Data

Geographic variation in distributions and abundance of coral reef fishes

Australian Institute of Marine Science
Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS)
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Data were recorded at eight latitudes across the breadth of the Great Barrier Reef (transects perpendicular to shore and approximately centred on 11.5S (Far North), 14.7S (Lizard Is), 16.7S (Cairns), 18.5S (Townsville),19.7S (Whitsundays), 21.5S ( Pompeys), 22.0S (Swains), 23.5S (Capricorn-Bunkers) plus four reefs in the Coral Sea at 13.9S (Osprey), 15.5S (Bougainville), 16.5S (Holmes) and 17.8S (Flinders Reefs). Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs (Tasman Sea), and Scott and Seringapatam Reefs and Rowley Shoals (northern WA). Similar data were also collected in at Vanuatu (13.0S to 21.0S) and in French Polynesia (Moorea, Mataiva). Observations were obtained in different areas between January 1980 and December 1988 with the exception of the West Australian reefs (1993). This study describes the observations of patterns and processes in distribution and abundance of fishes within reefs, between zones and among species. The structure of fish communities across the continental shelf and the distribution of reef fishes in a wide range of spatial scales and across regional areas.Maintenance and Update Frequency: notPlannedStatement: Statement: The semi-quantitative Log5 abundance visual survey method is described in: Williams DMcB (1982) Patterns in the distribution of fish communities across the central Great Barrier Reef. Coral Reefs 1: 35-43. Log5 Abundance Categories: 1 = 1 fish 2 = 2-5 fish 3 = 6-25 fish 4 = 26-125 fish 5 = 126-625 fish 6 = 626-3,125 fish 7 = > 3,125 fish The standardised counting methods developed for long-term monitoring of fish populations on the Great Barrier Reef are described in: Halford AR and Thompson AA (1996) Visual census surveys of reef fish. Long term monitoring of the Great Barrier Reef. Standard operational procedure No. 3. SOP 3. 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While AIMS has made every reasonable effort to ensure high quality of the data, products and services, to the extent permitted by law the data, products and services are provided without any warranties of any kind, either expressed or implied, including without limitation any implied warranties of title, merchantability, and fitness for a particular purpose or non-infringement. AIMS make no representation or warranty that the data, products and services are accurate, complete, reliable or current. To the extent permitted by law, AIMS exclude all liability to any person arising directly or indirectly from the use of the data, products and services.&rft_rights=Attribution: Format for citation of metadata sourced from Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) in a list of reference is as follows: Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS). (2008). Geographic variation in distributions and abundance of coral reef fishes, https://apps.aims.gov.au/metadata/view/5c935680-0b72-11dd-9669-00008a07204e, accessed[date-of-access].&rft_rights=Resource Usage:Use of the AIMS data is for not-for-profit applications only. All other users shall seek permission for use by contacting AIMS. Acknowledgements as prescribed must be clearly set out in the user's formal communications or publications.&rft_subject=oceans&rft.type=dataset&rft.language=English Access the data
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Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Australia License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/au/

Use Limitation: All AIMS data, products and services are provided "as is" and AIMS does not warrant their fitness for a particular purpose or non-infringement. While AIMS has made every reasonable effort to ensure high quality of the data, products and services, to the extent permitted by law the data, products and services are provided without any warranties of any kind, either expressed or implied, including without limitation any implied warranties of title, merchantability, and fitness for a particular purpose or non-infringement. AIMS make no representation or warranty that the data, products and services are accurate, complete, reliable or current. To the extent permitted by law, AIMS exclude all liability to any person arising directly or indirectly from the use of the data, products and services.

Attribution: Format for citation of metadata sourced from Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) in a list of reference is as follows: "Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS). (2008). Geographic variation in distributions and abundance of coral reef fishes, https://apps.aims.gov.au/metadata/view/5c935680-0b72-11dd-9669-00008a07204e, accessed[date-of-access]".

Resource Usage:Use of the AIMS data is for not-for-profit applications only. All other users shall seek permission for use by contacting AIMS. Acknowledgements as prescribed must be clearly set out in the user's formal communications or publications.

