Spatial variation in fish abundances in the Lord Howe Island Marine Park.

The abundances of recruit, juvenile and adult fishes of 36 common species in the Lord Howe Island lagoon system were estimated in November and December 2003. Twenty hard substrata reef sites were sampled by SCUBA divers swimming along three virtual transects per site. Virtual transects were measured using a sonar navigation system (see Patterson et al 2007 for details). Divers recorded species and life history stage of each individual based on size or other characteristics such as colouration or morphology.