Heron Island corallivory and coral fragment predation study

The dataset contains information of background and experimental corallivory evidence from multiple sites (n = 3) situated around Heron Reef (Southern Great Barrier).
At the beginning of the study, corallivore abundance surveys were conducted (n = 4 per site) to count the number of corallivorous fish present before coral fragments were deployed. Small coral colonies (<10 cm) were collected from the slope, fragmented into 2-5 cm pieces, acclimated in saltwater tanks on land, then redeployed back on the reef slope at each site. These racks of coral fragments were then monitored using GoPros and in-situ observations by SCUBA divers for eight consecutive days.
Photographs of 0.5 m x 0.5 m benthic quadrats were collected at each site (n = 20). Corallivore abundance surveys were repeated at each site (n = 4 per site) while the coral fragments were deployed. Lastly, corallivory transects (n = 4 per site) were also completed at each site to quantify the amount of corallivore evidence (i.e. bite scars) on the background reef. The data collected allows for the analysis of corallivore activity and predator electivity at the selected sites on Heron.

本数据集包含大堡礁南部赫伦礁周边3个采样点（n=3）的背景与实验性食珊瑚作用证据相关信息。
研究启动初期，在投放珊瑚断枝前，于每个采样点开展4次食珊瑚鱼类丰度调查，以统计样点内现存的食珊瑚鱼类数量。从礁坡采集体长小于10厘米的小型珊瑚群体，将其切割为2至5厘米的断枝，在陆地海水水槽中驯化后，重新投放至各采样点的礁坡区域。随后，通过GoPro相机与水肺潜水员的原位观测，对承载珊瑚断枝的支架进行连续8天的监测。
在每个采样点采集20组0.5米×0.5米底栖样方的照片。在珊瑚断枝投放期间，于每个采样点重复开展4次食珊瑚鱼类丰度调查。最后，于每个采样点完成4条食珊瑚生物样带调查，以量化背景礁体上食珊瑚生物活动痕迹（即咬痕）的数量。
本次采集的数据可用于分析赫伦礁选定采样点的食珊瑚生物活动与捕食者觅食选择性。