CRED REA Line Point Intercept Surveys of Benthic Parameter Assessments at Palmyra Atoll, Pacific Remote Island Areas in 2010

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What does this data set describe?

Title:
CRED REA Line Point Intercept Surveys of Benthic Parameter Assessments at Palmyra Atoll, Pacific Remote Island Areas in 2010
Abstract:
To support a long-term NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP) for sustainable management and conservation of coral reef ecosystems, from 07-13 April 2010, 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 HI1001 in the Pacific Remote Island Areas at biennial intervals by the Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED) at the NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC). During the cruise, 19 REA sites were surveyed at Palmyra Atoll in the Pacific Remote Island Areas. Benthic biologists from NOAA's Coral Reef Ecosystem Division conducted Line Point Intercept surveys to quantitatively document the benthic cover at pre-determined long-term monitoring REA sites. Two linear 25M transects were surveyed with a 5M inter-transect region between the end of Transect 1 and the start of Transect 2. The LPI diver determines the benthic composition at 20cm intervals for a total of 125 data points per transect. All living benthic elements (e.g., coral, algae, and other invertebrates) were identified to the lowest taxonomic level possible, often substituting functional group categories for turf algae and crustose coralline algae when identification in the field was extremely difficult. In cases where the substrate is bare or covered with turf algae, the substrate composition is also noted as either sand, rock, rubble, carbonate pavement, or dead coral. These data allow for the assessment and monitoring of species composition and abundance and provide the basis for computing quantitative estimates of percent cover at higher taxonomic levels like functional group (live Coral, macroalgae, turf algae) or on a finer taxonomic resolution such as genus level.
Supplemental_Information:
Maximum depth was 20 meters. Benthic cover parameters observed: Year Region Island BenthicName 2010 PRIAs Palmyra Lobophora variegata 2010 PRIAs Palmyra Dead/Turf algae 2010 PRIAs Palmyra Porites lutea 2010 PRIAs Palmyra Dead/coralline algae 2010 PRIAs Palmyra Halimeda opuntia 2010 PRIAs Palmyra Sinularia sp 2010 PRIAs Palmyra Rubble/coralline algae 2010 PRIAs Palmyra Rubble 2010 PRIAs Palmyra Porolithon onkodes 2010 PRIAs Palmyra Porites lobata 2010 PRIAs Palmyra Pavona duerdeni 2010 PRIAs Palmyra Pocillopora meandrina 2010 PRIAs Palmyra Sand 2010 PRIAs Palmyra Acropora sp 2010 PRIAs Palmyra Montipora sp 2010 PRIAs Palmyra Sarcophyton sp 2010 PRIAs Palmyra Galaxaura filamentosa 2010 PRIAs Palmyra Favia stelligera 2010 PRIAs Palmyra Halimeda taenicola 2010 PRIAs Palmyra Porites vaughani 2010 PRIAs Palmyra Turbinaria reniformis 2010 PRIAs Palmyra Galaxaura marginata 2010 PRIAs Palmyra Pavona varians 2010 PRIAs Palmyra Bryopsis pennata 2010 PRIAs Palmyra Pneophyllum sp. 2010 PRIAs Palmyra Astreopora sp 2010 PRIAs Palmyra Pocillopora eydouxi 2010 PRIAs Palmyra Porites rus 2010 PRIAs Palmyra Fungia sp 2010 PRIAs Palmyra Rhodactis sp 2010 PRIAs Palmyra Montipora aequitrabeculata 2010 PRIAs Palmyra Favites sp 2010 PRIAs Palmyra Dictyota sp 2010 PRIAs Palmyra Pocillopora damicornis 2010 PRIAs Palmyra Favia sp 2010 PRIAs Palmyra Stylophora sp 2010 PRIAs Palmyra Montastrea sp 2010 PRIAs Palmyra Peyssonnelia sp 2010 PRIAs Palmyra Hydnophora microconnos 2010 PRIAs Palmyra Halimeda fragilis 2010 PRIAs Palmyra Pocillopora verrucosa 2010 PRIAs Palmyra Cyanobacteria 2010 PRIAs Palmyra Dead coral 2010 PRIAs Palmyra Pavona maldivensis 2010 PRIAs Palmyra Platygyra daedalea 2010 PRIAs Palmyra Porites australiensis 2010 PRIAs Palmyra