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SITE  SUMMARY         58     Site  Summaries   RATIONALE   The  purpose  of  this  section  is  to  provide  a  more  comprehensive  survey  of  TCRMP  site   characteristics  than  can  be  achieved  in  the  overall  data  compilations.    Each  TCRMP   monitoring  site  is  each  unique  and  has  experienced  unique  responses  to  local  and  global   stressors.    Given  the  increase  in  sites  included  under  this  program  and  the  inclusion  of   more  information  at  each  site,  such  as  physical  data,  this  section  is  designed  to  provide  a   summary  that  highlights  the  each  site’s  characteristics  and  serves  as  a  quick  reference   guide  for  managers,  policy  makers,  and  academics.    The  duration  of  surveys  at  most  sites   also  now  provides  sufficient  data  from  which  to  draw  conclusions  about  longer  term  site   dynamics  and  the  processes  that  might  be  contributing  to  recent  trajectories  of  health,   development,  and  degradation.     SITE  SUMMMARY  ELEMENTS   TCRMP  site  information  is  presented  in  six  pages  that  provide  a  brief  description  of  the   setting  and  the  potential  susceptibility  to  local  and  global  stressors  and  disturbances.    Sub-­‐ sections  include  a  description  of  (1)  the  physical  environment,  (2)  the  benthic  community   and  (3)  the  fish  community.    The  benthic  data  and  coral  health  are  updated  in  each  annual   report,  whereas  the  fish  summaries  and  physical  data  are  updated  periodically.   Benthic  community  structure  is  presented  as  the  mean  (±SE)  cover  of  coral,  macroalgae,   cyanobacteria,  and  epilithic  algae.    Epilithic  algal  communities  are  diminutive  turf  and   filamentous  algae  that  cover  hardbottom  surfaces,  whilst  macroalgae  have  identifiable   thallus  differentiation  and  structure.    Any  open  hardbottom  space  is  assumed  to  host  an   epilithic  algal  community  even  if  algae  cannot  be  resolved  in  video  images.    The  loss  of  coral   cover  due  to  the  2005  bleaching  event  was  calculated  as  the  relative  change  in  coral  cover   from  2005  to  2007,  unless  otherwise  noted  for  sites  not  sampled  in  these  years.    In   addition,  the  percent  recovery  from  the  2005  bleaching  event  was  calculated  as  the  amount   of  coral  cover  regained  by  2011  (Cover2011  -­‐  Cover2007)/(Cover2005-­‐  Cover2007).    Change   calculations  must  be  treated  with  caution  for  sites  where  transects  where  not  made   SITE  SUMMARIES       59   permanent  until  after  the  2005  bleaching  event  or  where  percent  cover  is  low,  since  the   conditions  introduce  an  unknown  amount  of  error.   Benthic  community  pie  charts  were  constructed  from  all  years  of  data.    The  sessile   epibenthic  animal  community  includes  Agaricia  spp.,  Colpophyllia  natans,  Diploria  strigosa,   Orbicella1  spp.  (O.  faveolata,  O.  fransksi,  +  unidentified  Orbicella  spp.),  Orbicella  annularis,   Montastraea  cavernosa,  Porites  astreoides,  branching  Porites  species,  Siderastrea  siderea,   other  corals,  sponges,  gorgonians.    The  algae/non-­‐living  substrata  category  includes   cyanobacteria,  epilithic  algae  (“DCA”),  Lobophora  variegata,  Dictyota  spp.,  Halimeda  spp.   crustose  coralline  algae,  and  sand/sediment.   Coral  Health  is  presented  as  the  mean  (±SE)  of  coral  bleaching  prevalence  (proportion  of   population  affected)  and  extent  (proportion  of  colony  affected),  disease  prevalence,  and   partial  mortality  prevalence.   PHYSICAL  CHARACTERISTICS.       Temperature.    Benthic   temperatures  were  recorded  at   each  site  with  a  HoboTemp™   thermistor  data  logger  (Onset   Computer  Corporation,  Bourne,  Massachusetts).    Thermistors   were  affixed  within  transects  and  set  to  record  at  intervals  of  15   minutes.    Records  are  presented  as  daily  averages  across  months,   February  29th  excluded.    Each  temperature  figure  includes  the   climatological  monthly  maximum  mean  temperature  (28.5°C),   and  the  bleaching  threshold  temperature  (29.5°C)  established   for  the  region  (NOAA  2006).    Data  for  2005  was  taken  from   current  profilers  or  federal  data  sources.   Currents.    Water  currents  were  recorded  at  a  subset  of  sites  and                                                                                                                   1  The  genus  Orbicella  was  formerly  named  Montastraea,  but  changed  in  2012  reflecting  an  earlier  precedence   and  dissimilarity  with  Montastraea  cavernosa  (Budd  et  al.  2012).    Some  figures  in  this  report  may  still   abbreviate  the  genus  name  as  “M.”   SITE  SUMMARY         60     times  with  Nortek  Aquadopp™  Acoustic  Doppler  Current  Profilers  (ADCPs).    Profilers  were   set  in  bases  on  the  seafloor  and  set  to  record  current  speed  and  direction  within  predefined   depth  bins  above  the  substrate.    The  bin  closest  to  the  substrate  and  closest  to  the  coral  reef   was  selected  for  display.    Compass  rose  figures  were  developed  that  show  the  frequency  of   current  in  magnetic  directions  0,  22.5,  45,  67.5,  90,  112.5,  135,  157.5,  180,  202.5,  225,   247.5,  270,  292.5,  315,  337.5,  360°.    Within  each  direction  the  frequency  of  current  speed   within  bins  of  0.1  m  s-­‐1  were  plotted.  For  Flat  Cay,  current  data  was  retrieved  with  an   Aandaraa  2-­‐D  current  meter  that  measured  current  speed  and  direction  directly  over  the   sensor  head.   Chlorophyll  and  Turbidity.  Continuous  fluorometric  measurements  of  chlorophyll  and   turbidity  were  conducted  at  some  sites  for  short  periods  (Black  Point,  Grammanik,  Magens   Bay).    Wetlabs  ECOFLNT  fluorometers  with  antifouling  bio-­‐wipers  were  deployed  and  set  to   record  for  one  minute  at  hourly  intervals.    Water  column  chlorophyll  measurements  detect   phytoplankton  abundance.      Fluorometric  measurements  of  chlorophyll  are  proxies  for  true   chlorophyll  concentrations.    Direct  chlorophyll  measurements  to  calibrate  fluorometric   measurements  have  not  been  conducted  at  the  monitoring  sites. SITE  SUMMARIES       61   St.  