CRED REA Reef Fish Assessment Survey at French Frigate Shoals, NW Hawaiian Islands in 2008

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Title:
CRED REA Reef Fish Assessment Survey at French Frigate Shoals, NW Hawaiian Islands in 2008
Abstract:
To support a long-term NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP) for sustainable management and conservation of coral reef ecosystems, from 12 September - 12 October 2008, reef fish assessment surveys were conducted, as a part of Rapid Ecological Assessments (REA), during the Pacific Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program (RAMP) Cruise HI0809 in the NW Hawaiian Islands at biennial intervals by the Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED) at the NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC). During the cruise, 32 REA sites were surveyed at French Frigate Shoals in the NW Hawaiian Islands. At the specific REA sites, fish biologists along with coral biologists, algal biologists and marine invertebrate zoologist 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. Reef fish assessment surveys were focused on cataloging the diversity (species richness), abundance (numeric density [# fish 100 m-2] and biomass density [kg 100 m-2]) of diurnally active reef fish assemblages. Three complementary noninvasive underwater survey methods were used, including belt-transect, stationary point count, and roving-diver surveys. For all methods, fish were identified at the species level, when possible, and assigned to a size bin ranging from 1 to 200 cm based on a visual estimate of total fish length. Belt-transect (BLT) surveys were used to quantify the entire diurnal fish community (all size classes). In belt-transect surveys, two fish biologists swam side-by-side along three consecutively-placed, 25m transect lines. The BLT team swam each transect two times. During the initial swim-out, each fish diver recorded all fish larger than 20 cm observed within a 4-m wide belt perpendicular to their respective side of the transect (200 m2 area per line, 100 m2 per diver). On the return swim, each fish diver recorded all fish less than 20 cm observed within a 2-m wide belt (100 m2 area per line, 50 m2 per diver). The survey of large fish took approximately 5 min to complete while the survey of smaller fish took about 10 min to complete. All reef-associated fish, including those in the water column (including planktivores), were counted. Any coastal pelagic species (e.g., clupeids [sardines], belonids [beakfish], antherinids [silversides]) seen near the surface were not recorded. The stationary point count (SPC) method were used to quantify larger, more mobile reef fish species that can be missed on belt-transect surveys. In stationary point count survey, a fish biologist swam approximately 15 m away from a transect line concurrently being surveyed by the other two BLT fish biologists. The SPC biologist then recorded all fish greater than 25 cm in length that passed within a visually estimated 20-m diameter cylinder centered on the diver's fixed position (10-m radius, total area = 314 m2). The survey time for each stationary point count survey was 5 min and a total of four stationary point count surveys were conducted at each REA site. Roving-diver surveys were followed belt-transect and stationary point count surveys. As diver bottom time permitted, the fish assessment team conducted random swim surveys throughout the REA site area, recording, to the species level or the lowest recognizable taxon, the presence of reef fish not encountered during previous methods.
Supplemental_Information:
Maximum depth was 26 meters. Fish species observed: Year Region Island Species TaxonName 2008 NWHI French Frigate ABAB Abudefduf abdominalis 2008 NWHI French Frigate ABVA Abudefduf vaigiensis 2008 NWHI French Frigate ACAC Acanthurus achilles 2008 NWHI French Frigate ACBL Acanthurus blochii 2008 NWHI French Frigate ACDU Acanthurus dussumieri 2008 NWHI French Frigate ACLE Acanthurus leucopareius 2008 NWHI French Frigate ACNF Acanthurus nigrofuscus 2008 NWHI French Frigate ACNR Acanthurus nigroris 2008 NWHI French Frigate ACOL Acanthurus olivaceus 2008 NWHI French Frigate ACTR Acanthurus triostegus 2008 NWHI French Frigate ANCH Anampses chrysocephalus 2008 NWHI French Frigate APFU Aphareus furca 2008 NWHI French Frigate APKA