Biomass of herbivorous fishes of the Gulf of California

This data set integrates findings of 16 years (2005 to 2020) of collaborative monitoring efforts across multiple institutions in the Gulf of California.The data encompasses information of 13 species of marine herbivorous fishes belonging to five families: Acanthuridae, Girellidae, Kyphosidae, Pomacentridae and Scaridae. This database presents 884 records of biomass from 15,542 visual censuses assessed by scuba diving in 34 localities (comprising 268 rocky and coral reefs sites). Visual censuses consisted of belt transects (250 m2, 100 m2, and 60 m2) laid parallel to the coastline preserving a similar depth profiles. Along these transects, trained underwater monitors, identified the species, recorded the abundance of all the adult individuals of the 13 targeted species and visually estimated the total length (cm) of each fish. The information for each transect in the database, is presented as the biomass (grams per square meter), which was estimated based on the size per individual as well as the weight-length relationship for each species, available on the literature. In the database is also integrated the information of the latitude and longitude of each locality, type of management, localities in the Gulf of California, institutions, the initial and final year of data, total number of years, as well as the mean, standard deviation, sample size, slope (annual rate of change), probability value, standard error and minimum and maximum value calculated for each species within each locality. This dataset represents a historical reference point for the condition of the 13 species found in the Gulf of California. It can be used to perform evaluations of how herbivorous fish communities have changed over time and across different locations. This is particularly relevant due to the influence of global changes leading to tropicalization in the study area. Furthermore, this information holds significance as it supplies essential insights to those responsible for the management of protected zones in the Gulf and the broader eastern tropical Pacific region. communities have changed over time and across different locations. This is particularly relevant due to the influence of global changes leading to tropicalization in the study area. Furthermore, this information holds significance as it supplies essential insights to those responsible for the management of protected zones in the Gulf and the broader eastern tropical Pacific region.

本数据集整合了2005年至2020年共16年间加利福尼亚湾（Gulf of California）多机构协同监测工作的研究成果。数据涵盖隶属于5个科的13种海洋植食性鱼类：刺尾鱼科（Acanthuridae）、海鲫科（Girellidae）、舵鱼科（Kyphosidae）、雀鲷科（Pomacentridae）及鹦嘴鱼科（Scaridae）。该数据库包含34个采样点（涵盖268个岩礁与珊瑚礁生境）的15542次水下视觉普查所得到的884条生物量记录，所有普查均通过水肺潜水完成。视觉普查采用沿海岸线布设的带样线法（belt transects），样方面积分别为250㎡、100㎡与60㎡，并维持统一的深度剖面。在这些样线上，经过培训的水下监测人员会对13种目标鱼类的成体个体进行物种鉴定、丰度记录，并通过目视估算每条成鱼的总长度（单位：厘米）。数据库中每条样线的信息以生物量（克/平方米）的形式呈现，该值基于单条鱼的体长以及各物种已发表文献中的体重-体长关系估算得到。数据库同时整合了各采样点的经纬度、管理类型、加利福尼亚湾内的采样点信息、参与机构、数据采集的起始与终止年份、总监测年限，以及针对每个采样点内各物种计算得到的平均值、标准差、样本量、斜率（年变化速率）、概率值、标准误与最小值、最大值。本数据集为加利福尼亚湾内13种目标鱼类的种群现状提供了历史性参考基准，可用于评估植食性鱼类群落在不同时间与不同区域的变化情况。鉴于全球变化导致研究区域出现热带化趋势，该数据集的应用价值尤为突出。此外，本数据集可为加利福尼亚湾及更广范围东热带太平洋区域的保护区管理者提供关键的决策参考依据。