Croix SITE  SUMMARIES       63   BUCK  ISLAND,  ST.  CROIX   Descrip(on.    The  Buck  Island,  St.  Croix   site  is  seaward  extension  of  the   southeast  Buck  Island  barrier  reef   complex  in  water  depth  of  15  m.    The   reef  is  a  low  framework  surrounded  by   a  sand  plain  to  the  west  and  a  rolling   reef/hardbottom  to  the  east.    The  Buck   Island,  St.  Croix  site  is  largely  composed   of  large  living  and  dead  O.  annularis   heads  surrounded  by  sand.    The  site  has   been  monitored  since  2001,  with  three   permanent  benthic  transects  installed  in   2001,  and  three  additional  transects   installed  in  2003.   Outstanding  Feature.    The  Buck  Island,  St.  Croix  site  is  within  the  expanded  (2001)  Buck   Island  Reef  National  Monument.    The  reef  fish  populations  may  show  recovery  due  to  the   restriction  of  fishing.   Threats.    Due  to  its  protected  area  status  and  remoteness  from  land-­‐based  pollution  Buck   Island,  St.  Croix  is  primarily   threatened  by  changing  climate   as  its  populations  of  O.  annularis   were  shown  to  be  susceptible   during  the  2005  bleaching  event.       Figure  15.    The  Buck  Island,  St.  Croix.   (top)  Position  in  the  Buck  Island  Reef   National  Monument.    (right)A   representative  photo.       BUCK  ISLAND,  ST.  CROIX         64     Figure  16.    Buck  Island,  St.  Croix  benthic  temperatures  (14  m  depth).    Data  provided  by  the  National   Park  Service  (site  BUIS_SFR).     Physical  Characteris.cs   Current.    Currents  have  not  been  recorded  at  the  Buck  Island,  St.  Croix  monitoring  site.     Unidirectional  currents  have  always  been  light  during  monitoring.    Oscillatory  currents   occasionally  impact  the  site  when  swell  is  from  the  east.       Temperature.    Temperatures  at  the  Buck  Island,  St.  Croix  monitoring  sites  can  get  very   warm  and  surpassed  the  bleaching  threshold  significantly  in  2006  and  2010.    There  were   no  site  records  for  the  2005  bleaching  event.       J F M A M J J A S O N D 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 2006 2009 2007 2010 2008 2011 Temperature ( oC) Month SITE  SUMMARIES       65     Benthic  Community.    The  Buck  Island,  St.  Croix  hard  coral  community  is  dominated  by  the   boulder  star  coral  Orbicella  annularis;  however,  the  most  abundant  sessile  epibenthic   animals  are  gorgonians.    Epilithic  algae  dominate  the  algal  community,  with  a  low  cover  of   macroalgae  relative  to  other  sites.    There  is  a  high  proportion  of  sand.   This  coral  community  lost  65.5%  of  its  coral  cover  in  the  2005  bleaching  event  and  had  only   regained  6%  of  coral  cover  by  2012.    Filamentous  cyanobacteria  showed  very  large   increases  in  cover  after  the  2005  bleaching  event.   Coral  Health.    Buck  Island,  St.  Croix  corals  were  likely  severely  affected  during  the  2005   bleaching  event;  however,  bleaching  health  surveys  were  not  completed  until  Jan.  13,  2006   when  recovery  had  already  commenced.    Bleaching  surveys  were  not  conducted  during  the   2010  bleaching  event.    The  prevalence  of  coral  diseases  was  high  on  O.  annularis,  with   frequent  incidence  of  yellow  band  disease  and  white  disease  following  the  2005  bleaching   event.  Old  partial  mortality  was  very  prevalent  after  the  2005  coral  bleaching  event  and   then  decreased  to  2011.   Figure  17.    Buck  Island,  St.  Croix.  (left)  Relative  composition  of  the  sessile  epibenthic  animal   community.    (right)  Relative  composition  of  the  algal  community  and  unconsolidated  sediment.   BUCK  ISLAND,  ST.  CROIX         66     Figure  18.    Buck  Island,  St.  Croix  benthic  cover  and  coral  health  through  time  (mean  ±SE).       Benthic Community Cover 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Coral Cyanobacteria Epilithic Algae Macroalgae Bleaching Prevalence/Extent 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Prevalence Extent Disease Prevalence 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% All disease Black Band Lesion Dark Spots Intercostal White Disease Yellow Band Unknown Partial Mortality 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2005 BL 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Prevalence 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Old Recent SITE  SUMMARIES       67   Fish  Community.    Buck  Island  is  a  low  patchy  reef  community  surrounded  by  and   interspersed  with  sand.  The  fish  community  is  largely  dominated  in  biomass  by  herbivores   with  a  very  high  biomass  of  stoplight  parrotfish.    Close  to  the  monitoring  site  are  “the   Haystacks”,  large  Acropora  palmata  skeletal  remains  that  provide  amble  grazing  areas  for   the  large  parrotfish.  In  addition,  the  Buck  Island  site  is  within  the  National  Monument  and   the  fish  inhabitants  are  theoretically  protected  from  spearfishing  and  nets.  There  is  also  a   high  biomass  of  invertivore  fishes,  which  are  dominated  by  the  yellowhead  wrasse.   Invertivores  are  diverse  on  the  site  and  include  several  species  of  grunts  (tomtate,  French,   Spanish,  white  and  bluestripe)  as  well  as  many  wrasses  (yellowhead,  bluehead,  clown,   yellowcheek,  slippery  dick  and  creole  wrasse).  Piscivores  are  uncommon,  and  the  only   groupers  observed  there  are  small  red  hind  and  graysby.  Snapper  are  also  limited  and  in   2012  only  schoolmaster  and  one  mahogany  snapper  were  seen.       BUCK  ISLAND,  ST.  CROIX         68     Figure  19.    The  Buck  Island,  St.  Croix  fish  community  by  absolute  and  relative  biomass.   