Permission for the research was granted by the Fijian Ministry of Education, National Heritage, Culture & Arts, Youth & Sports, which is authorized to approve field studies in Fijian waters. No animal collection or experimental procedures involving animals were conducted during the study, and no endangered species were recorded during our assessments.\u00a0 To assess the effects of MPAs on fish assemblages, fish feeding group composition, herbivory rates, benthic cover, and coral recruit density, we compared three spatially paired MPA and adjacent, fished, areas (non-MPAs) associated with the villages of Votua,\u00a0Vatu-o-lalai\u00a0and\u00a0Namada.\u00a0 Comparisons of fish assemblages inside and outside of closures are widely used for determining the effects of reserves, but it should be acknowledged that this approach does not reveal the state of an MPA relative to an undisturbed baseline.\u00a0 The studied MPAs were established in 2002 (Vatu-o-lalai,\u00a0Namada) and 2003 (Votua), and shortly after establishment, coral cover was low (~7%), and\u00a0macroalgal\u00a0cover was high (~35\u201345%) in both the MPAs and \u00a0non-MPAs. All surveys and assays were conducted during the same season (austral summer) to minimize seasonal variation in sampling. The reef extends approx. 1 km from shore within each MPA and\u00a0non-MPA,\u00a0and all data were collected between 30 and 700 m of the shore (i.e., shoreward of the reef crest) parallel to the\u00a0shoreline. Fish assemblages: Underwater visual censuses (UVC) were used to assess fish assemblages in MPAs and non-MPAs at the three village sites. Underwater visibility at all study sites (> 15 m) was appropriate for the use of UVC, but due to the visual limitations of this method, we did not consider cryptic species or species with a maximum total length < 5 cm. During our surveys, we categorized species into two major categories (Herbivores and Non-herbivores) that were subdivided into ten sub-categories. Herbivores include the main roving nominally herbivorous fish clades, which play an important role in the control of benthic algae, and these species were further divided into four sub-categories (browsers, grazers, scrapers, and excavators) according to diet, feeding mode, and impact on the benthos. The category of Non-herbivores includes all species that feed on other, non-algal resources. Separate 30m x 4m belt transects were performed for Herbivores and Non- herbivores. While simultaneously deploying the transect line, a snorkeler recorded all non-cryptic fishes (either Herbivores or Non-herbivores) within 2 m of either side of the transect. Individual fish were identified to species and placed into 5-cm (total length) size classes, and the lengths were converted to biomass using established length-weight relationships.\u00a0 Transects were conducted in each area within 2 h of high tide (approx. 1.5 m depth) and were equally distributed between the two sampling periods (Dec 2010\u2013Jan 2011 and Dec 2011\u2013Jan 2012), the months within each sampled year (December and January of each year). On each sampling day, four to six transects were deployed on the reef parallel to the shoreline, with a minimum of 10m between adjacent transects. To ensure that transects were independent and non-overlapping, small numbered surface floats were placed at the start and end of each transect, and were left in position during all sampling. Care was taken to avoid re-counting fishes that left and subsequently re-entered the transect areas. The initial starting point of the transects for each day was selected based on a map of the study sites with two constraints: (1) as to a minimum distance from shore\u00a0(at least 30 m), and a minimum distance from the MPA boundaries\u00a0(150 m).\u00a0 Density of coral recruits: To assess the effect of the MPAs on the replenishment of coral populations, the density of coral recruits on natural reef substrata was assessed at night during January and February 2011 using a fluorescence technique. Coral recruit counts were conducted along a series of 50-m long transects positioned parallel to shore, and a total of 18 transects (n = 9 MPA; n = 9 non-MPA) were performed at each of the three village sites (n = 54 transects total). Ten 25 cm x 30 cm rectangular quadrats were randomly placed along each transect with a minimum distance of 2 m between quadrats (540 plots total). Once a quadrat was deployed on the substratum, all coral recruits within the borders of the quadrat were counted.\u00a0
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	awards_0_award_nid	String	480718
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	awards_0_award_number	String	OCE-0929119
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	awards_0_data_url	String	http://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0929119
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	awards_0_funder_name	String	NSF Division of Ocean Sciences
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	awards_0_funding_acronym	String	NSF OCE
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	awards_0_funding_source_nid	String	355
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	awards_0_program_manager	String	David L. Garrison
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	awards_0_program_manager_nid	String	50534
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	awards_1_award_nid	String	674109
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	awards_1_award_number	String	U01-TW007401
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	awards_1_data_url	String	https://projectreporter.nih.gov/project_info_description.cfm?icde=0&aid=7741942
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	awards_1_funder_name	String	National Institutes of Health
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	awards_1_funding_acronym	String	NIH
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	awards_1_funding_source_nid	String	636502
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	awards_1_program_manager	String	Flora Katz
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	awards_1_program_manager_nid	String	674108
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	cdm_data_type	String	Other
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	comment	String	M. Hay Biomass and Density data Version 6 January 2017
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	Conventions	String	COARDS, CF-1.6, ACDD-1.3
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	creator_email	String	info at bco-dmo.org
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	creator_name	String	BCO-DMO
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	creator_type	String	institution
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	creator_url	String	https://www.bco-dmo.org/
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	data_source	String	extract_data_as_tsv version 2.3 19 Dec 2019
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	date_created	String	2017-01-07T00:24:32Z
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	date_modified	String	2019-04-05T15:49:59Z
