CRED REA Reef Fish Assessment Survey at Saipan Island, Marianas Archipelago in 2009

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Title:
CRED REA Reef Fish Assessment Survey at Saipan 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 - 7 May 2009, reef fish assessment surveys were conducted, as a part of Rapid Ecological Assessments (REA), during the Pacific Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program (RAMP) Cruise HI0902 and HI0903 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, 23 REA sites were surveyed at Saipan Island in the Marianas Archipelago. 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 24 meters. Fish species observed: Year Region Island Species TaxonName 2009 MARIAN Saipan ABSO Abudefduf sordidus 2009 MARIAN Saipan ABVA Abudefduf vaigiensis 2009 MARIAN Saipan SURG Acanthuridae sp 2009 MARIAN Saipan ACAC Acanthurus achilles 2009 MARIAN Saipan ACBL Acanthurus blochii 2009 MARIAN Saipan ACGU Acanthurus guttatus 2009 MARIAN Saipan ACLI Acanthurus lineatus 2009 MARIAN Saipan ACNC Acanthurus nigricans 2009 MARIAN Saipan ACNF Acanthurus nigrofuscus 2009 MARIAN Saipan ACNR Acanthurus nigroris 2009 MARIAN Saipan ACOL Acanthurus olivaceus 2009 MARIAN Saipan ACPY Acanthurus pyroferus 2009 MARIAN Saipan ACTR Acanthurus triostegus 2009 MARIAN Saipan ALSC Aluterus scriptus 2009 MARIAN Saipan AMSC Amanses scopas 2009 MARIAN Saipan AMCH Amphiprion chrysopterus 2009 MARIAN Saipan AMCL Amphiprion clarkii 2009 MARIAN Saipan ANCA Anampses caeruleopunctatus 2009 MARIAN Saipan ANMG Anampses meleagrides 2009 MARIAN Saipan ANTW Anampses twistii 2009 MARIAN Saipan APFU Aphareus furca 2009 MARIAN Saipan APAN Apogon angustatus 2009 MARIAN Saipan APTR Apolemichthys trimaculatus 2009 MARIAN Saipan APVI Aprion virescens 2009 MARIAN Saipan ARME Arothron meleagris 2009 MARIAN Saipan ARNI Arothron nigropunctatus 2009 MARIAN Saipan ARST Arothron stellatus 2009 MARIAN Saipan ASTA Aspidontus taeniatus 2009 MARIAN Saipan AUCH Aulostomus chinensis 2009 MARIAN Saipan BAUN Balistapus undulatus 2009 MARIAN Saipan BACO Balistoides conspicillum 2009 MARIAN Saipan BAVI Balistoides viridescens 2009 MARIAN Saipan NEED Belonidae sp 2009 MARIAN Saipan BLEN Blenniidae sp 2009 MARIAN Saipan BOAX Bodianus axillaris 2009 MARIAN Saipan CACA Calotomus carolinus 2009 MARIAN Saipan CADU Cantherhines dumerilii 2009 MARIAN Saipan CAPA Cantherhines pardalis 2009 MARIAN Saipan CAAM Canthigaster amboinensis 2009 MARIAN Saipan CACO Canthigaster coronata 2009 MARIAN Saipan CASO Canthigaster solandri 2009 MARIAN Saipan CAFE Carangoides ferdau 2009 MARIAN Saipan CAOR Carangoides orthogrammus 2009 MARIAN Saipan CAME Caranx melampygus 2009 MARIAN Saipan CASP Caranx sp 2009 MARIAN Saipan CEFL Centropyge flavissima 2009 MARIAN Saipan CEHE Centropyge heraldi 2009 MARIAN Saipan CELO Centropyge loricula 2009 MARIAN Saipan CESH Centropyge shepardi 2009 MARIAN Saipan CEAR Cephalopholis argus 2009 MARIAN Saipan CELE Cephalopholis leopardus 2009 MARIAN Saipan CEMI Cephalopholis miniata 2009 MARIAN Saipan CESO Cephalopholis sonnerati 2009 MARIAN Saipan CEUR Cephalopholis urodeta 2009 MARIAN Saipan CHAU Chaetodon auriga 