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3,855 results for “Reefs”

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zenodo52/100

Ten years (2013-2023) of fish assemblage data collected seasonally with underwater visual surveys on paired artificial and natural reefs

<p>The study of assembly patterns and dynamics of organisms has long remained a foundational theme in ecology. Further, the relationship between assemblages and different habitats can provide important insight on ecological processes and guide management and conservation efforts (e.g., restoration, protected areas). We conducted underwater visual surveys of reef fish assemblages at 14 sites in the eastern Gulf of Mexico, including eight that were paired artificial and natural reefs. By using a paired design, we controlled biotic (e.g., larval supply), abiotic (e.g., depth), and socio variables (e.g., fishing access) to isolate the effect of reef type. Trained scientific SCUBA divers with extensive experience with reef fishes from the broader tropical western Atlantic region conducted two to four 10-minute stationary surveys on the paired reefs each season (i.e., calendar quarters) for 10 years from spring 2013 to spring 2023. We also surveyed six additional artificial reefs from winter 2020 to spring 2023 that lacked natural reef pairs. During each survey, the divers identified and estimated the total lengths of all taxa<strong> </strong>observed within an imaginary cylinder around them. The imaginary cylinders had a radius up to 7.5 meters (depending on horizontal visibility) and extended from the seafloor to the highest visible water above the diver. During the period of study, we conducted a total of 1,349 surveys and counted 544,736 fish that represented 171 taxa (most at the species level). Analyses of these data have revealed habitat-specific heterogeneity of the fish assemblages at both taxonomic and functional trait levels, the importance of herbivory in structuring the benthos, and socio-ecological interactions in the system, among other findings. These data may be useful for other researchers interested in patterns and dynamics of populations and communities, functional traits, taxa-habitat relationships, and for parameterizing statistical, joint distribution, metacommunity, and ecosystem models. In addition, because many of the observed taxa<strong> </strong>are of management concern, they may be useful for researchers interested in fisheries science. The data are free to use, are not copyright restricted, and we ask users to cite this data paper.</p>

opencc-by-4.0Apr 2024View details →
zenodo52/100

Six years of demography data for 11 reef coral species

<p>Scleractinian corals are colonial animals with a range of life history strategies that make up diverse species assemblages that contribute to coral reef growth. We tagged and tracked approximately 30 colonies from each of 11 species for six years (2009-2015) in order to measure their vital rates and competitive interactions on the reef crest at Trimodal Reef, Lizard Island, Australia. Pairs of species were chosen from five growth forms (massive [<em>Goniastrea pectinata&nbsp;</em>and&nbsp;<em>G. retiformis</em>], digitate [<em>Acropora humilis</em>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<em>A. cf. digitifera</em>], corymbose [<em>A. millepora</em>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<em>A. nasuta</em>], tabular [<em>A. cytherea</em>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<em>A. hyacinthus</em>] and arborescent [<em>A. robusta</em>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<em>A. intermedia</em>]) where one species of the pair was locally rare and the other abundant. (An extra corymbose species,&nbsp;<em>A. spathulata</em>&nbsp;was included when it became apparent that&nbsp;<em>A. millepora</em>&nbsp;was too rare to work with on the reef crest, making the 11 species in total.) The tagged colonies were visited each year in the weeks prior to mass spawning. During visits, photographs were taken by two or more observers from directly above and on the horizontal plane with a scale plate to track planar area. Dead or missing colonies were recorded and new colonies tagged in order to maintain approximately 30 colonies per species throughout the six years of the study. In addition to tracking tagged corals, 30 fragments were collected from neighboring untagged colonies of each species for counting numbers of eggs per polyp (fecundity); and fragments of untagged colonies were brought into the laboratory where spawned eggs were collected for size and energy measurements. We also conducted surveys at the study site to generate size structure data for each species in several of the years. Each tagged colony photograph was digitized by at least two people. Therefore, we could examine sources of error in planar area for both photographers and outliners. Competitive interactions were recorded for a subset of species by measuring the margins of tagged colony outlines interacting with neighboring corals. The study was abruptly ended by Tropical Cyclone Nathan that killed all but nine of the over 300 tagged colonies in early 2015. Nonetheless, these data will be of use to other researchers interested in coral demography and coexistence, functional ecology, and parametrizing population, community and ecosystem models.</p>

opencc-by-4.0Aug 2022View details →
edi52/100

SBC LTER: Reef: Kelp Forest Community Dynamics: Fish abundance (Reformatted to the ecocomDP Design Pattern)

