Baseline Marine Biological Survey ROI-NAMUR Outfall United States Army Kwajalein Atoll, Republic of the Marshall Islands, 1997(NODC Accession 0000630)

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Frequently anticipated questions:

What does this data set describe?

Title:
Baseline Marine Biological Survey ROI-NAMUR Outfall United States Army Kwajalein Atoll, Republic of the Marshall Islands, 1997(NODC Accession 0000630)
Abstract:
Roi-Namur is located at the northernmost tip of Kwajalein Atoll, approximately 64 kilometers north of the U.S. Army Kwajalein Atoll(USAKA) central command post on Kwajalein Islet. Roi-Namur has a single sewage outfall, which is located at the northwestern corner of the islet. Originally, the outfall extended from shore to a point about halfway across the reef flat where the pipe ended abruptly as an upturned, uncapped elbow. Raw sewage was pumped through the pipe in pulses approximately every 15-20 minutes. Waves and shallow currents across the reef flat carried at least some of the effluent back toward shore and the lagoon, creating a potentially unhealthy situation. In order to correct this problem, USAKA implemented a plan to extend the original outfall all the way across the reef flat and into the open ocean where the predominant current flow would carry effluent-mixed waters away from the islet. Ultimately, the extended outfall was to be connected to a new sewage treatment facility that would discharge primarily treated effluent. Because of a concern that this discharge might adversely impact the coral-reef community surrounding the end of the new outfall, a baseline marine biological survey was to be conducted prior to start-up of the new sewage treatment facility. As planned, the results of this survey would provide a baseline against which the results of future surveys could be compared in order to determine whether a balanced community of indigenous species had been maintained at the site during operation of the facility. If not, conversion to secondary treatment at the facility would need to be considered. The first resurvey was planned to occur one year after start-up of the new sewage treatment facility with subsequent resurveys planned for every five years thereafter. In August 1997, biologists from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) conducted the baseline marine biological survey in the vicinity of the Roi-Namur outfall. For the National Oceanographic Data Center, interest in the report focuses on the marine element. Data tables from marine surveys of reef fishes, corals, other macroinvertebrates, and algae that exist in those habitats are provided.
Supplemental_Information:
NOAA Supplemental: Entry_ID: UnknownSensor_Name: SCUBA, visual censusSensor_Name: 0.25 meters-squared stringed quadratSensor_Name: Transect tapeSensor_Name: Hand-held GPSSource_Name: manualProject_Campaign: US Army Originating_Center: US Fish and Wildlife Service Storage_Medium: ASCII and WordPerfect 8Reference: Similar NODC Dataset: 1998 Wake Island, NODC ACCN 0000247Reference: Similar NODC Dataset: 1996 Kwajalein Atoll, NODC ACCN 0000251Reference: Similar NODC Dataset: 1998 Kwajalein Atoll, NODC ACCN (not yet assigned)Online_size: 8 megabytes

Resource Description: NODC Accession Number 0000630

  1. How might this data set be cited?
    Kevin Foster, primary report author, U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, Pacific Islands Ecoregion, Michael Molina, co-author, U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, Pacific Islands Ecoregion, Jeff Burgett, co-author, U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, Pacific Islands Ecoregion, Michael Molina, USFWS (corals and reef substrate cover),surveyor, Jeff Burgett, USFWS (noncoral macroinvertebrates and algae),surveyor, John Naughton, NOAA/NMFS, (fishes and station habitat descriptions), surveyor, and Isabella Abbott, UH Botany (algal identifications), surveyor, 200103, Baseline Marine Biological Survey ROI-NAMUR Outfall United States Army Kwajalein Atoll, Republic of the Marshall Islands, 1997(NODC Accession 0000630): Department of Interior, USA, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA.

