Mangrove fish community assessment using remote underwater video systems and visual transects

Understanding the strengths and limitations of different fish survey methods can help researchers decide which survey method is most appropriate and efficient for their research goals. This study compares remote underwater video system (RUVS) and diver-based belt transect surveys as methods to characterize subtropical mangrove fish communities. Both survey types were conducted at two sites in Biscayne Bay, Florida. RUVS and transect surveys recorded comparable fish species richness and abundances per survey, although RUVS recorded greater levels of diversity at one of the two sites. RUVS surveys also recorded greater species richness than belt transects after multiple surveys. The two survey methods captured different components of the fish communities: RUVS surveys were better for detecting and quantifying mobile predators whereas transects were more effective for detecting small cryptic fishes. Using more than one fish survey method can lead to a more thorough characterization of fish assemblages, avoiding the biases of any one specific survey method. Therefore, as resources allow, both RUVS and belt transect survey methods should be used to accurately characterize mangrove fish communities.