2009 MARIAN Saipan CHCI Chaetodon citrinellus 2009 MARIAN Saipan CHEP Chaetodon ephippium 2009 MARIAN Saipan CHKL Chaetodon kleinii 2009 MARIAN Saipan CHLI Chaetodon lineolatus 2009 MARIAN Saipan CHLU Chaetodon lunula 2009 MARIAN Saipan CHLT Chaetodon lunulatus 2009 MARIAN Saipan CHML Chaetodon melannotus 2009 MARIAN Saipan CHMR Chaetodon mertensii 2009 MARIAN Saipan CHOR Chaetodon ornatissimus 2009 MARIAN Saipan CHPU Chaetodon punctatofasciatus 2009 MARIAN Saipan CHQU Chaetodon quadrimaculatus 2009 MARIAN Saipan CHRE Chaetodon reticulatus 2009 MARIAN Saipan CHTR Chaetodon trifascialis 2009 MARIAN Saipan CHUL Chaetodon ulietensis 2009 MARIAN Saipan CHUN Chaetodon unimaculatus 2009 MARIAN Saipan CHCL Cheilinus chlorourus 2009 MARIAN Saipan CHOX Cheilinus oxycephalus 2009 MARIAN Saipan CHTL Cheilinus trilobatus 2009 MARIAN Saipan CHUD Cheilinus undulatus 2009 MARIAN Saipan CHMD Cheilodipterus macrodon 2009 MARIAN Saipan TURT Chelonia sp 2009 MARIAN Saipan CHFN Chlorurus frontalis 2009 MARIAN Saipan CHMC Chlorurus microrhinos 2009 MARIAN Saipan CHSO Chlorurus sordidus 2009 MARIAN Saipan CHAC Chromis acares 2009 MARIAN Saipan CHAG Chromis agilis 2009 MARIAN Saipan CHAL Chromis alpha 2009 MARIAN Saipan CHAP Chromis atripectoralis 2009 MARIAN Saipan CHMA Chromis margaritifer 2009 MARIAN Saipan CHVA Chromis vanderbilti 2009 MARIAN Saipan CHVR Chromis viridis 2009 MARIAN Saipan CHXA Chromis xanthura 2009 MARIAN Saipan CHBR Chrysiptera brownriggii 2009 MARIAN Saipan CHTY Chrysiptera traceyi 2009 MARIAN Saipan CIKA Cirrhilabrus katherinae 2009 MARIAN Saipan CIFL Cirrhitichthys falco 2009 MARIAN Saipan HAWK Cirrhitidae sp 2009 MARIAN Saipan CIPI Cirrhitus pinnulatus 2009 MARIAN Saipan CIPO Cirripectes polyzona 2009 MARIAN Saipan CISP Cirripectes sp 2009 MARIAN Saipan CIVR Cirripectes variolosus 2009 MARIAN Saipan COAY Coris aygula 2009 MARIAN Saipan COGA Coris gaimard 2009 MARIAN Saipan CTBI Ctenochaetus binotatus 2009 MARIAN Saipan CTCY Ctenochaetus cyanocheilus 2009 MARIAN Saipan CTSR Ctenochaetus striatus 2009 MARIAN Saipan DAAR Dascyllus aruanus 2009 MARIAN Saipan DARE Dascyllus reticulatus 2009 MARIAN Saipan DATR Dascyllus trimaculatus 2009 MARIAN Saipan ECNE Echidna nebulosa 2009 MARIAN Saipan ECBC Ecsenius bicolor 2009 MARIAN Saipan ECMI Ecsenius midas 2009 MARIAN Saipan EPIN Epibulus insidiator 2009 MARIAN Saipan EPFA Epinephelus fasciatus 2009 MARIAN Saipan EPPO Epinephelus polyphekadion 2009 MARIAN Saipan EVSP Eviota sp 2009 MARIAN Saipan EXBR Exallias brevis 2009 MARIAN Saipan FICO Fistularia commersonii 2009 MARIAN Saipan FOFL Forcipiger flavissimus 2009 MARIAN Saipan FOLO Forcipiger longirostris 2009 MARIAN Saipan GNAU Gnathodentex aureolineatus 2009 MARIAN Saipan GOBI Gobiidae sp 2009 MARIAN Saipan GOVA Gomphosus varius 2009 MARIAN Saipan GYJA Gymnothorax javanicus 2009 MARIAN Saipan GYME Gymnothorax meleagris 2009 MARIAN Saipan HABI Halichoeres biocellatus 2009 MARIAN Saipan HAHO Halichoeres hortulanus 2009 MARIAN Saipan HAMT Halichoeres margaritaceus 2009 MARIAN Saipan HAMA Halichoeres marginatus 2009 MARIAN Saipan HAOR Halichoeres ornatissimus 2009 MARIAN Saipan HASP Halichoeres sp 2009 MARIAN