Coral Reef Evaluation and Monitoring Project Florida Keys 2001
Citation
Porter J, Stossel M (2020). Coral Reef Evaluation and Monitoring Project Florida Keys 2001. Version 1.3. United States Geological Survey. Sampling event dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/ky6rst accessed via GBIF.org on 2020-06-16. accessed via GBIF.org on 2024-09-01.Description
The purpose of the Coral Reef Evaluation and Monitoring Project (CREMP) is to monitor the status and trends of selected reefs in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary(FKNMS). CREMP assessments have been conducted annually at fixed sites since 1996 and data collected provides information on the temporal changes in benthic cover and diversity of stony corals and associated marine flora and fauna. The core field methods continue to be underwater videography and timed coral species inventories. Findings presented in this report include data from 109 stations at 37 sites sampled from 1996 through 2008 in the Florida Keys and 1999 through 2008 in the Dry Tortugas. The report describes the annual differences (between 2007 and 2008) in the percent cover of major benthic taxa (stony corals, octocorals, sponges, and macroalgae), mean coral species richness and the incidence of stony coral conditions. Additionally, it examines the long-term trends of the major benthic taxa, five coral complex, Montastraea cavernosa, Colpophyllia natans, Siderastrea siderea, and Porites astreoides) and the clionaid sponge, Cliona delitrix.Sampling Description
Study Extent
The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Coral Reef Evaluation and Monitoring Project (FKNMS CREMP) sampling sites and stations were selected and installed in 1995. Originally 40 sites and 160 stations were selected for monitoring. The original 40 CREMP sampling sites were selected using a stratified, or layered, random sampling procedure based on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Environmental Mapping and Assessment Program (EMAP). External Website Stratification, or the arrangement of the layers, was based on habitat type, with four main habitat types defined: nearshore hardbottom, patch reefs, offshore shallow reefs (roughly 10 to 20 feet of depth), and offshore deep reefs (about 30 or 50 feet deep). While sampling sites were selected in a random matter, stations were installed with the intention of monitoring specific aspects of the selected habitats. In 1999 three sites totaling 12 stations were installed and sampled in the Dry Tortugas as part of the FKNMS CREMP monitoring, for a total of 43 sites and 172 stations. Of the three Dry Tortugas sites, one site with four stations is located in the northern Dry Tortugas Ecological Reserve and two sites with eight stations are located within the Dry Tortugas National Park. These sites and stations were selected as representative samples of coral reefs in the Dry Tortugas. Prior to sampling in 2001 statistical analysis of previous CREMP data indicated that sampling effort could be reduced without significantly affecting the outcome of analyses; 55 stations and three sites were removed from the survey. One additional site with two stations was dropped prior to each of the 2006 and 2008 sampling events. At least two stations are surveyed at the remaining survey sites. For FKNMS CREMP there are currently 38 sites with a total 113 stations. There are two nearshore hardbottom sites with seven stations, 11 patch reef sites with 33 stations, 12 offshore shallow reef sites with 39 stations and 13 offshore deep reef sites with 34 stations. FKNMS CREMP sites are represented by black triangles on the map below. In 2008 there will be an additional six sites with two stations each installed and surveyed at patch reefs within Hawk Channel, several kilometers offshore, in order to provide additional monitoring for this diverse area. Hawk Channel sites will be selected as representative samples of their specific areasSampling
CREMP sites consist of two to four monitoring stations delimited by permanent markers. Stations are approximately 2m x 22m and are generally perpendicular to the shoreline. Three video transecs (bentic survey), a station species inventory (SSI), and a clioniad sponge survey are conducted annually at each station.Quality Control
The data sets includes data from only the 1/3 of the transect that has always been surveyed for all survey stations. This is reflected in the number of points counted for each station. This way all years of the survey are directly comparable as the data reflects the same survey area (Mike Collela).Method steps
- NA
Additional info
marine, harvest by OBISTaxonomic Coverages
Geographic Coverages
Florida Keys, Florida, United States
Bibliographic Citations
- Ruzicka R, Colella M, Semon K, Brinkhuis V, Morrison J, Kidney J, Porter J, Meyers M, Christman M, and Colee J. 2010. CREMP 2009 Final Report. Fish & Wildlife Research Institute/Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission. Saint Petersburg, FL. 110 pp -
Contacts
James Porteroriginator
position: Scientist
University of Georgia, Odum School of Ecology
Telephone: 1-706-542-3410
email: jporter@uga.edu
Marion Stossel
metadata author
position: Senior Research Associate
GCOOS at Texas A&M University, Dept. of Oceanography
Telephone: 1-979-845-7662
email: mstoessel@ocean.tamu.edu
Abby Benson
publisher
position: Biologist
U.S. Geological Survey
email: albenson@usgs.gov
userId: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4391-107X
Marion Stoessel
processor
position: Senior Research Associate
GCOOS at Texas A&M University, Dept. of Oceanography
email: mstoessel@ocean.tamu.edu
Mike Colella
administrative point of contact
position: Research Scientist
Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission, Fish & Wildlife Research Institute
Telephone: 1-727-892-4128
email: Mike.Colella@MyFWC.com