CRED REA Benthic Parameter Assessment at Ofu and Olosega Island, American Samoa in 2008

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What does this data set describe?

Title:
CRED REA Benthic Parameter Assessment at Ofu and Olosega Island, American Samoa in 2008
Abstract:
Point-count surveys at 50-cm intervals were conducted along 2 consecutively placed, 25m line transect lines, as part of Rapid Ecological Assessments conducted at 10 sites around Ofu and Olosega Island in American Samoa from 28 February to 05 March 2008 aboard the NOAA ship Hi'ialakai during the Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program (RAMP) Cruise HI0802. Raw survey data consisted of counts of benthic elements, including but not limited to live coral, dead coral, carbonate pavement, sand, coral rubble, fleshy macroalgae, crustose coralline algae, turfalgae, as well as other sessile invertebrates along the two transects. All live benthic elements 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 16 meters. Benthic cover parameters observed: BenthicCategory BenthicName ANTH corallimorph ANTH Rhodactis sp CALG Branched calcified rhodophyta CALG Crustose coralline algae CALG Dead/coralline algae CALG Pavement/Coralline algae CALG Rock/Crustose coralline algae CALG Rubble/coralline algae CALG Sand/Coralline algae CORL Acanthastrea echinata CORL Acanthastrea sp CORL Acropora abrotnoides CORL Acropora clathrata CORL Acropora crateriformis CORL Acropora cytherea CORL Acropora digitifera CORL Acropora elseyi CORL Acropora formosa CORL Acropora gemmifera CORL Acropora humilis CORL Acropora hyacinthus CORL Acropora nasuta CORL Acropora nobilis CORL Acropora palifera CORL Acropora retusa CORL Acropora robusta CORL Acropora sp CORL Acropora sp microclados CORL Acropora valida CORL Astreopora myriophthalma CORL Astreopora randalli CORL Astreopora sp CORL coral CORL Coscinaraea columna CORL Coscinaraea sp CORL Coscinaraea spraea CORL Cyphastrea ocellina CORL Cyphastrea sp CORL Diploastrea heliopora CORL Distichopora sp CORL Echinophyllia sp CORL Echinopora lamellosa CORL Echinopora sp CORL Echinopora spyllia CORL Favia matthai CORL Favia pallida CORL Favia sp CORL Favia speciosa CORL Favia stelligera CORL Favites complanata CORL Favites sp CORL Fungia scutaria CORL Fungia sp CORL Galaxea fascicularis CORL Galaxea sp CORL Gardineroseris planulata CORL Goniastrea edwardsi CORL Goniastrea pectinata CORL Goniastrea sp CORL Goniopora sp CORL Halomitra sp CORL Heliopora coerulea CORL Heliopora sp CORL Herpolitha sp CORL Hydnophora exesa CORL Hydnophora microconnos CORL Hydnophora sp CORL Leptastrea pruinosa CORL Leptastrea purpurea CORL Leptastrea sp CORL Leptoria phyrgia CORL Leptoria sp CORL Leptoseris incrustans CORL Leptoseris mycetoseroides CORL Lobophyllia sp CORL Merulina ampliata CORL Merulina sp CORL Millepora platyphylla CORL Millepora sp CORL Montastera valenciennesi CORL Montastrea curta CORL Montastrea sp CORL Montipora aequitrabeculata CORL Montipora capitata CORL Montipora flabellata CORL Montipora foveolata CORL Montipora grisea CORL Montipora hoffmeisteri CORL Montipora incrassata CORL Montipora nodosa CORL Montipora patula CORL Montipora peltiformis CORL Montipora sp CORL Montipora sp informis CORL Montipora tuberculosa CORL Montipora verrucosa CORL Mycedium elephantotus CORL Oulophyllia sp CORL Oxypora sp CORL Pachyseris sp CORL Pachyseris speciosa CORL Pavona chiriquiensis CORL Pavona clavus CORL Pavona duerdeni CORL Pavona explanulata CORL Pavona maldivensis CORL Pavona minuta CORL Pavona sp CORL Pavona varians CORL Platygyra daedalea CORL Platygyra sp CORL Plerogyra sp CORL