Fine intervals are required when using point intercept transects to assess coral reef status
The Point Intercept Transect (PIT) method has commonly been used in recent decades for estimating the status of coral reef benthic communities. It is a simple method that is efficiently performed underwater, as benthic components are recorded only as presence or absence at specific interval points a...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-09-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Marine Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2022.795512/full |
| _version_ | 1811258352030711808 |
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| author | Chao-Yang Kuo Cheng-Han Tsai Ya-Yi Huang Wei Khang Heng An-Tzi Hsiao Hernyi Justin Hsieh Chaolun Allen Chen Chaolun Allen Chen Chaolun Allen Chen |
| author_facet | Chao-Yang Kuo Cheng-Han Tsai Ya-Yi Huang Wei Khang Heng An-Tzi Hsiao Hernyi Justin Hsieh Chaolun Allen Chen Chaolun Allen Chen Chaolun Allen Chen |
| author_sort | Chao-Yang Kuo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The Point Intercept Transect (PIT) method has commonly been used in recent decades for estimating the status of coral reef benthic communities. It is a simple method that is efficiently performed underwater, as benthic components are recorded only as presence or absence at specific interval points along transects. Therefore, PIT is also popular in citizen science activities such as Reef Check programs. Longer intervals are commonly associated with longer transects, yet sampling interval length can significantly influence benthic coverage calculations. Despite this, the relative accuracy of longer or shorter intervals related to transect length has not been tested for PIT. In this study, we tested the optimum intervals of PIT for several commonly used transect lengths using the bootstrap method on empirical data collected on tropical coral reefs and non-reefal coral communities. Our results recommend fine intervals of 10 cm or shorter, depending on the length of the transect, to increase the accuracy of estimating benthic community status on coral reefs. Permanent transects should also be considered in long-term monitoring programs to improve data quality. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T18:12:11Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6b0138063d0f47dd812965bae5454d98 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-7745 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T18:12:11Z |
| publishDate | 2022-09-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Marine Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-6b0138063d0f47dd812965bae5454d982022-12-22T03:21:46ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Marine Science2296-77452022-09-01910.3389/fmars.2022.795512795512Fine intervals are required when using point intercept transects to assess coral reef statusChao-Yang Kuo0Cheng-Han Tsai1Ya-Yi Huang2Wei Khang Heng3An-Tzi Hsiao4Hernyi Justin Hsieh5Chaolun Allen Chen6Chaolun Allen Chen7Chaolun Allen Chen8Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, TaiwanCollege of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, AustraliaBiodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, TaiwanBiodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, TaiwanDepartment of Biological Science and Technology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, TaiwanPenghu Marine Biology Research Center, Fisheries Research Institute, Council of Agriculture, Makung, TaiwanBiodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, TaiwanDepartment of Life Science, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, TaiwanDepartment of Life Science, Tunghai University, Taichung, TaiwanThe Point Intercept Transect (PIT) method has commonly been used in recent decades for estimating the status of coral reef benthic communities. It is a simple method that is efficiently performed underwater, as benthic components are recorded only as presence or absence at specific interval points along transects. Therefore, PIT is also popular in citizen science activities such as Reef Check programs. Longer intervals are commonly associated with longer transects, yet sampling interval length can significantly influence benthic coverage calculations. Despite this, the relative accuracy of longer or shorter intervals related to transect length has not been tested for PIT. In this study, we tested the optimum intervals of PIT for several commonly used transect lengths using the bootstrap method on empirical data collected on tropical coral reefs and non-reefal coral communities. Our results recommend fine intervals of 10 cm or shorter, depending on the length of the transect, to increase the accuracy of estimating benthic community status on coral reefs. Permanent transects should also be considered in long-term monitoring programs to improve data quality.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2022.795512/fullbenthic communityreef survey methodsLITreef checkcitizen sciencelong-term monitoring |
| spellingShingle | Chao-Yang Kuo Cheng-Han Tsai Ya-Yi Huang Wei Khang Heng An-Tzi Hsiao Hernyi Justin Hsieh Chaolun Allen Chen Chaolun Allen Chen Chaolun Allen Chen Fine intervals are required when using point intercept transects to assess coral reef status Frontiers in Marine Science benthic community reef survey methods LIT reef check citizen science long-term monitoring |
| title | Fine intervals are required when using point intercept transects to assess coral reef status |
| title_full | Fine intervals are required when using point intercept transects to assess coral reef status |
| title_fullStr | Fine intervals are required when using point intercept transects to assess coral reef status |
| title_full_unstemmed | Fine intervals are required when using point intercept transects to assess coral reef status |
| title_short | Fine intervals are required when using point intercept transects to assess coral reef status |
| title_sort | fine intervals are required when using point intercept transects to assess coral reef status |
| topic | benthic community reef survey methods LIT reef check citizen science long-term monitoring |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2022.795512/full |
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