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: 20100320 Title: CRED REA Reef Fish Assessment Survey at Rose Atoll, American Samoa 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 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, 27 REA sites were surveyed at Rose Atoll 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. Purpose: Part of a long-term monitoring program at biennial intervals which documents the state of the reefs. Supplemental_Information: Maximum depth was 24 meters. Fish species observed: Year Region Island Species TaxonName 2008 SAMOA Rose ACAC Acanthurus achilles 2008 SAMOA Rose ACAL Acanthurus albipectoralis 2008 SAMOA Rose ACBL Acanthurus blochii 2008 SAMOA Rose ACGU Acanthurus guttatus 2008 SAMOA Rose ACLI Acanthurus lineatus 2008 SAMOA Rose ACMA Acanthurus maculiceps 2008 SAMOA Rose ACNC Acanthurus nigricans 2008 SAMOA Rose ACNI Acanthurus nigricauda 2008 SAMOA Rose ACNF Acanthurus nigrofuscus 2008 SAMOA Rose ACNR Acanthurus nigroris 2008 SAMOA Rose ACOL Acanthurus olivaceus 2008 SAMOA Rose ACPY Acanthurus pyroferus 2008 SAMOA Rose ACSP Acanthurus sp 2008 SAMOA Rose ACTH Acanthurus thompsoni 2008 SAMOA Rose ACTR Acanthurus triostegus 2008 SAMOA Rose AMSC Amanses scopas 2008 SAMOA Rose AMCH Amphiprion chrysopterus 2008 SAMOA Rose ANCA Anampses caeruleopunctatus 2008 SAMOA Rose ANME Anampses melanurus 2008 SAMOA Rose ANMG Anampses meleagrides 2008 SAMOA Rose ANTW Anampses twistii 2008 SAMOA Rose APFU Aphareus furca 2008 SAMOA Rose APVI Aprion virescens 2008 SAMOA Rose ASST Asterropteryx striata 2008 SAMOA Rose BAUN Balistapus undulatus 2008 SAMOA Rose BOAX Bodianus axillaris 2008 SAMOA Rose BOLO Bodianus loxozonus 2008 SAMOA Rose CATE Caesio teres 2008 SAMOA Rose CACA Calotomus carolinus 2008 SAMOA Rose CADU Cantherhines dumerilii 2008 SAMOA Rose CAMA Canthidermis maculata 2008 SAMOA Rose CAJN Canthigaster janthinoptera 2008 SAMOA Rose CAVA Canthigaster valentini 2008 SAMOA Rose CAMC Caracanthus maculatus 2008 SAMOA Rose CAFE Carangoides ferdau 2008 SAMOA Rose CAOR Carangoides orthogrammus 2008 SAMOA Rose CAIG Caranx ignobilis 2008 SAMOA Rose CALU Caranx lugubris 2008 SAMOA Rose CAME Caranx melampygus 2008 SAMOA Rose CEBI Centropyge bispinosa 2008 SAMOA Rose CEFL Centropyge flavissima 2008 SAMOA Rose CELO Centropyge loricula 2008 SAMOA Rose CEMU Centropyge multifasciata 2008 SAMOA Rose CEAR Cephalopholis argus 2008 SAMOA Rose CELE Cephalopholis leopardus 2008 SAMOA Rose CEUR Cephalopholis urodeta 2008 SAMOA Rose CHAU Chaetodon auriga 2008 SAMOA Rose CHCI Chaetodon citrinellus 2008 SAMOA Rose CHEP Chaetodon ephippium 2008 SAMOA Rose CHLU Chaetodon lunula 2008 SAMOA Rose CHOR Chaetodon ornatissimus 2008 SAMOA Rose CHPW Chaetodon pelewensis 2008 SAMOA Rose CHQU Chaetodon quadrimaculatus 2008 SAMOA Rose CHRE Chaetodon reticulatus 2008 SAMOA Rose CHUL Chaetodon