Short-term performance of three underwater sampling techniques for assessing differences in the absolute abundances and in the inventories of the coastal fish communities of the Northeast Atlantic Ocean
Pablo Pita A C , Diana Fernández-Márquez A and Juan Freire B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Grupo de Recursos Marinos y Pesquerías, Universidade da Coruña, Facultade de Ciencias, Rúa da Fraga, 10, A Coruña, 15008, Spain.
B Barrabés Next, Serrano, 16-1, Madrid, 28001, Spain.
C Corresponding author. Email: ppita@udc.es
Marine and Freshwater Research 65(2) 105-113 https://doi.org/10.1071/MF12301
Submitted: 18 October 2012 Accepted: 2 July 2013 Published: 18 September 2013
Abstract
Comparative works on sampling techniques allow selecting the best methods to study each target fish community. We analysed the structure of a coastal fish community in Galicia (north-western Spain) by comparing the following three techniques: diver-based underwater visual census (UVC), remotely operated vehicle (ROV) and remote underwater video (RUV). All techniques detected abundant and frequent taxa, but divers obtained more precise and complete inventories (80% of identified taxa) than did ROV (60%) and RUV (47%), were faster (only 1.4 days to achieve the estimated taxa list) than were ROV (2.0 days) and RUV (475.7 days), and were more reliable in estimating the abundances of highly mobile, less abundant, less frequent, cryptic and smaller fish. Conversely, RUV obtained the poorest estimates of abundances, and even though it obtained more replicates (136), there were more zeros (98%) than with divers (16 replicates, 64% zeros) and ROV (11 replicates, 75% zeros). Furthermore, the economic cost of the video system was triple the cost of the diving gear; consequently, we recommend using divers to study the coastal fish communities in the shallow waters of the North Atlantic Ocean. However, further research is necessary to explore the full capabilities of video techniques in long-term studies, in greater depths and in adverse weather conditions.
Additional keywords: rocky reef fish, ROV, scuba diving, underwater video, underwater visual census.
References
Ackerman, J. L., and Bellwood, D. R. (2000). Reef fish assemblages: a re-evaluation using enclosed rotenone stations. Marine Ecology Progress Series 206, 227–237.| Reef fish assemblages: a re-evaluation using enclosed rotenone stations.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Andrew, N. L., and Mapstone, B. D. (1987). Sampling and the description of spatial pattern in marine ecology. Oceanography and Marine Biology 25, 39–90.
Bannerot, S. P., and Bohnsack, J. A. (1986). A stationary visual census technique for quantitatively assessing community structure of coral reef fishes. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 41, 1–15.
Blyth-Skyrme, R. E., Kaiser, M. J., Hiddink, J. G., Edwards-Jones, G., and Hart, P. J. B. (2006). Conservation benefits of temperate Marine Protected Areas: variation among fish species. Conservation Biology 20, 811–820.
| Conservation benefits of temperate Marine Protected Areas: variation among fish species.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 16909574PubMed |
Bortone, S. A., Martin, T., and Bundrick, C. M. (1991). Visual census of reef fish assemblages: a comparison of slate audio and video recording devices. Northeast Gulf Science 12, 17–23.
Brock, V. E. (1954). A preliminary report on a method of estimating reef fish populations. The Journal of Wildlife Management 18, 297–308.
| A preliminary report on a method of estimating reef fish populations.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Brock, R. E. (1982). A critique of the visual census method for assessing coral reef fish populations. Bulletin of Marine Science 32, 269–276.
Cappo, M., Harvey, E., Malcolm, H., and Speare, P. (2003). Potential of video techniques to monitor diversity abundance and size of fish in studies of marine protected areas. In ‘Aquatic Protected Areas – What Works Best and How Do We Know’. (Eds J. P. Beumer, A. Grant and D. C. Smith.) pp. 455–464. (World Congress on Aquatic Protected Areas Proceedings: Cairns, Qld).
