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    • Behavior of parrotfishes (Labridae, Scarinae) in St. Croix from 2015-07-06 to 2015-07-26 (NCEI Accession 0157087)

    Metadata Updated: November 1, 2025

    To better understand the functional roles of parrotfishes on coral reefs in the Caribbean this project documented the foraging behavior and diets of six species of parrotfishes (Scarus taeniopterus, Scarus vetula, Sparisoma aurofrenatum, Sparisoma chrysopterum, Sparisoma rubripinne, Sparisoma viride) at three locations (Long Reef, Cane Bay, and Buck Island) on the north shore of St. Croix, U. S. Virgin Islands. To quantify parrotfish behavior, approximately six individuals of each species were observed at each site for 20 min each. Foraging behavior was recorded by a SCUBA diver while towing a GPS receiver (Garmin GPS 72) attached to a surface float, which obtained position fixes of the focal fish at 15 s intervals. Fish were followed from a close distance (~ 2 m when possible), and food items were identified to the lowest taxonomic level possible, with macroalgae and coral usually identified to genus or species. Many bites involved scraping or excavating substrate colonized by a multi-species assemblage of filamentous “turf” algae and crustose coralline algae (CCA). Thus, multiple species of filamentous algae, endolithic algae, and CCA could be harvested in a single bite, and it was impossible to determine the specific species of algae targeted. We also recorded the type of substrate targeted during each foraging bout, categorizing each substrate as one of the following: (1) dead coral, (2) coral pavement, (3) boulder, (4) rubble, (5) ledge, or (6) sand. In order to quantify the relative abundance of different substrates and food types, we estimated the percent cover of algae, coral, and other sessile invertebrates on each of the six substrates commonly targeted by parrotfishes (dead coral, coral pavement, boulder, rubble, ledge, and sand) in 0.5 m x 0.5 m photoquadrats. Photographs were taken at 2.5 m intervals on 30 m transects, with a total of 10 haphazardly placed transects sampled at each site. Each photoquadrat was divided into sixteen 12 cm x 12 cm sections which were individually photographed, and percent cover was estimated from 9 stratified random points per section (N = 144 point per quadrat).

    Access & Use Information

    License: No license information was provided. If this work was prepared by an officer or employee of the United States government as part of that person's official duties it is considered a U.S. Government Work.

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    Dates

    Metadata Date 2025-04-20T18:11:26Z
    Metadata Created Date December 4, 2020
    Metadata Updated Date November 1, 2025
    Reference Date(s) December 20, 2016 (publication)
    Frequency Of Update asNeeded

    Metadata Source

    Harvested from NOAA/NESDIS/ncei/accessions

    Other Data Resources

    Graphic Preview

    Preview graphic

    Additional Metadata

    Resource Type Dataset
    Metadata Date 2025-04-20T18:11:26Z
    Metadata Created Date December 4, 2020
    Metadata Updated Date November 1, 2025
    Reference Date(s) December 20, 2016 (publication)
    Responsible Party (Point of Contact)
    Contact Email
    Guid gov.noaa.nodc:0157087
    Access Constraints Cite as: Adam, Thomas C.; Ruttenberg, Benjamin I.; Roycroft, Madelyn (2016). Behavior of parrotfishes (Labridae, Scarinae) in St. Croix from 2015-07-06 to 2015-07-26 (NCEI Accession 0157087). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0157087. Accessed [date]., Use liability: NOAA and NCEI cannot provide any warranty as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of furnished data. Users assume responsibility to determine the usability of these data. The user is responsible for the results of any application of this data for other than its intended purpose.
    Bbox East Long -64.608
    Bbox North Lat 17.787
    Bbox South Lat 17.759
    Bbox West Long -64.813
    Coupled Resource
    Frequency Of Update asNeeded
    Graphic Preview Description Preview graphic
    Graphic Preview File https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/metadata/landing-page/bin/gfx?id=gov.noaa.nodc:0157087
    Graphic Preview Type PNG
    Harvest Object Id 25fb05e3-c5ad-4e88-a563-010ff23a15d8
    Harvest Source Id c084a438-6f6b-470d-93e0-16aeddb9f513
    Harvest Source Title NOAA/NESDIS/ncei/accessions
    Licence accessLevel: Public
    Lineage
    Metadata Language eng
    Metadata Type geospatial
    Old Spatial {"type": "Polygon", "coordinates": [[[-64.813, 17.759], [-64.608, 17.759], [-64.608, 17.787], [-64.813, 17.787], [-64.813, 17.759]]]}
    Progress completed
    Spatial Data Service Type
    Spatial Reference System
    Spatial Harvester True
    Temporal Extent Begin 2015-07-06
    Temporal Extent End 2015-07-26

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