CRED REA Line Point Intercept Surveys of Benthic Parameter Assessments at Aguijan Island, Marianas Archipelago in 2009

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What does this data set describe?

Title:
CRED REA Line Point Intercept Surveys of Benthic Parameter Assessments at Aguijan Island, Marianas Archipelago in 2009
Abstract:
To support a long-term NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP) for sustainable management and conservation of coral reef ecosystems, from 5 April - 14 April 2009, line point intercept (LPI) surveys of benthic parameter assessments were conducted, as a part of Rapid Ecological Assessments (REA), during the Pacific Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program (RAMP) Cruise HI0902 in the Marianas Archipelago at biennial intervals by the Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED) at the NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC). During the cruise, 6 REA sites were surveyed at Aguijan Island in the Marianas Archipelago. At the specific REA sites, coral biologists along with algal biologists, marine invertebrate zoologist, and fish biologists entered the water and conducted a fine-scale (~300 m2) and high degree of taxonomic resolution REA survey to assess and monitor species composition, abundance, percent cover, size distribution, diversity, and general health of fish, corals, macro-invertebrates, and algae in shallow-water (< 35 m) habitats. As a part of REA surveys, the line point intercept surveys were used to quantitatively assess average percent live coral cover and other benthic substrates at REA sites. The surveys were conducted along two consecutively-placed 25m transect lines by a coral biologist. All benthic elements falling directly underneath the transect line at 20-cm to 50-cm intervals were recorded as one of nine benthic categories: live coral, dead coral, carbonate pavement, encrusting coralline algae, macroalgae, coral rubble, sand, rock, and other benthic sessile invertebrates. All living benthic elements (e.g., coral, algae, and other invertebrates) were identified to the lowest taxonomic level possible. These data provide the basis for computing quantitative estimates of percent live coral cover, as well as percent cover of the different benthic constituents.
Supplemental_Information:
Maximum depth was 23 meters. Benthic cover parameters observed: Year Region Island BenthicCategory BenthicName 2009 MARIAN Aguijan CALG crustose coralline red algae 2009 MARIAN Aguijan CALG Dead/coralline algae 2009 MARIAN Aguijan CALG Pavement/Coralline algae 2009 MARIAN Aguijan CALG Rubble/coralline algae 2009 MARIAN Aguijan CORL Acropora abrotnoides 2009 MARIAN Aguijan CORL Acropora digitifera 2009 MARIAN Aguijan CORL Acropora humilis 2009 MARIAN Aguijan CORL Acropora sp 2009 MARIAN Aguijan CORL Acropora surculosa 2009 MARIAN Aguijan CORL Astreopora sp 2009 MARIAN Aguijan CORL Coscinaraea columna 2009 MARIAN Aguijan CORL Cyphastrea sp 2009 MARIAN Aguijan CORL Favia matthai 2009 MARIAN Aguijan CORL Favia sp 2009 MARIAN Aguijan CORL Favia stelligera 2009 MARIAN Aguijan CORL Galaxea fascicularis 2009 MARIAN Aguijan CORL Galaxea sp 2009 MARIAN Aguijan CORL Goniastrea retiformis 2009 MARIAN Aguijan CORL Goniastrea sp 2009 MARIAN Aguijan CORL Hydnophora microconnos 2009 MARIAN Aguijan CORL Leptastrea sp 2009 MARIAN Aguijan CORL Leptoria phyrgia 2009 MARIAN Aguijan CORL Millepora sp 2009 MARIAN Aguijan CORL Montipora sp 2009 MARIAN Aguijan CORL Pavona minuta 2009 MARIAN Aguijan CORL Pavona sp 2009 MARIAN Aguijan CORL Pavona varians 2009 MARIAN Aguijan CORL Platygyra sp 2009 MARIAN Aguijan CORL Pocillopora eydouxi 2009 MARIAN Aguijan CORL Pocillopora meandrina 2009 MARIAN Aguijan CORL Pocillopora sp 2009 MARIAN Aguijan CORL Porites lobata 2009 MARIAN Aguijan CORL Porites lutea 2009 MARIAN Aguijan Corl Porites massive 2009 MARIAN Aguijan CORL Porites rus 2009 MARIAN Aguijan CORL Porites sp 2009 MARIAN Aguijan CORL Stylophora sp 2009 MARIAN Aguijan CYAN Cyanobacteria 2009 MARIAN Aguijan CYAN Dead/Cyanobacteria 2009 MARIAN Aguijan CYAN Pavement/cyanobacteria 2009 MARIAN Aguijan malg Caulerpa serrulata 2009 MARIAN Aguijan malg Halimeda opuntia 2009 MARIAN Aguijan malg Halimeda sp 2009 MARIAN Aguijan malg Halimeda taenicola 2009 MARIAN Aguijan malg Halimeda tuna 2009 MARIAN Aguijan malg Lobophora variegata 2009 MARIAN Aguijan malg Microdictyon setchellianum 2009 MARIAN Aguijan malg Microdictyon sp 2009 MARIAN Aguijan malg Padina sp 2009 MARIAN Aguijan OCTO Lobophyton sp 2009 MARIAN Aguijan OCTO Octocoral 2009 MARIAN Aguijan OTHR Sponge 2009 MARIAN Aguijan SAND Sand 2009 MARIAN Aguijan TALG Dead/Turf algae 2009 MARIAN Aguijan TALG Pavement/Turf 2009 MARIAN Aguijan TALG Rubble/turfalgae 2009 MARIAN Aguijan TALG turf algae
  1. How might this data set be cited?
    Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED), Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 20090415, CRED REA Line Point Intercept Surveys of Benthic Parameter Assessments at Aguijan Island, Marianas Archipelago in 2009.