Cappo, M., Speare, P., and De'ath, G. (2004). Comparison of baited remote underwater video stations (BRUVS) and prawn (shrimp) trawls for assessments of fish biodiversity in inter-reefal areas of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 302, 123–152.
| Comparison of baited remote underwater video stations (BRUVS) and prawn (shrimp) trawls for assessments of fish biodiversity in inter-reefal areas of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Carbines, G., and Cole, R. G. (2009). Using a remote drift underwater video (DUV) to examine dredge impacts on demersal fishes and benthic habitat complexity in Foveaux Strait southern New Zealand. Fisheries Research 96, 230–237.
| Using a remote drift underwater video (DUV) to examine dredge impacts on demersal fishes and benthic habitat complexity in Foveaux Strait southern New Zealand.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Chapman, C. J., Johnstone, A. D. F., Dunn, J. R., and Creasey, D. J. (1974). Reactions of fish to sound generated by divers’ open-circuit underwater breathing apparatus. Marine Biology 27, 357–366.
| Reactions of fish to sound generated by divers’ open-circuit underwater breathing apparatus.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Christensen, M. S., and Winterbottom, R. (1981). A correction factor for and its application to visual censuses of littoral fish. South African Journal of Zoology 16, 73–79.
Cole, R. G. (1994). Abundance size-structure and diver-oriented behaviour of three large benthic carnivorous fishes in a marine reserve in north-eastern New Zealand. Biological Conservation 70, 93–99.
| Abundance size-structure and diver-oriented behaviour of three large benthic carnivorous fishes in a marine reserve in north-eastern New Zealand.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Colwell, R. K., and Coddington, J. A. (1994). Estimating terrestrial biodiversity through extrapolation. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences 345, 101–118.
| Estimating terrestrial biodiversity through extrapolation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DyaK2M%2Fmt1GltA%3D%3D&md5=70aada877a0573edda4600588c68a5b7CAS | 7972351PubMed |
Colwell, R. K., Mao, C. X., and Chang, J. (2004). Interpolating, extrapolating, and comparing incidence-based species accumulation curves. Ecology 85, 2717–2727.
| Interpolating, extrapolating, and comparing incidence-based species accumulation curves.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Cote, I. M., and Perrow, M. R. (2006). Fish. In ‘Ecological Census Techniques: a Handbook’. (Ed. W. J. Sutherland.) pp. 250–277. (Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, UK.)
De Girolamo, M., and Mazzoldi, C. (2001). The application of visual census on Mediterranean rocky habitats. Marine Environmental Research 51, 1–16.
| The application of visual census on Mediterranean rocky habitats.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3cXoslyksr8%3D&md5=8c990206f6bb1e8b1b14286cd870e6f8CAS | 11125700PubMed |
DeMartini, E. E., and Roberts, D. (1982). An empirical test of biases in the rapid visual technique for species-time censuses of reef fish assemblages. Marine Biology 70, 129–134.
| An empirical test of biases in the rapid visual technique for species-time censuses of reef fish assemblages.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Edgar, G. J., and Barrett, N. S. (1999). Effects of the declaration of marine reserves on Tasmanian reef fishes invertebrates and plants. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 242, 107–144.
| Effects of the declaration of marine reserves on Tasmanian reef fishes invertebrates and plants.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Edgar, G. J., Davey, A., Kelly, G., Mawbey, R. B., and Parsons, K. (2010). Biogeographical and ecological context for managing threats to coral and rocky reef communities in the Lord Howe Island Marine Park, south-western Pacific. Aquatic Conservation 20, 378–396.
| Biogeographical and ecological context for managing threats to coral and rocky reef communities in the Lord Howe Island Marine Park, south-western Pacific.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Francour, P., Liret, C., and Harvey, E. (1999). Comparison of fish abundance estimates made by remote underwater video and visual census. II Naturalista Siciliano 23, 155–168.