Saipan HATR Halichoeres trimaculatus 2009 MARIAN Saipan HEFA Hemigymnus fasciatus 2009 MARIAN Saipan HEME Hemigymnus melapterus 2009 MARIAN Saipan HEPO Hemitaurichthys polylepis 2009 MARIAN Saipan HECH Heniochus chrysostomus 2009 MARIAN Saipan HEMO Heniochus monoceros 2009 MARIAN Saipan HILO Hipposcarus longiceps 2009 MARIAN Saipan HODO Hologymnosus doliatus 2009 MARIAN Saipan ISDE Istigobius decoratus 2009 MARIAN Saipan WRAS Labridae sp 2009 MARIAN Saipan LABI Labroides bicolor 2009 MARIAN Saipan LADI Labroides dimidiatus 2009 MARIAN Saipan LAXA Labropsis xanthonota 2009 MARIAN Saipan LETA Lepidozygus tapeinosoma 2009 MARIAN Saipan LEOB Lethrinus obsoletus 2009 MARIAN Saipan LEXA Lethrinus xanthochilus 2009 MARIAN Saipan LUBO Lutjanus bohar 2009 MARIAN Saipan LUFU Lutjanus fulvus 2009 MARIAN Saipan LUGI Lutjanus gibbus 2009 MARIAN Saipan LUKA Lutjanus kasmira 2009 MARIAN Saipan MAMA Macolor macularis 2009 MARIAN Saipan MANI Macolor niger 2009 MARIAN Saipan MAME Macropharyngodon meleagris 2009 MARIAN Saipan MABR Malacanthus brevirostris 2009 MARIAN Saipan MALA Malacanthus latovittatus 2009 MARIAN Saipan MEAT Meiacanthus atrodorsalis 2009 MARIAN Saipan MEVI Melichthys vidua 2009 MARIAN Saipan FILE Monacanthidae sp 2009 MARIAN Saipan MOGR Monotaxis grandoculis 2009 MARIAN Saipan MUFL Mulloidichthys flavolineatus 2009 MARIAN Saipan MUVA Mulloidichthys vanicolensis 2009 MARIAN Saipan MYSP Myripristinae sp 2009 MARIAN Saipan MYBE Myripristis berndti 2009 MARIAN Saipan MYKU Myripristis kuntee 2009 MARIAN Saipan MYMU Myripristis murdjan 2009 MARIAN Saipan MYVI Myripristis vittata 2009 MARIAN Saipan NABR Naso brevirostris 2009 MARIAN Saipan NAHE Naso hexacanthus 2009 MARIAN Saipan NALI Naso lituratus 2009 MARIAN Saipan NATO Naso tonganus 2009 MARIAN Saipan NAUN Naso unicornis 2009 MARIAN Saipan NAVL Naso vlamingii 2009 MARIAN Saipan NEMA Nemateleotris magnifica 2009 MARIAN Saipan NEAR Neocirrhites armatus 2009 MARIAN Saipan NESA Neoniphon sammara 2009 MARIAN Saipan NOTA Novaculichthys taeniourus 2009 MARIAN Saipan ODNI Odonus niger 2009 MARIAN Saipan OSME Ostracion meleagris 2009 MARIAN Saipan OXUN Oxycheilinus unifasciatus 2009 MARIAN Saipan OXLO Oxymonacanthus longirostris 2009 MARIAN Saipan PAHP Paracanthurus hepatus 2009 MARIAN Saipan PAAR Paracirrhites arcatus 2009 MARIAN Saipan PAFO Paracirrhites forsteri 2009 MARIAN Saipan PAHE Paracirrhites hemistictus 2009 MARIAN Saipan PACL Parapercis clathrata 2009 MARIAN Saipan PAMI Parapercis millepunctata 2009 MARIAN Saipan PACY Parupeneus cyclostomus 2009 MARIAN Saipan PAIN Parupeneus insularis 2009 MARIAN Saipan PAMU Parupeneus multifasciatus 2009 MARIAN Saipan PAPL Parupeneus pleurostigma 2009 MARIAN Saipan PEOU Pempheris oualensis 2009 MARIAN Saipan PLTA Plagiotremus tapeinosoma 2009 MARIAN Saipan PLPI Plectorhinchus picus 2009 MARIAN Saipan PLDI Plectroglyphidodon dickii 2009 MARIAN Saipan PLIM Plectroglyphidodon imparipennis 2009 MARIAN Saipan PLJO Plectroglyphidodon johnstonianus 2009 MARIAN Saipan PLLA Plectroglyphidodon lacrymatus 2009 MARIAN Saipan PLLE Plectroglyphidodon leucozonus 2009 MARIAN Saipan PLPH Plectroglyphidodon phoenixensis 2009 MARIAN