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	defaultDataQuery	String	&amp;time&lt;now
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	doi	String	10.1575/1912/bco-dmo.674116.1
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	infoUrl	String	https://www.bco-dmo.org/dataset/674116
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	institution	String	BCO-DMO
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	keywords	String	abundance, bco, bco-dmo, biological, biomass, chemical, data, dataset, day, dmo, erddap, management, minor, oceanography, office, preliminary, site, status, transect, type, year
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	license	String	https://www.bco-dmo.org/dataset/674116/license
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	metadata_source	String	https://www.bco-dmo.org/api/dataset/674116
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	param_mapping	String	{'674116': {}}
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	parameter_source	String	https://www.bco-dmo.org/mapserver/dataset/674116/parameters
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	people_0_affiliation	String	Georgia Institute of Technology
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	people_0_affiliation_acronym	String	Georgia Tech
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	people_0_person_name	String	Mark Hay
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	people_0_person_nid	String	480720
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	people_0_role	String	Principal Investigator
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	people_0_role_type	String	originator
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	people_1_affiliation	String	Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	people_1_affiliation_acronym	String	WHOI BCO-DMO
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	people_1_person_name	String	Hannah Ake
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	people_1_person_nid	String	650173
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	people_1_role	String	BCO-DMO Data Manager
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	people_1_role_type	String	related
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	project	String	Killer Seaweeds
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	projects_0_acronym	String	Killer Seaweeds
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	projects_0_description	String	Extracted from the NSF award abstract: Coral reefs are in dramatic global decline, with reefs commonly converting from species-rich and topographically-complex communities dominated by corals to species- poor and topographically-simplified communities dominated by seaweeds. These phase-shifts result in fundamental loss of ecosystem function. Despite debate about whether coral-to-algal transitions are commonly a primary cause, or simply a consequence, of coral mortality, rigorous field investigation of seaweed-coral competition has received limited attention. There is limited information on how the outcome of seaweed-coral competition varies among species or the relative importance of different competitive mechanisms in facilitating seaweed dominance. In an effort to address this topic, the PI will conduct field experiments in the tropical South Pacific (Fiji) to determine the effects of seaweeds on corals when in direct contact, which seaweeds are most damaging to corals, the role allelopathic lipids that are transferred via contact in producing these effects, the identity and surface concentrations of these metabolites, and the dynamic nature of seaweed metabolite production and coral response following contact. The herbivorous fishes most responsible for controlling allelopathic seaweeds will be identified, the roles of seaweed metabolites in allelopathy vs herbivore deterrence will be studied, and the potential for better managing and conserving critical reef herbivores so as to slow or reverse conversion of coral reef to seaweed meadows will be examined. Preliminary results indicate that seaweeds may commonly damage corals via lipid- soluble allelochemicals. Such chemically-mediated interactions could kill or damage adult corals and produce the suppression of coral fecundity and recruitment noted by previous investigators and could precipitate positive feedback mechanisms making reef recovery increasingly unlikely as seaweed abundance increases. Chemically-mediated seaweed-coral competition may play a critical role in the degradation of present-day coral reefs. Increasing information on which seaweeds are most aggressive to corals and which herbivores best limit these seaweeds may prove useful in better managing reefs to facilitate resilience and possible recovery despite threats of global-scale stresses. Fiji is well positioned to rapidly use findings from this project for better management of reef resources because it has already erected >260 MPAs, Fijian villagers have already bought-in to the value of MPAs, and the Fiji Locally-Managed Marine Area (FLMMA) Network is well organized to get information to villagers in a culturally sensitive and useful manner. The broader impacts of this project are far reaching. The project provides training opportunities for 2-2.5 Ph.D students and 1 undergraduate student each year in the interdisciplinary areas of marine ecology, marine conservation, and marine chemical ecology. Findings from this project will be immediately integrated into classes at Ga Tech and made available throughout Fiji via a foundation and web site that have already set-up to support marine conservation efforts in Fiji and marine education efforts both within Fiji and internationally. Business and community leaders from Atlanta (via Rotary International Service efforts) have been recruited to help organize and fund community service and outreach projects in Fiji -- several of which are likely to involve marine conservation and education based in part on these efforts there. Media outlets (National Geographic, NPR, Animal Planet, Audubon Magazine, etc.) and local Rotary clubs will be used to better disseminate these discoveries to the public. PUBLICATIONS PRODUCED AS A RESULT OF THIS RESEARCH Rasher DB, Stout EP, Engel S, Kubanek J, and ME Hay. "Macroalgal terpenes function as allelopathic agents against reef corals", Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, v. 108, 2011, p. 17726. Beattie AJ, ME Hay, B Magnusson, R de Nys, J Smeathers, JFV Vincent. "Ecology and bioprospecting," Austral Ecology, v.36, 2011, p. 341. Rasher DB and ME Hay. "Seaweed allelopathy degrades the resilience and function of coral reefs," Communicative and Integrative Biology, v.3, 2010. Hay ME, Rasher DB. "Corals in crisis," The Scientist, v.24, 2010, p. 42. Hay ME and DB Rasher. "Coral reefs in crisis: reversing the biotic death spiral," Faculty 1000 Biology Reports 2010, v.2, 2010. Rasher DB and ME Hay. "Chemically rich seaweeds poison corals when not controlled by herbivores", Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, v.107, 2010, p. 9683.