Pocillopora capitata CORL Pocillopora damicornis CORL Pocillopora elegans CORL Pocillopora eydouxi CORL Pocillopora ligulata CORL Pocillopora meandrina CORL Pocillopora molokensis CORL Pocillopora sp CORL Pocillopora verrucosa CORL Porites brighami CORL Porites compressa CORL Porites cylindrica CORL Porites evermanni CORL Porites lichen CORL Porites lobata CORL Porites lutea CORL Porites monticulosa CORL Porites rus CORL Porites solida CORL Porites sp CORL Porites vaughani CORL Psammocora haimeana CORL Psammocora nierstraszi CORL Psammocora obtusangula CORL Psammocora sp CORL Psammocora stellata CORL Sandalolitha sp CORL Scapophyllia cylindrica CORL Stylocoeniella sp CORL Stylophora pistillata CORL Stylophora sp CORL Symphyllia cf recta CORL Symphyllia sp CORL Turbinaria reniformis CORL Turbinaria sp CYAN Cyanobacteria CYAN Metal/Cyanobacteria CYAN Pavement/cyanobacteria CYAN Rock/Cyanobacteria CYAN Rubble/Cyanobacteria DEAD Dead coral DEAD Dead/Cyanobacteria INVT Echinoderm INVT Invertebrate INVT Mollusk INVT Other Invertebrate INVT Tunicate MALG Caulerpa sp MALG Cheilosporum sp MALG Dead/lobophora MALG Dictyosphaeria sp MALG Dictyota sp MALG Halimeda sp. MALG Halymenia MALG Lobophora sp MALG Macroalgae MALG Microdictyon MALG Padina sp MALG Pavement/macroalgae MALG Pavementement/lobophora MALG Red algae MALG Rock/lobophora MALG Rubble/Lobophora MALG Rubble/macroalgae MALG Valonia MANM Metal MOLL Tridacna sp OCTO Briareum sp OCTO Cladiella sp OCTO Lobophyton sp OCTO Octocoral OCTO Pachyclavularia sp OCTO Sarcophyton sp OCTO Sinularia sp OTHR Other OTHR Sponge PAVE Pavement ROCK Rock RUBB Rubble RUBB Sand/Rubble SAND Rubble/sand SAND Sand TALG Dead/Turf algae TALG Pavement/Turf TALG Rock/Sand/turf TALG Rock/turf TALG Rubble/turfalgae TALG Sand/turf TALG Turfalgae ZOAN Palythoa sp. ZOAN Zoanthus sp
  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), 20100322, CRED REA Benthic Parameter Assessment at Ofu and Olosega Island, American Samoa in 2008.

    Online Links:

  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?
    West_Bounding_Coordinate: -169.696867
    East_Bounding_Coordinate: -169.589923
    North_Bounding_Coordinate: -14.144999
    South_Bounding_Coordinate: -14.212963
  3. What does it look like?
  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?
    Beginning_Date: 28-Feb-2008
    Ending_Date: 05-Mar-2008
    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?
    Dr. Jean Kenyon and Jason Helyer, Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED), Pacific Island 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 in which corals, algae, fish, and other macroinvertebrates are co-sampled along the same set of transect lines.

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)
    As a diver swam along the transect line, he inspected the benthic elements falling directly underneath each 50-cm mark on the transect line. Each such element was tallied under the following scheme: live coral, dead coral, carbonate pavement, coral rubble, sand, rock, macroalgae, turfalgae invertebrate, and other. Live benthic elements including coral, algae, and invertebrates were identified to the lowest taxonomic level possible.
  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 a 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 either Jean Kenyon or Jason Helyer.

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: 05-Jun-2019
Last Reviewed: 20-Nov-2008
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:
the Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata (FGDC-STD-001-1998)

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