This data package is formatted as an ecocomDP (Ecological Community Data Pattern). For more information on ecocomDP see https://github.com/EDIorg/ecocomDP. This Level 1 data package was derived from the Level 0 data package found here: https://pasta.lternet.edu/package/metadata/eml/knb-lter-sbc/17/35. The abstract below was extracted from the Level 0 data package and is included for context: These data describe the abundance and size of fish species as part of SBCLTER's kelp forest monitoring program to track long-term patterns in species abundance and diversity. This study began in 2000 in the Santa Barbara Channel, California, USA. The abundance and size of all taxa of resident kelp forest fish encountered along permanent transects are recorded at nine reef sites located along the mainland coast of the Santa Barbara Channel and at two sites on the north side of Santa Cruz Island. These sites reflect several oceanographic regimes in the channel and vary in distance from sources of terrestrial runoff. In these surveys, fish were counted in either a 40x2m benthic quadrat, or in the water parcel 0-2m off the bottom over the same area. The two tables in this data package include: 1) The annual benthic fish community survey which was conducted on 11 reefs once a year around late July or early August; and 2) The monthly fish survey which was conducted once a month at a subset of the sites (3 of the annual sites) The time period of data collection for the annual benthic fish community survey varied among the 11 kelp forest sites. Sampling at BULL, CARP, and NAPL began in 2000, sampling at the other 6 mainland sites (AHND, AQUE, IVEE, GOLB, ABUR, MOHK) began in 2001 (transects 3, 5, 6, 7, 8 at IVEE were added in 2011). Data collection at the two Santa Cruz Island sites (SCTW and SCDI) began in 2004. The monthly fish survey at ABUR (Transect 1, 2, and 3), AQUE (Transect1), and MOHK (Transect 1) in 2002. The Transect 2 and 3 at ABUR were discontinued in June 2006. See Method

openCC (other)Jul 2021View details →
edi52/100

Biological and Physical Monitoring Data of Restored Oyster Reef in Savannah River, Savannah, GA from May 2023 - February 2025

For the purposes of this study, we constructed two oyster reefs in Savannah, GA, USA using standard spat-on-shell restoration methodology. Reefs were constructed 1-2 meters from the marsh edge to reduce wave energy as it approached the shoreline, similar to a breakwater. We then conducted monitoring on the biological function of the reef, including live juvenile oyster coverage, size, and abundance for approximately 18 months. We also quantified the energy flux of waves offshore and onshore of the reef using water pressure measurements to determine the capability of these reefs at reducing wave energy. The oyster reefs in this study decreased wave energy by up to 40% compared to paired, non-reef control sites. Constructed oyster reefs also experienced healthy oyster population growth throughout the study, with live juvenile coverage of 17-40% almost 18 months post-deployment. This study took place in an erosion-prone area due to recreational and commercial boating traffic at the nearby Port of Savannah. Our results indicate that using restored oyster reefs as living shorelines is a technique with high potential for preventing shoreline loss in coastal areas vulnerable to anthropogenically-caused erosion. Restored Reef Site 1: 32.067957°, -80.985005° Control Site 1: 32.0675194°, -80.986369° Restored Reef Site 2: 32.062663°, -80.965147° Control Site 2: 32.063261°, -80.965889°

openCC (other)Apr 2025View details →
edi52/100

Survival Data of Strengthened and Non-Strengthened Oysters on Two Restored Reefs in Georgia, USA

The eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica, is known to respond to chemical cues from their predators by strengthening their shell in defense. The chemical cues homarine and trigonelline, found in the urine of blue crabs, Callinectes sapidus, are two metabolic waste products known to cause this inducible defense in juvenile oysters. We tested whether this shell strengthening defense is beneficial for juvenile oysters in a restored reef setting by inducing oyster spat with chemical cues, placing them onto a restored reef and measuring their survival for 50-100 days. The first reef location is a previously restored reef (approximately 10 years old) with limited physical exposure to wind waves and boat wake. Juvenile oysters were placed at this site in September of 2021 and survival was measured for 49 days. The second reef location is a newly restored oyster reef (less than 1 year old) that acts as a living shoreline, with significant exposure to boat wake and wind waves. Juvenile oysters were protected from predation using mesh wrapping with an opening of 1 square cm and placed at the reef site in April 2023, where survival was monitored for 103 days. Site locations: Reef 1 (dock site) - 31.988948°, -81.024001° Reef 2 (living shoreline reef) - 32.067957°,-80.985005°

openCC (other)May 2025View details →
edi52/100

[DEPRECATED] MCR LTER: Coral Reef: Long-term Population Dynamics of Acanthaster planci, ongoing since 2005 (Reformatted to ecocomDP Design Pattern)

This ecocomDP formatted dataset is deprecated due to the fact that the focus of the original L0 dataset is population ecology, not community ecology. This data package is formatted according to the "ecocomDP", a data package design pattern for ecological community surveys, and data from studies of composition and biodiversity. For more information on the ecocomDP project see https://github.com/EDIorg/ecocomDP/tree/master, or contact EDI https://environmentaldatainitiative.org. This Level 1 data package was derived from the Level 0 data package found here: https://portal.edirepository.org/nis/mapbrowse?scope=knb-lter-mcr&identifier=1039&revision=9 The abstract below was extracted from the Level 0 data package and is included for context: These data describe the abundance of Acanthaster planci, Crown of Thorns Sea stars, surveyed as part of MCR LTER's annual reef fish monitoring program. This study began in 2005 and the dataset is updated annually. The abundances of A. planci observed on a five by fifty meter transect are recorded by a diver using SCUBA. Surveys are conducted between 0900 and 1600 hours (Moorea time) during late July or early August each year. Four replicate transects are surveyed in each of three habitats (forereef, backreef and fringing reef) at six locations, two on each of Moorea's three sides, on the forereef, six locations on the backreef (two on each of Moorea's three sides for a total of 72 individual transects. Transects are permanently marked using a series of small, stainless steel posts affixed to the reef. Transects on the forereef are located at a depth of approximately 12m, those on the backreef are located at a depth of approximately 1.5m and those on the fringing reef are located at a depth of approximately 10m. This monitoring program is consistent with the protocols adopted by the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network and the Australian Institute of Marine Science for use with the Great Barrier Reef Long-term Monitoring Program. Thes

openCC0Jul 2021View details →
edi52/100

SBC LTER: Reef: Long-term experiment: biomass of kelp forest species, ongoing since 2008 (Reformatted to the ecocomDP Design Pattern)

This data package is formatted as an ecocomDP (Ecological Community Data Pattern). For more information on ecocomDP see https://github.com/EDIorg/ecocomDP. This Level 1 data package was derived from the Level 0 data package found here: https://pasta.lternet.edu/package/metadata/eml/knb-lter-sbc/119/7. The abstract below was extracted from the Level 0 data package and is included for context: These data represent values of biomass density for more than 200 species of macroalgae, invertebrates and fish measured in fixed plots at five reefs as part of a long-term experiment designed to evaluate the effects of disturbance to giant kelp on the structure and productivity of the benthic community. Taxon-specific relationships between size and mass were applied to field measurements of species abundance to estimate biomass density of each species. The five reefs (Arroyo Quemado 34°28.048’N, 120°07.031’W; Carpinteria 34°23.474’N, 119°32.510’W; Isla Vista 34°23.275’N, 119°32.792’W; Mohawk 34°23.649’N, 119°43.762’W; and Naples 34° 25.342’N, 119° 57.102’W) ranged in depth from 5.8 m to 8.9 m (MLLW) and were chosen to represent a range of physical and biological characteristics known to influence subtidal macroalgal assemblages in the region. A common (but not always persistent) feature on these reefs was the presence of the giant kelp, which forms a dense canopy at the sea surface that suppresses recruitment and growth of understory algae below it. See Methods for more information. The primary research objective of the Santa Barbara Coastal LTER is to investigate the importance of land and ocean processes in structuring giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera ) forest ecosystems. As in many temperate regions, the shallow rocky reefs in the Santa Barbara Channel, California, are dominated by giant kelp forests. Because of their close proximity to shore, kelp forests are influenced by physical and biological processes occurring on land as well as in the open ocean. SBC LTER research foc

openCC (other)Oct 2021View details →
edi52/100

SBC LTER: Reef: Annual time series of biomass for kelp forest species, ongoing since 2000 (Reformatted to the ecocomDP Design Pattern)

