Introduction to the REEF volunteer survey project

REEF’s website. Joining is easy and free. You’ll receive a member ID, and with this ID you’ll be able to submit surveys online. You’ll set up an account that will keep track of your surveys and sightings. Click on red arrow for a link to live REEF website to show joining page. (must have internet connection)

This is a map showing all the regions where REEF is actively surveying. Teaching and survey materials have been developed for these areas worldwide. You can survey locally, or survey on dive/snorkel trips.

REEF stands for Reef Environmental Education Foundation. It is a grass-roots non-profit organization and its website houses the largest marine life publically available database in the world. Divers and snorkelers help by keeping track of the fish (and in some areas invertebrates/algae) they see on their dives. Participants can start knowing how to identify as little as one fish, and learn as they go.

Go over bullet points, add your own. Point out that because you’re not swimming in a straight line, and are free to wander around, it’s a lot of fun!

REEF rocks when it comes to Citizen Science! Low cost, minimal equipment, easy to do, enjoyable, quick start for divers, and online submission and viewing one’s own data are all key ingredients for success.

Data is used by different groups depending on where in the world you look. There is a pretty complete listing on the REEF website, and the quarterly newsletter, “Making it Count” highlights some of the recent uses of the data.

Fun cartoon to get us started on the nuts and bolts of doing a survey…

No, you do not have to take a class first. As long as you can positively ID one fish, you can submit a survey with that one fish on it. But classes are definitely more fun and you’ll learn a lot. Some people choose to just study on their own, and that’s fine too.

Pop quiz! Do you know the names of any of these fish? If you know at least one, stand up. (Tiger Rockfish, Black Rockfish, Wolf Eel). No, you do not have to be an expert to get started. As long as you can positively identify at least one species of fish that you see on your dive, you can submit a survey recording those fish. When in doubt, leave it out, and you’ll learn as you go.

Here are a few books to get you started. Does anyone know of any other ID books for our area?

How I have customized my own slates. Note that the waterproof paper is good for 2 dives in the NE (front and back). Pacific NW paper shown. Color ID card example in the inset.

REEF surveyors can conduct surveys anywhere, at any time of night or day, any time of year (and are encouraged to do surveys year round because some fish can be seasonal). Your dive buddy need not do a survey. Surveys can be done in local marine waters (where applicable) or done on vacations or when traveling to other parts of the world.

In all regions you will be surveying every fish you see. In some regions, you can also survey for specific invertebrates, algae and Sea Turtles.

The Roving Diver Technique means you go on your dive like you normally would, meandering around here and there. You record relative abundance (S, F, M, A) This type of surveying is fun, easy to catch on to, and allows you quite a bit of freedom to explore. You’re not swimming in a straight line like a transect survey, and you’re not counting exact numbers of fish, so it’s easy to do.

The next step is to fire up your computer and log onto www.REEF.org

Click here, input your REEF member # and your last name, and you’re on your way! In some locations we realize internet connections are not possible, and you may want to use paper survey forms instead. (extra charge, available on the REEF website)

Use the interactive maps on the REEF website to drill down and find the 8 digit code for your site – and if you don’t see it, mail zonecode@REEF.org to get a zone code assigned. After you hear back from our REEF staff, then you’ll be set to submit your survey.

To submit your survey you’ll need to find the zone code of where you dove. Zone codes are listed in a hierarchal system: General area first, down to specific 8 digit site

Here’s an example of what a REEF survey form looks like. Notice these are just the most common fish you might see. Another very large list of less-common fish is accessible through the link “unlisted species” which appears at the bottom of the lefthand column, below all the fish listings. (point this out) Some regions have several pages of fish that you’ll go through, listed alphabetically by family.

This is what a personal account looks like. Some of you may already be familiar with this screen. It shows your membership info, where you’ve conducted surveys and how many, and your experience level in those regions. The control panel for your own data is on the top left. Click “My Survey Log” for a list of all the places you dove. (point out the link) Click “My Data” to see a summary and search options for your own sightings and life list. (point out the link)

Your own Survey Log is a listing of all your surveys and a brief summary. For more info, click on the hyperlink Form ID number to see the Survey Details. (show where to click)

Clicking on “My Data” will show a summary and search options for your own sightings and life list. If you click on the name of a particular fish in a listing, you’ll see a photo of the fish and further breakdown statistics of the data.

REEF surveyors start out as novices (level 1) and work their way up through various experience levels to level 5 (expert). To do this, they must accumulate specific numbers of surveys, and pass various tests with increasingly higher proficiency levels. Tests are done within each region.