Rubble/turfalgae 2010 PRIAs Palmyra Dictyosphaeria versluysii 2010 PRIAs Palmyra Hydnophora exesa 2010 PRIAs Palmyra Lithophyllum sp. 2010 PRIAs Palmyra Psammocora haimeana 2010 PRIAs Palmyra Rubble/sand 2010 PRIAs Palmyra Leptoseris mycetoseroides 2010 PRIAs Palmyra Montipora capitata 2010 PRIAs Palmyra Montipora incrassata 2010 PRIAs Palmyra Leptastrea sp 2010 PRIAs Palmyra Dictyosphaeria cavernosa 2010 PRIAs Palmyra Montipora verrucosa 2010 PRIAs Palmyra Ceramium sp 2010 PRIAs Palmyra Palythoa sp 2010 PRIAs Palmyra Montipora verilli 2010 PRIAs Palmyra Steroenepthya sp 2010 PRIAs Palmyra Lobophyllia sp 2010 PRIAs Palmyra Amphiroa sp 2010 PRIAs Palmyra Cladiella sp 2010 PRIAs Palmyra Pavement 2010 PRIAs Palmyra Avrainvillea lacerata 2010 PRIAs Palmyra Gardineroseris planulata 2010 PRIAs Palmyra Pavement/Coralline algae 2010 PRIAs Palmyra Stylophora pistillata 2010 PRIAs Palmyra Platygyra sp 2010 PRIAs Palmyra Hydrolithon sp 2010 PRIAs Palmyra Titanoderma protypum 2010 PRIAs Palmyra Montipora tuberculosa 2010 PRIAs Palmyra crustose coralline red algae 2010 PRIAs Palmyra Halomitra pileus 2010 PRIAs Palmyra Pavona explanulata 2010 PRIAs Palmyra Hydnophora sp 2010 PRIAs Palmyra Octocoral 2010 PRIAs Palmyra Montipora flabellata 2010 PRIAs Palmyra Valonia utricularis 2010 PRIAs Palmyra Sand/turf 2010 PRIAs Palmyra Herpolitha sp 2010 PRIAs Palmyra Porites sp 2010 PRIAs Palmyra Psammocora sp 2010 PRIAs Palmyra Pavona chiriquiensis 2010 PRIAs Palmyra Sandalolitha sp 2010 PRIAs Palmyra Tubastrea/Balanophyllia 2010 PRIAs Palmyra Distichopora sp 2010 PRIAs Palmyra Grateloupia sp 2010 PRIAs Palmyra Stylaster sp 2010 PRIAs Palmyra Favites pentagonia 2010 PRIAs Palmyra Mesophyllum sp 2010 PRIAs Palmyra Favia matthai 2010 PRIAs Palmyra Favites complanata 2010 PRIAs Palmyra Echinopora sp 2010 PRIAs Palmyra Caulerpa sertularioides 2010 PRIAs Palmyra Pavona minuta 2010 PRIAs Palmyra Carpopeltis sp 2010 PRIAs Palmyra Neogoniolithon sp 2010 PRIAs Palmyra Caulerpa cupressoides 2010 PRIAs Palmyra Stylophora mordax
  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), 20120413, CRED REA Line Point Intercept Surveys of Benthic Parameter Assessments at Palmyra Atoll, Pacific Remote Island Areas in 2010.

    Online Links:

  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?
    West_Bounding_Coordinate: -162.188484
    East_Bounding_Coordinate: -161.975032
    North_Bounding_Coordinate: 5.916696
    South_Bounding_Coordinate: 5.848978
  3. What does it look like?
  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?
    Beginning_Date: 07-Apr-2010
    Ending_Date: 13-Apr-2010
    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?
    Nichole Price, Center for Marine Biodiversity and Conservation, Marine Biology Research Division, Scripps Institution of Oceanography University of California
  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)
    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, and other macroinvertebrate communities. The majority of REA surveys were conducted along the forereef slopes of individual islands at depths between 10 and 20 m. However, additional habitats including lagoonal-type patch reef and offshore oceanic banks were surveyed when they existed. During REA surveys, biological assessment teams follow highly structured protocols that are repeated at each REA site. Upon arrival at an REA site, divers entered the water and deployed two 25M transect lines which are shared with coral surveys that gather community structure, diversity, recruitment, and health status data. 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.
  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)
    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: 16-Sep-2010
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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