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Dataset Overview | National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)

Behavior of parrotfishes (Labridae, Scarinae) in St. Croix from 2015-07-06 to 2015-07-26 (NCEI Accession 0157087)

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To better understand the functional roles of parrotfishes on coral reefs in the Caribbean this project documented the foraging behavior and diets of six species of parrotfishes (Scarus taeniopterus, Scarus vetula, Sparisoma aurofrenatum, Sparisoma chrysopterum, Sparisoma rubripinne, Sparisoma viride) at three locations (Long Reef, Cane Bay, and Buck Island) on the north shore of St. Croix, U. S. Virgin Islands. To quantify parrotfish behavior, approximately six individuals of each species were observed at each site for 20 min each. Foraging behavior was recorded by a SCUBA diver while towing a GPS receiver (Garmin GPS 72) attached to a surface float, which obtained position fixes of the focal fish at 15 s intervals. Fish were followed from a close distance (~ 2 m when possible), and food items were identified to the lowest taxonomic level possible, with macroalgae and coral usually identified to genus or species. Many bites involved scraping or excavating substrate colonized by a multi-species assemblage of filamentous “turf” algae and crustose coralline algae (CCA). Thus, multiple species of filamentous algae, endolithic algae, and CCA could be harvested in a single bite, and it was impossible to determine the specific species of algae targeted. We also recorded the type of substrate targeted during each foraging bout, categorizing each substrate as one of the following: (1) dead coral, (2) coral pavement, (3) boulder, (4) rubble, (5) ledge, or (6) sand. In order to quantify the relative abundance of different substrates and food types, we estimated the percent cover of algae, coral, and other sessile invertebrates on each of the six substrates commonly targeted by parrotfishes (dead coral, coral pavement, boulder, rubble, ledge, and sand) in 0.5 m x 0.5 m photoquadrats. Photographs were taken at 2.5 m intervals on 30 m transects, with a total of 10 haphazardly placed transects sampled at each site. Each photoquadrat was divided into sixteen 12 cm x 12 cm sections which were individually photographed, and percent cover was estimated from 9 stratified random points per section (N = 144 point per quadrat).
  • Cite as: Adam, Thomas C.; Ruttenberg, Benjamin I.; Roycroft, Madelyn (2016). Behavior of parrotfishes (Labridae, Scarinae) in St. Croix from 2015-07-06 to 2015-07-26 (NCEI Accession 0157087). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0157087. Accessed [date].
gov.noaa.nodc:0157087
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Distribution Formats
  • Originator data format
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Distributor NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
+1-301-713-3277
NCEI.Info@noaa.gov
Dataset Point of Contact NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
ncei.info@noaa.gov
Time Period 2015-07-06 to 2015-07-26
Spatial Bounding Box Coordinates
West: -64.813
East: -64.608
South: 17.759
North: 17.787
Spatial Coverage Map
General Documentation
Publication Dates
  • publication: 2016-12-20
Data Presentation Form Digital table - digital representation of facts or figures systematically displayed, especially in columns
Dataset Progress Status Complete - production of the data has been completed
Historical archive - data has been stored in an offline storage facility
Data Update Frequency As needed
Supplemental Information
Submission Package ID: FTFRP2
Purpose To document patterns of resource-use and corallivory by Caribbean parrotfishes.
Use Limitations
  • accessLevel: Public
  • Distribution liability: NOAA and NCEI make no warranty, expressed or implied, regarding these data, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty. NOAA and NCEI cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in these data. If appropriate, NCEI can only certify that the data it distributes are an authentic copy of the records that were accepted for inclusion in the NCEI archives.
Dataset Citation
  • Cite as: Adam, Thomas C.; Ruttenberg, Benjamin I.; Roycroft, Madelyn (2016). Behavior of parrotfishes (Labridae, Scarinae) in St. Croix from 2015-07-06 to 2015-07-26 (NCEI Accession 0157087). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0157087. Accessed [date].
