Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED), Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
20090415
CRED REA Line Point Intercept Surveys of Benthic Parameter Assessments at Tinian Island, Marianas Archipelago in 2009
spreadsheet
https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/pacific-islands/ecosystems/coral-reefs-pacific
To support a long-term NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP) for sustainable management and conservation of coral reef ecosystems, from 5 April - 14 April 2009, line point intercept (LPI) surveys of benthic parameter assessments were conducted, as a part of Rapid Ecological Assessments (REA), during the Pacific Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program (RAMP) Cruise HI0902 in the Marianas Archipelago at biennial intervals by the Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED) at the NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC). During the cruise, 14 REA sites were surveyed at Tinian Island in the Marianas Archipelago.
At the specific REA sites, coral biologists along with algal biologists, marine invertebrate zoologist, and fish biologists 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.
As a part of REA surveys, the line point intercept surveys were used to quantitatively assess average percent live coral cover and other benthic substrates at REA sites. The surveys were conducted along two consecutively-placed 25m transect lines by a coral biologist. All benthic elements falling directly underneath the transect line at 20-cm to 50-cm intervals were recorded as one of nine benthic categories: live coral, dead coral, carbonate pavement, encrusting coralline algae, macroalgae, coral rubble, sand, rock, and other benthic sessile invertebrates. All living benthic elements (e.g., coral, algae, and other invertebrates) were identified to the lowest taxonomic level possible. These data provide the basis for computing quantitative estimates of percent live coral cover, as well as percent cover of the different benthic constituents.
Part of a long-term monitoring program at biennial intervals which documents the state of the reefs.
Maximum depth was 23 meters.
Benthic cover parameters observed:
Year Region Island BenthicCategory BenthicName
2009 MARIAN Tinian CALG Branched calcified rhodophyta
2009 MARIAN Tinian CALG crustose coralline red algae
2009 MARIAN Tinian CALG Dead/coralline algae
2009 MARIAN Tinian CALG non-geniculate calcified branched red algae
2009 MARIAN Tinian CALG Pavement/Coralline algae
2009 MARIAN Tinian CALG Rubble/coralline algae
2009 MARIAN Tinian CORL Acanthastrea sp
2009 MARIAN Tinian CORL Acropora digitifera
2009 MARIAN Tinian CORL Acropora humilis
2009 MARIAN Tinian CORL Acropora monticulosa
2009 MARIAN Tinian CORL Acropora palmarea
2009 MARIAN Tinian CORL Acropora sp
2009 MARIAN Tinian CORL Astreopora gracilis
2009 MARIAN Tinian CORL Astreopora sp
2009 MARIAN Tinian CORL Cyphastrea chalcidicum
2009 MARIAN Tinian CORL Cyphastrea sp
2009 MARIAN Tinian CORL Favia favus
2009 MARIAN Tinian CORL Favia helianthoides
2009 MARIAN Tinian CORL Favia pallida
2009 MARIAN Tinian CORL Favia sp
2009 MARIAN Tinian CORL Favia stelligera
2009 MARIAN Tinian CORL Galaxea fascicularis
2009 MARIAN Tinian CORL Galaxea sp
2009 MARIAN Tinian CORL Goniastrea edwardsi
2009 MARIAN Tinian CORL Goniastrea retiformis
2009 MARIAN Tinian CORL Goniastrea sp
2009 MARIAN Tinian CORL Goniopora fruticosa
2009 MARIAN Tinian CORL Hydnophora microconnos
2009 MARIAN Tinian CORL Isopora
2009 MARIAN Tinian CORL Leptastrea purpurea
2009 MARIAN Tinian CORL Leptastrea sp
2009 MARIAN Tinian CORL Leptoria phyrgia
2009 MARIAN Tinian CORL Leptoria sp
2009 MARIAN Tinian CORL Millepora sp
2009 MARIAN Tinian CORL Montastrea curta
2009 MARIAN Tinian CORL Montastrea sp
2009 MARIAN Tinian CORL Montipora sp
2009 MARIAN Tinian CORL Pavona sp
2009 MARIAN Tinian CORL Platygyra daedalea
2009 MARIAN Tinian CORL Platygyra pini
2009 MARIAN Tinian CORL Pocillopora damicornis
2009 MARIAN Tinian CORL Pocillopora meandrina
2009 MARIAN Tinian CORL Pocillopora setchelli
2009 MARIAN Tinian CORL Pocillopora sp
2009 MARIAN Tinian CORL Pocillopora verrucosa
2009 MARIAN Tinian CORL Porites australiensis
2009 MARIAN Tinian CORL Porites lutea
2009 MARIAN Tinian Corl Porites massive
2009 MARIAN Tinian CORL Porites rus
2009 MARIAN Tinian CORL Porites sp
2009 MARIAN Tinian CORL Psammocora sp
2009 MARIAN Tinian CORL Scolomyia sp
2009 MARIAN Tinian CORL Stylophora sp
2009 MARIAN Tinian CYAN Cyanobacteria
2009 MARIAN Tinian CYAN Pavement/cyanobacteria
2009 MARIAN Tinian CYAN Rubble/Cyanobacteria
2009 MARIAN Tinian INVT Tridacna sp
2009 MARIAN Tinian malg Amphiroa sp
2009 MARIAN Tinian malg Caulerpa serrulata
2009 MARIAN Tinian malg Chlorodesmis sp
