In all, data on up to 26 different variables were recorded for each of the 5749 individual starfish. Seven of these variables related to the sampling conditions at each site or area (Table 2). This information was normally recorded at the beginning of a survey and generally was the same for all starfish for a given site, unless the surveys were conducted over several days or over a large area of the reef. Information on a further nine variables (Table 3) was recorded which directly related to each starfish. Some of them (e.g. distribution and density) were categorical whilst others (e.g.diameter, depth) were quantitative. Criteria were developed (Table 3) as an aid to recording the former.
If the starfish was observed to be feeding on a hard coral, additional information on up to 10 variables was recorded, principally to determine feeding preferences.