Herbivores stoplight parrotfish blue tang redband parrotfish striped parrotfish threespot damsel ocean surgeonfish princess parrotfish dusky damsel Beaugregory doctorfish yellowtail damsel queen parrotfish greenblotch parrotfish orangespotted filefish longfin damsel Fish Biomass (g) 0 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000 Invertivores French grunt queen trigger yellowhead wrasse spotted goatfish sand tilefish squirrelfish tomtate yellowfin mojarra saucereye porgy yellow goatfish yellowcheek wrasse clown wrasse butter hamlet slippery dick white grunt red hind yellowtail hamlet harlequin bass southern stingray fairy basselet Fish Biomass (g) 0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 Planktivores blue chromis bicolor damsel yellowtail snapper creole wrasse brown chromis black durgon Fish Biomass (g) 0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 Piscivores schoolmaster graysby trumpetfish redspotted hawkfish mahogany snapper bar jack red lionfish Fish Biomass (g) 0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 SITE  SUMMARIES       69   CANE  BAY   Descrip(on.    The  Cane  Bay  monitoring   site  is  a  nearshore/shelf  edge  fringing   reef  on  the  northwest  coast  of  St.  Croix.   Transects  follow  the  trend  of  the   leeward  spur  and  groove  formations.     Cane  Bay  has  been  monitored  since   2001.   Outstanding  Feature.    Cane  Bay  is  one  of   the  most  well  developed  nearshore   reefs  on  St.  Croix.    It  is  also  one  of  the   most  heavily  visited  dive  sites  by  both   tourists  and  residents  in  the  Virgin   Islands  due  to  its  proximity  to  the  wall,   considered  by  some  to  be  the  most   precipitous  submarine  drop  off  in  the  world.    The  reef  has  been  under  scientific   investigation  since  the  1970’s.   Threats.    Although  the  Cane  Bay  reef  is  a  singular  treasure  for  the  Virgin  Islands,  it  is   threatened  by  pollution,  fishing,  climate  change,  and  recreational  overuse.    The  watershed   above  Cane  Bay  has  been  planned  for  residential  development  with  potential  for  the  influx   of  terrestrial  sediment.    The  reef  is  also   fished  commercially,  and  teams  of   spearfishers  on  SCUBA  have  been   observed.  This  reef  also  lost  half  its   coral  cover  in  the  2005  bleaching  event,   suggesting  it  is  vulnerable  to  warming   ocean  temperatures.   Figure  20.    Cane  Bay.  (top)  Location.    (right)  A   representative  photo  of  the  reef.     CANE  BAY         70   Figure  21.    Cane  Bay  benthic  temperatures  (8  m  depth)     Physical  Characteris.cs   Current.    Cane  Bay  currents  have  not  been  directly  measured  by  the  TCRMP.    However,  this   site  typically  has  moderate  unidirectional  currents  with  the  occasional  exposure  to  strong   north  swell.    The  current  at  the  site  may  be  part  of  an  eddy  formed  by  the  dominant   westward  flowing  current  wrapping  around  the  eastern  point.  Its  downstream  location   from  the  entire  north  coast  of  St  Croix  may  also  make  this  site  a  recruitment  sink  for  larvae,   potentially  adding  to  the  diversity.     Temperature.    Cane  Bay  is  a  relatively  open  and  clear  environment,  and  the  temperatures   tend  to  stay  cooler,  but  the  propensity  for  bleaching  may  be  increased  by  the  high  light   transmission.       J F M A M J J A S O N D 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 2006 2009 2007 2010 2008 2011 Temperature ( oC) Month SITE  SUMMARIES       71     Benthic  Community.  Cane  Bay  supports  a  very  diverse  coral  community,  with  dominance  by   the  Orbicella  spp..    Open  substrates  were  mostly  epilithic  algal  community;  however,   epilithic  algae  cover  has  declined  since  the  2005  bleaching  event  with  increases  in  the  cover   of  macroalgae  and  filamentous  cyanobacteria.    This  indicates  that  the  resident  herbivore   community  was  not  able  to  effectively  graze  substrates  opened  by  coral  mortality.    This   coral  community  lost  46.8%  of  its  coral  cover  in  the  2005  bleaching  event  and  lost  6%  more   as  of  2011,  a  troubling  sign.   Coral  Health.    Cane  Bay  corals  were  severely  affected  during  the  2005  bleaching  event  with   nearly  all  colonies  bleached  over  80%  of  the  colony  surface.    The  prevalence  of  bleaching   was  also  high  in  2010,  yet  at  a  low  extent.    The  prevalence  of  coral  diseases  was  low  before   2005,  but  outbreaks  of  white,  yellow  band,  and  dark  spots  disease  have  occurred  more   recently,  another  indication  of  declining  health  at  this  reef.    Old  and  recent  partial  mortality   became  very  prevalent  after  the  2005  coral  bleaching  event  and  have  remained  nearly   steady  or  increased  since.     Figure  22.    Cane  Bay.  (left)  Relative  composition  of  the  sessile  epibenthic  animal  community.    (right)   Relative  composition  of  the  algal  community  and  unconsolidated  sediment.   CANE  BAY         72   Figure  23.    Cane  Bay  benthic  cover  and  coral  health  through  time  (mean  ±SE).       Benthic Community Cover 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Coral Cyanobacteria Epilithic Algae Macroalgae Bleaching Prevalence/Extent 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Prevalence Extent Disease Prevalence 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% All disease Black Band Lesion Dark Spots Intercostal White Disease Yellow Band Unknown Partial Mortality 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2005 BL 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Prevalence 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Old Recent SITE  SUMMARIES       73   Fish  Community.    Cane  Bay  has  a  high  diversity,  abundance  and  biomass  of  fish,  reflecting   the  benthic  diversity  and  high  coral  cover  of  the  site.  The  most  dominant  fish  species  in   terms  of  both  abundance  and  biomass  is  the  creole  wrasse,  a  zooplankton  feeder.  Also  very   common  are  other  planktivorous  fishes:  the  black  durgeon,  yellowtail  snapper,  and  blue   and  brown  chromis.  Several  large  parrotfishes  can  regularly  be  observed  on  the  Cane  Bay   site,  including  adult  queen  and  stoplight  parrotfish.  A  variety  of  other  herbivores  are   common,  especially  princess  parrotfish,  redband  parrotfish,  and  blue  tang.  Mahogany   snapper  and  graysby  dominated  the  piscivore  group  in  2012.  Other  than  these,  no  snapper   or  grouper  were  observed  on  the  Cane  Bay  reef.  Nonetheless  the  site  has  a  high  diversity  of   fish,  with  several  butterflyfish  and  squirrelfish  species  present,  as  well  as  some  deeper   water  species  (sunshinefish,  longsnout  butterflyfish  and  fairy  basslet)  due  to  the  site’s  close   proximity  to  the  deep  wall  drop.     