    Online Links:

  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?
    West_Bounding_Coordinate: 145.513089
    East_Bounding_Coordinate: 145.59934
    North_Bounding_Coordinate: 14.894833
    South_Bounding_Coordinate: 14.801742
  3. What does it look like?
  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?
    Beginning_Date: 11-Apr-2009
    Ending_Date: 11-Apr-2009
    Currentness_Reference: Ground condition
  5. What is the general form of this data set?
    Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: spreadsheet
  6. How does the data set represent geographic features?
    1. How are geographic features stored in the data set?
    2. What coordinate system is used to represent geographic features?
      Horizontal positions are specified in geographic coordinates, that is, latitude and longitude. Latitudes are given to the nearest 0.0001. Longitudes are given to the nearest 0.0001. Latitude and longitude values are specified in Decimal Degrees. The horizontal datum used is World Geodetic System 1984 (WGS84).
      The ellipsoid used is Geodetic Reference System 80 (GRS80).
      The semi-major axis of the ellipsoid used is 6378137.
      The flattening of the ellipsoid used is 1/298.2572236.
      Vertical_Coordinate_System_Definition:
      Depth_System_Definition:
      Depth_Datum_Name: Local surface
      Depth_Resolution: 1
      Depth_Distance_Units: meters
      Depth_Encoding_Method: Explicit Depth Coordinate Included with Horizontal Coordinates
  7. How does the data set describe geographic features?

Who produced the data set?

  1. Who are the originators of the data set? (may include formal authors, digital compilers, and editors)
  2. Who also contributed to the data set?
    "Dave Burdick, Cristi Richards", Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED), Pacific Islands Fisheries Sciences Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA
  3. To whom should users address questions about the data?
    Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED), Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
    Attn: Dr. Bernardo Vargas-Angel
    NOAA IRC
    Honolulu, HI
    USA

    808 725-5360 (voice)
    808 725-5429 (FAX)
    nmfs.pic.credinfo@noaa.gov
    Contact_Instructions: e-mail preferred

Why was the data set created?

Part of a long-term monitoring program at biennial intervals which documents the state of the reefs.

How was the data set created?

