Benthic Macroinvertebrate Community Assessment, Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, October 2000, (NODC Accession 0002301)

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Frequently anticipated questions:


What does this data set describe?

Title:
Benthic Macroinvertebrate Community Assessment, Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, October 2000, (NODC Accession 0002301)
Abstract:
The Northwestern Hawaiian lslands were sampled during October 2000 at 63 stations on 9 atolls or islands under the lead of NOAA. This work is affiliated with the Northwest Hawaii Islands Coral Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program (NOWRAMP), which performed a cruise in September 2000. One aspect of this study was benthic community characterization, which was accomplished via sample collection by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) personnel and laboratory and data analysis by Barry A. Vittor & Associates, Inc. (BVA). Sampling devices varied during the field collections. Density, diversity and evenness could only be calculated at stations sampled with a Young dredge (area = 0.04 m2).
Supplemental_Information:
These sites were surveyed using SCUBA equipment and a sample bag. The project was launched by the NOAA NW Hawaii Islands Project.
  1. How might this data set be cited?
    BARRY A. VITTOR & ASSOCIATES, INC. (contracted by NOAA), Unpublished material, Benthic Macroinvertebrate Community Assessment, Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, October 2000, (NODC Accession 0002301).

  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?
    West_Bounding_Coordinate: -178.366667
    East_Bounding_Coordinate: -161.916917
    North_Bounding_Coordinate: 28.447467
    South_Bounding_Coordinate: 23.063667
  3. What does it look like?
  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?
    Beginning_Date: Oct-2000
    Ending_Date: Oct-2000
    Currentness_Reference: ground condition
  5. What is the general form of this data set?
  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?
  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?
    U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION, NATIONAL OCEAN SERVICE, NATIONAL CENTERS FOR COASTAL OCEAN SCIENCE, CENTER FOR COASTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT, Hawaii Coral Reef Initiative
  3. To whom should users address questions about the data?
    BARRY A. VITTOR
    BARRY A. VITTOR & ASSOCIATES, INC.
    Marine biologist
    8060 COTTAGE HILL RD.
    Mobile, Alabama
    USA

    (251) 633-6100 (voice)
    bvittor@bvaenviro.com

Why was the data set created?

Understand the benthic macrofaunal community of NW Hawaiian Islands

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)
    Sample Collection and Handling A Young dredge (area = 0.04 m2) was used to collect bottom samples at nine of 63 station locations (two replicate samples were taken at some stations while others contained only one sample) throughout Northwestern Hawaiian lslands. Samples were fixed in 10 percent formalin. The preserved samples were transported to BVA'S laboratory in Mobile, Alabama. Macroinfaunal Sample Analysis In the laboratory of BVA, benthic samples were inventoried, rinsed gently through a 0.5 mm mesh sieve to remove preservatives and sediment, stained with Rose Bengal, and stored in 70 percent isopropanol solution until processing. Sample material (sediment, detritus, organisms) was placed in white enamel trays for sorting under Wild M-5A dissecting microscopes. All macroinvertebrates were carefully removed with forceps and placed in labelled glass vials containing 70 percent isopropanol. Each vial represented a major taxonomic group (e.g. Polychaeta, Mollusca, Arthropoda). All sorted macroinvertebrates were identified to the lowest practical identification level (LPIL), which in most cases was to species level unless the specimen was a juvenile, damaged, or otherwise unidentifiable. The number of individuals of each taxon, excluding fragments, was recorded. A voucher collection was prepared, composed of representative individuals of each species not previously encountered in samples from the region.

    Water quality (T,S,conductivity, dissolved oxygen) were collected at a few of the dive sites using standardized instruments.

    DATA ANALYSIS All data generated as a result of laboratory analysis of macroinfauna samples were first coded on data sheets. Enumeration data were entered for each species according to station and replicate. These data were reduced to a data summary report for each station, which included a taxonomic species list and benthic community parameters information. Archive data files of species identification and enumeration were prepared.

    Assemblage Structure Several numerical indices were chosen for analysis and interpretation of the macroinfaunal data. Selection was based primarily on the ability of the index to provide a meaningful summary of data, as well as the applicability of the index to the characterization of the benthic community. Infaunal abundance is reported as the total number of individuals per station and the total number of individuals per square meter (= density). Taxa richness is reported as the total number of taxa represented in a given station collection. Taxa diversity, which is often related to the ecological stability and environmental "quality" of the benthos, was estimated by the Shannon-Weaver Index (Pielou, 1966).

    Taxa diversity was calculated using ln, however taxa diversity may also be calculated using log2. Both methods for calculating taxa diversity are common in scientific literature. The taxa diversity calculated in this report using ln, can be converted to log2 by multiplying the taxa diversity by 1.44270. Taxa diversity within a given community is dependent upon the number of taxa present (taxa richness) and the distribution of all individuals among those taxa (equitability or evenness). In order to quantify and compare faunal equitability to taxa diversity for a given area, Pielou's Index J' (Pielou, 1966) was calculated as J' = H'/ln S, where ln S = H' max , or the maximum possible diversity, when all taxa are represented by the same number of individuals; thus, J' = H' /H' max .

    Pielou, E.C. 1966. The measurement of diversity in different types of biological collections. Journal of Theoretical Biology 13:131-144. Person who carried out this activity:

    BARRY A. VITTOR
    BARRY A. VITTOR & ASSOCIATES, INC.
    Marine biologist
    8060 COTTAGE HILL RD.
    Mobile, Alabama
    USA

    (251) 633-6100 (voice)
    bvittor@bvaenviro.com
  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?
  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?
  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?
  4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?
    the survey was 100 percent completed
  5. How consistent are the relationships among the observations, including topology?
    see Lineage, Process Step

How can someone get a copy of the data set?

Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?
Access_Constraints: None
Use_Constraints: Dataset credit required
  1. Who distributes the data set? (Distributor 1 of 1)
    NOAA/NESDIS/NODC/NCDDC (National Coastal Data Development Center)
    National Coastal Data Development Center, Building 1100
    Stennis Space Center, MS

    866-732-2382 (voice)
    228-688-2968 (FAX)
    ncddcgetdata@noaa.gov
    Hours_of_Service: 8am-5pm, Monday through Friday
  2. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set? Downloadable Data
  3. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?
    NOAA makes no warranty regarding these data,expressed or implied, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty. NOAA, NESDIS, NODC and NCDDC cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in these data, nor as a result of the failure of these data to function on a particular system.
  4. How can I download or order the data?

Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:
Last modified: 29-Mar-2020
Metadata author:
Mr. Patrick C. Caldwell
NOAA/NESDIS/NODC/NCDDC
Hawaii/US Pacific Liaison
1000 Pope Road, MSB 316
Honolulu, Hawaii
USA

(808)-956-4105 (voice)
(808) 956-2352 (FAX)
caldwell@hawaii.edu
Hours_of_Service: 8 AM to 5 PM weekdays
Contact_Instructions: check services@nodc.noaa.gov if not available
Metadata standard:
FGDC Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata (FGDC-STD-001-1998)

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