CRED REA Reef Fish Assessment Survey at Tutuila Island, American Samoa in 2008

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Title:
CRED REA Reef Fish Assessment Survey at Tutuila Island, American Samoa in 2008
Abstract:
To support a long-term NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP) for sustainable management and conservation of coral reef ecosystems, from 18 February - 19 March 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 HI0802 in the American Samoa at biennial intervals by the Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED) at the NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC). During the cruise, 44 REA sites were surveyed at Tutuila Island in the American Samoa. 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 2008 SAMOA Tutuila ABSX Abudefduf sexfasciatus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila ABSO Abudefduf sordidus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila ABVA Abudefduf vaigiensis 2008 SAMOA Tutuila ACAC Acanthurus achilles 2008 SAMOA Tutuila ACBL Acanthurus blochii 2008 SAMOA Tutuila ACGU Acanthurus guttatus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila ACLU Acanthurus leucocheilus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila ACLI Acanthurus lineatus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila ACNC Acanthurus nigricans 2008 SAMOA Tutuila ACNI Acanthurus nigricauda 2008 SAMOA Tutuila ACNF Acanthurus nigrofuscus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila ACNR Acanthurus nigroris 2008 SAMOA Tutuila ACOL Acanthurus olivaceus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila ACPY Acanthurus pyroferus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila ACSP Acanthurus sp 2008 SAMOA Tutuila ACTH Acanthurus thompsoni 2008 SAMOA Tutuila ACTR Acanthurus triostegus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila ACXA Acanthurus xanthopterus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila AMSC Amanses scopas 2008 SAMOA Tutuila AMFA Amblyeleotris fasciata 2008 SAMOA Tutuila AMGU Amblyeleotris guttata 2008 SAMOA Tutuila AMCH Amphiprion chrysopterus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila AMPE Amphiprion perideraion 2008 SAMOA Tutuila ANME Anampses melanurus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila ANMG Anampses meleagrides 2008 SAMOA Tutuila ANTW Anampses twistii 2008 SAMOA Tutuila ANLE Anyperodon leucogrammicus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila APFU Aphareus furca 2008 SAMOA Tutuila APNO Apogon novemfasciatus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila ARME Arothron meleagris 2008 SAMOA Tutuila ARNI Arothron nigropunctatus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila AUCH Aulostomus chinensis 2008 SAMOA Tutuila BAUN Balistapus undulatus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila BAVI Balistoides viridescens 2008 SAMOA Tutuila BLCH Blenniella chrysospilos 2008 SAMOA Tutuila BLEN Blenniidae sp 2008 SAMOA Tutuila BOAX Bodianus axillaris 2008 SAMOA Tutuila BOLO Bodianus loxozonus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila BOMA Bothus mancus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila CACE Caesio caerulaurea 2008 SAMOA Tutuila CATE Caesio teres 2008 SAMOA Tutuila CACA Calotomus carolinus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila CADU Cantherhines dumerilii 2008 SAMOA Tutuila CAPA Cantherhines pardalis 2008 SAMOA Tutuila CAMA Canthidermis maculata 2008 SAMOA Tutuila CAAM Canthigaster amboinensis 2008 SAMOA Tutuila CAJN Canthigaster janthinoptera 2008 SAMOA Tutuila CASO Canthigaster solandri 2008 SAMOA Tutuila CAMC Caracanthus maculatus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila CAME Caranx melampygus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila CEBC Centropyge bicolor 2008 SAMOA Tutuila CEBI Centropyge bispinosa 2008 SAMOA Tutuila CEFL Centropyge flavissima 2008 SAMOA Tutuila CEHE Centropyge heraldi 2008 SAMOA Tutuila CELO Centropyge loricula 2008 SAMOA Tutuila CEAR Cephalopholis argus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila CELE Cephalopholis leopardus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila CESP Cephalopholis spiloparaea 2008 SAMOA Tutuila CEUR Cephalopholis urodeta 2008 SAMOA Tutuila CEOC Cetoscarus ocellatus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila CHBE Chaetodon bennetti 2008 SAMOA Tutuila CHCI Chaetodon citrinellus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila CHEP Chaetodon ephippium 2008 