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	projects_0_end_date	String	2014-08
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	projects_0_geolocation	String	Viti Levu, Fiji (18º13.049’S, 177º42.968’E)
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	projects_0_name	String	Killer Seaweeds: Allelopathy against Fijian Corals
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	projects_0_project_nid	String	480717
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	projects_0_start_date	String	2009-09
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	publisher_name	String	Biological and Chemical Oceanographic Data Management Office (BCO-DMO)
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	publisher_type	String	institution
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	sourceUrl	String	(local files)
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	standard_name_vocabulary	String	CF Standard Name Table v55
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	summary	String	Biomass and density data from in and outside of an MPA in Viti Levu, Fiji from 2010-2012 (Killer Seaweeds project)
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	title	String	[Biomass and density data] - Biomass and density data from in and outside of an MPA in Viti Levu, Fiji from 2010-2012 (Killer Seaweeds project) (Killer Seaweeds: Allelopathy against Fijian Corals)
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	version	String	1
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	xml_source	String	osprey2erddap.update_xml() v1.3
variable	type		String
attribute	type	bcodmo_name	String	sample
attribute	type	description	String	Category of fish assemblage sampled; Herbivores include the main roving nominally herbivorous fish clades; non-herbivores includes all species that feed on other, non-algal resources.
attribute	type	long_name	String	Type
attribute	type	nerc_identifier	String	https://vocab.nerc.ac.uk/collection/P02/current/ACYC/
attribute	type	units	String	unitless
variable	site		String
attribute	site	bcodmo_name	String	site
attribute	site	description	String	Site name
attribute	site	long_name	String	Site
attribute	site	units	String	unitless
variable	status		String
attribute	status	bcodmo_name	String	site_descrip
attribute	status	description	String	Status of area where sampling was done; Marine Protected Area (MPA) or non-MPA (NON)
attribute	status	long_name	String	Status
attribute	status	units	String	unitless
variable	minor		String
attribute	minor	bcodmo_name	String	species
attribute	minor	description	String	Species were further divided into four sub-categories (browsers grazers scrapers and excavators) according to diet feeding mode and impact on the benthos.
attribute	minor	long_name	String	Minor
attribute	minor	units	String	unitless
variable	year		String
attribute	year	bcodmo_name	String	date_range
attribute	year	description	String	(A) Sampling took place between December 2010 and January 2011; (B) Sampling took place between December 2011 and January 2012
attribute	year	long_name	String	Year
attribute	year	units	String	unitless
variable	day		String
attribute	day	bcodmo_name	String	time_point
attribute	day	description	String	Day that sampling took place within each years sampling event. A B and C all took place in during year A (Dec 2010 - Jan 2011); D E and F all took place during year B (Dec 2011 - Jan 2012)
attribute	day	long_name	String	Day
attribute	day	units	String	unitless
variable	transect		byte
attribute	transect	_FillValue	byte	127
attribute	transect	actual_range	byte	1, 31
attribute	transect	bcodmo_name	String	transect
attribute	transect	description	String	Transect number
attribute	transect	long_name	String	Transect
attribute	transect	units	String	unitless
variable	biomass		double
attribute	biomass	_FillValue	double	NaN
attribute	biomass	actual_range	double	0.0, 26372.24249
attribute	biomass	bcodmo_name	String	biomass
attribute	biomass	description	String	Biomass of fish observed
attribute	biomass	long_name	String	Biomass
attribute	biomass	units	String	centimeters
variable	abundance		short
attribute	abundance	_FillValue	short	32767
attribute	abundance	actual_range	short	0, 314
attribute	abundance	bcodmo_name	String	abundance
attribute	abundance	description	String	Abundance of each species observed
attribute	abundance	long_name	String	Abundance
attribute	abundance	nerc_identifier	String	https://vocab.nerc.ac.uk/collection/P03/current/B070/
attribute	abundance	units	String	count

The information in the table above is also available in other file formats (.csv, .htmlTable, .itx, .json, .jsonlCSV1, .jsonlCSV, .jsonlKVP, .mat, .nc, .nccsv, .tsv, .xhtml) via a RESTful web service.