Identification_Information: Citation: Citation_Information: Originator: Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED), Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Publication_Date: 20101115 Title: CRED REA Reef Fish Assessment Survey at Niihau Island, Main Hawaiian Islands in 2008 Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: spreadsheet Online_Linkage: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/pacific-islands/ecosystems/coral-reefs-pacific Description: Abstract: To support a long-term NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP) for sustainable management and conservation of coral reef ecosystems, from 16 October - 14 November 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 OES0810 in the Main Hawaiian Islands at biennial intervals by the Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED) at the NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC). During the cruise, 16 REA sites were surveyed at Niihau Island in the Main 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. Purpose: Part of a long-term monitoring program at biennial intervals which documents the state of the reefs. Supplemental_Information: Maximum depth was 25 meters. Fish species observed: Year Region Island Species TaxonName 2008 MHI Niihau ABAB Abudefduf abdominalis 2008 MHI Niihau ABSO Abudefduf sordidus 2008 MHI Niihau ACAC Acanthurus achilles 2008 MHI Niihau ACBL Acanthurus blochii 2008 MHI Niihau ACDU Acanthurus dussumieri 2008 MHI Niihau ACLE Acanthurus leucopareius 2008 MHI Niihau ACNF Acanthurus nigrofuscus 2008 MHI Niihau ACNR Acanthurus nigroris 2008 MHI Niihau ACOL Acanthurus olivaceus 2008 MHI Niihau ACTH Acanthurus thompsoni 2008 MHI Niihau ACTR Acanthurus triostegus 2008 MHI Niihau ANCH Anampses chrysocephalus 2008 MHI Niihau ANCU Anampses cuvier 2008 MHI Niihau APFU Aphareus furca 2008 MHI Niihau APKA Apogon kallopterus 2008 MHI Niihau APAR Apolemichthys arcuatus 2008 MHI Niihau APVI Aprion virescens 2008 MHI Niihau BOBI Bodianus bilunulatus 2008 MHI Niihau CACA Calotomus carolinus 2008 MHI Niihau CADU Cantherhines dumerilii 2008 MHI Niihau CAAM Canthigaster amboinensis 2008 MHI Niihau CACO Canthigaster coronata 2008 MHI Niihau CAJA Canthigaster jactator 2008 MHI Niihau CAIG Caranx ignobilis 2008 MHI Niihau CAME Caranx melampygus 2008 MHI Niihau CAGA Carcharhinus galapagensis 2008 MHI Niihau CEPO Centropyge potteri 2008 MHI Niihau CEAR Cephalopholis argus 2008 MHI Niihau CHAU Chaetodon auriga 2008 MHI Niihau CHFR Chaetodon fremblii 2008 MHI Niihau CHKL Chaetodon kleinii 2008 MHI Niihau CHLU Chaetodon lunula 2008 MHI Niihau CHME Chaetodon meyeri 2008 MHI Niihau CHMI Chaetodon miliaris 2008 MHI Niihau CHMU Chaetodon multicinctus 2008 MHI Niihau CHOR Chaetodon ornatissimus 2008 MHI Niihau CHQU Chaetodon quadrimaculatus 2008 MHI Niihau CHPE Chlorurus perspicillatus 2008 MHI Niihau CHSO Chlorurus sordidus 2008 MHI Niihau CHAG Chromis agilis 2008 MHI Niihau CHHA Chromis hanui 2008 MHI Niihau CHOV Chromis ovalis 2008 MHI Niihau CHVA Chromis vanderbilti 2008 MHI Niihau CHVE Chromis verater 2008 MHI Niihau CIFA Cirrhitops fasciatus 2008 MHI Niihau CIVA Cirripectes vanderbilti 2008 MHI Niihau COFL Coris flavovittata 2008 MHI Niihau COGA Coris gaimard 2008 MHI Niihau COVE Coris venusta 2008 MHI Niihau CTHA Ctenochaetus hawaiiensis 2008 MHI Niihau CTST Ctenochaetus strigosus 2008 MHI Niihau DAAL Dascyllus albisella 2008 MHI Niihau DIHY Diodon hystrix 2008 MHI Niihau FICO Fistularia commersonii 2008 MHI Niihau FOFL Forcipiger flavissimus 2008 MHI Niihau FOLO Forcipiger longirostris 2008 MHI Niihau GOVA Gomphosus varius 2008 MHI Niihau GYME Gymnothorax meleagris 2008 MHI Niihau