Geographic Area report: Diving a new site and want to know what you’ll find there? Taking students or leading a dive to a particular area and want to know what the more common fish are so you can learn them ahead of time? You can also get a glimpse over time of specific sites to see how fish populations may be changing. Distribution Report: Want to find the general area where you can find a certain fish? This is the report for you. Will only show the general area, not a specific site. If you are a researcher or scientist with a valid reason to see more specifics, contact Dr. Christy Semmens, REEF’s Director of Science: christy@reef.org Batch Reports: Special projects like GAFC, or other organized efforts. Comparison Report: Compare what’s found at up to three sites here Diversity Report: This is where you’ll find the top 25 species-rich sites in the region. Also where you’ll find summary info about how many surveys have been done at sites, and how many species of fish are found there. A good way to see which sites need more surveys. (hint: try experimenting with anywhere between a 1 and 8 digit zone code for various results) More information: Nuts and bolts about the survey project, how to read and interpret the data, and citing the REEF database.

OK, so they aren’t really secret, but have you wondered what those codes mean in the reports? SA/SO: In some areas you have the option of doing a Species Only (SO) survey, or one that tracks both Species and Abundance (SA). SF%: Sighting Frequency. What percentage of the time divers/snorkelers will see at least one of these species. DEN: Density. Score from 1 – 4 (based on 1 being single, 2 is 2-10, 3 is 11-100, and 4 is 101+) Novice: A level 1-3 surveyor. Expert: A level 4 or 5 surveyor.

Those who pass the level 4/5 test and have the appropriate amount of surveys are invited to join the Advanced Assessment Team. The Advanced Assessment Team is invited to participate in a number of special projects.

Field Stations can be shops, clubs, charters, instructors, science centers or other groups that encourage REEF surveying. It is free to sign up on the REEF website to become a Field Station.

Field Stations can pick and choose which activities they implement. Here are just a few examples of things they can do to promote and teach REEF surveying.

There are about 200 Field Stations worldwide. You can find one near you by going to the REEF website, Field Station section. (you might want to research ahead of time and find the ones near you to tell your audience).

Other resources are the REEF website, as well as Facebook and Twitter.

Make your dives count! REEF Volunteer Survey Project in the Pacific NW Photo by Pete Naylor

www.REEF.org

Reef Environmental Education Foundation And soon, South Pacific (Fiji, Samoa, etc.)

Reef Environmental Education Foundation Volunteer divers become citizen scientists Divers learn fish through self study or classes taught at REEF Field Stations Publicly accessible online database Current Survey Count as of Nov 2010: 144,437 OVERVIEW OF REEF

Why do surveys? Makes diving more fun! Contributes to valuable database – the more, the better Gives a purpose to your dives, citizen science Track your dives and sightings online Divers are advocates for underwater world

Effective Citizen Science REEF does them well!

Who’s using the data? Endangered Species Act (ESA) listings National Marine Sanctuaries (NOAA) Nature Conservancy Scientific papers using REEF data are listed on REEF website The more data in the database, the more useful it is. Can show trends over a given time period, and more data is statistically more viable.

So you wanna start doing some REEF surveys, but don't know quite how to go about it? Here's the low-down...

Do I have to take a class first?

Do I need to be an expert to get started?

Get a few good books!

Get a slate! (or use your own) Yellow slate $10, white slate $22, Starter Kits $20-$30 Waterproof survey paper .75 (double sided) www.REEF.org

Where should I survey? Anywhere! Year ‘round Anytime – night or day Any site Even on vacation, snorkeling

What do I survey? ALL fish you see Some regions also survey invertebrates / algae / Sea Turtles. Start with only one fish if necessary. Add more as you learn them.

Get in the water! Roving Diver Technique Record only personal sightings – one survey per diver per dive When in doubt, leave it out. Positive sightings only! Start with only one fish if that’s all you know S=Single (1) F=Few (2-10) M=Many (11-100) A=Abundant (101+) Photo by Pete Naylor

Go Online!

Go Online!

Zone out… Find the 8 digit code Site not there? Email GPS coordinates to zonecode@reef.org

How zone codes work: Seacrest Park Cove 2, Washington 2 Washington 26 Seattle to Olympia 2613 West Seattle Area 26130004 Seacrest Park Cove 2 (Alki)

Submit your data

Checking out your own data

View your survey log

Track your own sightings

Experience Levels

Reports!

Demystifying codes SO: Species only SA: Species and Abundance SF: Sighting Frequency (%) DEN: Density (1-4) Novice: levels 1-3 Expert: levels 4,5

Advanced Assessment Team Each region has their own AAT Levels 4 and 5 Data has more weight Invited on special projects Must stay active to remain on team

Field Stations Dive Shops Dive Clubs Dive Charters Independent Instructors Marine Science Centers Sign up is free! www.REEF.org

Field Stations Answer general REEF questions Administer tests Teach REEF Fish / Invertebrate / Algae ID classes Schedule REEF survey dives year round Carry underwater paper, slates, ID books Reward those who complete surveys Promote REEF surveying Fun contests Other – be creative! Do as many of the following as practical:

Local Field Stations Sign up for free on www.REEF.org

Available Resources REEF website – www.REEF.org Quizzes, fish galleries ID Books, survey slates and paper Field Station locations