Northern CA PPSR Projects 1

REEF Invertebrate and Algae Monitoring Programs

• Organization Name

  REEF
• Project Website

  http://www.reef.org/programs/invertebrate
• Organization Website

  http://www.reef.org/
• Partners

  Living Oceans Society
• Contact Name

  Christy Pattengill-Semmens, Ph.D., Director of Science, REEF Pacific Office San Diego,
• Contact Email

  christy@reef.org
• Contact Phone

  N / A
• Other Contact Information

  reefhq@reef.org

• Project Purpose (taken from project materials)

  to collect and report information on selected invertebrate and algae species along the West Coast of the US and Canada - invertebrates and algae can serve as valuable indicators of the health and status of local environments.
  

• Participant Activities

  Invertebrates are monitored using the same Roving Diver Technique (RDT) survey method used in REEF fish surveys.  The RDT is a visual survey method specifically designed for volunteer data. During the survey dive, the surveyor swims freely throughout a dive site and records the presence of all fish species and/or each of the invertebrate/algae species included in the program that are encountered and that can be positively identified.

• Data Entry

  • Website
  • Data Sheets
• Other Participant Activities

  Participation in other monitoring programs

• System Studied

  • Marine
• Geographic Scope

  Regional
• Region

  All (see 'geographic scope')
• Location

  Coastal California
• Location - Map

  N / A
• Time Commitment

  • Other (see Other Information below)
• Volunteer Qualifications

  Must be certified diver

• Volunteer Training

  Survey and training materials have been created that include information about the invertebrates and algae included, including image-based training curricula ("Introduction to Identification of Pacific Northwest Invertebrates" and "Introduction to Invertebrates and Algae in California").  Waterproof survey paper that lists both fish and invertebrates is available as well as color identification cards.  All of these materials are available through our online store or from REEF HQ.
  There is also an online tutorial for data submission 

• Cost to Participant

  Survey equipment must be purchased and is available from the REEF online store.

• How will the findings be used?

  The data is compiled with other surveys into a batch, which gets processed every few weeks. Not only does it go through computer quality control error checks, but REEF personnel review the data before the batch is passed into  REEF's accessible online database. From this database, a variety of reports can be generated on species distribution and population trends, for a specific site or region. 
  As the invertebrate and algae database grows, the data will be useful in a variety of management and conservation applications.

• Other Information

  REEF surveys are conducted as part of a diver's regular diving activities; anytime they are in the water.

• Photo

  N / A
• last update:

  N / A