CANE  BAY         74   Figure  24.    The  Cane  Bay  fish  community  by  absolute  and  relative  biomass. Herbivores stoplight parrotfish redband parrotfish blue tang princess parrotfish yellowtail damsel ocean surgeonfish threespot damsel doctorfish longfin damsel dusky damsel striped parrotfish Beaugregory Fish Biomass (g) 0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 Invertivores yellow goatfish French grunt squirrelfish blackbar soldierfish striped grunt yellowhead wrasse white grunt Spanish hogfish dusky squirrelfish bluestriped grunt spotted goatfish tomtate yellowcheek wrasse fairy basselet red hind Fish Biomass (g) 0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 Planktivores creole wrasse brown chromis blue chromis black durgon bicolor damsel yellowtail snapper sunshinefish Fish Biomass (g) 0 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000 Piscivores mahogany snapper graysby bar jack glasseye snapper cero Fish Biomass (g) 0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 SITE  SUMMARIES       75   CANE  BAY  DEEP   Descrip(on.    The  Cane  Bay  Deep   monitoring  site  is  a  mesophotic  wall   coral  reef  environment  just  downslope   from  the  Cane  Bay  site.    The  reef  is   composed  of  deep  spurs  of  coral   interspersed  with  sediment.    Cane  Bay   Deep  was  first  surveyed  during  the   2005  coral  bleaching  event,  but  a   permanent  monitoring  site  was  not   established  until  2009.   Outstanding  Feature.    Cane  Bay  Deep  is   one  of  the  most  impressive  wall   environments  in  the  Caribbean  and  is   the  crown  jewel  for  St.  Croix  dive   tourism  and  biodiversity.   Threats.    Although  Cane  Bay  is  economically  important  via  dive  tourism,  it  is  under  no   special  protection.    Cane  Bay  Deep  is   threatened  by  sediment,  fishing,  climate   change,  and  recreational  overuse.    Sediment   cascades  down  for  the  shallow  reef.    Fishing   occurs  even  at  the  deep  reef  and  this  is  shown   by  the  presence  of  lost  gear  (monofilament  and   trap  lines).   Figure  25.    Cane  Bay  Deep.  (top)  Location.    (right)  A   representative  photo  of  the  reef  during  the  2005   bleaching  event.    Bleached  colonies  are  0.5  –  3  m   wide.     CANE  BAY  DEEP         76   Figure  26.    Cane  Bay  Deep  temperature  (39  m  depth).     Physical  Characteris.cs   Current.    Cane  Bay  deep  is  a  calm  wall  environment  that  is  buffered  from  water  motion.     However,  it  does  receive  sediment  cascades  from  particles  resuspended  from  the  upper   reef  terrace.  These  flows  are  directed  in  the  depressions  between  spurs.       Temperature.    Cane  Bay  Deep  temperatures  are  buffered  in  the  warmest  months  by  the   presence  of  the  thermocline.    However,  internal  tide  activity  at  this  site  is  not  as  strong  in   deep  (~40  m)  sites  on  the  south  shelf  of  St.  Thomas,  leading  to  less  diurnal  variability  in   temperatures.    This  may  make  the  mesophotic  wall  environments  more  susceptible  to   bleaching  than  other  mesophotic  sites  on  the  southern  Puerto  Rican  shelf.       J F M A M J J A S O N D 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 2007 2010 2008 2011 2009 Temperature ( oC) Month SITE  SUMMARIES       77     Benthic  Community.  Cane  Bay  deep  is  a  mesophotic  plating  coral  community  dominated  by   lettuce  corals  (Agaricia  spp.),  sponges,  gorgonians,  and  black  coral.    The  algal  community  is   mostly  epilithic  algae,  but  there  are  also  quantities  of  Dictyota  spp.  and  Lobophora   variegata.    A  high  proportion  of  the  substrate  is  soft  sediment  that  flows  from  the  upper   shelf  to  deposit  in  grooves.    Benthic  cover  was  not  measured  until  2009.   Coral  Health.    Surprisingly  for  a  dim  and  cooler  mesophotic  reef,  Cane  Bay  Deep  corals   bleached  heavily  in  the  2005  coral  bleaching  event  by  both  prevalence  and  extent.    Low-­‐ extent  coral  bleaching  is  very  prevalent  even  in  years  without  thermal  stress,  a  likely  result   of  sediment  deposition.    Unknown  diseases  and  dark  spots  diseases  are  prevalent  in  some   years.  Old  partial  mortality  increased  after  2005,  and  remained  high  and  steady  from  2009-­‐ 2011.     Figure  27.    Cane  Bay  Deep.  (left)  Relative  composition  of  the  sessile  epibenthic  animal  community.     (right)  Relative  composition  of  the  algal  community  and  unconsolidated  sediment.   CANE  BAY  DEEP         78   Figure  28.    Cane  Bay  Deep  benthic  cover  and  coral  health  through  time  (mean  ±SE).       Benthic Community Cover 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Coral Cyanobacteria Epilithic Algae Macroalgae Bleaching Prevalence/Extent 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Prevalence Extent Disease Prevalence 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% All disease Black Band Lesion Dark Spots Intercostal White Disease Yellow Band Unknown Partial Mortality 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2005 BL 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Prevalence 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Old Recent SITE  SUMMARIES       79   Fish  Community.  Cane  Bay  Deep  has  maintained  a  very  low  fish  biomass  over  the  four  year   sampling  period  compared  to  both  other  mesophotic  sites  and  shallow  and  midshelf  sites  of   St.  Croix.  The  site  is  dominated  by  invertivores;  primarily  planktivorous  creole  wrasse  and   blue  chromis.  This  planktivorous  community  is  depauperate  compared  to  that  of  Salt  River   Deep,  the  reef  wall  site  slightly  east,  probably  due  to  less  water  movement  and  sediment   deposition.  Herbivores  are  primarily  benthic  feeders:  sub-­‐adult  princess  parrotfish,   redband  parrotfish,  and  doctorfish.    There  is  very  low  piscivorous  biomass  on  the  reef,   made  up  in  2012  of  very  few  schoolmaster  snapper,  mahogany  snapper,  graysby  and   barracuda.  Deepwater  species  such  as  the  bantum  bass,  fairly  basslet  and  sunshine  fish  are   common.           CANE  BAY  DEEP         80   Figure  29.    