Influence of coral cover and structural complexity on the accuracy of visual surveys of coral-reef fish communities

Darren James Coker; J. P. Nowicki; N. A. J. Graham

doi:10.1111/jfb.13298

Influence of coral cover and structural complexity on the accuracy of visual surveys of coral-reef fish communities

Darren James Coker, J. P. Nowicki, N. A. J. Graham

Biological, Environmental Sciences and Engineering

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

Using manipulated patch reefs with combinations of varying live-coral cover (low, medium and high) and structural complexity (low and high), common community metrics (abundance, diversity, richness and community composition) collected through standard underwater visual census techniques were compared with exhaustive collections using a fish anaesthetic (clove oil). This study showed that reef condition did not influence underwater visual census estimates at a community level, but reef condition can influence the detectability of some small and cryptic species and this may be exacerbated if surveys are conducted on a larger scale.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	2425-2433
Number of pages	9
Journal	Journal of Fish Biology
Volume	90
Issue number	6
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/jfb.13298
State	Published - Apr 19 2017

Bibliographical note

KAUST Repository Item: Exported on 2020-10-01
Acknowledgements: We thank N. Coker for her assistance in the field and logistical support from Lizard Island Research Station staff. We also acknowledge all the fishes that were sacrificed for science. This study was part of a project funded by an ARC Australian Postdoctoral Fellowship to N.A.J.G. This study was completed in accordance with the JCU animal ethics board under permit number A1682

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10.1111/jfb.13298

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title = "Influence of coral cover and structural complexity on the accuracy of visual surveys of coral-reef fish communities",

abstract = "Using manipulated patch reefs with combinations of varying live-coral cover (low, medium and high) and structural complexity (low and high), common community metrics (abundance, diversity, richness and community composition) collected through standard underwater visual census techniques were compared with exhaustive collections using a fish anaesthetic (clove oil). This study showed that reef condition did not influence underwater visual census estimates at a community level, but reef condition can influence the detectability of some small and cryptic species and this may be exacerbated if surveys are conducted on a larger scale.",

author = "Coker, {Darren James} and Nowicki, {J. P.} and Graham, {N. A. J.}",

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AB - Using manipulated patch reefs with combinations of varying live-coral cover (low, medium and high) and structural complexity (low and high), common community metrics (abundance, diversity, richness and community composition) collected through standard underwater visual census techniques were compared with exhaustive collections using a fish anaesthetic (clove oil). This study showed that reef condition did not influence underwater visual census estimates at a community level, but reef condition can influence the detectability of some small and cryptic species and this may be exacerbated if surveys are conducted on a larger scale.

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Influence of coral cover and structural complexity on the accuracy of visual surveys of coral-reef fish communities

Abstract

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