SAMOA Tutuila CHLU Chaetodon lunula 2008 SAMOA Tutuila CHLT Chaetodon lunulatus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila CHML Chaetodon melannotus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila CHME Chaetodon meyeri 2008 SAMOA Tutuila CHOR Chaetodon ornatissimus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila CHPW Chaetodon pelewensis 2008 SAMOA Tutuila CHQU Chaetodon quadrimaculatus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila CHRA Chaetodon rafflesii 2008 SAMOA Tutuila CHRE Chaetodon reticulatus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila CHSE Chaetodon semeion 2008 SAMOA Tutuila CHTR Chaetodon trifascialis 2008 SAMOA Tutuila CHUL Chaetodon ulietensis 2008 SAMOA Tutuila CHUN Chaetodon unimaculatus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila CHVG Chaetodon vagabundus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila CHCL Cheilinus chlorourus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila CHOX Cheilinus oxycephalus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila CHTL Cheilinus trilobatus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila CHUD Cheilinus undulatus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila CHAR Cheilodipterus artus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila CHMD Cheilodipterus macrodon 2008 SAMOA Tutuila CHFN Chlorurus frontalis 2008 SAMOA Tutuila CHJA Chlorurus japanensis 2008 SAMOA Tutuila CHMC Chlorurus microrhinos 2008 SAMOA Tutuila CHSO Chlorurus sordidus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila CHAC Chromis acares 2008 SAMOA Tutuila CHAG Chromis agilis 2008 SAMOA Tutuila CHAM Chromis amboinensis 2008 SAMOA Tutuila CHFU Chromis fumea 2008 SAMOA Tutuila CHIO Chromis iomelas 2008 SAMOA Tutuila CHMA Chromis margaritifer 2008 SAMOA Tutuila CHTE Chromis ternatensis 2008 SAMOA Tutuila CHVA Chromis vanderbilti 2008 SAMOA Tutuila CHWE Chromis weberi 2008 SAMOA Tutuila CHXA Chromis xanthura 2008 SAMOA Tutuila CHBR Chrysiptera brownriggii 2008 SAMOA Tutuila CHTA Chrysiptera taupou 2008 SAMOA Tutuila CIPU Cirrhilabrus punctatus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila CISC Cirrhilabrus scottorum 2008 SAMOA Tutuila CIFL Cirrhitichthys falco 2008 SAMOA Tutuila CIPI Cirrhitus pinnulatus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila CIPO Cirripectes polyzona 2008 SAMOA Tutuila CIST Cirripectes stigmaticus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila CIVA Cirripectes vanderbilti 2008 SAMOA Tutuila CIVR Cirripectes variolosus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila COGA Coris gaimard 2008 SAMOA Tutuila CTBI Ctenochaetus binotatus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila CTCY Ctenochaetus cyanocheilus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila CTMA Ctenochaetus marginatus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila CTSP Ctenochaetus sp 2008 SAMOA Tutuila CTSR Ctenochaetus striatus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila DARE Dascyllus reticulatus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila DATR Dascyllus trimaculatus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila ECBC Ecsenius bicolor 2008 SAMOA Tutuila ECMO Ecsenius monoculus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila ENSP Enneapterygius sp 2008 SAMOA Tutuila ENTU Enneapterygius tutuilae 2008 SAMOA Tutuila EPIN Epibulus insidiator 2008 SAMOA Tutuila EPFA Epinephelus fasciatus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila EPML Epinephelus melanostigma 2008 SAMOA Tutuila EPME Epinephelus merra 2008 SAMOA Tutuila EVAL Eviota albolineata 2008 SAMOA Tutuila EVGU Eviota guttata 2008 SAMOA Tutuila FOFL Forcipiger flavissimus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila FOLO Forcipiger longirostris 2008 SAMOA Tutuila FUDU Fusigobius duospilus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila FUNE Fusigobius neophytus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila GNAU Gnathodentex aureolineatus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila GOBI Gobiidae sp 2008 SAMOA Tutuila GOCI Gobiodon citrinus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila GORI Gobiodon rivulatus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila GOVA Gomphosus varius 2008 SAMOA Tutuila GYFL Gymnothorax flavimarginatus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila GYSP Gymnothorax sp 2008 SAMOA Tutuila HABI Halichoeres biocellatus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila HAHO