CRED REA Coral Population Parameters at Ta'u Island, American Samoa in 2008

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Frequently anticipated questions:

What does this data set describe?

Title:
CRED REA Coral Population Parameters at Ta'u Island, American Samoa in 2008
Abstract:
Belt transects along 2 consecutively-placed, 25m transect lines were surveyed as part of Rapid Ecological Assessments conducted at 9 sites around Ta'u Island in American Samoa from 28 February to 05 March 2008 aboard the NOAA ship Hi'ialakai during the Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program (RAMP) Cruise HI0802. Raw survey data included species presence and relative abundance, colony counts and size classes by genus, and determination of benthic cover using the line-intercept method. Depending on colony density, 1 m on each side of the transect lines was included in the belt (for a total of 25-50m2 per site).
Supplemental_Information:
Maximum depth was 16 meters. Corals observed: Island Species TaxonName Genus Class TAU ACAS Acanthastrea sp Acanthastrea Scleractinia TAU ACRA Acropora craterformis Acropora Scleractinia TAU ACSP Acropora sp Acropora Scleractinia TAU ASSP Astreopora sp Astreopora Scleractinia TAU CLSP Cladiella sp Cladiella Octocoral TAU COSP Coscinaraea sp Coscinaraea Scleractinia TAU CYPS Cyphastrea sp Cyphastrea Scleractinia TAU ECHL Echinophyllia sp Echinophyllia Scleractinia TAU ECHP Echinopora sp Echinopora Scleractinia TAU FASP Favia sp Favia Scleractinia TAU FAVS Favites sp Favites Scleractinia TAU FSTE Favia stelligera Favia Scleractinia TAU FUSP Fungia sp Fungia Scleractinia TAU GASP Galaxea sp Galaxea Scleractinia TAU GONS Goniastrea sp Goniastrea Scleractinia TAU GOSP Goniopora sp Goniopora Scleractinia TAU HMIC Hydnophora microconnos Hydnophora Scleractinia TAU HYSP Hydnophora sp Hydnophora Scleractinia TAU LEPS Leptoria sp Leptoria Scleractinia TAU LEPT Leptastrea sp Leptastrea Scleractinia TAU LOBP Lobophytum sp Lobophytum Scleractinia TAU LOBS Lobophyllia sp Lobophyllia Scleractinia TAU MESP Merulina sp Merulina Scleractinia TAU MFOV Montipora foveolata Montipora Scleractinia TAU MISP Millepora sp Millepora Hydrozoan TAU MONS Montastrea sp Montastrea Scleractinia TAU MOSP Montipora sp Montipora Scleractinia TAU MOVR Montipora verrucosa Montipora Scleractinia TAU PASP Palythoa sp. Palythoa Other Anthozoan TAU PDUE Pavona duerdeni Pavona Scleractinia TAU PEYD Pocillopora eydouxi Pocillopora Scleractinia TAU PLSP Platygyra sp Platygyra Scleractinia TAU POCS Pocillopora sp Pocillopora Scleractinia TAU POSP Porites sp Porites Scleractinia TAU PRUS Porites rus Porites Scleractinia TAU PSSP Psammocora sp Psammocora Scleractinia TAU PSTE Psammocora stellata Psammocora Scleractinia TAU PVAR Pavona varians Pavona Scleractinia TAU SARS Sarcophyton sp Sarcophyton Octocoral TAU SASP Sandalolitha sp Sandalolitha Scleractinia TAU SYSP Symphyllia sp Symphyllia Scleractinia TAU TBIP To be identified by picture To be identified by picture Scleractinia TAU TREN Turbinaria reniformis Turbinaria Scleractinia TAU ZOSP Zoanthus sp Zoanthus Other Anthozoan
  1. How might this data set be cited?
    Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED), Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 20010322, CRED REA Coral Population Parameters at Ta'u Island, American Samoa in 2008.

    Online Links:

  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?
    West_Bounding_Coordinate: -169.5237152
    East_Bounding_Coordinate: -169.4077949
    North_Bounding_Coordinate: -14.20247804
    South_Bounding_Coordinate: -14.28884564
  3. What does it look like?
  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?
    Beginning_Date: 28-Feb-2008
    Ending_Date: 05-Mar-2008
    Currentness_Reference: Ground condition
  5. What is the general form of this data set?
    Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: spreadsheet
  6. How does the data set represent geographic features?
    1. How are geographic features stored in the data set?
    2. What coordinate system is used to represent geographic features?
      Horizontal positions are specified in geographic coordinates, that is, latitude and longitude. Latitudes are given to the nearest 0.0001. Longitudes are given to the nearest 0.0001. Latitude and longitude values are specified in Decimal Degrees. The horizontal datum used is World Geodetic System 1984 (WGS84).
      The ellipsoid used is Geodetic Reference System 80 (GRS80).
      The semi-major axis of the ellipsoid used is 6378137.
      The flattening of the ellipsoid used is 1/298.2572236.
      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
  7. How does the data set describe geographic features?

Who produced the data set?

  1. Who are the originators of the data set? (may include formal authors, digital compilers, and editors)
  2. Who also contributed to the data set?
    Jason Helyer, Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED), Pacific Island Fisheries Sciences Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA
  3. To whom should users address questions about the data?
    Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED), Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
    NOAA IRC
    Honolulu, HI
    USA

    808 725-5360 (voice)
    808 725-5429 (FAX)
    nmfs.pic.credinfo@noaa.gov
    Contact_Instructions: e-mail preferred

Why was the data set created?

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.

How was the data set created?

  1. From what previous works were the data drawn?
  2. How were the data generated, processed, and modified?
    Date: Unknown (process 1 of 1)
    A diver swam along the length of one or two 25m transect lines that had been laid out along an isobath. The diver identified all corals whose center fell within .5m on either side of the transect to the species/genus level and assigned each colony a size class based on estimates of the maximum diameter of the colony ( 5 cm; 5-10 cm; 10-20 cm; 20-40cm; 40-80 cm; 80-160 cm; or greater than 160 cm).
  3. What similar or related data should the user be aware of?

How reliable are the data; what problems remain in the data set?

  1. How well have the observations been checked?
    Observations were made by a single diver who is an expert in coral biology. The population parameter survey is conducted one time per site per survey year; it is not replicated.
  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?
    GPS unit
  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?
    Dive computer and SCUBA depth gauge
  4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?
    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.
  5. How consistent are the relationships among the observations, including topology?
    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.

How can someone get a copy of the data set?

Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?
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
  1. Who distributes the data set? (Distributor 1 of 1)
    Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED), Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
    Attn: CRED Data Management Team
    NOAA IRC
    Honolulu, HI
    USA

    808 725-5360 (voice)
    808 725-5429 (FAX)
    nmfs.pic.credinfo@noaa.gov
    Contact_Instructions: e-mail preferred
  2. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set? Offline Data
  3. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?
    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 constitutes such a warranty.
  4. How can I download or order the data?
  5. Is there some other way to get the data?
    Contact CRED data management team for information
  6. What hardware or software do I need in order to use the data set?
    Contact CRED data management team for information

Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:
Last modified: 05-Jun-2019
Last Reviewed: 26-Nov-2008
Metadata author:
Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED), Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
NOAA IRC
Honolulu, HI
USA

808 725-5360 (voice)
808 725-5429 (FAX)
nmfs.pic.credinfo@noaa.gov
Contact_Instructions: e-mail preferred
Metadata standard:
Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata (FGDC-STD-001-1998)
Generated by mp version 2.9.48 on Sat May 4 11:00:19 2024