This data package is formatted as an ecocomDP (Ecological Community Data Pattern). For more information on ecocomDP see https://github.com/EDIorg/ecocomDP. This Level 1 data package was derived from the Level 0 data package found here: https://pasta.lternet.edu/package/metadata/eml/knb-lter-sbc/50/10. The abstract below was extracted from the Level 0 data package and is included for context: These data are annual estimates of biomass of approximately 225 taxa of reef algae, invertebrates and fish in permanent transects at 11 kelp forest sites in the Santa Barbara Channel (2-8 transects per site). Abundance is measured annually (as percent cover or density, by size) and converted to biomass (i.e., wet mass, dry mass, decalcified dry mass, ash free dry mass) using published taxon-specific algorithms. Data collection began in summer 2000 and continues annually in summer to provide information on community structure, population dynamics and species change. The time period of data collection varied among the 11 kelp forest sites. Sampling at BULL, CARP, and NAPL began in 2000, sampling at the other 6 mainland sites (AHND, AQUE, IVEE, GOLB, ABUR, MOHK) began in 2001 (transects 3, 5, 6, 7, 8 at IVEE were added in 2011). Data collection at the two Santa Cruz Island sites (SCTW and SCDI) began in 2004. See Methods for more information. See Methods for more information. The primary research objective of the Santa Barbara Coastal LTER is to investigate the importance of land and ocean processes in structuring giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera ) forest ecosystems. As in many temperate regions, the shallow rocky reefs in the Santa Barbara Channel, California, are dominated by giant kelp forests. Because of their close proximity to shore, kelp forests are influenced by physical and biological processes occurring on land as well as in the open ocean. SBC LTER research focuses on measuring and modeling the patterns, transport, and processing of material constituents (e.g., nutrients

openCC (other)Oct 2021View details →
edi52/100

MCR LTER: Coral Reef: Long-term Population and Community Dynamics: Fishes, ongoing since 2005 (Reformatted to a Darwin Core Archive)

This data package is formatted as a Darwin Core Archive (DwC-A, event core). For more information on Darwin Core see https://www.tdwg.org/standards/dwc/. This Level 2 data package was derived from the Level 1 data package found here: https://pasta.lternet.edu/package/metadata/eml/edi/125/2, which was derived from the Level 0 data package found here: https://pasta.lternet.edu/package/metadata/eml/knb-lter-mcr/6/58. The abstract below was extracted from the Level 0 data package and is included for context: These data describe the species abundance and size distributions of fishes surveyed as part of MCR LTER's annual reef fish monitoring program. This study began in 2005 and the dataset is updated annually. The abundances of all mobile taxa of fishes (Scarids, Labrids, Acanthurids, Serranids, etc.) observed on a five by fifty meter transect which extends from the bottom to the surface of the water column are recorded by a diver using SCUBA. The diver then swims back along a one by fifty meter section of the original transect line and records the abundances of all non-mobile or cryptic taxa of fishes (Pomacentids, Gobiids, Cirrhitids, Holocentrids etc). Surveys are conducted between 0900 and 1600 hours (Moorea time) during late July or early August each year. In 2006, divers also began to estimate the size (length) of each fish observed to the nearest half cm. Four replicate transects are surveyed in each of six locations on the forereef (two on each of Moorea's three sides), six locations on the backreef (two on each of Moorea's three sides) and on six locations on the fringing reef (two on each of Moorea's three sides) for a total of 72 individual transects. Transects are permanently marked using a series of small, stainless steel posts affixed to the reef. Transects on the forereef are located at a depth of approximately 12m, those on the backreef are located at a depth of approximately 1.5m and those on the fringing reef are located at a depth of approximately 10m.

openCC (other)Aug 2021View details →
edi52/100

MCR LTER: Coral Reef: Long-term Population and Community Dynamics: Corals, ongoing since 2005 (Reformatted to a Darwin Core Archive)