Halichoeres hortulanus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila HAMT Halichoeres margaritaceus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila HAMA Halichoeres marginatus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila HAML Halichoeres melanurus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila HAOR Halichoeres ornatissimus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila HAPR Halichoeres prosopeion 2008 SAMOA Tutuila HEFA Hemigymnus fasciatus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila HEPO Hemitaurichthys polylepis 2008 SAMOA Tutuila HETH Hemitaurichthys thompsoni 2008 SAMOA Tutuila HEAC Heniochus acuminatus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila HECH Heniochus chrysostomus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila HEMO Heniochus monoceros 2008 SAMOA Tutuila HEVA Heniochus varius 2008 SAMOA Tutuila HILO Hipposcarus longiceps 2008 SAMOA Tutuila ISDE Istigobius decoratus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila CHUB Kyphosidae sp 2008 SAMOA Tutuila KYCI Kyphosus cinerascens 2008 SAMOA Tutuila LAUN Labrichthys unilineatus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila WRAS Labridae sp 2008 SAMOA Tutuila LABI Labroides bicolor 2008 SAMOA Tutuila LADI Labroides dimidiatus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila LARU Labroides rubrolabiatus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila LAXA Labropsis xanthonota 2008 SAMOA Tutuila LERU Lethrinus rubrioperculatus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila LUBI Lutjanus biguttatus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila LUBO Lutjanus bohar 2008 SAMOA Tutuila LUFU Lutjanus fulvus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila LUGI Lutjanus gibbus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila LUMO Lutjanus monostigma 2008 SAMOA Tutuila MAMA Macolor macularis 2008 SAMOA Tutuila MANI Macolor niger 2008 SAMOA Tutuila MAGE Macropharyngodon geoffroy 2008 SAMOA Tutuila MAME Macropharyngodon meleagris 2008 SAMOA Tutuila MABR Malacanthus brevirostris 2008 SAMOA Tutuila MALA Malacanthus latovittatus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila MEAT Meiacanthus atrodorsalis 2008 SAMOA Tutuila MENI Melichthys niger 2008 SAMOA Tutuila MEVI Melichthys vidua 2008 SAMOA Tutuila MOGR Monotaxis grandoculis 2008 SAMOA Tutuila GOAT Mullidae sp 2008 SAMOA Tutuila MUFL Mulloidichthys flavolineatus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila MUVA Mulloidichthys vanicolensis 2008 SAMOA Tutuila MYAD Myripristis adusta 2008 SAMOA Tutuila MYBE Myripristis berndti 2008 SAMOA Tutuila MYKU Myripristis kuntee 2008 SAMOA Tutuila MYVI Myripristis vittata 2008 SAMOA Tutuila NACA Naso caesius 2008 SAMOA Tutuila NALI Naso lituratus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila NEMA Nemateleotris magnifica 2008 SAMOA Tutuila NESA Neoniphon sammara 2008 SAMOA Tutuila NONE no individuals seen 2008 SAMOA Tutuila NOTA Novaculichthys taeniourus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila ODNI Odonus niger 2008 SAMOA Tutuila OSCU Ostracion cubicus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila OSME Ostracion meleagris 2008 SAMOA Tutuila OXDI Oxycheilinus digramma 2008 SAMOA Tutuila OXRH Oxycheilinus rhodochrous 2008 SAMOA Tutuila OXUN Oxycheilinus unifasciatus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila OXLO Oxymonacanthus longirostris 2008 SAMOA Tutuila PAAR Paracirrhites arcatus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila PAFO Paracirrhites forsteri 2008 SAMOA Tutuila PAHE Paracirrhites hemistictus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila PAEN Paragobiodon echinocephalus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila PACL Parapercis clathrata 2008 SAMOA Tutuila PAMI Parapercis millepunctata 2008 SAMOA Tutuila PACR Parupeneus crassilabris 2008 SAMOA Tutuila PACY Parupeneus cyclostomus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila PAIN Parupeneus insularis 2008 SAMOA Tutuila PAMU Parupeneus multifasciatus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila PEOU Pempheris oualensis 2008 SAMOA Tutuila SAND Pinguipedidae sp 2008 SAMOA Tutuila PLLD Plagiotremus laudandus laudandus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila PLTA Plagiotremus tapeinosoma 2008 SAMOA Tutuila PLOR Platax orbicularis 2008 SAMOA Tutuila PLVI Plectorhinchus vittatus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila PLDI Plectroglyphidodon dickii 2008 SAMOA Tutuila PLJO