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Characterization of Fish Communities and Associated Benthic Habitats in the St. Thomas East End Reserves (STEER)
Author(s): Bauer, L.J., J. Vander Pluym, C.F.G. Jeffrey, C. Caldow, A.M. Hoffman, and A.V. Uhrin
NCCOS Center: CCMA
Center Team: Biogeography
Publication Type: NOAA Technical Memoranda
Date of Publication: 2014
Reference Information:
Keywords: STEER, St. Thomas, St. Thomas East End Reserves. coral, USVI, Caribbean, fish communities, shellfish, Benthic Habitats, marin habitat, coral habitat, coral reef, mangrove, turf algae, marine ecosystem, recreation, commercial resource, watershed, non-point pollution, NOAA
Abstract: AbstractLocated at the southeastern end of St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin areas outside the STEER boundaries that were of interest to Islands (USVI), the St. Thomas East End Reserves (STEER) is natural resource managers. The surveys of benthic habitats, a collection of several existing protected areas, including Cas fi sh communities, marine debris and macroinvertebratesCay/Mangrove Lagoon, St. James, and Compass Point Salt were conducted within 25x4 m transects (100 m2) along a Pond Marine Reserves and Wildlife Sanctuaries (MRWS). The random heading. marine areas of the STEER include a diverse array of habitats, including coral reefs, lagoons, seagrass beds, and mangrove Turf algae dominated the biotic composition of hardbottom forests, which support numerous fi sh and shellfi sh species. In sites, followed by macroalgae, hard (scleractinian) corals, addition, STEER is an important recreational and commercial sponges, cyanobacteria & fi lamentous algae, and softresource for the island of St. Thomas. The adjacent watershed corals (gorgonians). Hard coral cover averaged 5.2%,is considered highly impacted and urbanized, with numerous with the greatest coverage observed in the southern study sources of point and non-point pollution, leading to concerns area, particularly on the southwest reef tract near Longabout potential contamination and its effects on the marine Point. Mustard hill coral (Porites astreoides) was the most resources. To fi ll knowledge gaps and inform management of abundant species, followed by boulder star coral (Orbicella the STEER, several complimentary projects were developed annularis complex), lesser starlet coral (Siderastreain coordination with STEER’s Core Management Team, radians), symmetrical brain coral (Pseudodiploriaincluding an assessment of biological communities and strigosa), massive starlet coral (Siderastrea siderea), and chemical contamination within the STEER. fi nger coral (P. porites). Percent cover at mangrove andunconsolidated sediment locations was comprised mostlyIn support of this work, fi eld surveys were conducted in of seagrass and macroalgae, with smaller amounts of other June 2012 across coral reef, unconsolidated sediment and benthic fl ora and fauna. mangrove habitats to characterize the fi sh and benthic communities in the STEER marine ecosystem. Sites were Mangrove sites exhibited the highest mean total fi sh density, randomly selected within strata to ensure coverage of the whereas mean levels of biomass were highest on hardbottom. entire study region. A total of 80 sites were surveyed during Locations with both high density and biomass included sites the two-week fi eld mission, including nine in hardbottom on hardbottom adjacent to Cow and Calf Rocks, a patch reef southwest of Great St. James Island, a mangrove site near the false entrance to Mangrove Lagoon, and on the southwest reef tract near Long Point, outside the STEER boundary. Species composition varied across benthic habitats within the S
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