Gotelli, N. J., and Colwell, R. K. (2001). Quantifying biodiversity: procedures and pitfalls in the measurement and comparison of species richness. Ecology Letters 4, 379–391.
| Quantifying biodiversity: procedures and pitfalls in the measurement and comparison of species richness.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Guidetti, P., Verginella, L., Viva, C., Odorico, R., and Boero, F. (2005). Protection effects on fish assemblages and comparison of two visual-census techniques in shallow artificial rocky habitats in the northern Adriatic Sea. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 85, 247–255.
| Protection effects on fish assemblages and comparison of two visual-census techniques in shallow artificial rocky habitats in the northern Adriatic Sea.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Harvey, E., and Shortis, M. (1995). A system for stereo-video measurement of sub-tidal organisms. Marine Technology Society Journal 29, 10–22.
Harvey, E., Fletcher, D., and Shortis, M. (2001). A comparison of the precision and accuracy of estimates of reef-fish lengths determined visually by divers with estimates produced by a stereo-video system. Fishery Bulletin 99, 63–71.
Harvey, E., Shortis, M., Stadler, M., and Cappo, M. (2002). A comparison of the accuracy and precision of measurements from single and stereo-video systems. Marine Technology Society Journal 36, 38–49.
| A comparison of the accuracy and precision of measurements from single and stereo-video systems.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Harvey, E., Fletcher, D., Shortis, M., and Kendrick, G. (2004). A comparison of underwater visual distance estimates made by scuba divers and a stereo-video system: implications for underwater visual census of reef fish abundance. Marine and Freshwater Research 55, 573–580.
| A comparison of underwater visual distance estimates made by scuba divers and a stereo-video system: implications for underwater visual census of reef fish abundance.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Harvey, E. S., Euan, S., Goetze, J., McLaren, B., Langlois, T., and Shortis, M. R. (2010). Influence of range, angle of view, image resolution and image compression on underwater stereo-video measurements: high-definition and broadcast-resolution video cameras compared. Marine Technology Society Journal 44, 75–85.
| Influence of range, angle of view, image resolution and image compression on underwater stereo-video measurements: high-definition and broadcast-resolution video cameras compared.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Jennings, S., and Polunin, N. V. C. (1995). Biased underwater visual census biomass estimates for target-species in tropical reef fisheries. Journal of Fish Biology 47, 733–736.
| Biased underwater visual census biomass estimates for target-species in tropical reef fisheries.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kimmel, J. J. (1985). A new species-time method for visual assessment of fishes and its comparison with established methods. Environmental Biology of Fishes 12, 23–32.
| A new species-time method for visual assessment of fishes and its comparison with established methods.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kulbicki, M., and Sarramégna, S. (1999). Comparison of density estimates derived from strip transect and distance sampling for underwater visual censuses: a case study of Chaetodontidae and Pomacanthidae. Aquatic Living Resources 12, 315–325.
| Comparison of density estimates derived from strip transect and distance sampling for underwater visual censuses: a case study of Chaetodontidae and Pomacanthidae.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kulbicki, M., and Wantiez, L. (1990). Comparison between fish bycatch from shrimp trawlnet and visual censuses in St Vincent Bay, New Caledonia. Fishery Bulletin 88, 667–675.
Langlois, T., Harvey, E. S., Fitzpatrick, B., Meeuwig, J. J., Shedrawi, G., and Watson, D. L. (2010). Cost-efficient sampling of fish assemblages: comparison of baited video stations and diver video transects. Aquatic Biology 9, 155–168.
| Cost-efficient sampling of fish assemblages: comparison of baited video stations and diver video transects.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Langlois, T. J., Fitzpatrick, B. R., Fairclough, D. V., Wakefield, C. B., Hesp, S. A., McLean, D. L., Harvey, E. S., and Meeuwig, J. J. (2012). Similarities between line fishing and baited stereo-video estimations of length-frequency: novel application of kernel density estimates. PLoS ONE 7, e45973.