The  Cane  Bay  Deep  fish  community  by  absolute  and  relative  biomass. Herbivores princess parrotfish redband parrotfish stoplight parrotfish blue tang striped parrotfish doctorfish ocean surgeonfish Beaugregory threespot damsel dusky damsel yellowtail damsel Fish Biomass (g) 0 1000 2000 3000 4000 Invertivores red hind yellow goatfish French grunt yellowhead wrasse bluestriped grunt blackbar soldierfish longsnout butterflyfish dusky squirrelfish fairy basselet Spanish hogfish yellowtail hamlet slippery dick spotted drum clown wrasse Fish Biomass (g) 0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 Planktivores creole wrasse creolefish blue chromis sunshinefish yellowtail snapper brown chromis chalk bass 0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 7000 Piscivores schoolmaster great barracuda mahogany snapper graysby bar jack black hamlet Fish Biomass (g) 0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 Fish Biomass (g) SITE  SUMMARIES       81   CASTLE   Descrip(on.    Castle  (aka.  West  Indies   Lab)  is  part  of  the  seaward  northeastern   St.  Croix  barrier  reef  complex  outside   Teague  Bay.    The  reef  starts  at  sea  level   as  a  relict  elkhorn  coral  reef  and  is   dominated  by  boulder  star  corals  along   the  seaward  edge.    The  area  around  the   Castle  site  was  monitored  initially  in   2003,  but  permanent  transect  were  not   installed.    Permanent  benthic  transects   were  installed  in  2008.   Outstanding  Feature.    Castle  is  part  of   the  once  luxurious  living  elkhorn  coral   barrier  reef  that  protects  the   northeastern  St.  Croix  shoreline.    It  was  a  research  area  of  the  former  West  Indies   Laboratory  of  Farleigh  Dickenson  University,   which  was  a  seminal  area  for  global  coral  reef   research  from  the  1970’s  and  1980’s.   Threats.    The  barrier  reef  outside  Teague  Bay  is   inside  the  St.  Croix  East  End  Marine  Park,  but  is   in  the  open  fishing  zone.    There  is  relatively  low   potential  for  land-­‐based  sources  of  pollution   due  to  the  sites  midshelf  location  in  front  of  a   lightly  populated  area.    Clear  water  and  warm   temperatures  make  this  an  area  of  potential   concern  during  bleaching  events.   Figure  30.    Castle.  (top)  Location.    (right)  A   representative  photo  of  the  reef.     CASTLE         82   Figure  31.    Castle  benthic  temperatures  (9  m  depth).     Physical  Characteris.cs   Current.    Little  is  know  about  the  current  at  the  Castle  site.    It  is  under  the  influence  of   wave-­‐driven  oscillatory  flow  in  the  shallows,  but  strong  directional  currents  have  not  been   experienced  during  monitoring  activities.   Temperature.    Castle  has  the  potential  to  develop  very  warm  temperatures  and  spent   nearly  a  month  above  the  bleaching  threshold  in  2010.     J F M A M J J A S O N D 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 2008 2009 2010 2011 Temperature ( oC) Month SITE  SUMMARIES       83     Benthic  Community.    The  Castle  site  is  unusual  or  its  dominance  of  branching  Porites  corals   along  the  slope  and  concentrations  of  Orbicella  spp.  corals  at  the  outer  fringe  adjacent  to   sand.    The  algal  community  is  dominated  by  epilithic  algae,  with  lesser  abundance  of   Dictyota  spp..    Macroalgae  and  filamentous  cyanobacteria  are  also  common.    The  impacts  of   the  2005  bleaching  event  are  not  known  since  monitoring  in  2003  was  not  necessarily  in   exactly  the  same  spot  and  the  site  was  not  monitored  in  2005.   Coral  Health.    Bleaching  is  mild  at  the  site.    Corals  were  assessed  prior  to  but  not  during  the   2010  coral  bleaching  event.    Old  partial  mortality  is  high  in  prevalence  and  steady.    Recent   partial  mortality  is  particularly  high  at  the  site,  and  this  may  be  a  consequence  of  numerous   damselfish  (Stegastes  spp.)  and  predatory  snails  (Coralliophila  spp.)  on  large  Orbicella   annularis  spp.  colonies.     Figure  32.    Castle.  (left)  Relative  composition  of  the  sessile  epibenthic  animal  community.    (right)   Relative  composition  of  the  algal  community  and  unconsolidated  sediment.   CASTLE         84   Figure  33.    Castle  benthic  cover  and  coral  health  through  time  (mean  ±SE).       Benthic Community Cover 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Coral Cyanobacteria Epilithic Algae Macroalgae Bleaching Prevalence/Extent 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Prevalence Extent Disease Prevalence 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% All disease Black Band Lesion Dark Spots Intercostal White Disease Yellow Band Unknown Partial Mortality 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2005 BL 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Prevalence 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Old Recent SITE  SUMMARIES       85   Fish  Community.    The  Castle  fish  community  is  typically  lower  in  overall  abundance  and   biomass  than  most  of  the  St.  Croix  offshore  sites.  It  is  dominated  by  herbivores  in  biomass,   driven  by  a  few  large  stoplight  parrotfish.    Sub-­‐adult  and  juvenile  redband,  striped  and   princess  parrotfish  are  however  numerically  much  most  common  than  stoplight.  All  three   Acanthurids  (ocean  surgeonfish,  blue  tang  and  doctorfish)  are  common,  as  are  many   species  of  damselfish.  Invertivores  are  also  fairly  high  in  biomass  and  are  a  diverse  group;   dominated  in  2012  by  benthic  feeders  such  as  yellow  and  spotted  goatfish  as  well  as   blackbar  soldierfish  and  squirrelfish.  Piscivore  biomass  in  2012  was  heavily  dominated  by   lionfish.  A  few  piscivorous  snapper  and  jacks  were  observed  however  no  serranids  were   observed  except  the  black  hamlet.         CASTLE         86   Figure  34.    The  Castle  fish  community  by  absolute  and  relative  biomass.   