The Long-Term Monitoring at the East and West Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary 2002-2006 data include biological and oceanographic measurements collected to satisfy the MMS and NOAA contracts 1435-01-02-CT-85088 and 1435-01-04-CT-33137 through the monitoring year 2006. The Flower Garden Banks are located in the northwest Gulf of Mexico and are unique within the region. The Flower Garden Banks are coral reefs with biological assemblages typical of Caribbean coral reefs, including approximately 23 Caribbean scleractinian coral species, a low abundance and diversity of sponges, and reef fishes. These data are the result of yearly monitoring events and are used for comparison purposes required to complete technical reports and presentations. On the East and West Flower Garden Banks there are 100 m by 100m study sites within which monitoring is conducted every year. The data included in this submission are from these study sites and include the following: (1) random transect benthic cover data obtained using videography (2002-2006), still photographs (2002-2003) and linear point intercept observer data (2002-2003). Random transect data include the proportional cover of benthic components including coral species, sponges, algae, and other groups. (2) Sclerochronology data are taken during odd years to look at short-term (10 years) change in coral growth rates. (3) Photographs of marked Diploria strigosa colony margins are taken annually to track lateral growth or recession of colony margins over time. Data within this dataset start with comparisons between 2001 and 2002. (4) Repetitive 8m2 quadrat planimetry data follow specific coral colonies over time. Coral colonies are traced each year to measure lateral growth, loss, and/or replacement within a continuously monitored 8m2 area.

The Long-Term Monitoring at the East and West Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary 2002-2006 data include biological and oceanographic measurements collected to satisfy the MMS and NOAA contracts 1435-01-02-CT-85088 and 1435-01-04-CT-33137 through the monitoring year 2006. The Flower Garden Banks are located in the northwest Gulf of Mexico and are unique within the region. The Flower Garden Banks are coral reefs with biological assemblages typical of Caribbean coral reefs, including approximately 23 Caribbean scleractinian coral species, a low abundance and diversity of sponges, and reef fishes. These data are the result of yearly monitoring events and are used for comparison purposes required to complete technical reports and presentations. On the East and West Flower Garden Banks there are 100 m by 100m study sites within which monitoring is conducted every year. The data included in this submission are from these study sites and include the following: (1) random transect benthic cover data obtained using videography (2002-2006), still photographs (2002-2003) and linear point intercept observer data (2002-2003). Random transect data include the proportional cover of benthic components including coral species, sponges, algae, and other groups. (2) Sclerochronology data are taken during odd years to look at short-term (10 years) change in coral growth rates. (3) Photographs of marked Diploria strigosa colony margins are taken annually to track lateral growth or recession of colony margins over time. Data within this dataset start with comparisons between 2001 and 2002. (4) Repetitive 8m2 quadrat planimetry data follow specific coral colonies over time. Coral colonies are traced each year to measure lateral growth, loss, and/or replacement within a continuously monitored 8m2 area. Physical oceanographic data collected in association with this imagery is filed under NCEI Accession Number 0012632. These image data are in .TIF and .JPG format with video data in either .VOB or .AVI format with associated files.

This dataset contains raw and processed data from an annual long-term monitoring program documenting fish and benthic community observations, along with water quality measurements, at East Flower Garden Bank (EFGB) and West Flower Garden Bank (WFGB). These two sites are part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary (FGBNMS), located in the northwestern Gulf of America. Monitoring began in 1989 and is funded by FGBNMS and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, with support from the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation. EFGB and WFGB are coral reef-capped features that form part of a discontinuous arc of reef environments along the outer continental shelf. They rise from salt dome formations located approximately 190 km south of the Texas-Louisiana border and include habitats ranging from 16 to 166 meters in depth. The shallow bank caps lie within the photic zone and support diverse coral, algal, invertebrate, and fish communities, many of which are shared with Caribbean reef systems. Benthic community data are derived from benthic photo analysis using Coral Point Count with Excel extensions (CPCe). Fish surveys are conducted annually using a modified Bohnsack and Bannerot stationary point count method, and results are recorded in Excel spreadsheets. Water quality parameters (e.g., temperature, salinity, turbidity, nutrients) are obtained from moored conductivity-temperature-depth (CTD) instruments, water samples, and quarterly profiling of the water column. Temperature and salinity records are reduced to daily averages for long-term trend analysis.

The Long-Term Monitoring at the East and West Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary 2002-2006 data include biological and oceanographic measurements collected to satisfy the MMS and NOAA contracts 1435-01-02-CT-85088 and 1435-01-04-CT-33137 through the monitoring year 2006. The Flower Garden Banks are located in the northwest Gulf of Mexico and are unique within the region. The Flower Garden Banks are coral reefs with biological assemblages typical of Caribbean coral reefs, including approximately 23 Caribbean scleractinian coral species, a low abundance and diversity of sponges, and reef fishes. These data are the result of yearly monitoring events and are used for comparison purposes required to complete technical reports and presentations. On the East and West Flower Garden Banks there are 100 m by 100m study sites within which monitoring is conducted every year. The data included in this submission are from these study sites and include the following: (1) random transect benthic cover data obtained using videography (2002-2006), still photographs (2002-2003) and linear point intercept observer data (2002-2003). Random transect data include the proportional cover of benthic components including coral species, sponges, algae, and other groups. (2) Sclerochronology data are taken during odd years to look at short-term (10 years) change in coral growth rates. (3) Photographs of marked Diploria strigosa colony margins are taken annually to track lateral growth or recession of colony margins over time. Data within this dataset start with comparisons between 2001 and 2002. (4) Repetitive 8m2 quadrat planimetry data follow specific coral colonies over time. Coral colonies are traced each year to measure lateral growth, loss, and/or replacement within a continuously monitored 8m2 area. Physical oceanographic data collected in association with this imagery is filed under NODC Accession Number 0012632. These image data are in .TIF and .JPG format with video data in either .VOB or .AVI format with associated files.