ulietensis 2008 SAMOA Rose CHVG Chaetodon vagabundus 2008 SAMOA Rose CHFN Chlorurus frontalis 2008 SAMOA Rose CHJA Chlorurus japanensis 2008 SAMOA Rose CHMC Chlorurus microrhinos 2008 SAMOA Rose CHSO Chlorurus sordidus 2008 SAMOA Rose CHAC Chromis acares 2008 SAMOA Rose CHAG Chromis agilis 2008 SAMOA Rose CHIO Chromis iomelas 2008 SAMOA Rose CHMA Chromis margaritifer 2008 SAMOA Rose CHVA Chromis vanderbilti 2008 SAMOA Rose CHVR Chromis viridis 2008 SAMOA Rose CHXA Chromis xanthura 2008 SAMOA Rose CHBI Chrysiptera biocellata 2008 SAMOA Rose CHBR Chrysiptera brownriggii 2008 SAMOA Rose CHTA Chrysiptera taupou 2008 SAMOA Rose CIPU Cirrhilabrus punctatus 2008 SAMOA Rose CITE Cirrhilabrus temminckii 2008 SAMOA Rose CIOX Cirrhitichthys oxycephalus 2008 SAMOA Rose CIPI Cirrhitus pinnulatus 2008 SAMOA Rose CIPO Cirripectes polyzona 2008 SAMOA Rose CISP Cirripectes sp 2008 SAMOA Rose CIST Cirripectes stigmaticus 2008 SAMOA Rose CIVR Cirripectes variolosus 2008 SAMOA Rose COAY Coris aygula 2008 SAMOA Rose COGA Coris gaimard 2008 SAMOA Rose CTBI Ctenochaetus binotatus 2008 SAMOA Rose CTCY Ctenochaetus cyanocheilus 2008 SAMOA Rose CTFL Ctenochaetus flavicauda 2008 SAMOA Rose CTSR Ctenochaetus striatus 2008 SAMOA Rose DAAR Dascyllus aruanus 2008 SAMOA Rose DARE Dascyllus reticulatus 2008 SAMOA Rose ECOP Ecsenius opsifrontalis 2008 SAMOA Rose ELBI Elagatis bipinnulata 2008 SAMOA Rose ENSP Enneapterygius sp 2008 SAMOA Rose EPIN Epibulus insidiator 2008 SAMOA Rose EPFA Epinephelus fasciatus 2008 SAMOA Rose EPHE Epinephelus hexagonatus 2008 SAMOA Rose EPML Epinephelus melanostigma 2008 SAMOA Rose EPME Epinephelus merra 2008 SAMOA Rose EPSP Epinephelus sp 2008 SAMOA Rose EPTA Epinephelus tauvina 2008 SAMOA Rose EVAL Eviota albolineata 2008 SAMOA Rose EVGU Eviota guttata 2008 SAMOA Rose EVPR Eviota prasites 2008 SAMOA Rose EVSP Eviota sp 2008 SAMOA Rose FOFL Forcipiger flavissimus 2008 SAMOA Rose FOLO Forcipiger longirostris 2008 SAMOA Rose FUDU Fusigobius duospilus 2008 SAMOA Rose GNAU Gnathodentex aureolineatus 2008 SAMOA Rose GOVA Gomphosus varius 2008 SAMOA Rose GRAL Gracila albomarginata 2008 SAMOA Rose GYUC Gymnosarda unicolor 2008 SAMOA Rose GYJA Gymnothorax javanicus 2008 SAMOA Rose HABI Halichoeres biocellatus 2008 SAMOA Rose HAHO Halichoeres hortulanus 2008 SAMOA Rose HAMT Halichoeres margaritaceus 2008 SAMOA Rose HAOR Halichoeres ornatissimus 2008 SAMOA Rose HATR Halichoeres trimaculatus 2008 SAMOA Rose HEFA Hemigymnus fasciatus 2008 SAMOA Rose HEPO Hemitaurichthys polylepis 2008 SAMOA Rose HETH Hemitaurichthys thompsoni 2008 SAMOA Rose HECH Heniochus chrysostomus 2008 SAMOA Rose HEMO Heniochus monoceros 2008 SAMOA Rose HODO Hologymnosus doliatus 2008 SAMOA Rose LABI Labroides bicolor 2008 SAMOA Rose LADI Labroides dimidiatus 2008 SAMOA Rose LARU Labroides rubrolabiatus 2008 SAMOA Rose LAXA Labropsis