Herbivores redfin parrotfish stoplight parrotfish doctorfish blue tang yellowtail damsel redband parrotfish threespot damsel ocean surgeonfish queen parrotfish dusky damsel striped parrotfish princess parrotfish Beaugregory cocoa damsel greenblotch parrotfish Fish Biomass (g) 0 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000 12000 14000 16000 18000 20000 Invertivores blackbar soldierfish yellow goatfish squirrelfish French grunt spotted goatfish yellowhead wrasse Spanish hogfish red hind spotted drum harlequin bass striped grunt butter hamlet dusky squirrelfish fairy basselet belted cardinalfish Fish Biomass (g) 0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 Planktivores blue chromis brown chromis bicolor damsel sunshinefish creole wrasse yellowtail snapper tobaccofish Fish Biomass (g) 0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 Piscivores red lionfish blue runner gray snapper bar jack graysby mahogany snapper spotted moray schoolmaster trumpetfish black hamlet Fish Biomass (g) 0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 SITE  SUMMARIES       87   EAGLE  RAY   Descrip(on.    The  Eagle  Ray  site  is  a   shallow  seaward  barrier  reef  located  at   west  dive  buoy  1  outside  the  main   Christiansted  access  channel.    The   monitoring  site  is  colonized  hardbottom   to  coral  reef,  with  more  extensive   development  of  reef  at  the  seaward   edge.    Eagle  Ray  has  been  monitored   since  2001.   Outstanding  Feature.    Eagle  Ray  is  one  of   the  most  visited  dive  sites  due  to  its   proximity  to  Christiansted.   Threats.    Proximity  to  Christiansted   increases  the  potential  for  land-­‐based  sources  of  pollution,  such  as  sewage,  run-­‐off,  and   marine  debris.    The  site  is  frequented  by  small  fishing  craft  that  venture  just  out  of  port,   likely  increasing  the  fishing  pressure.   Figure  35.    Eagle  Ray.  (top)   Location.    (right)  A   representative  photo  of  the   reef.       EAGLE  RAY         88   Figure  36.    Eagle  Ray  benthic  temperature  at  9  m  depth     Physical  Characteris.cs   Current.    Currents  have  not  been  measured  at  Eagle  Ray,  however  strong  unidirectional   currents  seem  rare.    There  are  increased  oscillatory  current  near  the  shallow  portion  of  the   site.       Temperature.    Eagle  Ray  is  shallow  but  near  deep  water  on  two  sides,  which  may   potentially  help  to  reduce  thermal  stress.       J F M A M J J A S O N D 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 2007 2010 2008 2011 2009 Temperature ( oC) Month SITE  SUMMARIES       89     Benthic  Community.  Eagle  Ray  supports  a  diverse  community  of  small  coral  colonies,  but   sponges  and  gorgonians  compose  half  the  sessile  epibenthic  animal  community.    Coral   cover  has  been  low  and  less  than  10%  throughout  the  monitoring  period.    Coral  cover   decreased  only  slightly  with  the  2005  coral  bleaching  event,  11.7%,  but  cover  has  come   back  and  actually  increased  above  pre-­‐bleaching  values.    The  limited  response  may  be   partly  due  to  the  high  relative  abundance  of  more  thermally  resistant  coral  species.    The   site  was  dominated  with  epilithic  algae;  however,  this  has  declined  after  the  2005  bleaching   event  with  a  concomitant  increase  in  macroalgae  and  filamentous  cyanobacteria.   Coral  Health.    Eagle  Ray  corals  were  severely  affected  during  the  2005  bleaching  event  with   nearly  all  colonies  bleached  over  about  80%  of  the  colony  surface.    Low-­‐level  bleaching  is   also  common  in  years  without  thermal  stress.    The  site  was  only  monitored  prior  to  the   2010  bleaching  event.    Diseases  area  common  feature  of  the  site,  with  black  band,  yellow   band,  and  dark  spots  disease  having  outbreaks  in  certain  years.    Lesions  were  also  common   during  the  2005  coral  bleaching  event.    Old  partial  mortality  became  very  prevalent  after   the  2005  coral  bleaching  event  and  subsided  in  the  following  years.     Figure  37.    Eagle  Ray.  (left)  Relative  composition  of  the  sessile  epibenthic  animal  community.    (right)   Relative  composition  of  the  algal  community  and  unconsolidated  sediment.   EAGLE  RAY         90   Figure  38.    Eagle  Ray  benthic  cover  and  coral  health  through  time  (mean  ±SE).       Benthic Community Cover 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Coral Cyanobacteria Epilithic Algae Macroalgae Bleaching Prevalence/Extent 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Prevalence Extent Disease Prevalence 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% All disease Black Band Lesion Dark Spots Intercostal White Disease Yellow Band Unknown Partial Mortality 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2005 BL 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Prevalence 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Old Recent SITE  SUMMARIES       91   Fish  Community.    Eagle  Ray  is  a  fairly  diverse  and  rich  site,  especially  considering  the  fishing   and  diving  pressure  it  receives,  as  well  as  the  proximity  of  Christiansted  Harbor.  It  is   dominated  by  herbivores  and  invertivores,  with  a  large  variety  of  parrotfishes  and  benthic   feeders  such  as  the  blackbar  soldierfish.  Proximity  to  open  deep  water  is  evidenced  by  the   occurrence  of  fairly  high  numbers  of  planktivorous  creole  wrasse  and  a  few  black  durgeon.   Yellowtail  snapper  are  large  and  plentiful,  probably  due  to  the  divers  that  frequent  the  site   with  fish  food.  The  piscivores  in  2012  were  dominated  by  jacks.  Graysby  were  common   among  the  serranids  however  no  larger  serranids  were  observed  on  belt  transects.    Overall   the  fish  community,  while  lacking  top  predators,  remains  high  in  overall  biomass  and   species  richness.         EAGLE  RAY         92   Figure  39.    The  Eagle  Ray  fish  community  by  absolute  and  relative  biomass.   Herbivores stoplight parrotfish redfin parrotfish blue tang redband parrotfish doctorfish ocean surgeonfish redtail parrotfish princess parrotfish dusky damsel yellowtail damsel striped parrotfish threespot damsel Beaugregory redlip blenny greenblotch parrotfish cocoa damsel Fish Biomass (g) 0 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000 12000 14000 16000 Invertivores blackbar soldierfish bluestriped grunt French grunt squirrelfish red hind spotted goatfish yellowhead wrasse spotted drum tomtate saucereye porgy Spanish hogfish slippery dick harlequin bass white grunt smallmouth grunt fairy basselet striped grunt Fish Biomass (g) 0 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000 12000 14000 16000 Planktivores yellowtail snapper bicolor damsel black durgon creole wrasse brown chromis blue chromis chalk bass Fish Biomass (g) 0 2000 4000 6000 8000 Piscivores blue runner bar jack graysby mahogany snapper redspotted hawkfish spotted moray trumpetfish schoolmaster Fish Biomass (g) 0 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000 12000 SITE  SUMMARIES       93   GREAT  POND   Descrip(on.    