3 research outputs found
Quantifying Relative Diver Effects in Underwater Visual Censuses
Diver-based Underwater Visual Censuses (UVCs), particularly transect-based
surveys, are key tools in the study of coral reef fish ecology. These
techniques, however, have inherent problems that make it difficult to collect
accurate numerical data. One of these problems is the diver effect (defined as
the reaction of fish to a diver). Although widely recognised, its effects have
yet to be quantified and the extent of taxonomic variation remains to be
determined. We therefore examined relative diver effects on a reef fish
assemblage on the Great Barrier Reef. Using common UVC methods, the recorded
abundance of seven reef fish groups were significantly affected by the ongoing
presence of SCUBA divers. Overall, the diver effect resulted in a 52%
decrease in the mean number of individuals recorded, with declines of up to
70% in individual families. Although the diver effect appears to be a
significant problem, UVCs remain a useful approach for quantifying spatial and
temporal variation in relative fish abundances, especially if using methods that
minimise the exposure of fishes to divers. Fixed distance transects using tapes
or lines deployed by a second diver (or GPS-calibrated timed swims) would appear
to maximise fish counts and minimise diver effects
New Mediterranean Marine Biodiversity Records (December 2013)
Based on recent biodiversity studies carried out in different parts of the Mediterranean, the following 19 species are included as new records on the floral or faunal lists of the relevant ecosystems: the green algae Penicillus capitatus (Maltese waters); the nemertean Amphiporus allucens (Iberian Peninsula, Spain); the salp Salpa maxima (Syria); the opistobranchs Felimida britoi and Berghia coerulescens (Aegean Sea, Greece); the dusky shark Carcharhinus obscurus (central-west Mediterranean and Ionian Sea, Italy); Randall’s threadfin bream Nemipterus randalli, the broadbanded cardinalfish Apogon fasciatus and the goby Gobius kolombatovici (Aegean Sea, Turkey); the reticulated leatherjack Stephanolepis diaspros and the halacarid Agaue chevreuxi (Sea of Marmara, Turkey); the slimy liagora Ganonema farinosum, the yellowstripe barracuda Sphyraena chrysotaenia, the rayed pearl oyster Pinctada imbricata radiata and the Persian conch Conomurex persicus (south-eastern Kriti, Greece); the blenny Microlipophrys dalmatinus and the bastard grunt Pomadasys incisus (Ionian Sea, Italy); the brown shrimp Farfantepenaeus aztecus (north-eastern Levant, Turkey); the blue-crab Callinectes sapidus (Corfu, Ionian Sea, Greece). In addition, the findings of the following rare species improve currently available biogeographical knowledge: the oceanic pufferfish Lagocephalus lagocephalus (Malta); the yellow sea chub Kyphosus incisor (Almuñécar coast of Spain); the basking shark Cetorhinus maximus and the shortfin mako Isurus oxyrinchus (north-eastern Levant, Turkey).JRC.H.1-Water Resource