    Online Links:

  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?
    West_Bounding_Coordinate: 167.4465233
    East_Bounding_Coordinate: 167.4694319
    North_Bounding_Coordinate: 09.4067443
    South_Bounding_Coordinate: 09.373071
  3. What does it look like?
  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?
    Beginning_Date: 01-Aug-1997
    Beginning_Time: 0800
    Ending_Date: 31-Aug-1997
    Ending_Time: 1700
    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?
    Mr. Randy Galien, U.S. Department of the Army Space and Missile Defense Command, U.S. Army Kwajalein Atoll Republic of the Marshall Islands
  3. To whom should users address questions about the data?
    Kevin Foster
    U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Pacific Islands Ecoregion
    Biologist
    300 Ala Moana Blvd
    Honolulu, Hawaii
    USA

    (808)541-3441 (voice)
    Kevin_Foster@mail.fws.gov

Why was the data set created?

To generally characterize the coral-reef habitat within the vicinity of the outfall and document the primary species of reef fishes, corals, other macroinvertebrates, and algae that exist in those habitats.

How was the data set created?

  1. From what previous works were the data drawn?
    Abbott, 1999 (source 1 of 6)
    Abbott, I.A, 1999, Marine Red Algae of the Hawaiian Islands: Honolulu, Hawaii, Bishop Museum Press.

    Type_of_Source_Media: paper
    Source_Contribution: Marine Red Algae of the Hawaiian Islands
    Colin and Arneson, 1995 (source 2 of 6)
    Colin, P. L., and Arneson, C., 1995, Tropical Pacific Invertebrates - A Field Guide to the Marine Invertebrates Occurring on Tropical Pacific Coral Reefs, Seagrass Beds and Mangroves: Coral Reef Press, Beverly Hills, California.

    Other_Citation_Details: 256 p.
    Type_of_Source_Media: paper
    Source_Contribution: Tropical Pacific Invertebrates
    Hunter, 1995 (source 3 of 6)
    Hunter, C. L., 1995, Review of Status of Coral Reefs Around American Flag Pacific Islands and Assessment of Need, Value, and Feasibility of Establishing a Coral Reef Fishery Management Plan for the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council.

    Other_Citation_Details: 30p.
    Type_of_Source_Media: paper
    Source_Contribution: coral reef status review
    Johnson, 1989 (source 4 of 6)
    Johnson, S., 1989, Living Seashells: Oriental Publishing Company, Honolulu, Hawaii.

    Type_of_Source_Media: paper
    Source_Contribution: Identification of the Coral Reef Fishes
    Randal and Randal, 1987 (source 5 of 6)
    Randal, J. E., and Randal, H. A., 1987, Annotated checklist of the fishes of Enewetak Atoll and other Marshall Islands: U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Scientific and Technical Information, Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

    Other_Citation_Details: Pages 289-324
    This is part of the following larger work.

    Devaney, D. M., Reese, E. S., Burch, B. L., and (eds.), P. Helfrich, 1987, The Natural History of Enewetak Atoll, Volume II, Biogeography and Systematics: U.S. Department of Enery, Office of Scientific and Technical Information, Oak Ridge, Tenneessee.

    Type_of_Source_Media: paper
    Source_Contribution: checklist of fishes
    Veron, 1993 (source 6 of 6)
    Veron, J.E.N., 1993, Corals of Australia and the Indo-Pacific: University of Hawaii Press, Honolulu, Hawaii.