The  Great  Pond  Monitoring  site   is  a  wave-­‐washed  shallow  barrier  reef  that   was  formerly  an  elkhorn  coral  reef  in  depths   of  5-­‐7  m.    The  reef  is  part  of  the  barrier  reef   front  surrounded  by  patch  reefs  and  sand.     Great  Pond  has  been  monitored  since  2003.   Outstanding  Feature.    Great  Pond  hosts  the   largest  population  of  the  black  spiny  urchin   Diadema  antillarum  of  any  TCRMP   monitoring  site,  likely  because  of  its  shallow   depth.    It  also  hosts  an  abundance  of  large-­‐ bodied  stoplight  (Sparisoma  virde)  and   yellowfin  parrotfish  (Sparisoma  rubripinne)   that  likely  spawn  near  the  site.   Threats.    The  Great  Pond  monitoring  site  is   located  in  the  St.  Croix  East  End  Marine  Park  but  outside  the  no-­‐take  fishery  zone.    If  park   rules  are  enforced  this  site  could  see  a  return  of  fisheries  species  by  spillover  from  adjacent   protected  areas.    Because  of  high  turbulence  and  low  watershed  development  sediment  is   not  considered  a  problem;   however,  large  industrial  sites   operate  within  10  km,  including   the  Hovensa  Refinery,  and  could   contribute  to  pollution.     Figure  40.    Great  Pond.  (top)   Location.    (right)  A  representative   photo  of  the  reef.       GREAT  POND         94   Figure  41.    Great  Pond  benthic  temperature  (5  m  depth).     Physical  Characteris.cs     Current.    Great  Pond  currents  have  not  been  measured  directly.    Wave-­‐generated   oscillatory  currents  dominate  and  this  is  the  most  regularly  swell-­‐influenced  site  in  the   TCRMP  making  work  conditions  difficult  on  all  but  the  calmest  day.    Strong  unidirectional   currents  have  not  been  experienced.   Temperature.    Great  Pond  typically  experiences  very  high  temperatures  in  August  to   October,  with  temperatures  nearly  peaking  at  31°C  in  2010.       J F M A M J J A S O N D 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 2009 2007 2010 2008 2011 Temperature ( oC) Month SITE  SUMMARIES       95     Benthic  Community.    The  Great  Pond  site  is  unusually  dominated  with  the  mustard  hill  coral   (Porites  astreoides)  and  Diploria  strigosa.    It  is  also  the  only  site  with  high  abundance  of   Diploria  clivosa.  The  site  lost  55.9%  of  its  coral  cover  in  the  2005  bleaching  event,  but  has   regained  about  half  of  the  cover  as  of  2011.    The  site  is  dominated  by  epilithic  algae,  with   occasional  years  where  macroalgae  blooms  (2007  and  2011).   Coral  Health.    Great  Pond  corals  were  moderately  affected  during  the  2005  coral  bleaching   event,  which  may  be  a  reflection  of  the  high  composition  of  resistant  coral  species  and  the   regular  exposure  to  high  temperatures.    The  site  was  not  monitored  during  the  height  of  the   2010  coral  bleaching  event.    Patchy,  low-­‐level  bleaching  is  common  in  some  years.    Diseases   were  almost  non-­‐existent  at  the  monitoring  site.    Partial  mortality  is  variable  and  has  not   shown  consistent  trends  over  years.     Figure  42.    Great  Pond  (left)  Relative  composition  of  the  sessile  epibenthic  animal  community.    (right)   Relative  composition  of  the  algal  community  and  unconsolidated  sediment.   GREAT  POND         96   Figure  43.    Great  Pond  benthic  cover  and  coral  health  through  time  (mean  ±SE).       Benthic Community Cover 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Coral Cyanobacteria Epilithic Algae Macroalgae Bleaching Prevalence/Extent 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Prevalence Extent Disease Prevalence 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% All disease Black Band Lesion Dark Spots Intercostal White Disease Yellow Band Unknown Partial Mortality 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2005 BL 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Prevalence 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Old Recent SITE  SUMMARIES       97   Fish  Community.      The  Great  Pond  fish  community  is  dominated  by  herbivores.  The  primary   herbivores  at  the  site  are  the  yellowtail  damselfish  and  blue  tang,  which  swims  in  foraging   schools  feeding  on  algae  covering  the  relict  elkhorn  coral.  Also  present  are  large  queen  and   stoplight  parrotfish,  which  can  also  be  seen  in  large  groups,  probably  spawning  in  the  late   afternoon  and  evening  hours.  These  fish  concentrate  around  the  “piles”  of  skeletal  remains   of  Acropora  across  the  site.  Between  these  areas,  fish  biomass  is  low  and  is  primarily  made   up  of  yellow  goatfish,  wrasses,  and  juvenile  parrotfish.  Piscivores  at  Great  Pond  are  limited   nearly  entirely  to  mahogany  snapper  and  bar  jacks.  Benthic  invertivores  are  dominated  in   biomass  by  yellow  goatfish  and  blackbar  soldierfish,  however  the  wrasse  diversity  is  high   on  the  site  and  includes  slippery  dicks,  clown  wrasse,  yellowhead  and  bluehead  wrasse,   rainbow  wrasse,  puddingwife,  and  Spanish  hogfish.  In  2012  the  piscivorous  community   included  very  few  species  and  was  dominated  by  bar  jacks.       GREAT  POND         98   Figure  44.    The  Great  Pond  fish  community  by  absolute  and  relative  biomass. Herbivores yellowtail damsel blue tang doctorfish stoplight parrotfish ocean surgeonfish redband parrotfish striped parrotfish dusky damsel queen parrotfish greenblotch parrotfish redtail parrotfish orangespotted filefish redfin parrotfish cocoa damsel threespot damsel redlip blenny Beaugregory princess parrotfish bucktooth parrotfish Fish Biomass (g) 0 2000 4000 6000 8000 Invertivores yellow goatfish blackbar soldierfish slippery dick squirrelfish clown wrasse yellowhead wrasse spotted goatfish bluestriped grunt puddingwife rainbow wrasse dusky squirrelfish Spanish hogfish French grunt Fish Biomass (g) 0 2000 4000 6000 8000 Planktivores blue chromis black durgon bicolor damsel brown chromis Fish Biomass (g) 0 200 400 600 800 1000 Piscivores bar jack glasseye snapper peacock flounder greater soapfish redspotted hawkfish Fish Biomass (g) 0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 SITE  SUMMARIES       99   JACKS  BAY   Descrip(on.    