| Similarities between line fishing and baited stereo-video estimations of length-frequency: novel application of kernel density estimates.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC38XhvVyju7%2FE&md5=d297c8c70e2eb8a294eedf3c526a97c0CAS | 23209547PubMed |
Lincoln Smith, M. P. (1989). Improving multispecies rocky reef fish censuses by counting different groups of species using different procedures. Environmental Biology of Fishes 26, 29–37.
| Improving multispecies rocky reef fish censuses by counting different groups of species using different procedures.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Longino, J. T., and Colwell, R. K. (1997). Biodiversity assessment using structured inventory: capturing the ant fauna of a tropical rain forest. Ecological Applications 7, 1263–1277.
| Biodiversity assessment using structured inventory: capturing the ant fauna of a tropical rain forest.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Longo, G., and Floeter, S. (2012). Comparison of remote video and diver's direct observations to quantify reef fishes feeding on benthos in coral and rocky reefs. Journal of Fish Biology 81, 1773–1780.
| Comparison of remote video and diver's direct observations to quantify reef fishes feeding on benthos in coral and rocky reefs.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BC3s%2FgvFKkuw%3D%3D&md5=1cc30050a4ef2e2152b4f072ae22ce5eCAS | 23020575PubMed |
Martínez, M. A., Monteagudo, A., Sandoval, A., and Zas, P. (2006). ‘Islas de San Pedro.’ (Terranova SL: A Coruña, Spain.)
McCormick, M. I., and Choat, J. H. (1987). Estimating total abundance of a large temperate-reef fish using visual strip-transects. Marine Biology 96, 469–478.
| Estimating total abundance of a large temperate-reef fish using visual strip-transects.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Medley, P. A., Gaudian, G., and Wells, S. (1993). Coral reef fisheries stock assessment. Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries 3, 242–285.
| Coral reef fisheries stock assessment.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Ministerio de Fomento (2012). ‘Puertos del Estado. Period 1998–2012.’ Available at http://www.puertos.es [Verified 16 October 2012].
Murphy, H. M., and Jenkins, G. P. (2010). Observational methods used in marine spatial monitoring of fishes and associated habitats: a review. Marine and Freshwater Research 61, 236–252.
| Observational methods used in marine spatial monitoring of fishes and associated habitats: a review.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3cXisVagsrw%3D&md5=25756a8763377248d1a0a095edd841b4CAS |
Oksanen, J., Blanchet, F. G., Kindt, R., Legendre, P., Minchin, P. R., O’Hara, R. B., Simpson, G. L., Solymos, P., Stevens, M. H. H., and Wagner, H. (2013). ‘vegan: Community Ecology Package. R Package Version 2.0-7.’ Available at http://CRAN.R-project.org/package=vegan [Verified 5 May 2013].
Palmer, M. W. (1990). The estimation of species richness by extrapolation. Ecology 71, 1195–1198.
| The estimation of species richness by extrapolation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Pinheiro, J., Bates, D., DebRoy, S., Sarkar, D., and R Development Core Team (2012). ‘nlme: Linear and Nonlinear Mixed Effects Models. R Package Version 3.1-105.’ Available at http://CRAN.R-project.org/package=nlme [Verified 5 May 2013].
R Core Team (2012). ‘R: a Language and Environment for Statistical Computing.’ (R Foundation for Statistical Computing: Vienna.) Available at http://www.R-project.org [Verified 5 May 2013].
Samoilys, M. A., and Carlos, G. (2000). Determining methods of underwater visual census for estimating the abundance of coral reef fishes. Environmental Biology of Fishes 57, 289–304.
| Determining methods of underwater visual census for estimating the abundance of coral reef fishes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Schmitt, E. F., Sluka, R. D., and Sullivan-Sealey, K. M. (2002). Evaluating the use of roving diver and transect surveys to assess the coral reef fish assemblage off southeastern Hispaniola. Coral Reefs 21, 216–223.