    Type_of_Source_Media: paper
    Source_Contribution: Corals of Australia and the Indo-Pacific
  2. How were the data generated, processed, and modified?
    Date: Unknown (process 1 of 1)
    Two complementary survey techniques were used at each station: (a) asemi-quantitative Rapid Ecological Assessment (REA) and a quantitative benthic substrate survey. The REA was used to characterize species and habitat conditions at each station. The technique consisted of timed 30-minute scuba dives by biologists to survey fishes, corals and other macroinvertebrates. All dive operations were supported by Coastal International Security (CIS) and conducted from a 28-foot boat that was operated by CIS Lieutenant Gail Fabrizio. Mission logistical support was provided by Dr. Donald Ott of the USAKA Environmental Office. During each REA survey dive, biologists swam over the reef in a meandering fashion with a minimum amount of backtracking. Species of reef fishes, corals, other macroinvertebrates, and algae were recorded on underwater paper for later transcription. Emphasis was given to identifying conspicuous, diurnally active species. As a result, small, cryptic, and nocturnally active species are under-represented in the data. Many mollusc identifications were based on empty shells. The species observed during the REAs are ranked as being Abundant, Common, Occasional, or Rare. These categories are defined as follows: Abundant (A) = the species contributes substantial abundance or coverage (25+% of total) or is very numerous in the surveyarea (e.g., 15+ individuals of a fish species) or is dominant within parts of the survey area; Common (C) = the species is present as several or more individuals (e.g., 5-14 individuals of a fish species) or as a few larger colonies or is conspicuous in only one or a few parts of the survey area; Occasional (O) = the species is uncommon or present only as a few individuals (e.g., 2-4 individuals for fish species) or as a few large colonies, but not contributing substantially to abundance or substrate coverage anywhere within the survey area; Rare (R) = the species is present on the basis of only one individual (e.g. fishes) or colony seen within the survey area. Data on the benthic substrate and marine community were obtained using a 0.25 square-meter (m2) quadrat containing 25 sampling points, defined as the intersections of 5 strings spanning each dimension of the quadrat. Quadrats were placed at regular intervals along the downslope side of a transect tape laid on the bottom at a depth of 9 m (30 feet [ft]). The tape was fixed to metal stakes hammered into the bottom. GPS coordinates for the stake at the beginning end of each transect were recorded. The type of substrate directly beneath each string intersectionon the quadrat was recorded on underwater paper for later transcription. At all stations except the ZID, a 40-m transect tape was used, with quadrat samples taken every 5 m for a total of 9 samples per station. In order to more intensively sample the environment in the ZID around the diffuser, a 7-m transect tape was used, with quadrat samples taken every one meter for a total of 8 samples. Non-biological substrate types recorded along the transects included consolidated limestone pavement, rubble, and sand. Biological substrate types were in most cases not identified to species during quadrat sampling, but were instead grouped into the following classes: Cyanobacterial fuzz, Lyngbia spp (dominant blue-green algae), Coralline algae, Halimeda spp (dominant green algae), Lobophora sp (dominant brown alga), Peyssonelia sp(dominant red alga), Sponge (all spp), Hydroid (all spp), Coral (all truehard corals of the Order Scleractinia), Millepora spp (dominant falsecorals), Sarcophyton spp (dominant soft corals), and Palythoa sp(dominant zoanthid). Person who carried out this activity:
    Kevin Foster
    U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Pacific Islands Ecoregion
    Biologist
    300 Ala Moana Blvd
    Honolulu, Hawaii
    USA

    (808)541-3441 (voice)
    Kevin_Foster@mail.fws.gov
    Data sources used in this process:
    • Abbott, 1999
    • Colin and Arneson, 1995
    • Hunter, 1995
    • Johnson, 1989
    • Randal and Randal, 1987
    • Veron, 1993
  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% completed
  5. How consistent are the relationships among the observations, including topology?
    see Process Description.

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:
NOAA and NODC would appreciate recognition as the resource from which these data were obtained in any publications and/or other representations of these data.
  1. Who distributes the data set? (Distributor 1 of 1)
    NOAA/NESDIS/National Oceanographic Data Center
    Attn: Data Access Group, User Services Team
    SSMC-3 Fourth Floor
    Silver Spring, MD
    USA

    301-713-3277 (voice)
    301-713-3302 (FAX)
    services@nodc.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 and NODC 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
Last Reviewed: 15-Oct-2008
To be reviewed: 01-Aug-2006
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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