HAOR Halichoeres ornatissimus 2008 MHI Niihau CHUB Kyphosidae sp 2008 MHI Niihau KYSA Kyphosus sandwicensis 2008 MHI Niihau LAPH Labroides phthirophagus 2008 MHI Niihau LUFU Lutjanus fulvus 2008 MHI Niihau LUKA Lutjanus kasmira 2008 MHI Niihau MAGE Macropharyngodon geoffroy 2008 MHI Niihau MABR Malacanthus brevirostris 2008 MHI Niihau MABI Manta birostris 2008 MHI Niihau MENI Melichthys niger 2008 MHI Niihau MEVI Melichthys vidua 2008 MHI Niihau MOGR Monotaxis grandoculis 2008 MHI Niihau MUFL Mulloidichthys flavolineatus 2008 MHI Niihau MYBE Myripristis berndti 2008 MHI Niihau NABR Naso brevirostris 2008 MHI Niihau NACA Naso caesius 2008 MHI Niihau NAHE Naso hexacanthus 2008 MHI Niihau NALI Naso lituratus 2008 MHI Niihau NAUN Naso unicornis 2008 MHI Niihau NONE no individuals seen 2008 MHI Niihau OSME Ostracion meleagris 2008 MHI Niihau OXBI Oxycheilinus bimaculatus 2008 MHI Niihau PAAR Paracirrhites arcatus 2008 MHI Niihau PAFO Paracirrhites forsteri 2008 MHI Niihau PACY Parupeneus cyclostomus 2008 MHI Niihau PAIN Parupeneus insularis 2008 MHI Niihau PAMU Parupeneus multifasciatus 2008 MHI Niihau PAPL Parupeneus pleurostigma 2008 MHI Niihau PAPO Parupeneus porphyreus 2008 MHI Niihau PLEW Plagiotremus ewaensis 2008 MHI Niihau PLGO Plagiotremus goslinei 2008 MHI Niihau PLIM Plectroglyphidodon imparipennis 2008 MHI Niihau PLJO Plectroglyphidodon johnstonianus 2008 MHI Niihau PSOC Pseudocheilinus octotaenia 2008 MHI Niihau PSTE Pseudocheilinus tetrataenia 2008 MHI Niihau PSCE Pseudojuloides cerasinus 2008 MHI Niihau PTHE Ptereleotris heteroptera 2008 MHI Niihau RHRE Rhinecanthus rectangulus 2008 MHI Niihau SAXA Sargocentron xantherythrum 2008 MHI Niihau PARR Scaridae sp 2008 MHI Niihau SCDU Scarus dubius 2008 MHI Niihau SCPS Scarus psittacus 2008 MHI Niihau SCRU Scarus rubroviolaceus 2008 MHI Niihau SCSP Scarus sp 2008 MHI Niihau SECO Sebastapistes coniorta 2008 MHI Niihau SPBA Sphyraena barracuda 2008 MHI Niihau STFA Stegastes fasciolatus 2008 MHI Niihau STBA Stethojulis balteata 2008 MHI Niihau SUBU Sufflamen bursa 2008 MHI Niihau SUFR Sufflamen fraenatum 2008 MHI Niihau LIZA Synodontidae sp 2008 MHI Niihau THBA Thalassoma ballieui 2008 MHI Niihau THDU Thalassoma duperrey 2008 MHI Niihau THTR Thalassoma trilobatum 2008 MHI Niihau ZACO Zanclus cornutus 2008 MHI Niihau ZEFL Zebrasoma flavescens 2008 MHI Lehua ABAB Abudefduf abdominalis 2008 MHI Lehua ABVA Abudefduf vaigiensis 2008 MHI Lehua ACAC Acanthurus achilles 2008 MHI Lehua ACBL Acanthurus blochii 2008 MHI Lehua ACDU Acanthurus dussumieri 2008 MHI Lehua ACLE Acanthurus leucopareius 2008 MHI Lehua ACNF Acanthurus nigrofuscus 2008 MHI Lehua ACNR Acanthurus nigroris 2008 MHI Lehua ACOL Acanthurus olivaceus 2008 MHI Lehua ACTH Acanthurus thompsoni 2008 MHI Lehua ACTR Acanthurus triostegus 2008 MHI Lehua AENA Aetobatus narinari 2008 MHI Lehua ANCH Anampses chrysocephalus 2008 MHI Lehua ANCU Anampses cuvier 2008 MHI Lehua APFU Aphareus furca 2008 MHI Lehua APAR Apolemichthys arcuatus 2008 MHI Lehua APVI Aprion virescens 2008 MHI Lehua AUCH Aulostomus chinensis 2008 MHI Lehua BOBI Bodianus bilunulatus 2008 MHI Lehua CACA Calotomus carolinus 2008 MHI Lehua CADU Cantherhines dumerilii 2008 MHI Lehua CASA Cantherhines sandwichiensis 2008 MHI Lehua CAAM Canthigaster amboinensis 2008 MHI Lehua CACO Canthigaster coronata 2008 MHI Lehua CAJA Canthigaster jactator 2008 MHI Lehua CAME Caranx melampygus 2008 MHI Lehua CAAB Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos 2008 MHI Lehua CAGA Carcharhinus galapagensis 2008 MHI Lehua CEFI Centropyge fisheri 2008 MHI Lehua CEPO Centropyge potteri 2008 MHI Lehua CEAR Cephalopholis argus 2008 MHI Lehua CHFR Chaetodon fremblii 