Smith, M. P. L. (1988). Effects of observer swimming speed on sample counts of temperate rocky reef fish assemblages. Marine Ecology Progress Series 43, 223–231.
| Effects of observer swimming speed on sample counts of temperate rocky reef fish assemblages.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Soberón, J. M., and Llorente, J. B. (1993). The use of species accumulation functions for the prediction of species richness. Conservation Biology 7, 480–488.
| The use of species accumulation functions for the prediction of species richness.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Stobart, B., García-Charton, J. A., Espejo, C., Rochel, E., Goñi, R., Reñones, O., Herrero, A., Crec'hriou, R., Polti, S., Marcos, C., Planes, S., and Pérez-Ruzafa, A. (2007). A baited underwater video technique to assess shallow-water Mediterranean fish assemblages: methodological evaluation. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 345, 158–174.
| A baited underwater video technique to assess shallow-water Mediterranean fish assemblages: methodological evaluation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Stoner, A. W., Ryer, C. H., Parker, S. J., Auster, P. J., and Wakefield, W. W. (2008). Evaluating the role of fish behaviour in surveys conducted with underwater vehicles. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 65, 1230–1243.
| Evaluating the role of fish behaviour in surveys conducted with underwater vehicles.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Thompson, A. A., and Mapstone, B. D. (1997). Observer effects and training in underwater visual surveys of reef fishes. Marine Ecology Progress Series 154, 53–63.
| Observer effects and training in underwater visual surveys of reef fishes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Thresher, R. E., and Gunn, J. S. (1986). Comparative analysis of visual census techniques for highly mobile reef-associated piscivores (Carangidae). Environmental Biology of Fishes 17, 93–116.
| Comparative analysis of visual census techniques for highly mobile reef-associated piscivores (Carangidae).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Valle, C., and Bayle-Sempere, J. T. (2009). Effects of a marine protected area on fish assemblage associated with Posidonia oceanica seagrass beds: temporal and depth variations. Journal of Applied Ichthyology 25, 537–544.
| Effects of a marine protected area on fish assemblage associated with Posidonia oceanica seagrass beds: temporal and depth variations.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Vanderklift, M. A., Babcock, R. C., and Cook, K. (2012). The effects of protection from fishing on species richness: distinguishing between alternative explanations. Oecologia 171, 309–315.
| 22776907PubMed |
Watson, D., Harvey, E., Anderson, M., and Kendrick, G. (2005). A comparison of temperate reef fish assemblages recorded by three underwater stereo-video techniques. Marine Biology 148, 415–425.
| A comparison of temperate reef fish assemblages recorded by three underwater stereo-video techniques.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Watson, D. L., Harvey, E. S., Fitzpatrick, B., Langlois, T. J., and Shedrawi, G. (2010). Assessing reef fish assemblage structure: how do different stereo-video techniques compare? Marine Biology 157, 1237–1250.
| Assessing reef fish assemblage structure: how do different stereo-video techniques compare?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Wickham, H. (2009). ‘ggplot2: Elegant Graphics for Data Analysis.’ (Springer: New York.)
Wickham, H. (2011). The split-apply-combine strategy for data analysis. Journal of Statistical Software 40, 1–29.
Willis, T. J. (2001). Visual census methods underestimate density and diversity of cryptic reef fishes. Journal of Fish Biology 59, 1408–1411.
| Visual census methods underestimate density and diversity of cryptic reef fishes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Willis, T. J., and Babcock, R. C. (2000). A baited underwater video system for the determination of relative density of carnivorous reef fish. Marine and Freshwater Research 51, 755–763.
| A baited underwater video system for the determination of relative density of carnivorous reef fish.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Willis, T. J., Millar, R. B., and Babcock, R. C. (2000). Detection of spatial variability in relative density of fishes: comparison of visual census angling and baited underwater video. Marine Ecology Progress Series 198, 249–260.
| Detection of spatial variability in relative density of fishes: comparison of visual census angling and baited underwater video.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