This data package is formatted as a Darwin Core Archive (DwC-A, event core). For more information on Darwin Core see https://www.tdwg.org/standards/dwc/. This Level 2 data package was derived from the Level 1 data package found here: https://pasta.lternet.edu/package/metadata/eml/edi/277/3, which was derived from the Level 0 data package found here: https://pasta.lternet.edu/package/metadata/eml/knb-lter-mcr/4/38. The abstract below was extracted from the Level 0 data package and is included for context: This dataset contains the percentage cover of the stony corals (Scleractinia) and other major groups analyzed from 0.5 x 0.5 m photographic quadrats in several reef habitats at the Moorea Coral Reef LTER, French Polynesia. This survey has been repeated annually in April since 2005. There are two tables available, providing different views of the same data: a long table having all values in one column and a wide table having a separate column for each dependent variable. Functional groups (i.e., dependent variables) counted are: Scleractinian Corals (by genus where appropriate, see methods), Macroalgae, Crustose Coralline Algae / Bare Space, Soft Corals, Hydrocorals (Millepora), Algal Turf and Sand. The coral community was sampled photographically in all habitats surrounding the island: Fringing Reef, Lagoon (Backreef), and Outer Reef (Forereef.) The sampling regime consists of a repeated-measures protocol in each habitat, and is structured by habitat to allow a statistical contrast of sites, shores, times, and in the case of the outer reef, depths. Detailed methods are available in the protocols section. This material is based upon work supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation under Grant No. OCE 16-37396 (and earlier awards) as well as a generous gift from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. Research was completed under permits issued by the French Polynesian Government (Délégation à la Recherche) and the Haut-commissariat de la République en Polynésie

openCC (other)Aug 2021View details →
edi52/100

MCR LTER: Coral Reef: Long-term Population and Community Dynamics: Benthic Algae and Other Community Components, ongoing since 2005 (Reformatted to a Darwin Core Archive)

This data package is formatted as a Darwin Core Archive (DwC-A, event core). For more information on Darwin Core see https://www.tdwg.org/standards/dwc/. This Level 2 data package was derived from the Level 1 data package found here: https://pasta.lternet.edu/package/metadata/eml/edi/279/2, which was derived from the Level 0 data package found here: https://pasta.lternet.edu/package/metadata/eml/knb-lter-mcr/8/32. The abstract below was extracted from the Level 0 data package and is included for context: Coral reefs are comprised of scleractinian corals and many other benthic organims. The sampling described here quantifies the relative abundances of corals (aggregate abundance) and the other major benthic components including algal turfs, macroalgae, crustose corallines, and other sessile invertebrates. Abundance is estimated yearly at each of 6 sites (2 per shore) around the island. At each site, and in each of 4 habitats (fringing reef, backreef, forereef 10-m depth, forereef 17-m depth), 5 permanent 10-m long transects have been established and abundance estimates are made at fixed positions along each transect (n=10, 0.25 m2 quadrats per transect) allowing a repeated measures statistical analysis for the detection of temporal trends. This material is based upon work supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation under Grant No. OCE 16-37396 (and earlier awards) as well as a generous gift from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. Research was completed under permits issued by the French Polynesian Government (Délégation à la Recherche) and the Haut-commissariat de la République en Polynésie Francaise (DTRT) (Protocole d'Accueil 2005-2020). This work represents a contribution of the Moorea Coral Reef (MCR) LTER Site.

openCC (other)Aug 2021View details →
edi52/100

MCR LTER: Coral Reef: Long-term Community Dynamics: Backreef (Lagoon) Corals Annual Survey, ongoing since 2005 (Reformatted to a Darwin Core Archive)