This dataset contains raw and processed data from an annual long-term monitoring study that documents the benthic and fish community changes at Stetson Bank, in the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. Stetson Bank is an uplifted claystone/siltstone feature, located 75 nautical miles from Galveston, TX in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico, that supports a well-developed benthic community of scleractinian coral and tropical marine sponges. Due to a wide range of temperatures and variable light availability, Stetson Bank has marginal environmental conditions for coral reef development and growth. The fish community is similar to other Caribbean reefs but has comparatively lower diversity. Monitoring has occurred on the bank crest (17-34 m) of the site since 1993. Bank crest monitoring includes random transect and repetitive photostation photographs of the benthos to estimate percent cover of major taxonomic groups (e.g., coral, sponge, algae). Benthic photographs are analyzed using Coral Point Count (CPCe) and output into Microsoft Excel worksheets. These data are analyzed for temporal community changes in Primer. Fish census surveys are conducted annually using a modified Bohnsack and Bannerot stationary method, both at random and repetitive sites. Fish data are recorded in Microsoft Excel worksheets. Primer software is used to identify any temporal shifts that occur in the fish community. Water quality parameters (e.g., temperature, salinity, turbidity, nutrients) are measured with moored conductivity temperature depth (CTD) instruments and quarterly profiles of the water column are performed. Temperature and salinity data are reduced to report daily averages. In 2015, monitoring efforts were expanded to include the deeper mesophotic habitat (34-64 m) surrounding the bank crest using a remotely operated vehicle (ROV). Mesophotic monitoring includes random transect and repetitive photostation photographs of the benthos to estimate percent cover of major taxonomic groups (e.g., coral, sponge, algae). Repetitive photostation images are only assessed using qualitative summaries of key species identified in 2015 during installation. Random transect photographs are analyzed using Coral Point Count (CPCe) and output into Microsoft Excel worksheets. These data are analyzed for temporal community changes in Primer. Fish census surveys are conducted annually in conjunction with benthic transect surveys. Fish data are recorded in Microsoft Excel worksheets. Primer software is used to identify any temporal shifts that occur in the fish community. The bank crest benthic community at Stetson Bank has undergone several significant shifts, changing from a habitat predominated by hydrocoral and sponges to one of macroalgae and sponges. The fish community on the bank crest has varied annually. Exotic fish species are present at the bank, including lionfish (Pterois volitans/P. miles) and regal demoiselle (Neopomacentrus cyanomos). Fluctuations in oceanic conditions, macroalgae cover, and continued annual variation in fish communities were documented.

This dataset contains raw and processed data from an annual long-term monitoring study that documents the benthic and fish community changes at Stetson Bank, in the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. Bank crest monitoring includes random transect and repetitive photostation photographs of the benthos to estimate percent cover of major taxonomic groups (e.g., coral, sponge, algae). Benthic photographs are analyzed using Coral Point Count (CPCe) and output into Microsoft Excel worksheets. Fish census surveys are conducted annually using a modified Bohnsack and Bannerot stationary method, both at random and repetitive sites. Fish data are recorded in Microsoft Excel worksheets. Water quality parameters (e.g., temperature, salinity, turbidity, nutrients) are measured with moored conductivity temperature depth (CTD) instruments and quarterly profiles of the water column are performed. Temperature and salinity data are reduced to report daily averages. In 2015, monitoring efforts were expanded to include the deeper mesophotic habitat (34-64 m) surrounding the bank crest using a remotely operated vehicle (ROV). Mesophotic monitoring includes random transect and repetitive photostation photographs of the benthos to estimate percent cover of major taxonomic groups (e.g., coral, sponge, algae). Repetitive photostation images are only assessed using qualitative summaries of key species identified in 2015 during installation. Random transect photographs are analyzed using Coral Point Count (CPCe) and output into Microsoft Excel worksheets. Fish census surveys are conducted annually in conjunction with benthic transect surveys. Fish data are recorded in Microsoft Excel worksheets. The bank crest benthic community at Stetson Bank has undergone several significant shifts, changing from a habitat predominated by hydrocoral and sponges to one of macroalgae and sponges. The fish community on the bank crest has varied annually. Exotic fish species are present at the bank, including lionfish (Pterois volitans/P. miles) and regal demoiselle (Neopomacentrus cyanomos). Fluctuations in oceanic conditions, macroalgae cover, and continued annual variation in fish communities were documented.