This protocol is an adaptation of the Essential Fish Habitat monitoring protocol used by Ted Maney, Dive Safety Officer and Diving Research Methods Instructor at Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts.
Materials for each team of 2 divers
30m vinyl and plastic transect tape marked with tape at 5m intervals.
Diving weight attached to the free end of the transect tape. *NOTE* tapes with metal components will rust in salt water.
PVC cylindrical dive slate fitted with rings of surgical tubing at either end to fit snugly on diver’s forearm.
Data sheets printed on waterproof paper or thin, semi-transparent mylar and attached in several layers to the dive slate with electrical tape.
Pencil (graphite or grease pencil) attached to dive slate with nylon cord.
1 meter square quadrat with a 25-point grid made of nylon cord, and marked along one side to show tenths of a meter.
Photos: Ted Maney, Dive Safety Officer and Diving Research Methods Instructor, Northeastern University.
Photos: Ted Maney, Dive Safety Officer and Diving Research Methods Instructor, Northeastern University.
Methods
Divers work in teams of two.
Before entering the water, record date, divers’ names, water temp and salinity, GPS location coordinates, time start, and nearest high tide time on data sheet.
1st diver carries the tape with diving weight, places the weighted end in a randomly chosen spot on the substrate, and swims out to the extent of the tape.
2nd diver carries the quadrat and the puts the dive slate on one forearm.
Record depth at start of transect at the weighted end of the tape.
Swim along tape, stopping at each 5m mark to lay down the quadrat, centered over the marker, and record abundance of each target species.
For colonial or solitary tunicate species, record the number of points (out of a total of 25) that fall directly over (or touch) a colony.
For algae species with distinct stems or mobile fauna, count the number of stems or organisms that fall within the entire quadrat at each 5m mark.
Record all substrate types present under each quadrat by circling the appropriate letter(s) on the data sheet.
Using the decimeter markers on one side of the quadrat, measure and record the size of the largest colonial tunicate colony in each quadrat.
Measure width of the largest colony of each colonial tunicate target species (measure at widest point).
If any part of a colony is touching or underneath the quadrat, it can be counted for this measurement.
Repeat until 2nd diver reaches the end of the quadrat.
Record depth at end of the transect.
1st diver swims back along the transect to roll up the tape.
Proceed to next transect location.
Pilot transects averaged 20 minutes or less in duration.
Lay out 25m transect tape along the bottom.
Drop one end to bottom and swim out deploying transect on surface to end (25m) and drop other end to bottom.
Use surface marker buoys to locate transect on bottom and record GPS coordinates of surveyed area.
Record depth of transect area, time, and date.
Swim down to one end of the transect.
At every 5m marker, lay down the quadrat and note substrate and presence/absence of target species under each of the 25 points of contact.
For solitary or colonial tunicates, count the number of points (out of 25) that intersect with a colony, or fall directly above a colony.
Substrate Key
sh = shell hash
a = algae
m = mud
s = sand
g = gravel
c = cobble
b = boulder
l = ledge
fg = fixed gear
mg = mobile gear
d = dock/pier
