MCR LTER: Coral Reef Resilience: Benthic Dynamics on 5m by 5m Plots on the Forereef, ongoing since 2009

These data describe the dynamics of corals, invertebrates, and fishes on 5 m X 5 m
plots on the forereef following an outbreak of corallivorous crown-of-thorns
seastars (Acanthaster planci) that caused mass coral mortality (see Adam et al.
2011). Twenty plots were first established at Resilience 2 during July 2009. Half of
these plots were randomly assigned to a structure removal treatment and all dead
coral structure was removed by divers, while the other half remained unmanipulated.
Following the establishment of these plots, in February 2010 this site was impacted
strongly by tropical cyclone Oli with the result that most of the structure was
removed from all plots. Consequently, during July 2010, a structure/no structure
experiment was initiated on ten plots (5 removals and 5 controls) at a site not
impacted by Cyclone Oli (Resilience 3). Finally, during July 2011, five
unmanipulated plots were established at each of four additional sites (Resilience 1,
4, 5, 6) so that community trajectories could be compared among sites. Counts of
fishes, invertebrates, and corals are made regularily (at least annually). Coral and
invertebrate counts are each separated into two data tables to reflect slightly
different methodology. Initial coral counts included counts (and size estimates) of
all stony corals, while later counts focused on corals from three genera,
Pocillopora, Acropora, and Porites. Initial counts of invertebrates did not include
information on size; all invertebrates were measured in later counts. In addition to
in situ counts, all plots are photographed annually in 0.5 m by 0.5 m segments
(e.g., 100 photos per plot). *** This is an offline dataset (LTER Network Type II). Data may be made available
through arrangement with the dataset owner. ***