  1. From what previous works were the data drawn?
  2. How were the data generated, processed, and modified?
    Date: Unknown (process 1 of 1)
    REA surveys are investigations that provide a high degree of taxonomic resolution for coral, algae, other macroinvertebrate, and reef fish communities. The surveys were conducted using a combination of dive teams which generally included a two to three person fish team, a two person coral/coral disease team, and a combined team of two algae biologists and one macroinvertebrate biologist. The majority of REA surveys were conducted along the forereef slopes of individual islands at depths between 10 and 20 m. However, additional surveyed habitats included a lagoonal-type patch reef and offshore oceanic banks. During REA surveys, biological assessment teams follow highly structured protocols that are repeated at each REA site. Upon arrival at an REA site, three teams of divers enter the water over spaced time intervals. The fish team firstly enters the water and deploys a 25-m transect line. Two of the fish divers begin to survey along that transect while the remaining fish diver begins stationary point count assessments in the general vicinity. After approximately 20 min, the coral team enters the water and begins to work along the first transect line. By this time the fish team has deployed and begun surveys along a second 25-m transect. About 10 min later, the algal/invertebrate team enters the water and begins surveying the first transect. In total, the fish team surveys three transects at each site (transects 1, 2, and 3), and the coral and algal/invertebrate teams survey transects 1 and 2. The sampling effort takes between 60 and 80 min to complete. The selection of REA sites was made in close consultation with Coral Reef Advisory Group (CRAG) and local agencies. Factors considered during REA site selection included: (1) ensuring a range of sample sites representative of the benthic and reef fish habitats around each island; (2) selecting a mixture of sites within and outside of marine protected areas; (3) selecting a mixture of both 'impacted' and 'least impacted' sites; (4) selecting some sites adjacent to local villages, and (5) selecting a number of sites that could be compared to and complement previous assessment and monitoring work as well as future coral reef monitoring proposed by CRAG and local agencies. It is important to note that access to REA sites can be limited by wave exposure, weather conditions, and other environmental factors such as currents, which can affect the ability to resurvey sites between years. Transect placement was guided by: (1) a focus on hard-bottom communities; (2) deploying lines along an isobath to the extent possible at each site, and (3) laying the transect lines into the prevailing current.
  3. What similar or related data should the user be aware of?

How reliable are the data; what problems remain in the data set?

  1. How well have the observations been checked?
    The benthic cover parameter observations were made by a single diver who is coral reef ecologist. The benthic cover assessment surveys are conducted one time per site per survey year; it is not replicated.
  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?
    GPS unit
  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?
    Dive computer and SCUBA depth gauge
  4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?
    The survey sites were selected to be representative of the dominant habitats at this reef system. The majority of surveys were conducted in the lagoon due to inclement sea conditions in other habitats.
  5. How consistent are the relationships among the observations, including topology?
    The same methods of data collection were used at each of the sites surveyed at this location, and were conducted by the same scientist.

How can someone get a copy of the data set?

Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?
Access_Constraints: Data are available two years following data collection date
Use_Constraints:
Please cite CRED when using the data. Coral Reef Ecosystem Division, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
  1. Who distributes the data set? (Distributor 1 of 1)
    Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED), Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
    Attn: CRED Data Management Team
    NOAA IRC
    Honolulu, HI
    USA

    808 725-5360 (voice)
    808 725-5429 (FAX)
    nmfs.pic.credinfo@noaa.gov
    Contact_Instructions: e-mail preferred
  2. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set? Offline Data
  3. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?
    While every effort has been made to ensure that these data are accurate and reliable within the limits of the current state of the art, NOAA cannot assume liability for any damages caused by errors or omissions in the data, nor as a result of the failure of the data to function on a particular system. NOAA makes no warranty, expressed or implied, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty.
  4. How can I download or order the data?
  5. Is there some other way to get the data?
    Contact CRED data management team for information
  6. What hardware or software do I need in order to use the data set?
    Contact CRED data management team for information

Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:
Last modified: 26-May-2019
Last Reviewed: 08-Sep-2009
Metadata author:
Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED), Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
NOAA IRC
Honolulu, HI
USA

808 725-5360 (voice)
808 725-5429 (FAX)
nmfs.pic.credinfo@noaa.gov
Contact_Instructions: e-mail preferred
Metadata standard:
Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata (FGDC-STD-001-1998)

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