Saipan PLAL Plectropomus areolatus 2009 MARIAN Saipan POIM Pomacanthus imperator 2009 MARIAN Saipan POVA Pomacentrus vaiuli 2009 MARIAN Saipan POGU Pomachromis guamensis 2009 MARIAN Saipan PSBI Pseudanthias bicolor 2009 MARIAN Saipan PSPA Pseudanthias pascalus 2009 MARIAN Saipan PSEV Pseudocheilinus evanidus 2009 MARIAN Saipan PSHE Pseudocheilinus hexataenia 2009 MARIAN Saipan PSOC Pseudocheilinus octotaenia 2009 MARIAN Saipan PSTE Pseudocheilinus tetrataenia 2009 MARIAN Saipan PSMO Pseudodax moluccanus 2009 MARIAN Saipan PSCE Pseudojuloides cerasinus 2009 MARIAN Saipan PTEN Pteragogus enneacanthus 2009 MARIAN Saipan PTEV Ptereleotris evides 2009 MARIAN Saipan PTZE Ptereleotris zebra 2009 MARIAN Saipan PTTI Pterocaesio tile 2009 MARIAN Saipan PTVO Pterois volitans 2009 MARIAN Saipan PYDI Pygoplites diacanthus 2009 MARIAN Saipan RHRE Rhinecanthus rectangulus 2009 MARIAN Saipan SACA Sargocentron caudimaculatum 2009 MARIAN Saipan SAMI Sargocentron microstoma 2009 MARIAN Saipan SASP Sargocentron spiniferum 2009 MARIAN Saipan SATI Sargocentron tiere 2009 MARIAN Saipan SCAL Scarus altipinnis 2009 MARIAN Saipan SCFO Scarus forsteni 2009 MARIAN Saipan SCGH Scarus ghobban 2009 MARIAN Saipan SCPS Scarus psittacus 2009 MARIAN Saipan SCRU Scarus rubroviolaceus 2009 MARIAN Saipan SCSC Scarus schlegeli 2009 MARIAN Saipan SCSP Scarus sp 2009 MARIAN Saipan SCLI Scolopsis lineata 2009 MARIAN Saipan SIAR Siganus argenteus 2009 MARIAN Saipan PIPE Solenostomidae/Syngnatidae sp 2009 MARIAN Saipan STFA Stegastes fasciolatus 2009 MARIAN Saipan STNI Stegastes nigricans 2009 MARIAN Saipan STBN Stethojulis bandanensis 2009 MARIAN Saipan STST Stethojulis strigiventer 2009 MARIAN Saipan SUBU Sufflamen bursa 2009 MARIAN Saipan SUCH Sufflamen chrysopterum 2009 MARIAN Saipan LIZA Synodontidae sp 2009 MARIAN Saipan THAM Thalassoma amblycephalum 2009 MARIAN Saipan THHA Thalassoma hardwicke 2009 MARIAN Saipan THLU Thalassoma lutescens 2009 MARIAN Saipan THQU Thalassoma quinquevittatum 2009 MARIAN Saipan THTR Thalassoma trilobatum 2009 MARIAN Saipan TROB Triaenodon obesus 2009 MARIAN Saipan VAST Valenciennea strigata 2009 MARIAN Saipan VAAL Variola albimarginata 2009 MARIAN Saipan VALO Variola louti 2009 MARIAN Saipan XAAU Xanthichthys auromarginatus 2009 MARIAN Saipan ZACO Zanclus cornutus 2009 MARIAN Saipan ZEFL Zebrasoma flavescens 2009 MARIAN Saipan 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), 20090508, CRED REA Reef Fish Assessment Survey at Saipan Island, Marianas Archipelago in 2009.

    Online Links:

  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?
    West_Bounding_Coordinate: 145.682035
    East_Bounding_Coordinate: 145.848199
    North_Bounding_Coordinate: 15.298604
    South_Bounding_Coordinate: 15.079644
  3. What does it look like?
  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?
    Beginning_Date: 14-Apr-2009
    Ending_Date: 20-Apr-2009Currentness_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?
    "Robert Schroeder, Marc Nadon, Paula Ayotte, Valerie Brown, Marie Ferguson", 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)
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