Plectroglyphidodon johnstonianus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila PLLA Plectroglyphidodon lacrymatus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila PLLV Plectropomus laevis 2008 SAMOA Tutuila POIM Pomacanthus imperator 2008 SAMOA Tutuila DAMS Pomacentridae sp 2008 SAMOA Tutuila POBR Pomacentrus brachialis 2008 SAMOA Tutuila POCO Pomacentrus coelestis 2008 SAMOA Tutuila POPA Pomacentrus pavo 2008 SAMOA Tutuila POSA Pomacentrus samoa 2008 SAMOA Tutuila POVA Pomacentrus vaiuli 2008 SAMOA Tutuila PORI Pomachromis richardsoni 2008 SAMOA Tutuila PSOL Pseudanthias olivaceus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila PSFL Pseudobalistes flavimarginatus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila PSEV Pseudocheilinus evanidus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila PSHE Pseudocheilinus hexataenia 2008 SAMOA Tutuila PSOC Pseudocheilinus octotaenia 2008 SAMOA Tutuila PSTE Pseudocheilinus tetrataenia 2008 SAMOA Tutuila PSJA Pseudochromis jamesi 2008 SAMOA Tutuila PSMO Pseudodax moluccanus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila PSCE Pseudojuloides cerasinus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila PTCR Pteragogus cryptus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila PTEV Ptereleotris evides 2008 SAMOA Tutuila PTZE Ptereleotris zebra 2008 SAMOA Tutuila PTMA Pterocaesio marri 2008 SAMOA Tutuila PTTI Pterocaesio tile 2008 SAMOA Tutuila PYDI Pygoplites diacanthus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila RHLU Rhinecanthus lunula 2008 SAMOA Tutuila RHRE Rhinecanthus rectangulus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila SACA Sargocentron caudimaculatum 2008 SAMOA Tutuila SADI Sargocentron diadema 2008 SAMOA Tutuila SAMI Sargocentron microstoma 2008 SAMOA Tutuila SATI Sargocentron tiere 2008 SAMOA Tutuila SCAL Scarus altipinnis 2008 SAMOA Tutuila SCFO Scarus forsteni 2008 SAMOA Tutuila SCFR Scarus frenatus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila SCGL Scarus globiceps 2008 SAMOA Tutuila SCNI Scarus niger 2008 SAMOA Tutuila SCOV Scarus oviceps 2008 SAMOA Tutuila SCPS Scarus psittacus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila SCRU Scarus rubroviolaceus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila SCSC Scarus schlegeli 2008 SAMOA Tutuila SCSP Scarus sp 2008 SAMOA Tutuila SCSI Scarus spinus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila SCTR Scarus tricolor 2008 SAMOA Tutuila STFA Stegastes fasciolatus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila STSP Stegastes sp 2008 SAMOA Tutuila STBA Stethojulis balteata 2008 SAMOA Tutuila STBN Stethojulis bandanensis 2008 SAMOA Tutuila STST Stethojulis strigiventer 2008 SAMOA Tutuila SUBU Sufflamen bursa 2008 SAMOA Tutuila SUCH Sufflamen chrysopterum 2008 SAMOA Tutuila LIZA Synodontidae sp 2008 SAMOA Tutuila SYVA Synodus variegatus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila THAM Thalassoma amblycephalum 2008 SAMOA Tutuila THHA Thalassoma hardwicke 2008 SAMOA Tutuila THLU Thalassoma lutescens 2008 SAMOA Tutuila THNI Thalassoma nigrofasciatum 2008 SAMOA Tutuila THQU Thalassoma quinquevittatum 2008 SAMOA Tutuila THTR Thalassoma trilobatum 2008 SAMOA Tutuila TROB Triaenodon obesus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila TRCA Trimma caesiura 2008 SAMOA Tutuila FISH Un-id fish sp 2008 SAMOA Tutuila VAST Valenciennea strigata 2008 SAMOA Tutuila VALO Variola louti 2008 SAMOA Tutuila XAAU Xanthichthys auromarginatus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila ZACO Zanclus cornutus 2008 SAMOA Tutuila ZERO Zebrasoma rostratum 2008 SAMOA Tutuila ZESC Zebrasoma scopas 2008 SAMOA Tutuila 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), 20100320, CRED REA Reef Fish Assessment Survey at Tutuila Island, American Samoa in 2008.

    Online Links:

  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?
    West_Bounding_Coordinate: -170.8612764
    East_Bounding_Coordinate: -170.5045149
    North_Bounding_Coordinate: -14.22005532
    South_Bounding_Coordinate: -14.38281981
  3. What does it look like?
  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?
    Beginning_Date: 18-Feb-2008
    Ending_Date: 25-Feb-2008Currentness_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?
    "Marc Nadon, Paul Brown, Kevin O'Brien, Paula Ayotte", 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: 20-Oct-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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