The Nature Conservancy

2 ARTICLES PUBLISHED IN JoVE

Environment

Development of New Methods for Quantifying Fish Density Using Underwater Stereo-video Tools

Christian Denney¹, Ryan Fields¹, Mary Gleason², Richard Starr¹

¹Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, ²The Nature Conservancy

We describe a new method for counting fishes, and estimating relative abundance (MaxN) and fish density using rotating stereo-video camera systems. We also demonstrate how to use distance from camera (Z distance) to estimate species-specific detectability.

Environment

Field Collection and Laboratory Maintenance of Canopy-Forming Giant Kelp to Facilitate Restoration

Phoebe D. Dawkins¹, Andrea Paz-Lacavex², Evan A. Fiorenza¹, Makena A. Rush¹, Rodrigo Beas-Luna³, Julio Lorda⁴, Luis Malpica-Cruz⁵, Jose M. Sandoval-Gil⁵, Tristin A. McHugh⁶, Min K. Han¹, Matthew E. S. Bracken¹, Joleah B. Lamb¹

¹Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Irvine, ²Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, ³Facultad de Ciencias Marinas, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, ⁴Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, ⁵Instituto de Investigaciones Oceanológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, ⁶The Nature Conservancy

This protocol describes the field collection and regular laboratory maintenance of substrates seeded with canopy-forming giant kelp for use in restoration trials to address the success and limitations of the 'green gravel' technique in field settings.