xanthonota 2008 SAMOA Rose LUBO Lutjanus bohar 2008 SAMOA Rose LUFU Lutjanus fulvus 2008 SAMOA Rose LUGI Lutjanus gibbus 2008 SAMOA Rose LUKA Lutjanus kasmira 2008 SAMOA Rose LUMO Lutjanus monostigma 2008 SAMOA Rose LUWH Luzonichthys whitleyi 2008 SAMOA Rose MAMA Macolor macularis 2008 SAMOA Rose MANI Macolor niger 2008 SAMOA Rose MAME Macropharyngodon meleagris 2008 SAMOA Rose MENI Melichthys niger 2008 SAMOA Rose MEVI Melichthys vidua 2008 SAMOA Rose MOGR Monotaxis grandoculis 2008 SAMOA Rose MUVA Mulloidichthys vanicolensis 2008 SAMOA Rose MYBE Myripristis berndti 2008 SAMOA Rose MYKU Myripristis kuntee 2008 SAMOA Rose MYVL Myripristis violacea 2008 SAMOA Rose NABR Naso brevirostris 2008 SAMOA Rose NAHE Naso hexacanthus 2008 SAMOA Rose NALI Naso lituratus 2008 SAMOA Rose NAVL Naso vlamingii 2008 SAMOA Rose NEMA Nemateleotris magnifica 2008 SAMOA Rose NESA Neoniphon sammara 2008 SAMOA Rose NONE no individuals seen 2008 SAMOA Rose NOTA Novaculichthys taeniourus 2008 SAMOA Rose OSLE Ostorhinchus leslie 2008 SAMOA Rose OSME Ostracion meleagris 2008 SAMOA Rose OXDI Oxycheilinus digramma 2008 SAMOA Rose OXRH Oxycheilinus rhodochrous 2008 SAMOA Rose OXUN Oxycheilinus unifasciatus 2008 SAMOA Rose PAAR Paracirrhites arcatus 2008 SAMOA Rose PAFO Paracirrhites forsteri 2008 SAMOA Rose PAHE Paracirrhites hemistictus 2008 SAMOA Rose PAMI Parapercis millepunctata 2008 SAMOA Rose PABA Parupeneus barberinus 2008 SAMOA Rose PACR Parupeneus crassilabris 2008 SAMOA Rose PACY Parupeneus cyclostomus 2008 SAMOA Rose PAIN Parupeneus insularis 2008 SAMOA Rose PAMU Parupeneus multifasciatus 2008 SAMOA Rose PAPL Parupeneus pleurostigma 2008 SAMOA Rose PEOU Pempheris oualensis 2008 SAMOA Rose SAND Pinguipedidae sp 2008 SAMOA Rose PLRH Plagiotremus rhinorhynchos 2008 SAMOA Rose PLTA Plagiotremus tapeinosoma 2008 SAMOA Rose PLDI Plectroglyphidodon dickii 2008 SAMOA Rose PLJO Plectroglyphidodon johnstonianus 2008 SAMOA Rose PLLA Plectroglyphidodon lacrymatus 2008 SAMOA Rose PLPH Plectroglyphidodon phoenixensis 2008 SAMOA Rose POIM Pomacanthus imperator 2008 SAMOA Rose POBR Pomacentrus brachialis 2008 SAMOA Rose POSA Pomacentrus samoa 2008 SAMOA Rose POVA Pomacentrus vaiuli 2008 SAMOA Rose PSOL Pseudanthias olivaceus 2008 SAMOA Rose PSPA Pseudanthias pascalus 2008 SAMOA Rose PSFL Pseudobalistes flavimarginatus 2008 SAMOA Rose PSEV Pseudocheilinus evanidus 2008 SAMOA Rose PSHE Pseudocheilinus hexataenia 2008 SAMOA Rose PSOC Pseudocheilinus octotaenia 2008 SAMOA Rose PSTE Pseudocheilinus tetrataenia 2008 SAMOA Rose PSJA Pseudochromis jamesi 2008 SAMOA Rose PSMO Pseudodax moluccanus 2008 SAMOA Rose PTEV Ptereleotris evides 2008 SAMOA Rose PTMI Ptereleotris microlepis 2008 SAMOA Rose PYDI Pygoplites diacanthus 2008 SAMOA Rose RHAC Rhinecanthus aculeatus 2008 SAMOA Rose RHRE Rhinecanthus rectangulus 2008 SAMOA Rose SADI Sargocentron