This data package is formatted as a Darwin Core Archive (DwC-A, event core). For more information on Darwin Core see https://www.tdwg.org/standards/dwc/. This Level 2 data package was derived from the Level 1 data package found here: https://pasta.lternet.edu/package/metadata/eml/edi/321/3, which was derived from the Level 0 data package found here: https://pasta.lternet.edu/package/metadata/eml/knb-lter-mcr/1038/10. The abstract below was extracted from the Level 0 data package and is included for context: This dataset contains the percentage cover of all stony corals (Scleractinia, pooled among genera) and other major groups analyzed from 0.5 x 0.5 m photographic quadrats at the Backreef habitat at the Moorea Coral Reef LTER, French Polynesia. This survey time series began in 2005 and is repeated each year in April. Functional groups counted are: Scleractinian corals, Macroalgae, Crustose Coralline Algae / Bare Space, Soft Corals, Hydrocorals (Millepora), Algal Turf and Sand. The coral community was sampled photographically in all represented habitats surrounding the island: Fringing Reef, Lagoon, and Outer Reef. This dataset contains only Lagoon (Backreef) data (see knb-lter-mcr.4 for the other habitats) and is structured in a repeated-measures protocol to allow a statistical contrast of sites, shores and times. Community structure was determined through a coarse analysis of the benthic community, initially completed in situ (2005), but using photoquadrats from 2006. There are quadrats analyzed at each of five areas within each site, and the areas are revisited (but not the quadrats) each year to support the repeated measures design. There are two tables available, providing different views of the same data: a long table having all values in one column and a wide table having a separate column for each observed object. Detailed methods are available in the protocols section. This material is based upon work supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation under

openCC (other)Aug 2021View details →
edi52/100

MCR LTER: Coral Reef: Population Dynamics: Symbiodinium population initial sampling conditions in corals of Moorea

These data consist of sample collection locations and conditions only, not the results of sequencing. These data were an initial collection of an expected time series which was not repeated. Clade data derived from the sample collection described here are archived on GeoSymbio. Coral are symbiotic with photosynthetic dinoflagellates from the genus Symbiodinium. There are eight divergent clades (A-H) within the genus which each contain many genetic varieties. Different types of Symbiodinium have been shown to affect the growth rate and thermal tolerance of the coral. The diversity and population structure of Symbiodinium on a reef and how it changes over time is therefore critical to the stability and resilience of coral reefs. Our research conducted through the MCR LTER project aims at defining the population structure of Symbiodinium present in the corals of Moorea and documenting changes over time. This material is based upon work supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation under Grant No. OCE 16-37396 (and earlier awards) as well as a generous gift from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. Research was completed under permits issued by the French Polynesian Government (Délégation à la Recherche) and the Haut-commissariat de la République en Polynésie Francaise (DTRT) (Protocole d'Accueil 2005-2022). This work represents a contribution of the Moorea Coral Reef (MCR) LTER Site.

openCustomMar 2022View details →
edi52/100

MCR LTER: Coral Reef: Long-term Community Dynamics: Backreef (Lagoon) Corals Annual Survey, ongoing since 2005

This dataset contains the percentage cover of all stony corals (Scleractinia, pooled among genera) and other major groups analyzed from 0.5 x 0.5 m photographic quadrats at the Backreef habitat at the Moorea Coral Reef LTER, French Polynesia. This survey time series began in 2005 and is repeated each year in April. Functional groups counted are: Scleractinian corals, Macroalgae, Crustose Coralline Algae / Bare Space, Soft Corals, Hydrocorals ( Millepora ), Algal Turf and Sand. The coral community was sampled photographically in all represented habitats surrounding the island: Fringing Reef, Lagoon, and Outer Reef. This dataset contains only Lagoon (Backreef) data (see knb-lter-mcr.4 for the other habitats) and is structured in a repeated-measures protocol to allow a statistical contrast of sites, shores and times. Community structure was determined through a coarse analysis of the benthic community, initially completed in situ (2005), but using photoquadrats from 2006. There are quadrats analyzed at each of five areas within each site, and the areas are revisited (but not the quadrats) each year to support the repeated measures design. There are two tables available, providing different views of the same data: a long table having all values in one column and a wide table having a separate column for each observed object. Detailed methods are available in the protocols section.

openCC (other)Apr 2025View details →
edi52/100

MCR LTER: Coral Reef: Long-term Population Dynamics of Acanthaster planci, ongoing since 2005