Cited Authors
Principal Investigators
Collaborators
Contributors
Resource Providers
Publishers
Theme keywords NODC DATA TYPES THESAURUS NODC OBSERVATION TYPES THESAURUS WMO_CategoryCode
  • oceanography
CoRIS Discovery Thesaurus
  • Numeric Data Sets > Benthic
  • Numeric Data Sets > Biology
  • Numeric Data Sets > Habitats
CoRIS Theme Thesaurus
  • EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Ecological Dynamics > Dominance > Keystone Species
  • EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Ecological Dynamics > Herbivory
  • EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Ecological Dynamics > Predation > Coral Predation
  • EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Vegetation > Algae
  • EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Vegetation > Algae > Algal Cover
  • EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Vegetation > Algae > Calcareous Macroalgae
  • EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Vegetation > Algae > Coralline Algae
  • EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Vegetation > Algae > Crustose Coralline Algae
  • EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Vegetation > Algae > Encrusting Macroalgae
  • EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Vegetation > Algae > Fleshy Macroalgae
  • EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Vegetation > Algae > Turf Algae
  • EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Marine Biology > Fish
  • EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Marine Biology > Fish > Fish Assemblages
  • EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Marine Biology > Fish > Fish Behavior
  • EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Marine Biology > Fish > Fishing
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords
Data Center keywords NODC COLLECTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS NODC SUBMITTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Data Center Keywords
Instrument keywords NODC INSTRUMENT TYPES THESAURUS Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Instrument Keywords
Place keywords NODC SEA AREA NAMES THESAURUS CoRIS Place Thesaurus
  • COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > U. S. Virgin Islands > St. Croix > Buck Island (17N064W0006)
  • COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > U. S. Virgin Islands > St. Croix > Cane Garden Bay (17N064W0014)
  • COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > U. S. Virgin Islands > St. Croix > Long Reef (17N064W0015)
  • OCEAN BASIN > Atlantic Ocean > Caribbean Sea > Virgin Islands > Buck Island > Buck Island (17N064W0006)
  • OCEAN BASIN > Atlantic Ocean > Caribbean Sea > Virgin Islands > St. Croix > Buck Island Reef (17N064W0001)
  • OCEAN BASIN > Atlantic Ocean > Caribbean Sea > Virgin Islands > St. Croix > Cane Garden Bay (17N064W0014)
  • OCEAN BASIN > Atlantic Ocean > Caribbean Sea > Virgin Islands > St. Croix > Long Reef (17N064W0015)
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords Provider Keywords
  • Scarus taeniopterus
  • Scarus vetula
  • Sparisoma aurofrenatum
  • Sparisoma chrysopterum
  • Sparisoma rubripinne
  • Sparisoma viride
Project keywords NODC PROJECT NAMES THESAURUS
Keywords NCEI ACCESSION NUMBER
Use Constraints
  • Cite as: Adam, Thomas C.; Ruttenberg, Benjamin I.; Roycroft, Madelyn (2016). Behavior of parrotfishes (Labridae, Scarinae) in St. Croix from 2015-07-06 to 2015-07-26 (NCEI Accession 0157087). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0157087. Accessed [date].
Access Constraints
  • Use liability: NOAA and NCEI cannot provide any warranty as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of furnished data. Users assume responsibility to determine the usability of these data. The user is responsible for the results of any application of this data for other than its intended purpose.
Fees
  • In most cases, electronic downloads of the data are free. However, fees may apply for custom orders, data certifications, copies of analog materials, and data distribution on physical media.
Lineage information for: dataset
Processing Steps
  • 2016-12-20T15:57:13Z - NCEI Accession 0157087 v1.1 was published.
Output Datasets
Lineage information for: dataset
Processing Steps
  • Data Type: CORAL - CENSUS (measured); Units: percent; Observation Type: in situ; Sampling Instrument: camera; Sampling and Analyzing Method: point contacts; Data Quality Information: visual inspection.
  • Data Type: ANIMALS - INDIVIDUAL - BEHAVIOR (measured); Units: bite rate (bites per minute); Observation Type: in situ; Sampling Instrument: visual observation; Sampling and Analyzing Method: in situ focal behavioral observations; Data Quality Information: visual inspection of data.
Acquisition Information (collection)
Instrument
  • camera
  • GPS
  • photograph
  • visual observation
Last Modified: 2021-10-23T11:52:33Z
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