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, belt transect surveys of coral population and diseases quantitative 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, there were 25 surveys in total conducted at REA sites around Guam Island in the Marianas Archipelago. At the specific REA sites, coral biologists along with fish 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. As a part of REA surveys, the coral belt surveys were focused on quantifying the diversity, abundance, density, and size-class distribution of the anthozoan and hydrozoan corals as well as the condition and health state of the coral reef populations. The surveys were conducted along two consecutively-placed, 25m transect lines. The belt width was dictated at the beginning of each dive by subjective perceived colony density: 1-m width was used in high density areas, while 2-m width was used in low density areas. Within each 25m transect, five 2.5-meter segments were surveyed (beginning at points: 0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 meters), whereby in each segment, all coral colonies whose center fell within 0.5m of either side of the transect line were identified to the lowest taxonomic level possible (genus or species) and two planar size metrics were collected: maximum diameter and diameter perpendicular to the maximum diameter. In addition, the extent of mortality, both recent and old, was estimated for each colony. Observers paid special attention to identifying as best as possible the extent of the former live colony. When a coral colony exhibited signs of disease or compromised health, additional information was recorded including type of affliction (bleaching, skeletal growth anomaly, white syndrome, tissue loss other than white syndrome, trematodiasis, necrosis, other, pigmentation responses, algal overgrowth, and predation), severity of the affliction (mild, moderate, marked, severe, acute), as well as photographic documentation and sometimes tissue samples. Tissue samples were catalogued and fixed in buffered zinc-formalin solution for further histopathological analyses. Raw survey data included species presence and relative abundance, colony counts per taxon, size (width and length), mortality, predation, and health status. A surveyed area was ranging from 10m2 to 25m2 per site.
Part of a long-term monitoring program at biennial intervals which documents the state of the reefs.
Maximum depth was 27 meters. Coral genera observed: Region Year Island Genus MARIAN 2009 Guam Acanthastrea MARIAN 2009 Guam Acropora MARIAN 2009 Guam Algae MARIAN 2009 Guam Astreopora MARIAN 2009 Guam Cycloseris MARIAN 2009 Guam Cyphastrea MARIAN 2009 Guam Dendronephthya MARIAN 2009 Guam Diploastrea MARIAN 2009 Guam Echinophyllia MARIAN 2009 Guam Echinopora MARIAN 2009 Guam Favia MARIAN 2009 Guam Favites MARIAN 2009 Guam Fungia MARIAN 2009 Guam Galaxea MARIAN 2009 Guam Gardineroseris MARIAN 2009 Guam Goniastrea MARIAN 2009 Guam Goniopora MARIAN 2009 Guam Heliopora MARIAN 2009 Guam Herpolitha MARIAN 2009 Guam Hydnophora MARIAN 2009 Guam Isopora MARIAN 2009 Guam Leptastrea MARIAN 2009 Guam Leptoria MARIAN 2009 Guam Lobophytum MARIAN 2009 Guam Montastrea MARIAN 2009 Guam Montipora MARIAN 2009 Guam Oulophyllia MARIAN 2009 Guam Pavona MARIAN 2009 Guam Platygyra MARIAN 2009 Guam Pocillopora MARIAN 2009 Guam Porites MARIAN 2009 Guam Psammocora MARIAN 2009 Guam Scolymia MARIAN 2009 Guam Sinularia MARIAN 2009 Guam Sinularia/Lobophytum/Sarcophyton& other soft corals MARIAN 2009 Guam Stylocoeniella MARIAN 2009 Guam Stylophora MARIAN 2009 Guam Turbinaria Coral disease observed: Region Year Island DZClass MARIAN 2009 Guam Acute tissue loss - White syndrome MARIAN 2009 Guam Algal infection MARIAN 2009 Guam Bleaching MARIAN 2009 Guam Coralline lethal disease MARIAN 2009 Guam Coralline lethal orange disease MARIAN 2009 Guam Cyanophyte infection MARIAN 2009 Guam Discolorations other than bleaching MARIAN 2009 Guam Endolithic Fungal Infection MARIAN 2009 Guam Fungal infections MARIAN 2009 Guam Hyperpigmented responses MARIAN 2009 Guam Other MARIAN 2009 Guam Predation MARIAN 2009 Guam Skeletal growth anomalies MARIAN 2009 Guam Sub-acute tissue loss
Ground condition
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
NOAA IRC
NMFS/PIFSC/CRED
1845 WASP Blvd., Building 176
e-mail preferred
"Laurie Raymundo, Bernardo Vargas-Angel", Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED), Pacific Islands Fisheries Sciences Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA
Observations were made by two divers who are experts in coral biology. The population parameter survey is conducted one time per site per survey year; it is not replicated.
With the exception of the non-quantitative survey along the backreef, the same methods of data collection were used at each of the sites surveyed at this location, and were conducted by the same scientists.
The survey sites were selected to be representative of the dominant 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.
GPS unit
Instrument parameters
Dive computer and SCUBA depth gauge
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.
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.
Contact CRED data management team for information
