Belt transects along 2 consecutively-placed, 25m transect lines were surveyed as part of Rapid Ecological Assessments conducted at 9 sites at Palmyra Atoll in the Line Islands in April, 2004 from the NOAA vessel Oscar Elton Sette (OES04-04). Raw survey data included genus presence and relative abundance, colony counts and size classes, and visual estimation of percent cover. Either 0.5m or 1m on each side of the transect lines were included in the belt (for a total of 50m2 or 100m2 per site), depending on colony density.
Part of a long-term monitoring program at biennial intervals in which corals, algae, fish, and other macroinvertebrates are co-sampled along the same set of transect lines
Maximum depth was 16 meters. Corals observed: Common Name Scientific Name Species Genus Family Order Class Phylum- Kingdom Division Coral Porites Poritidae Scleractinia Anthozoa Cnidaria Animalia Coral Fungia Fungiidae Scleractinia Anthozoa Cnidaria Animalia
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
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James Maragos; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Observations were made by one or two divers both of whom are experts in coral biology. The population parameter survey is 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 scientists.
The survey sites were selected to be representative of the dominant habitats at this reef system
GPS unit
Instrument parameters
Dive computer and SCUBA depth gauge
As divers swam along the transect line, they inspected the corals whose center fell within a 1m- or 2m-wide belt (i.e., 0.5 or 1m on each side of the transect line, depending on colony density). Each such coral was tallied by genus and classified by its maximum diameter in one of 7 size classes: 0-5cm, 5-10cm, 10-20cm, 20-40cm, 40-80cm, 80-160cm, or >160cm. At the end of this survey, a visual estimation of coral percent cover was made and recorded. Lastly, a larger area around the transect belt was inspected for additional coral taxa that did not occur within the belt; the relative abundance of all corals was qualitatively assessed using the DACOR system (D = Dominant, A = Abundant, C = Common, O = Occasional, R = Rare.
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.
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