Data

Surveys of benthic cover on Caribbean coral reefs in 1986

Name: Surveys of benthic cover on Caribbean coral reefs in 1986
Published: 2026

Australian Institute of Marine Science

Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS)

Viewed: [[ro.stat.viewed]] Cited: [[ro.stat.cited]] Accessed: [[ro.stat.accessed]]

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At Carrie Bow Cay, surveys were carried out at depths of 10, 15 and 20 m. At all other locations depths of 10 and 20 m were surveyed, where possible. Duplicate or triplicate transects were laid out along the depth profile at each depth surveyed. Line intercept data were recorded using 'lifeform' categories that were developed during the ASEAN-Australia Living Coastal Resources programme from the mid-1980s. Categories allocated to benthos included: ACB - branching Acropora; CB - branching non-Acropora (which included Millepora spp.); CM - coral massive; CE - coral encrusting; CS - coral submassive; CF - coral foliose; SPM - sponge massive; SPC - sponge columnar; SPF - sponge foliose; and SPE - sponge encrusting. This research was undertaken to describe benthic cover on Caribbean Reefs. In most cases data were collected in the vicinity of transects used for sponge species distribution and biomass surveys carried out by Dr Wilkinson at the same time.Maintenance and Update Frequency: notPlannedStatement: Statement: The exact location of survey sites is not known. The latitude and longitude readings were estimated using Google Earth from maps and aerial photographs obtained at the time; caution must be taken as the readings are estimates without reference to the depths of the reefs under the Google images.The Line Intercept Transect method, and lifeform categories are described in:English S, Wilkinson C, Baker, V (1997). Survey Manual for Tropical Marine Resources, 2nd ed. Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, p. 390.Benthic lifeform categories used in this study:AA - Algal assemblageACB - Acropora branchingCB - Non-Acropora branchingCE - Coral - encrustingCF - Coral - folioseCM - Coral - massiveCS - Coral - submassiveDCA - Dead coral with algaeGO - GorgonianHA - HalimedaMA - MacroalgaeOT - Other organismOTZ - ZoanthidR - RubbleS - SandSI - SiltSPC - Sponge - columnarSPE - Sponge - encrustingSPF - Sponge - folioseSPM - Sponge - massiveSR - Sand and rubbleTA - Turf algae&rft.creator=Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) &rft.date=2026&rft.coverage=westlimit=-88.080278; southlimit=16.800278; eastlimit=-88.080278; northlimit=16.800278&rft.coverage=westlimit=-88.080278; southlimit=16.800278; eastlimit=-88.080278; northlimit=16.800278&rft.coverage=westlimit=-88.078056; southlimit=16.800556; eastlimit=-88.078056; northlimit=16.800556&rft.coverage=westlimit=-88.078056; southlimit=16.800556; eastlimit=-88.078056; northlimit=16.800556&rft.coverage=westlimit=-88.076667; southlimit=16.8; eastlimit=-88.076667; northlimit=16.8&rft.coverage=westlimit=-88.076667; southlimit=16.8; eastlimit=-88.076667; northlimit=16.8&rft.coverage=westlimit=-67.0525; southlimit=17.936389; eastlimit=-67.0525; northlimit=17.936389&rft.coverage=westlimit=-67.0525; southlimit=17.936389; eastlimit=-67.0525; northlimit=17.936389&rft.coverage=westlimit=-67.0525; southlimit=17.936389; eastlimit=-67.0525; northlimit=17.936389&rft.coverage=westlimit=-67.0525; southlimit=17.936389; eastlimit=-67.0525; northlimit=17.936389&rft.coverage=westlimit=-67.047222; southlimit=17.914167; eastlimit=-67.047222; northlimit=17.914167&rft.coverage=westlimit=-67.047222; southlimit=17.914167; eastlimit=-67.047222; northlimit=17.914167&rft.coverage=westlimit=-64.645556; southlimit=17.800278; eastlimit=-64.645556; northlimit=17.800278&rft.coverage=westlimit=-64.645556; southlimit=17.800278; eastlimit=-64.645556; northlimit=17.800278&rft.coverage=westlimit=-64.640833; southlimit=17.800278; eastlimit=-64.640833; northlimit=17.800278&rft.coverage=westlimit=-64.640833; southlimit=17.800278; eastlimit=-64.640833; northlimit=17.800278&rft.coverage=westlimit=-64.624444; southlimit=17.768056; eastlimit=-64.624444; northlimit=17.768056&rft.coverage=westlimit=-64.624444; southlimit=17.768056; eastlimit=-64.624444; northlimit=17.768056&rft.coverage=westlimit=-64.761667; southlimit=17.785278; eastlimit=-64.761667; northlimit=17.785278&rft.coverage=westlimit=-64.761667; southlimit=17.785278; eastlimit=-64.761667; northlimit=17.785278&rft.coverage=westlimit=-64.76; southlimit=17.784444; eastlimit=-64.76; northlimit=17.784444&rft.coverage=westlimit=-64.76; southlimit=17.784444; eastlimit=-64.76; northlimit=17.784444&rft.coverage=westlimit=-59.644444; southlimit=13.176389; eastlimit=-59.644444; northlimit=13.176389&rft.coverage=westlimit=-59.644444; southlimit=13.176389; eastlimit=-59.644444; northlimit=13.176389&rft.coverage=westlimit=-59.646111; southlimit=13.176389; eastlimit=-59.646111; northlimit=13.176389&rft.coverage=westlimit=-59.646111; southlimit=13.176389; eastlimit=-59.646111; northlimit=13.176389&rft.coverage=westlimit=-77.415556; southlimit=18.473889; eastlimit=-77.415556; northlimit=18.473889&rft.coverage=westlimit=-77.415556; southlimit=18.473889; eastlimit=-77.415556; northlimit=18.473889&rft.coverage=westlimit=-80.349722; southlimit=25.025556; eastlimit=-80.349722; northlimit=25.025556&rft.coverage=westlimit=-80.349722; southlimit=25.025556; eastlimit=-80.349722; northlimit=25.025556&rft.coverage=westlimit=-80.351111; southlimit=25.019722; eastlimit=-80.351111; northlimit=25.019722&rft.coverage=westlimit=-80.351111; southlimit=25.019722; eastlimit=-80.351111; northlimit=25.019722&rft.coverage=westlimit=-76.090278; southlimit=23.778889; eastlimit=-76.090278; northlimit=23.778889&rft.coverage=westlimit=-76.090278; southlimit=23.778889; eastlimit=-76.090278; northlimit=23.778889&rft.coverage=westlimit=-76.088611; southlimit=23.778889; eastlimit=-76.088611; northlimit=23.778889&rft.coverage=westlimit=-76.088611; southlimit=23.778889; eastlimit=-76.088611; northlimit=23.778889&rft.coverage=westlimit=-77.415833; southlimit=18.472778; eastlimit=-77.415833; northlimit=18.472778&rft.coverage=westlimit=-77.415833; southlimit=18.472778; eastlimit=-77.415833; northlimit=18.472778&rft_rights=Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/au/&rft_rights=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.&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). (2013). Surveys of benthic cover on Caribbean coral reefs in 1986. https://apps.aims.gov.au/metadata/view/6d223bf4-64d1-4f12-a9dd-0e8d98aad3db, accessed[date-of-access].&rft_rights=Resource Usage:Security classification code: unclassifiedMetadata Usage:Security classification code: unclassified&rft_subject=oceans&rft.type=dataset&rft.language=English Access the data

