Fishery-independent Surveys of Queen Conch in St. Croix 2010-2011
We examined queen conch populations on the northeastern coast of St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, using a radial survey sampling technique with sample sites stratified by depth, habitat type, and management regime, encompassing both open and closed fishing areas. We completed 503 radial surveys and located 4773 conch, representing a cumulative density of approximately 302 conch per hectare. Densities of juvenile conch were highest in 5090 patchy seagrass beds in Buck Island Reef National Monument (BIRNM) due to high numbers of small 79 cm conch. Overall length frequencies showed a bimodal distribution, driven largely by juvenile conch found within the BIRNM. Length distributions by habitat were variable but showed a trend toward larger conch in reef, macroalgae, and sand habitats compared to a more even distribution in seagrass. Densities of adults were highest inside the BIRNM in 1050 patchy seagrass where several conch were observed mating and laying egg masses.
Resources
2 resources available
-
Full Metadata Record
TEXT/HTML -
GCMD Keyword Forum Page
TEXT/HTML
Find Related Datasets
Search by Tags
Click any tag below to search for similar datasets
Complete Metadata
| @type | dcat:Dataset |
|---|---|
| accessLevel | non-public |
| contactPoint |
{ "fn": "Baumer, Tim J", "@type": "vcard:Contact", "hasEmail": "mailto:tim.baumer@noaa.gov" } |
| describedByType | application/octet-steam |
| description | We examined queen conch populations on the northeastern coast of St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, using a radial survey sampling technique with sample sites stratified by depth, habitat type, and management regime, encompassing both open and closed fishing areas. We completed 503 radial surveys and located 4773 conch, representing a cumulative density of approximately 302 conch per hectare. Densities of juvenile conch were highest in 5090 patchy seagrass beds in Buck Island Reef National Monument (BIRNM) due to high numbers of small 79 cm conch. Overall length frequencies showed a bimodal distribution, driven largely by juvenile conch found within the BIRNM. Length distributions by habitat were variable but showed a trend toward larger conch in reef, macroalgae, and sand habitats compared to a more even distribution in seagrass. Densities of adults were highest inside the BIRNM in 1050 patchy seagrass where several conch were observed mating and laying egg masses. |
| distribution |
[ { "@type": "dcat:Distribution", "title": "Full Metadata Record", "accessURL": "https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/30682", "mediaType": "text/html", "description": "View the complete metadata record on InPort for more information about this dataset.", "describedByType": "application/octet-stream" }, { "@type": "dcat:Distribution", "title": "GCMD Keyword Forum Page", "accessURL": "https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords", "mediaType": "text/html", "description": "Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2026. GCMD Keywords, Version 24. Greenbelt, MD: Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). URL (GCMD Keyword Forum Page): https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD+Keywords", "describedByType": "application/octet-stream" } ] |
| identifier | https://data.noaa.gov/waf/NOAA/nmfs/sefsc/iso/xml/30682.xml |
| keyword |
[ "Queen Conch", "2010-2011", "St. Croix", "DOC/NOAA/NMFS/SEFSC > Southeast Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce", "Galveston Fisheries Ecology Projects" ] |
| landingPage | https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/30682 |
| language |
[]
|
| license | https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/ |
| modified | 2026-04-30T00:00:00.000+00:00 |
| publisher |
{ "name": "Southeast Fisheries Science Center", "@type": "org:Organization" } |
| rights | otherRestrictions, unclassified |
| spatial | -64.57,17.52,-64.7,17.81 |
| temporal | 2010-01-01T00:00:00+00:00/2011-01-01T00:00:00+00:00 |
| theme |
[ "geospatial" ] |
| title | Fishery-independent Surveys of Queen Conch in St. Croix 2010-2011 |
