Fairy basslet censuses at control and experimental reefs near Lee Stocking Island, Bahamas from 2009-2012 (Lionfish Invasion project)

<p>This dataset contains counts of fairy basslet censused as part of a a controlled field experiment at reefs near Lee Stocking Island, Bahamas. (Part of sub-project titled, \"Lionfish effects on fairy basslet population dynamics\".)</p>

<p>To quantify to what extent patterns in prey mortality have changed since the arrival of lionfish, the investigators replicated an in situ field manipulation of prey density that was originally conducted prior to the invasion using the same study sites. A controlled field experiment was conducted at two reefs near Lee Stocking Island, Bahamas, inhabited by 16 local populations of fairy basslet: eight with artificially enhanced recruitment versus eight with natural recruitment. Ledges were paired by habitat structure and one ledge from each pair was randomly assigned to receive artificially increased density of new basslet recruits, with the other in each pair left as a control.</p>

本数据集收录了在巴哈马群岛李斯托金岛附近珊瑚礁开展的一项受控野外实验中，所统计的仙女拟雀鲷（fairy basslet）种群数量。该实验属于题为“蓑鲉（lionfish）对仙女拟雀鲷种群动态的影响”的子研究项目。

为量化评估蓑鲉入侵以来猎物死亡率模式的变化程度，研究团队利用相同的研究样地，复刻了入侵前开展的猎物密度原位野外操控实验。本次受控野外实验在巴哈马群岛李斯托金岛附近的两处珊瑚礁开展，涉及16个本地仙女拟雀鲷种群：其中8个种群为人工增强幼体补充组，另外8个为自然补充组。研究人员按栖息地结构对礁岩架进行配对，每对礁岩架中随机选取一个用于人工提升新生拟雀鲷幼体的种群密度，另一组则作为对照。