Apogon kallopterus 2008 NWHI French Frigate APAR Apolemichthys arcuatus 2008 NWHI French Frigate APVI Aprion virescens 2008 NWHI French Frigate AUCH Aulostomus chinensis 2008 NWHI French Frigate BOBI Bodianus bilunulatus 2008 NWHI French Frigate CACA Calotomus carolinus 2008 NWHI French Frigate CAZO Calotomus zonarchus 2008 NWHI French Frigate CADU Cantherhines dumerilii 2008 NWHI French Frigate CASA Cantherhines sandwichiensis 2008 NWHI French Frigate CAAM Canthigaster amboinensis 2008 NWHI French Frigate CACO Canthigaster coronata 2008 NWHI French Frigate CAJA Canthigaster jactator 2008 NWHI French Frigate CATY Caracanthus typicus 2008 NWHI French Frigate CAFE Carangoides ferdau 2008 NWHI French Frigate CAOR Carangoides orthogrammus 2008 NWHI French Frigate CAIG Caranx ignobilis 2008 NWHI French Frigate CALU Caranx lugubris 2008 NWHI French Frigate CAME Caranx melampygus 2008 NWHI French Frigate CAAB Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos 2008 NWHI French Frigate CAGA Carcharhinus galapagensis 2008 NWHI French Frigate CEPO Centropyge potteri 2008 NWHI French Frigate CHAU Chaetodon auriga 2008 NWHI French Frigate CHFR Chaetodon fremblii 2008 NWHI French Frigate CHKL Chaetodon kleinii 2008 NWHI French Frigate CHLU Chaetodon lunula 2008 NWHI French Frigate CHLT Chaetodon lunulatus 2008 NWHI French Frigate CHMI Chaetodon miliaris 2008 NWHI French Frigate CHMU Chaetodon multicinctus 2008 NWHI French Frigate CHOR Chaetodon ornatissimus 2008 NWHI French Frigate CHQU Chaetodon quadrimaculatus 2008 NWHI French Frigate CHTR Chaetodon trifascialis 2008 NWHI French Frigate CHUN Chaetodon unimaculatus 2008 NWHI French Frigate CHPE Chlorurus perspicillatus 2008 NWHI French Frigate CHSO Chlorurus sordidus 2008 NWHI French Frigate CHHA Chromis hanui 2008 NWHI French Frigate CHOV Chromis ovalis 2008 NWHI French Frigate CHVA Chromis vanderbilti 2008 NWHI French Frigate CIJO Cirrhilabrus jordani 2008 NWHI French Frigate CIFA Cirrhitops fasciatus 2008 NWHI French Frigate CIPI Cirrhitus pinnulatus 2008 NWHI French Frigate CIVA Cirripectes vanderbilti 2008 NWHI French Frigate COBA Coris ballieui 2008 NWHI French Frigate COFL Coris flavovittata 2008 NWHI French Frigate COGA Coris gaimard 2008 NWHI French Frigate COVE Coris venusta 2008 NWHI French Frigate CTST Ctenochaetus strigosus 2008 NWHI French Frigate DAAL Dascyllus albisella 2008 NWHI French Frigate DEMA Decapterus macarellus 2008 NWHI French Frigate DEBA Dendrochirus barberi 2008 NWHI French Frigate DIHY Diodon hystrix 2008 NWHI French Frigate ELBI Elagatis bipinnulata 2008 NWHI French Frigate EPIN Epibulus insidiator 2008 NWHI French Frigate EXBR Exallias brevis 2008 NWHI French Frigate FOFL Forcipiger flavissimus 2008 NWHI French Frigate FOLO Forcipiger longirostris 2008 NWHI French Frigate GOBI Gobiidae sp 2008 NWHI French Frigate GOVA Gomphosus varius 2008 NWHI French Frigate GOVI Goniistius vittatus 2008 NWHI French Frigate GUCU Gunnellichthys curiosus 2008 NWHI French Frigate GYFL Gymnothorax flavimarginatus 2008 NWHI French Frigate HAOR Halichoeres ornatissimus 2008 NWHI French Frigate HEDI Heniochus diphreutes 2008 NWHI French Frigate HECR Heteropriacanthus cruentatus 2008 NWHI French Frigate INPA Iniistius pavo 2008 NWHI French Frigate CHUB Kyphosidae sp 2008 NWHI French Frigate LAPH Labroides phthirophagus 2008 NWHI French Frigate LUKA Lutjanus kasmira 2008 NWHI French Frigate MAGE Macropharyngodon geoffroy 2008 NWHI French Frigate MABR Malacanthus brevirostris 2008 NWHI French Frigate MABI Manta birostris 2008 NWHI French Frigate MENI Melichthys niger 2008 NWHI French Frigate MEVI Melichthys vidua 2008 NWHI French Frigate MOGR Monotaxis grandoculis 2008 NWHI French Frigate MUFL Mulloidichthys flavolineatus 2008 NWHI French Frigate MUVA Mulloidichthys vanicolensis 2008 NWHI French Frigate MYAM Myripristis amaena 2008 NWHI French Frigate MYBE Myripristis berndti 2008 NWHI French Frigate MYKU Myripristis kuntee 2008 NWHI French Frigate NABR Naso brevirostris 2008 NWHI French Frigate NAHE Naso hexacanthus 2008 NWHI French Frigate NALI Naso lituratus 2008 NWHI French Frigate NAUN Naso unicornis 2008 NWHI French Frigate NESA Neoniphon sammara 2008 NWHI French Frigate NONE no individuals seen 2008 NWHI French Frigate NOTA Novaculichthys taeniourus 2008 NWHI French Frigate OSME Ostracion meleagris 2008 NWHI French Frigate OXBI Oxycheilinus