2008 MHI Lehua CHLI Chaetodon lineolatus 2008 MHI Lehua CHMI Chaetodon miliaris 2008 MHI Lehua CHMU Chaetodon multicinctus 2008 MHI Lehua CHQU Chaetodon quadrimaculatus 2008 MHI Lehua CHAG Chromis agilis 2008 MHI Lehua CHHA Chromis hanui 2008 MHI Lehua CHOV Chromis ovalis 2008 MHI Lehua CHVA Chromis vanderbilti 2008 MHI Lehua CHVE Chromis verater 2008 MHI Lehua CIFA Cirrhitops fasciatus 2008 MHI Lehua CIVA Cirripectes vanderbilti 2008 MHI Lehua COFL Coris flavovittata 2008 MHI Lehua COGA Coris gaimard 2008 MHI Lehua COVE Coris venusta 2008 MHI Lehua CTHA Ctenochaetus hawaiiensis 2008 MHI Lehua CTST Ctenochaetus strigosus 2008 MHI Lehua DAAL Dascyllus albisella 2008 MHI Lehua FOFL Forcipiger flavissimus 2008 MHI Lehua HAOR Halichoeres ornatissimus 2008 MHI Lehua HEPO Hemitaurichthys polylepis 2008 MHI Lehua HEDI Heniochus diphreutes 2008 MHI Lehua CHUB Kyphosidae sp 2008 MHI Lehua KYHA Kyphosus hawaiiensis 2008 MHI Lehua KYSA Kyphosus sandwicensis 2008 MHI Lehua LAPH Labroides phthirophagus 2008 MHI Lehua LUFU Lutjanus fulvus 2008 MHI Lehua LUKA Lutjanus kasmira 2008 MHI Lehua MAGE Macropharyngodon geoffroy 2008 MHI Lehua MABI Manta birostris 2008 MHI Lehua MENI Melichthys niger 2008 MHI Lehua MEVI Melichthys vidua 2008 MHI Lehua MOGR Monotaxis grandoculis 2008 MHI Lehua MUFL Mulloidichthys flavolineatus 2008 MHI Lehua MYBE Myripristis berndti 2008 MHI Lehua NABR Naso brevirostris 2008 MHI Lehua NAHE Naso hexacanthus 2008 MHI Lehua NALI Naso lituratus 2008 MHI Lehua NAUN Naso unicornis 2008 MHI Lehua NONE no individuals seen 2008 MHI Lehua OXBI Oxycheilinus bimaculatus 2008 MHI Lehua PAAR Paracirrhites arcatus 2008 MHI Lehua PACY Parupeneus cyclostomus 2008 MHI Lehua PAIN Parupeneus insularis 2008 MHI Lehua PAMU Parupeneus multifasciatus 2008 MHI Lehua PAPL Parupeneus pleurostigma 2008 MHI Lehua PAPO Parupeneus porphyreus 2008 MHI Lehua PEAS Pervagor aspricaudus 2008 MHI Lehua PLEW Plagiotremus ewaensis 2008 MHI Lehua PLGO Plagiotremus goslinei 2008 MHI Lehua PLIM Plectroglyphidodon imparipennis 2008 MHI Lehua PLJO Plectroglyphidodon johnstonianus 2008 MHI Lehua PSEV Pseudocheilinus evanidus 2008 MHI Lehua PSOC Pseudocheilinus octotaenia 2008 MHI Lehua PSTE Pseudocheilinus tetrataenia 2008 MHI Lehua PSCE Pseudojuloides cerasinus 2008 MHI Lehua RHRE Rhinecanthus rectangulus 2008 MHI Lehua SADI Sargocentron diadema 2008 MHI Lehua SASP Sargocentron spiniferum 2008 MHI Lehua SATI Sargocentron tiere 2008 MHI Lehua SAXA Sargocentron xantherythrum 2008 MHI Lehua SCDU Scarus dubius 2008 MHI Lehua SCPS Scarus psittacus 2008 MHI Lehua SCRU Scarus rubroviolaceus 2008 MHI Lehua SCSP Scarus sp 2008 MHI Lehua SEDU Seriola dumerili 2008 MHI Lehua STFA Stegastes fasciolatus 2008 MHI Lehua STBA Stethojulis balteata 2008 MHI Lehua SUBU Sufflamen bursa 2008 MHI Lehua SUFR Sufflamen fraenatum 2008 MHI Lehua THDU Thalassoma duperrey 2008 MHI Lehua THTR Thalassoma trilobatum 2008 MHI Lehua ZACO Zanclus cornutus 2008 MHI Lehua ZEFL Zebrasoma flavescens 2008 MHI Lehua ZEVE Zebrasoma veliferum Time_Period_of_Content: Time_Period_Information: Range_of_Dates/Times: Beginning_Date: 20081110 Ending_Date: 20081110 Currentness_Reference: Ground condition Status: Progress: In Work Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: asNeeded Spatial_Domain: Bounding_Coordinates: West_Bounding_Coordinate: -160.247083 East_Bounding_Coordinate: -160.049426 North_Bounding_Coordinate: 22.028496 South_Bounding_Coordinate: 21.778428 Keywords: Theme: Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: NCEI Geoportal Filter Theme_Keyword: CoRIS_Metadata Theme: Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: CRCP Project Theme_Keyword: Pacific Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program (Pacific RAMP): Biennial monitoring for the U.S. Pacific Islands and Atolls Theme_Keyword: 1221 Theme: Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: None Theme_Keyword: Marine Ecosystem Theme_Keyword: Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program (RAMP) Theme_Keyword: Rapid Ecological Assessments (REA) Theme_Keyword: Coral Reef Theme_Keyword: Reef Fishes Theme_Keyword: Belt Transect (BLT) Survey Theme_Keyword: Stationary Point Count (SPC )Surveys Theme_Keyword: Roving-diver surveys Theme_Keyword: Main Hawaiian Islands Theme_Keyword: Niihau Island Theme_Keyword: OES0810 Theme: Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: CoRIS Discovery Thesaurus Theme_Keyword: Numeric Data Sets > Biology Theme: Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: CoRIS Theme Thesaurus Theme_Keyword: EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs Theme_Keyword: EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs > Coral reef ecology Theme_Keyword: EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef monitoring and assessment Theme_Keyword: EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef monitoring and assessment > Rapid assessment studies Theme_Keyword: EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef monitoring and assessment > Reef fish census Theme_Keyword: EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef monitoring and assessment > Reef fish census > Stationary Theme_Keyword: EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef monitoring and assessment > Reef fish census > Random swimming Theme_Keyword: EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef monitoring and assessment > Reef fish census > Belt transect Theme: Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: ISO 19115 Topic Category Theme_Keyword: biota Theme_Keyword: 002 Place: Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: None Place_Keyword: Main Hawaiian Islands Place_Keyword: Niihau Island Place: Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: CoRIS Place Thesaurus Place_Keyword: OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Hawaiian Islands > Niihau Island > Niihau Island (21N160W0001) Place_Keyword: COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Kauai > Niihau Island (21N160W0001) Place: Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: CoRIS Region Place_Keyword: MHI 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 Point_of_Contact: Contact_Information: Contact_Organization_Primary: Contact_Organization: Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED), Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Contact_Person: Ivor Williams Contact_Address: Address_Type: mailing and physical address Address: NOAA IRC Address: NMFS/PIFSC/CRED Address: 1845 WASP Blvd., Building 176 City: Honolulu State_or_Province: HI Postal_Code: 96818 Country: USA Contact_Voice_Telephone: 808 725-5360 Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 808 725-5429 Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: nmfs.pic.credinfo@noaa.gov Contact_Instructions: e-mail preferred Data_Set_Credit: "Marc Nadon, Kostantinos Stamoulis, Marie Ferguson, Kevin O'Brien", Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED), Pacific Islands Fisheries Sciences Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA Security_Information: Security_Classification_System: Not applicable Security_Classification: Unclassified Security_Handling_Description: Not applicable Native_Data_Set_Environment: Oracle Data_Quality_Information: Attribute_Accuracy: Attribute_Accuracy_Report: 