The  Jacks  Bay  monitoring  site   (aka  Jacks/Isaacs  Bay)  is  part  of  fringing   reef,  colonized  hardbottom  on  the   southeast  point  of  St.  Croix  in  water   depths  of  13-­‐16  m.    The  monitoring  site  is   just  inward  from  the  shelf  break  and   seaward  reef  slope,  which  terminates  in  a   sand  plain  at  about  20  m  depth.    Jacks  Bay   is  largely  a  carbonate  hardbottom  with   scattered  hard  coral,  although  there  are   some  large  coral  heads  seaward  of  the   transects.    Permanent  transects  were   installed  at  Jacks  Bay  in  2001.   Outstanding  Feature.    Jacks  Bay  hosts  a   unique  fish  community  with  high   abundance  of  small  wrasses  and  the  occasional  occurrence  of  red  hind  (Epinephelus   guttatus).   Threats.    Jacks  Bay  is  within  the  St.  Croix  East  End  Marine  Park  but  lies  just  outside  the   restricted  fisheries  area  and  is   open  to  fishing.  High  turbulence   and  no  watershed  development   mean  there  is  low  threat  of  land-­‐ based  sources  of  pollution  at  this   nearshore  site.   Figure  45.    Jacks  Bay.  (top)  Location.     (right)  A  representative  photo  of  the   reef.     JACKS  BAY         100   Figure  46.    Jacks  Bay  benthic  temperature  at  12  m  depth     Physical  Characteris-cs   Current.  Jacks  Bay  currents  have  not  been  measured  directly.    There  are  weak   unidirectional  currents,  but  a  propensity  for  strong  wave-­‐generated  oscillatory  currents   due  the  open  coast  southeast  exposure.       Temperature.    Jacks  Bay  can  experience  high  temperatures  during  August  to  October.       J F M A M J J A S O N D 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 2009 2007 2010 2008 2011 Temperature ( oC) Month SITE  SUMMARIES       101     Benthic  Community.    The  Jacks  Bay  site  has  low  coral  cover  (<10%)  and  is  the  only  TCRMP   site  dominated  by  the  great  star  coral  Montastraea  cavernosa.  Jacks  Bay  lost  44.7%  of  its   coral  cover  in  the  2005  coral  bleaching  event,  but  had  regained  about  32%  of  the  loss  by   2011.    Over  half  of  the  sessile  epibenthic  community  is  composed  of  gorgonians  and   sponges.    The  direct  area  of  the  site  might  be  considered  more  a  colonized  hardbottom  than   true  coral  reef.    The  algal  community  is  composed  of  high  proportions  each  of  epilithic   algae,  macroalgae,  and  filamentous  cyanobacteria.    These  algal  groups  show  high  inter-­‐ annual  variability.   Coral  Health.    The  Jacks  Bay  site  was  strongly  affected  during  the  2005  bleaching  event  and   was  moderately  affected  during  the  2010  bleaching  event.  Disease  prevalence  was  low  and   only  dark  spots  disease  was  present.    Recent  partial  mortality  was  high  during  the  2005   bleaching  event,  likely  reflecting  the  fact  that  surveys  were  conducted  in  November  2005   when  mortality  had  begun.    Old  partial  mortality  increased  greatly  after  the  2005  bleaching   and  then  declined  to  stable  levels  in  2009-­‐2011.     Figure  47.    Jacks  Bay  (left)  Relative  composition  of  the  sessile  epibenthic  animal  community.    (right)   Relative  composition  of  the  algal  community  and  unconsolidated  sediment.   JACKS  BAY         102   Figure  48.    Jacks  Bay  benthic  cover  and  coral  health  through  time  (mean  ±SE).       Benthic Community Cover 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Coral Cyanobacteria Epilithic Algae Macroalgae Bleaching Prevalence/Extent 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Prevalence Extent Disease Prevalence 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% All disease Black Band Lesion Dark Spots Intercostal White Disease Yellow Band Unknown Partial Mortality 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2005 BL 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Prevalence 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Old Recent SITE  SUMMARIES       103   Fish  Community.      The  Jacks  Bay  fish  community  is  characterized  by  very  low  fish  biomass   and  abundance  but  relatively  high  diversity.  The  site  is  primarily  hard  bottom,  adjacent  to   more  developed  coral  reef  on  the  seaward  edge,  over  which  larger  fishes  are  observed.  The   hardbottom  community  is  highly  dominated  numerically  by  blue  chromis,  yellowhead   wrasse  and  bicolor  damselfish.  Juvenile  wrasses  and  parrotfish  swim  and  hover  in  mixed   schools  among  the  rubble  and  gorgonians.  Slippery  dicks,  clown  wrasse,  rainbow  wrasse   and  blackear  wrasse  are  fairly  common.  Angelfishes  are  common  across  the  hardbottom.  In   2012  piscivores  were  rare  and  limited  to  schoolmaster,  bar  jack,  glasseye  snapper  and   redspotted  hawkfish.  Medium  to  larger  sized  species  are  very  rare,  and  nearly  all  of  these   species  are  seen  at  Jacks  Bay  in  the  juvenile  life  history  stage.       JACKS  BAY         104   Figure  49.    The  Jacks  Bay  fish  community  by  absolute  and  relative  biomass. Herbivores blue tang redband parrotfish ocean surgeonfish princess parrotfish yellowtail damsel stoplight parrotfish doctorfish striped parrotfish redfin parrotfish Beaugregory cocoa damsel dusky damsel greenblotch parrotfish Fish Biomass (g) 0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 Invertivores queen trigger yellowhead wrasse blackbar soldierfish squirrelfish French grunt slippery dick puddingwife tomtate highhat red hind Spanish hogfish blackear wrasse spotted goatfish yellow goatfish yellowcheek wrasse fairy basselet Fish Biomass (g) 0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 Planktivores blue chromis bicolor damsel brown chromis Fish Biomass (g) 0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 Piscivores schoolmaster bar jack glasseye snapper redspotted hawkfish Fish Biomass (g) 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700