bimaculatus 2008 NWHI French Frigate OXUN Oxycheilinus unifasciatus 2008 NWHI French Frigate PAAR Paracirrhites arcatus 2008 NWHI French Frigate PAFO Paracirrhites forsteri 2008 NWHI French Frigate PASC Parapercis schauinslandii 2008 NWHI French Frigate PACY Parupeneus cyclostomus 2008 NWHI French Frigate PAIN Parupeneus insularis 2008 NWHI French Frigate PAMU Parupeneus multifasciatus 2008 NWHI French Frigate PAPL Parupeneus pleurostigma 2008 NWHI French Frigate PEAS Pervagor aspricaudus 2008 NWHI French Frigate PESP Pervagor spilosoma 2008 NWHI French Frigate PLEW Plagiotremus ewaensis 2008 NWHI French Frigate PLGO Plagiotremus goslinei 2008 NWHI French Frigate PLIM Plectroglyphidodon imparipennis 2008 NWHI French Frigate PLJO Plectroglyphidodon johnstonianus 2008 NWHI French Frigate PRME Priacanthus meeki 2008 NWHI French Frigate PSEV Pseudocheilinus evanidus 2008 NWHI French Frigate PSOC Pseudocheilinus octotaenia 2008 NWHI French Frigate PSTE Pseudocheilinus tetrataenia 2008 NWHI French Frigate PSCE Pseudojuloides cerasinus 2008 NWHI French Frigate PTHE Ptereleotris heteroptera 2008 NWHI French Frigate RHRE Rhinecanthus rectangulus 2008 NWHI French Frigate SASP Sargocentron spiniferum 2008 NWHI French Frigate SAXA Sargocentron xantherythrum 2008 NWHI French Frigate SAGR Saurida gracilis 2008 NWHI French Frigate PARR Scaridae sp 2008 NWHI French Frigate SCDU Scarus dubius 2008 NWHI French Frigate SCPS Scarus psittacus 2008 NWHI French Frigate SCRU Scarus rubroviolaceus 2008 NWHI French Frigate SCSP Scarus sp 2008 NWHI French Frigate SCPP Scorpaenopsis sp 2008 NWHI French Frigate STFA Stegastes fasciolatus 2008 NWHI French Frigate STBA Stethojulis balteata 2008 NWHI French Frigate SUBU Sufflamen bursa 2008 NWHI French Frigate SUFR Sufflamen fraenatum 2008 NWHI French Frigate LIZA Synodontidae sp 2008 NWHI French Frigate SYVA Synodus variegatus 2008 NWHI French Frigate THBA Thalassoma ballieui 2008 NWHI French Frigate THDU Thalassoma duperrey 2008 NWHI French Frigate THPU Thalassoma purpureum 2008 NWHI French Frigate THQU Thalassoma quinquevittatum 2008 NWHI French Frigate TROB Triaenodon obesus 2008 NWHI French Frigate ZACO Zanclus cornutus 2008 NWHI French Frigate ZEFL Zebrasoma flavescens 2008 NWHI French Frigate ZEVE Zebrasoma veliferum
  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), 20101013, CRED REA Reef Fish Assessment Survey at French Frigate Shoals, NW Hawaiian Islands in 2008.

    Online Links:

  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?
    West_Bounding_Coordinate: -166.354917
    East_Bounding_Coordinate: -166.051027
    North_Bounding_Coordinate: 23.884988
    South_Bounding_Coordinate: 23.62388
  3. What does it look like?
  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?
    Beginning_Date: 14-Sep-2008
    Ending_Date: 09-Oct-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?
    "Paula Ayotte, Cori Kane, Amanda Meyer, Yumi Yasutake", 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: Ivor Williams
    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?
    Observations at each site were made by three divers who are experts in fish taxonomy. The team of three REA fish divers rotated roles with two divers performing belt-transect surveys and one diver performing stationary point counts at each survey site. Observations were periodically checked during the expedition for consistency between divers, and little discrepancy was ever noted between divers. It should be noted, however, that this data set is quite large, and probably includes typographical or other errors that might be discovered at a future date.
  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 coral reef habitats at this reef system. Efforts were made to include broad spatial coverage of the reef area, but weather conditions or other environmental constraints may have precluded the team from surveying windward or exposed sites.
  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 scientists. Periodic examination of the data through the duration of the trip showed no signs of diver bias or other discrepancies.

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: 14-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:
the Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata (FGDC-STD-001-1998)
Generated by mp version 2.9.48 on Thu Apr 25 10:41:03 2024