Goby hole densities

To determine the density of gobies in the bay, random line transects will be used. Each line transect will be 20 meters long by 1 meter wide. Densities will be measured by snorklers traveling along a 20m line and using a 1 meter wide bar to make sure holes are within the transect. 10 transects will be laid in the bay on the north and 10 in the south to compare for any variability (even though sampling of gobies for the predation study will only occur in the north quadrate).

Transects will be conducted at low tide (so that snorklers can crawl slowly across the bottom as motionless as possible, thus keeping gobies above ground before shrimp and goby leave the area), and between the most active hours of goby and shrimp from 9am to 3pm. Sampling with this method should allow the samplers to observe every individual. Each hole will have the following data included.

· Substrate / Location in the Bay / Distance along line / nearest neighbor / number of shrimp / number of gobies / goby size / shrimp size / predators (spp, number, size)