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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). (2013). Surveys of benthic cover on Caribbean coral reefs in 1986. https://apps.aims.gov.au/metadata/view/6d223bf4-64d1-4f12-a9dd-0e8d98aad3db, accessed[date-of-access]".

Resource Usage:Security classification code: unclassifiedMetadata Usage:Security classification code: unclassified

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Full description

The Line Intercept Transect method (LIT) was used to survey benthic cover on Caribbean and western Atlantic reefs in 7 countries. Surveys were carried out in Belize (Carrie Bow Cay), Jamaica (Discovery Bay), USA (Key Largo - French Reef), Bahamas (Exuma Cays - Lee Stocking Island), Puerto Rico (Cayo Enrique, Media Luna), US Virgin Islands (Saint Croix - Buck Island, Tague Bay, Salt River Canyon) and Barbados (West). Data were generally collected along 20 m long transects, though some transects were extended to 30 m and others truncated due to time constraints or local conditions. At Carrie Bow Cay, surveys were carried out at depths of 10, 15 and 20 m. At all other locations depths of 10 and 20 m were surveyed, where possible. Duplicate or triplicate transects were laid out along the depth profile at each depth surveyed. Line intercept data were recorded using 'lifeform' categories that were developed during the ASEAN-Australia Living Coastal Resources programme from the mid-1980s. Categories allocated to benthos included: ACB - branching Acropora; CB - branching non-Acropora (which included Millepora spp.); CM - coral massive; CE - coral encrusting; CS - coral submassive; CF - coral foliose; SPM - sponge massive; SPC - sponge columnar; SPF - sponge foliose; and SPE - sponge encrusting.
This research was undertaken to describe benthic cover on Caribbean Reefs.
In most cases data were collected in the vicinity of transects used for sponge species distribution and biomass surveys carried out by Dr Wilkinson at the same time.

Lineage

Maintenance and Update Frequency: notPlanned

Statement: Statement: The exact location of survey sites is not known. The latitude and longitude readings were estimated using Google Earth from maps and aerial photographs obtained at the time; caution must be taken as the readings are estimates without reference to the depths of the reefs under the Google images.The Line Intercept Transect method, and lifeform categories are described in:English S, Wilkinson C, Baker, V (1997). Survey Manual for Tropical Marine Resources, 2nd ed. Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, p. 390.Benthic lifeform categories used in this study:AA - Algal assemblageACB - Acropora branchingCB - Non-Acropora branchingCE - Coral - encrustingCF - Coral - folioseCM - Coral - massiveCS - Coral - submassiveDCA - Dead coral with algaeGO - GorgonianHA - HalimedaMA - MacroalgaeOT - Other organismOTZ - ZoanthidR - RubbleS - SandSI - SiltSPC - Sponge - columnarSPE - Sponge - encrustingSPF - Sponge - folioseSPM - Sponge - massiveSR - Sand and rubbleTA - Turf algae

Notes

Credit
Wilkinson, Clive R, Dr (Principal Investigator)

Modified: 18 09 2026

This dataset is part of a larger collection

Click to explore relationships graph

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Subjects

oceans |

User Contributed Tags

Other Information

Wilkinson C, Nowak M, Miller I, Baker V (2013) Status of Caribbean coral reefs in seven countries in 1986. Marine Pollution Bulletin 70: 7-9 doi https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2013.02.040

doi : https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2013.02.040 DOI Link

Link to the metadata record for sponge species distribution and biomass studies carried out at the same time

url : https://apps.aims.gov.au/metadata/view/c50fa400-8122-11dc-b1b7-00008a07204e External Link

Identifiers

global : 6d223bf4-64d1-4f12-a9dd-0e8d98aad3db