Dataset: Damselfish energetics from multiple shallow reef sites in the Caribbean between June 2016-2019

This dataset represents Damselfish energetics from multiple shallow reef sites between June 2016-2019 from shallow Caribbean reef habitats: Regional location of the sampling site (STJ = St. John, USVI, STT = St. Thomas, USVI, CUA = Culebra, PR, PRO = La Parguera, PR, GNA = Guana Island, BVI).

Damselfish (10-15 per set) were caught with a modified cast net, secured in individual mesh cages, and placed on the reef for ten 45-minute “sets” which were distributed over a 24-hour period. I chose 45 minutes because it was a sufficient length of time for gnathiids to locate and attach, while also being unlikely that any would complete feeding and drop off prior to retrieval. At each site, the most common species of Stegastes was selected for caged sets. The dusk and dawn time periods, which are known peak times for gnathiid activity, include two sets that have a small overlap in time to capture the full magnitude of the sharp peaks in activity. The entire ten-set distribution was completed at each of the five sites for adult damselfish. 

To compare infestation among various post-settlement life-history stages I simultaneously set caged fish representing juvenile, intermediate, and adult stages during peak gnathiid activity times. Special care was taken to place individuals of each stage in locations where they could likely be found at that time. I also performed sets to compare gnathiid infestation among adults of different Stegastes species. As with the life history comparison sets, care was taken to place individuals of each species in the habitats with which they naturally associate. Life history and species comparison sets were completed for a subset of sampling sites.

Adult damselfish were caught and tagged near the surface with T-bar small anchor tags (Hühn et al., 2014). Tagged fish were placed back in their respective territory and after a period of 7 days were checked weekly. The 7-day lag time allowed for any deleterious effects of the tagging procedure to manifest themselves and be excluded from comparisons. Any fish missing from their territory or the surrounding area was assumed to have been consumed (Booth and Hixon, 1999; Carr et al., 2002). Additionally, juvenile Stegastes were caught and tagged with elastomer tags and monitored for a period of 14 days. The shorter time period used versus adult fish was based on the expectation of higher mortality of juvenile fish.

The manuscript is currently in prep, to be submitted in early 2023.