diadema 2008 SAMOA Rose SAMI Sargocentron microstoma 2008 SAMOA Rose SASP Sargocentron spiniferum 2008 SAMOA Rose SATI Sargocentron tiere 2008 SAMOA Rose PARR Scaridae sp 2008 SAMOA Rose SCAL Scarus altipinnis 2008 SAMOA Rose SCFO Scarus forsteni 2008 SAMOA Rose SCFR Scarus frenatus 2008 SAMOA Rose SCGL Scarus globiceps 2008 SAMOA Rose SCOV Scarus oviceps 2008 SAMOA Rose SCPS Scarus psittacus 2008 SAMOA Rose SCRU Scarus rubroviolaceus 2008 SAMOA Rose SCSC Scarus schlegeli 2008 SAMOA Rose SCSP Scarus sp 2008 SAMOA Rose SCTR Scarus tricolor 2008 SAMOA Rose SPQE Sphyraena qenie 2008 SAMOA Rose STAL Stegastes albifasciatus 2008 SAMOA Rose STAU Stegastes aureus 2008 SAMOA Rose STFA Stegastes fasciolatus 2008 SAMOA Rose STNI Stegastes nigricans 2008 SAMOA Rose STBN Stethojulis bandanensis 2008 SAMOA Rose SUBU Sufflamen bursa 2008 SAMOA Rose SUCH Sufflamen chrysopterum 2008 SAMOA Rose THAM Thalassoma amblycephalum 2008 SAMOA Rose THHA Thalassoma hardwicke 2008 SAMOA Rose THLU Thalassoma lutescens 2008 SAMOA Rose THPU Thalassoma purpureum 2008 SAMOA Rose THQU Thalassoma quinquevittatum 2008 SAMOA Rose TROB Triaenodon obesus 2008 SAMOA Rose FISH Un-id fish sp 2008 SAMOA Rose ZACO Zanclus cornutus 2008 SAMOA Rose ZEFL Zebrasoma flavescens 2008 SAMOA Rose ZESC Zebrasoma scopas 2008 SAMOA Rose ZEVE Zebrasoma veliferum Time_Period_of_Content: Time_Period_Information: Range_of_Dates/Times: Beginning_Date: 20080311 Ending_Date: 20080314 Currentness_Reference: Ground condition Status: Progress: In Work Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: asNeeded Spatial_Domain: Bounding_Coordinates: West_Bounding_Coordinate: -168.1759289 East_Bounding_Coordinate: -168.1337054 North_Bounding_Coordinate: -14.526119 South_Bounding_Coordinate: -14.56409447 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: American Samoa Theme_Keyword: Rose Atoll Theme_Keyword: HI0802 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: American Samoa Place_Keyword: Rose Atoll Place: Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: CoRIS Place Thesaurus Place_Keyword: COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > American Samoa > American Samoa > Rose Atoll (14S168W0001) Place_Keyword: OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > American Samoa > Rose Atoll (14S168W0001) Place: Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: CoRIS Region Place_Keyword: AmSam 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, Paul Brown, Kevin O'Brien, Paula Ayotte", 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: 20090910 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: 20090910061707 CoRIS_Children: None CoRIS_Beginning_Date: 20080311 CoRIS_Ending_Date: 20080314 CoRIS_Metadata_Link: https://www.coris.noaa.gov/metadata/records/html/cred_rea_fish_rose_atoll_2008.html CoRIS_Tracking_ID: 2890