These data describe the abundance of Acanthaster planci, Crown of Thorns Sea stars, surveyed as part of MCR LTER's annual reef fish monitoring program. This study began in 2005 and the dataset is updated annually. The abundances of A. planci observed on a five-by-fifty meter transect are recorded by a diver using SCUBA. Surveys are conducted between 0900 and 1600 hours (Moorea time) during late July or early August each year. Four replicate transects are surveyed in each of three habitats (forereef, backreef, and fringing reef) at six locations, two on each of Moorea's three sides, on the forereef, six locations on the backreef (two on each of Moorea's three sides for a total of 72 individual transects. Transects are permanently marked using a series of small, stainless steel posts affixed to the reef. Transects on the forereef are located at a depth of approximately 12m, those on the backreef are located at a depth of approximately 1.5m and those on the fringing reef are located at a depth of approximately 10m. This monitoring program is consistent with the protocols adopted by the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network and the Australian Institute of Marine Science for use with the Great Barrier Reef Long-term Monitoring Program. This material uses data collected by the U.S. National Science Foundation's (NSF) Moorea Coral Reef Long Term Ecological Research (MCR LTER) site under Grant No. OCE 2224354 (and earlier awards). Additional financial support to the MCR LTER site was provided through a generous gift from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. Research was completed under permits issued by the French Polynesian Government (Délégation à la Recherche) and the Haut-commissariat de la République en Polynésie Francaise (DTRT) (Protocole d'Accueil 2005-2024). These data from the years 2005-2010 were published in: Adam, T.C., R.J. Schmitt, S.J. Holbrook, A.J. Brooks, P.J. Edmunds, R.C. Carpenter and G. Bernardi. 2011. Herbivory, connectivity, and ecosystem resilienc

openCC (other)Dec 2024View details →
edi52/100

MCR LTER: Coral Reef: Temperature and Salinity subset of moorings FOR01, FOR04 and FOR05 from 2005-2014

This dataset is derived as a subset from three separate much larger more complex datasets: knb-lter-mcr.30, knb-lter-mcr.31, and knb-lter-mcr.32. Sampling began in 2005 and continues (as of 2019) for those time series. This dataset knb-lter-mcr.1040 was an experimental workflow that ended with 2014 data. Moored instrumentation measures water temperature and salinity year-round on the forereef of Moorea, French Polynesia at sites FOR01, FOR04 and FOR05 on the forereef of the north, east, and west shores, respectively. Data are interpolated onto a 20 minute grid. The two moored CTD packages are located approximately 5 and 14 meters above the bottom, and there are up to 5 additional temperature thermistors spaced vertically along the mooring line. This material is based upon work supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation under Grant No. OCE 16-37396 (and earlier awards) as well as a generous gift from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. Research was completed under permits issued by the French Polynesian Government (Délégation à la Recherche) and the Haut-commissariat de la République en Polynésie Francaise (DTRT) (Protocole d'Accueil 2005-2018). This work represents a contribution of the Moorea Coral Reef (MCR) LTER Site.

openCC (other)Mar 2014View details →
edi52/100

MCR LTER: Coral Reef: Water Column microbial community data in lagoons of Moorea, French Polynesia

Microbes process a significant fraction of organic material in marine systems, and the composition and activity of their communities are strongly modulated by fluctuations in nutrient availability. To investigate the distribution and dynamics of microbial communities in tropical lagoon ecosystems, bacteria and archaea were quantified from water column samples collected in lagoons around Moorea, French Polynesia during May 2021, April 2022, and April 2023 using eDNA sequencing. Environmental DNA was extracted and sequenced to assess microbial community composition, with data processed using the QIIME 2 platform (version 2023.7). Microbial communities in fringing reef habitats differed from those in mid-lagoon and back reef sites. These differences in microbial communities were related to patterns of water column nutrients and fluorescent dissolved organic matter, providing a baseline for understanding how lagoon microbial communities respond to spatial and temporal variability in reef environments.

openCC (other)Sep 2025View details →
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MCR LTER: Coral Reef: Rates of benthic coral reef community metabolism from 2007 ongoing

Rates of community primary production and respiration can be calculated from the data presented here. For two sites on the north shore of Moorea, these measurements are sampled upstream and downstream: dissolved oxygen, water column velocity (speed and direction), in situ light (PAR) levels, incident solar radiation, temperature, wind speed, and transect length. Estimates are made yearly across approximately 160 m of the backreef community. This material uses data collected by the U.S. National Science Foundation's (NSF) Moorea Coral Reef Long Term Ecological Research (MCR LTER) site under Grant No. OCE 2224354 (and earlier awards). Additional financial support to the MCR LTER site was provided through a generous gift from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. Research was completed under permits issued by the French Polynesian Government (Délégation à la Recherche) and the Haut-commissariat de la République en Polynésie Francaise (DTRT) (Protocole d'Accueil 2005-2024).