2009 MARIAN Tinian malg Dichotomaria marginata
2009 MARIAN Tinian malg Dictyosphaeria versluysii
2009 MARIAN Tinian malg Galaxaura sp
2009 MARIAN Tinian malg Halimeda opuntia
2009 MARIAN Tinian malg Halimeda sp
2009 MARIAN Tinian malg Halimeda taenicola
2009 MARIAN Tinian malg Halimeda tuna
2009 MARIAN Tinian malg Lobophora variegata
2009 MARIAN Tinian malg Microdictyon sp
2009 MARIAN Tinian malg Padina sp
2009 MARIAN Tinian malg Pavement/macroalgae
2009 MARIAN Tinian malg Peyssonnelia sp
2009 MARIAN Tinian malg Portieria hornemannii
2009 MARIAN Tinian malg Ventricaria ventricosa
2009 MARIAN Tinian OCTO Lobophyton sp
2009 MARIAN Tinian OCTO Octocoral
2009 MARIAN Tinian OTHR Sponge
2009 MARIAN Tinian SAND Sand
2009 MARIAN Tinian TALG Dead/Turf algae
2009 MARIAN Tinian TALG Pavement/Turf
2009 MARIAN Tinian TALG Rubble/turfalgae
2009 MARIAN Tinian TALG Sand/turf
2009 MARIAN Tinian TALG turf algae
20090412
20090413
Ground condition
asNeeded
145.57165
145.689324
15.112518
14.879997
NCEI Geoportal FilterCoRIS_MetadataCRCP ProjectPacific Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program (Pacific RAMP): Biennial monitoring for the U.S. Pacific Islands and Atolls1221
None
Marine Ecosystem
Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program (RAMP)
Rapid Ecological Assessments (REA)
Coral Reef Ecosystem
Benthic Cover
Marianas Archipelago
Tinian Island
HI0902
CoRIS Theme Thesaurus
EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs
EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs > Coral reef ecology
EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef monitoring and assessment
EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef monitoring and assessment > Rapid assessment studies
CoRIS Discovery Thesaurus
Numeric Data Sets > Biology
ISO 19115 Topic Category
biota
002
None
Marianas Archipelago
Tinian Island
CoRIS Place Thesaurus
OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Tinian Island Reefs > Tinian Island (14N145E0005)
COUNTRY/TERRITORY > Northern Mariana Islands > Tinian > Tinian Island (14N145E0005)
CoRIS Region
CNMI
Data are available two years following data collection date
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
Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED), Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Dr. Bernardo Vargas-Angel
mailing and physical address
NOAA IRC
NMFS/PIFSC/CRED
1845 WASP Blvd., Building 176
Honolulu
HI
96818
USA
808 725-5360
808 725-5429
nmfs.pic.credinfo@noaa.gov
e-mail preferred
"Dave Burdick, Cristi Richards", Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED), Pacific Islands Fisheries Sciences Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA
Not applicable
Unclassified
Not applicable
Oracle
The benthic cover parameter observations were made by a single diver who is coral reef ecologist. The benthic cover assessment surveys are conducted one time per site per survey year; it is not replicated.
The same methods of data collection were used at each of the sites surveyed at this location, and were conducted by the same scientist.
The survey sites were selected to be representative of the dominant habitats at this reef system. The majority of surveys were conducted in the lagoon due to inclement sea conditions in other habitats.
GPS unit
1
Instrument parameters
Dive computer and SCUBA depth gauge
0.3
Instrument parameters
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.
Unknown
0.0001
0.0001
Decimal Degrees
World Geodetic System 1984 (WGS84)
Geodetic Reference System 80 (GRS80)
6378137
298.2572236
Local surface
1
meters
Explicit Depth Coordinate Included with Horizontal Coordinates
Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED), Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
CRED Data Management Team
mailing and physical address
NOAA IRC
NMFS/PIFSC/CRED
1845 WASP Blvd., Building 176
Honolulu
HI
96818
USA
808 725-5360
808 725-5429
nmfs.pic.credinfo@noaa.gov
e-mail preferred
Offline Data
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.
XLS (Microsoft Excel worksheet)
CDROM, or email
ISO 9660
None if receiving the data online
Contact CRED data management team for information
Contact CRED data management team for information
20190526
20090908
Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED), Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
mailing and physical address
NOAA IRC
NMFS/PIFSC/CRED
1845 WASP Blvd., Building 176
Honolulu
HI
96818
USA
808 725-5360
808 725-5429
nmfs.pic.credinfo@noaa.gov
e-mail preferred
Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata
FGDC-STD-001-1998
20090908082655
None
20090412
20090413
https://www.coris.noaa.gov/metadata/records/html/cred_rea_benthic_cover_tinian_island_2009.html
2846