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Making It Count – October 2010
Putting it to Work: Who’s Using REEF Data
By Christy Pattengill-Semmens, Director of Science
| Every month, scientists, government agencies, and other groups request raw data from REEF’s Fish Survey Project database. Here is a sampling of who has asked for REEF data recently and what they are using it for:- A biologist from Fisheries and Oceans Canada is evaluating fish and invertebrate populations in Race Rocks outside of Victoria BC, in preparation for the establishment of a Marine Protected Area.- A researcher at the University of Texas is conducting a large-scale study of evolutionary ecology in Caribbean reef fishes using REEF data and other publically available sources of morphological and phylogenetic data. – A scientist from the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission is conducting an analysis on goliath grouper populations for a NOAA Fisheries stock assessment.
– A researcher from University of East Anglia is using the entire REEF Caribbean dataset to conduct a large-scale analysis of species diversity. |
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The Faces of REEF: Member Spotlight
By Sasha Medlen, REEF Membership Coordinator
| REEF members are at the heart of our grassroots marine conservation programs. Over 40,000 divers, snorkelers, students, and armchair naturalists stand behind our mission.This month we highlight Pam Wade (member since 1998). Pam lives in California and has 381 REEF surveys under her belt as a level 4 surveyor. Through REEF, Pam’s interest in fishwatching has encouraged her not only to dive more, but to explore the world’s oceans in other regions. Earlier this month, Pam was on a REEF Field Survey in the Sea of Cortez with REEF scientists, Drs. Christy and Brice Semmens. Here’s what Pam had to say about diving with REEF:What is your favorite thing about being a REEF member? When you join REEF you have the opportunity to do more than … |
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Outstanding in their Field: Featured REEF Field Station
By Janna Nichols, REEF Outreach Coordinator
| REEF is proud to partner with over 130 dive shops, dive clubs, individuals and other organizations as REEF Field Stations.This month we feature Naknek Charters and Diving, based in Friday Harbor on San Juan Island in Washington State. They became a REEF Field Station in October of 2008. Owners Kurt and Peggy Long first got involved with REEF about 10 years ago when they were on a liveaboard dive charter in the British Virgin Islands, and took an onboard REEF Fish ID class. Since then, Kurt has gone on to submit many surveys and has advanced up to REEF Level 5, and is now on the Pacific NW Advanced Assessment Team. One of the reasons that they became a Field Station was because they were very interested in educating divers and the public in general about the wonderful critters that live under the water.. |
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Reports from the Field: October 2010
By REEF Staff
| Field Surveys – Eighteen REEF members joined Drs. Christy and Brice Semmens earlier this month on a Field Survey to the Sea of Cortez aboard the Rocio del Mar live-aboard. The team conducted over 300 surveys in 20 locations around the Midriff Islands, many of which were new to the REEF database. It was a great trip, with 130 species of fish found, beautiful topside scenery, and pods of sperm and pilot whales! Find out more about REEF Trips.Lionfish Derby – The second of three lionfish round-ups in the Florida Keys was held last week off Marathon (FL). During this one-day event, several teams participated to collect this voracious predator off local reefs. The third derby is scheduled for November 13 in Key West. Find out more about REEF’s Lionfish Program. |
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Top of the Charts: Survey Stats
By REEF Staff
| Current Most Active SurveyorsConducted the most surveys in the last three months:Tropical Western Atlantic (TWA) – Peter Leahy (169), Michael Phelan (67), Dave Grenda (48)Northeast US and Canada (NE) – Jason Feick (9), John Feehan (8), Michael MacDonald (7)
West Coast US and Canada (PAC) – Rhoda Green (36), Jan Kocian (34), Betty Bastai (31) Tropical Eastern Pacific (TEP) – Carol Cline (16), Daniel Richards (12), Gerald Winkel (3) Hawaiian Islands (HAW) – Don Judy (41), Rick Long (34), Flo Bahr (23) To date, 140,234 surveys have been conducted by REEF volunteers. Visit www.REEF.org/db/stats to see the Top 10 surveyors with the most surveys conducted to date, the most species-rich locations, and most frequently sighted fish species. |
 An arrow blenny is a great find during a Caribbean survey. Photo by Doug Champion.
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