Benthic Assessment Protocols for the Atlantic Region: U.S. Caribbean, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico: 2024.

Abstract

The National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP) provides a biennial ecological characterization at a broad spatial scale of general reef condition for reef fishes,corals and benthic habitat (i.e., fish species composition/density/size, benthic cover, and coral density/size/condition). Data collection occurs at stratified random sites where the sampling domain for each region ( e.g., Florida, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Flower Garden B anks National Marine Sanctuary [FGBNMS]) is partitioned by habitat type and depth, sub-regional location (e.g., along-shelf position) and management zone. NCRMP will provide broader geographic context to supplement local monitoring efforts and studies of tropical reef ecosystems. Line point-intercept (LPI) sampling, the main component of the Benthic Assessment protocols, provides benthic cover estimates for ecologically important cover types/groups (e.g., macroalgae, turf algae, crustose coralline algae, corals, sponges, sand/sediment, etc.). This method is complementary to the NCRMP Coral Demographics sampling method that collects detailed information on scleractinian corals, including density, size and condition (percent mortality and bleaching) measurements (Refer to Coral Demographic Survey Protocol for the Atlantic Region: U.S. Caribbean, Florida and Gulf of Mexico: 2021). As a result of NCRMP standardization throughout the project’s regions (e.g. Florida and Pacific regions), the protocols previously known as the ‘LPI Survey Protocols’ have been renamed to Benthic Assessment Protocols. Most notably, changes to the document format and sections have been re-formatted to identify the four main components of the Benthic Assessment protocols. Specific differences in methodologies between regions, where applicable, are noted within the protocols.