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. Logical_Consistency_Report: 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. Completeness_Report: 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. Positional_Accuracy: Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy: Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Report: GPS unit Quantitative_Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Assessment: Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Value: 1 Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Explanation: Instrument parameters Vertical_Positional_Accuracy: Vertical_Positional_Accuracy_Report: Dive computer and SCUBA depth gauge Quantitative_Vertical_Positional_Accuracy_Assessment: Vertical_Positional_Accuracy_Value: 0.3 Vertical_Positional_Accuracy_Explanation: Instrument parameters Lineage: Process_Step: Process_Description: 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. Process_Date: Unknown Spatial_Reference_Information: Horizontal_Coordinate_System_Definition: Geographic: Latitude_Resolution: 0.0001 Longitude_Resolution: 0.0001 Geographic_Coordinate_Units: Decimal Degrees Geodetic_Model: Horizontal_Datum_Name: World Geodetic System 1984 (WGS84) Ellipsoid_Name: Geodetic Reference System 80 (GRS80) Semi-major_Axis: 6378137 Denominator_of_Flattening_Ratio: 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 Distribution_Information: Distributor: Contact_Information: Contact_Organization_Primary: Contact_Organization: Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED), Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Contact_Person: CRED Data Management Team Contact_Address: Address_Type: mailing and physical address Address: NOAA IRC Address: NMFS/PIFSC/CRED Address: 1845 WASP Blvd., Building 176 City: Honolulu State_or_Province: HI Postal_Code: 96818 Country: USA Contact_Voice_Telephone: 808 725-5360 Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 808 725-5429 Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: nmfs.pic.credinfo@noaa.gov Contact_Instructions: e-mail preferred Resource_Description: Offline Data Distribution_Liability: 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. Standard_Order_Process: Digital_Form: Digital_Transfer_Information: Format_Name: XLS (Microsoft Excel worksheet) Digital_Transfer_Option: Offline_Option: Offline_Media: CDROM, or email Recording_Format: ISO 9660 Fees: None if receiving the data online Custom_Order_Process: Contact CRED data management team for information Technical_Prerequisites: Contact CRED data management team for information Metadata_Reference_Information: Metadata_Date: 20190526 Metadata_Review_Date: 20090914 Metadata_Contact: Contact_Information: Contact_Organization_Primary: Contact_Organization: Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED), Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Contact_Address: Address_Type: mailing and physical address Address: NOAA IRC Address: NMFS/PIFSC/CRED Address: 1845 WASP Blvd., Building 176 City: Honolulu State_or_Province: HI Postal_Code: 96818 Country: USA Contact_Voice_Telephone: 808 725-5360 Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 808 725-5429 Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: nmfs.pic.credinfo@noaa.gov Contact_Instructions: e-mail preferred Metadata_Standard_Name: the Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata Metadata_Standard_Version: FGDC-STD-001-1998 CoRIS: CoRIS_ID: 20090914042316 CoRIS_Children: None CoRIS_Beginning_Date: 20081110 CoRIS_Ending_Date: 20081110 CoRIS_Metadata_Link: https://www.coris.noaa.gov/metadata/records/html/cred_rea_fish_niihau_island_2008.html CoRIS_Tracking_ID: 2908