Coral reef fish biomass and benthic cover data from Timor-Leste in June 2013

Coral reef fish and benthos were surveyed at 150 shallow-water coral reef sites across the north coast of Timor-Leste and around Atauro Island in June 2013 during a 21-day survey mission. This project was conducted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center's Coral Reef Ecosystem Program (CREP) using consistent methods, survey design, and personnel. 

Fish biomass and benthic cover were estimated at all survey sites using the stationary point count (SPC) method. The SPC method catalogs the diversity (species richness), abundance (numeric density) and biomass (fish mass per unit area) of diurnally active reef fish assemblages in shallow-water (less than 30 m) hard-bottom habitats. Visual estimates of benthic cover and topographic complexity are also recorded, with benthic organisms grouped into broad functional categories (e.g., 'Hard Coral', 'Macroalgae'). A stratified random sampling (StRS) design was employed, similar to surveys conducted by NOAA CREP of the coral reef ecosystems throughout the U.S.-Pacific regions. 

The goal of the survey work was to generate baseline data on the nearshore coral reef fish assemblages and associated benthic communities around Timor-Leste's north coast and Atauro Island. Surveys were concentrated around these areas due to (1) limited time and resources, but also (2) low water visibility and safety concerns for potential dive survey operations along the south shore. In addition to the visual observations of reef fish and the associated benthos, photographs of the seafloor were taken using a photoquadrat method and were later analyzed for benthic cover.  These two additional datasets are documented separately.

The reef fish and benthic estimate data collected during the 2013 mission in Timor-Leste can be accessed online via the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) Ocean Archive.

Tags: aquatic habitat, atauro, baucau, biosphere, bobonaro, coastal processes, coral cover, coral reef ecology, coral reef ecosystem division, coral reef ecosystem program, coral reef studies, coral reefs, coral triangle initiative, corals, country/territory, cred, crep, democratic republic of timor-leste (east timor) (09s126e0001), dili, doc/noaa/nmfs/pifsc, earth science, ecological dynamics, ecosystem sciences division, fish, fish - coral reef, fish assemblages, fish biomass, fish census, fish species, indian ocean, lautem, liquica, macroinvertebrates, manatuto, marine biology, marine invertebrates, national marine fisheries service, nmfs, noaa, numeric data sets, ocean basin, oceans, oecusse, pacific islands fisheries science center, pifsc, rapid assessment studies, rapid ecological assessment, rea, reef fish, reef fish census, reef habitat, reef monitoring and assessment, spc, species identification, species identification - count, species identification - organism length, species richness, stationary, stationary point count, survey, survey - biological, survey - swimmer/diver, timor leste, timor sea, timor-leste, u.s. department of commerce, united states agency for international development, us doc, usaid, vila mpa, visual estimate, zoology
Organization: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce