MCR LTER: Coral Reef: Long-term Population Dynamics of Acanthaster planci, ongoing since 2005

These data describe the abundance of Acanthaster planci, Crown of Thorns Sea stars,
surveyed as part of MCR LTER's annual reef fish monitoring program. This study
began in 2005 and the dataset is updated annually. The abundances of A. planci observed on a five by
fifty meter transect are recorded by a diver using SCUBA.
Surveys are conducted between 0900 and 1600 hours (Moorea time) during late
July or early August each year. Four replicate transects are
surveyed in each of three habitats (forereef, backreef and fringing reef) at six locations, two on each of Moorea's three sides, on the forereef, six locations on the backreef (two on each of Moorea's three
sides for a total of 72 individual transects. Transects are permanently marked
using a series of small, stainless steel posts affixed to the reef. Transects on the
forereef are located at a depth of approximately 12m, those on the backreef are
located at a depth of approximately 1.5m and those on the fringing reef are located
at a depth of approximately 10m.
This monitoring program is consistent with the protocols adopted by the Global Coral
Reef Monitoring Network and the Australian Institute of Marine Science for use with
the Great Barrier Reef Long-term Monitoring Program. This material is based upon work supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation under
Grant No. OCE 16-37396 (and earlier awards) as well as a generous gift from the Gordon and
Betty Moore Foundation. Research was completed under permits issued by the French Polynesian
Government (Délégation à la Recherche) and the Haut-commissariat de la République en
Polynésie Francaise (DTRT) (Protocole d'Accueil 2005-2023). This work represents a
contribution of the Moorea Coral Reef (MCR) LTER Site. These data from years 2005-2010 were published in:
Adam, T.C., R.J. Schmitt, S.J. Holbrook, A.J. Brooks, P.J. Edmunds, R.C. Carpenter and G. Bernardi.
2011. Herbivory, connectivity and ecosystem resilience: response of a coral reef to a large-scale
perturbation. PLoS One 6(8): e23717 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0023717

本数据集记录了长棘海星（Acanthaster planci，又名棘冠海星）的丰度，相关调查作为莫雷阿珊瑚礁长期生态研究站点（MCR LTER）年度礁鱼监测项目的一部分开展。本研究始于2005年，数据集每年更新。
研究人员采用水肺潜水（SCUBA）的方式，在5×50米的样带上记录观测到的长棘海星丰度。调查于每年7月末至8月初的莫雷阿岛当地时间09:00至16:00之间进行。
本次调查覆盖前礁、后礁与岸礁3种生境，每种生境下设6个站位，每个站位布设4条重复样带；其中前礁的6个站位分布于莫雷阿岛三侧（每侧各2个），后礁的6个站位同样为莫雷阿岛三侧各2个，岸礁的6个站位遵循相同布设规则，最终总计72条独立样带。
所有样带均采用一系列小型不锈钢桩固定于礁体上以实现永久标记。前礁样带的布设水深约为12m，后礁样带约为1.5m，岸礁样带约为10m。
本监测方案与全球珊瑚礁监测网络（Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network）及澳大利亚海洋科学研究所（Australian Institute of Marine Science）针对大堡礁长期监测项目所采用的规范保持一致。
本研究工作得到美国国家科学基金会（Grant No. OCE 16-37396及此前资助项目）以及戈登与贝蒂·摩尔基金会的慷慨支持。研究开展获得了法属波利尼西亚政府（研究代表团）及法兰西共和国驻法属波利尼西亚高级专员公署（DTRT，2005-2023接待协议）签发的许可文件。
本成果属于莫雷阿珊瑚礁长期生态研究（MCR LTER）站点的贡献内容。
2005-2010年的相关数据集已发表于以下论文：
Adam TC, Schmitt RJ, Holbrook SJ, Brooks AJ, Edmunds PJ, Carpenter RC, Bernardi G. 2011. 植食作用、连通性与生态系统恢复力：珊瑚礁对大规模扰动的响应. PLoS ONE 6(8): e23717 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0023717