Shallow-reef fish assemblage from Fernando de Noronha Archipelago, SW Atlantic

Abstract

The paper presents an extensive dataset of the shallow-reef fish communities and habitat characteristics in the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago (SW Atlantic). The data was collected from August to October of 2006 in the Fernando de Noronha main island, which belongs to the Brazilian Oceanic Islands - PELD/ILOC (https://deims.org/030bec0b-f6ac-4840-b226-af813258b14b). To evaluate the shallow-reef fish communities, 165 visual censuses were performed in eight different localities in the Fernando de Noronha Island.The dataset reports a comprehensive compilation of the shallow reef fish abundance, of eight localities of the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago. The dataset reveals spatial heterogeneity among the selected localities in terms of fish abundance, composition and size.