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Brief description

This study documents large scale geographic variations in the distribution and abundance of coral reef fishes on outer reef slopes (surface to 13m depth). Transects were conducted by 45 minute scuba swims recording the abundance (log 5 abundance) of species of pomacentrids, chaetodontids, acanthurids, scarids and selected species of labrids, siganids and caesionids (cf Williams 1982). Data were recorded at eight latitudes across the breadth of the Great Barrier Reef (transects perpendicular to shore and approximately centred on 11.5S (Far North), 14.7S (Lizard Is), 16.7S (Cairns), 18.5S (Townsville),19.7S (Whitsundays), 21.5S ( Pompeys), 22.0S (Swains), 23.5S (Capricorn-Bunkers) plus four reefs in the Coral Sea at 13.9S (Osprey), 15.5S (Bougainville), 16.5S (Holmes) and 17.8S (Flinders Reefs). Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs (Tasman Sea), and Scott and Seringapatam Reefs and Rowley Shoals (northern WA). Similar data were also collected in at Vanuatu (13.0S to 21.0S) and in French Polynesia (Moorea, Mataiva). Observations were obtained in different areas between January 1980 and December 1988 with the exception of the West Australian reefs (1993). This study describes the observations of patterns and processes in distribution and abundance of fishes within reefs, between zones and among species. The structure of fish communities across the continental shelf and the distribution of reef fishes in a wide range of spatial scales and across regional areas.

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Maintenance and Update Frequency: notPlanned
Statement: Statement: The semi-quantitative Log5 abundance visual survey method is described in: Williams DMcB (1982) Patterns in the distribution of fish communities across the central Great Barrier Reef. Coral Reefs 1: 35-43. Log5 Abundance Categories: 1 = 1 fish 2 = 2-5 fish 3 = 6-25 fish 4 = 26-125 fish 5 = 126-625 fish 6 = 626-3,125 fish 7 = > 3,125 fish The standardised counting methods developed for long-term monitoring of fish populations on the Great Barrier Reef are described in: Halford AR and Thompson AA (1996) Visual census surveys of reef fish. Long term monitoring of the Great Barrier Reef. Standard operational procedure No. 3. SOP 3. Australian Institute of Marine Science. 24 p.

Notes

Credit
Speare, Peter J, Mr (Principal Investigator)
Credit
Williams, David McB, Dr (Principal Investigator)

Modified: 23 06 2025

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Other Information
Checklist of shallow-water reef fishes: Williams DMcB and Ayling AM (1990) Checklist of shallow-water reef fishes. pp. 224-229. In: Done TJ and Navin KF (eds) Vanuatu Marine Resources: Report of a biological survey. Australian Institute of Marine Science. 272 p.

local : articleId=3090

Patterns and Processes in the Distribution of Coral Reef Fishes: Williams DMcB (1991) Patterns and Processes in the Distribution of Coral Reef Fishes. pp. 437-474. In: Sale PF (ed) Ecology of coral reef fishes. Academic Press. 447 p.

local : articleId=2500

Shallow-water reef fishes: Williams DMcB (1990) Shallow-water reef fishes. pp. 66-76. In: Done TJ and Navin KF (eds) Vanuatu Marine Resources: Report of a biological survey. Australian Institute of Marine Science. 272 p.

local : articleId=3091

Longitudinal and latitudinal variation in the structure of reef fish communities: Williams DMcB (1983) Longitudinal and latitudinal variation in the structure of reef fish communities. pp. 265-270. In: Baker JT, Carter RM, Sammarco PW and Stark KP (eds) Proceedings, Inaugural Great Barrier Reef Conference, Townsville, August 28 - September 2, 1983. James Cook University Press. 543 p.

local : articleId=3086

Characterisation Of Fish Communities At Scott Reefs, Seringapatam Reef And The Rowley Shoals, Western Australia

uri : https://apps.aims.gov.au/metadata/view/b4529960-60ed-11dc-9ca3-00008a07204e

New records of fishes for the Rowley Shoals, Scott/Seringapatam Reefs, off northwestern Australia: Hutchins JB, Williams DMcB, Newman SJ, Cappo MC and Speare PJ (1995) New records of fishes for the Rowley Shoals, Scott/Seringapatam Reefs, off northwestern Australia. Records of the Western Australian Museum 17: 119-123.

local : articleId=2761

A fast classificatory algorithm for large problems and the Bray-Curtis measure: Abel DJ, Williams WT and Williams DMcB (1985) A fast classificatory algorithm for large problems and the Bray-Curtis measure. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 89: 237-245.

local : articleId=3085

Identifiers
  • global : 5c935680-0b72-11dd-9669-00008a07204e