openCC (other)Sep 2024View details →
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MCR LTER: Coral Reef: Macroalgal CHN, ongoing since 2005

Samples of two common macroalgal species (Sargassum mangarevense, Turbinaria ornata) are collected yearly from fringing, backreef, and reef crest sites at each of the sites (LTER 1 through LTER 6) around Moorea. CHN analyses of dried, ground samples of each individual are made using standard methods. CHN data are used to track sustained variation in nutrient availability. Water column nutrients in coral reef systems usually are low to undetectable and their inputs tend to be episodic and ephemeral. Using CHN contents of macroalgae allows the integration of nitrogen availability over a longer time period, in this case, over approximately 3 months.

openCC (other)Jun 2025View details →
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MCR LTER: Coral Reef: Material legacy disturbance type model; data for Kopecky et al., 2023 Ecology

This data package contains the code necessary to create a mathematical model of coral reef recovery dynamics following different types and intensities of disturbances that either remove dead coral skeletons (e.g., tropical storms) or leave standing dead skeletons (e.g., coral bleaching) and run associated analyses. We explored the sensitivity of the model to variation in key parameters, such as the strength of herbivory, and the degree to which dead skeletons protect algae from herbivory. Further, we assessed disturbance intensities and values of these parameters that lead to shifts between coral and macroalgae-dominated reefs. This code was published in Ecology and were a part of the thesis of K. Kopecky (2023). Analyses and full methods descriptions of this model can be found in the manuscript “Material legacies can degrade resilience: Structure-retaining disturbances promote regime shifts on coral reefs” (DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/ecy.4006). No novel data were used or generated in this study. This manuscript uses data collected by the U.S. National Science Foundation's (NSF) Moorea Coral Reef Long Term Ecological Research (MCR LTER) site under Grant No. OCE 2224354 (and earlier awards). Additional financial support to the MCR LTER site was provided through a generous gift from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. Research was completed under permits issued by the French Polynesian Government (Délégation à la Recherche) and the Haut-commissariat de la République en Polynésie Francaise (DTRT) (Protocole d'Accueil 2005-2023).

openCC (other)Sep 2023View details →

ScienceDex guides

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These curated guides explain access requirements, typical timelines, costs, and reuse considerations for widely used research datasets.

Compare curated datasets

Allen Brain Atlas

Allen Brain Atlas is an Allen Institute collection of brain map atlases, datasets, APIs, and analysis tools covering mouse, human, and non-human primate brain resources.

allen-brain-atlas
neuroscienceopenDocumentation, web resources, and API references are available online.
Last verified 2026-04-30Open record

Annotated Behaviour and Observability Dataset (ABODe)

ABODe is a University of Edinburgh DataShare dataset for behavior classification in group-housed mice using home-cage video, identities, bounding boxes, ground-plate positions, and annotator labels.

abode-home-cage
behavioral-neuroscienceopenThe DataShare record exposes download links for annotations, documentation, license text, and the zipped per-snippet data directory.
Last verified 2026-04-30Open record

DANDI Archive for NWB datasets

DANDI is a BRAIN Initiative archive for publishing and sharing neurophysiology data, including electrophysiology, optophysiology, and behavioral data packaged as NWB and related standards.

dandi-nwb
electrophysiologyopenPublished Dandiset metadata and archive endpoints are available through the production DANDI API.
Last verified 2026-04-30Open record

International Brain Laboratory public data

The International Brain Laboratory public data releases expose standardized mouse decision-making experiments, including Neuropixels recordings, widefield calcium imaging, behavior, and session metadata accessed through the ONE API.

ibl
behavioral-neuroscienceopenPublic sessions can be searched and loaded from the IBL public data server through ONE.
Last verified 2026-04-29Open record

OpenNeuro

OpenNeuro is a free, open platform for sharing neuroimaging datasets, with public search, dataset pages, and download paths for web, S3, DataLad, and the OpenNeuro CLI.

openneuro
neuroscienceopenPublished datasets are available on demand over the internet.
Last verified 2026-04-29Open record