CRED REA Reef Fish Assessment Survey at Wake Island, Pacific Remote Island Areas in 2009

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Title:
CRED REA Reef Fish Assessment Survey at Wake Island, Pacific Remote Island Areas in 2009
Abstract:
To support a long-term NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP) for sustainable management and conservation of coral reef ecosystems, from 12 March - 1 April 2009, reef fish assessment surveys were conducted, as a part of Rapid Ecological Assessments (REA), during the Pacific Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program (RAMP) Cruise HI0901 in the Pacific Remote Island Areas at biennial intervals by the Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED) at the NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC). During the cruise, 29 REA sites were surveyed at Wake Island in the Pacific Remote Island Areas. 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.
Supplemental_Information:
Maximum depth was 29 meters. Fish species observed: Year Region Island Species TaxonName 2009 PRIAs Wake ABSO Abudefduf sordidus 2009 PRIAs Wake ABVA Abudefduf vaigiensis 2009 PRIAs Wake ACAC Acanthurus achilles 2009 PRIAs Wake ACBL Acanthurus blochii 2009 PRIAs Wake ACDU Acanthurus dussumieri 2009 PRIAs Wake ACGU Acanthurus guttatus 2009 PRIAs Wake ACNC Acanthurus nigricans 2009 PRIAs Wake ACNI Acanthurus nigricauda 2009 PRIAs Wake ACNR Acanthurus nigroris 2009 PRIAs Wake ACNU Acanthurus nubilus 2009 PRIAs Wake ACOL Acanthurus olivaceus 2009 PRIAs Wake ACTH Acanthurus thompsoni 2009 PRIAs Wake ACTR Acanthurus triostegus 2009 PRIAs Wake AENA Aetobatus narinari 2009 PRIAs Wake ALSC Aluterus scriptus 2009 PRIAs Wake ANCA Anampses caeruleopunctatus 2009 PRIAs Wake APFU Aphareus furca 2009 PRIAs Wake APVI Aprion virescens 2009 PRIAs Wake ARHI Arothron hispidus 2009 PRIAs Wake ARME Arothron meleagris 2009 PRIAs Wake AUCH Aulostomus chinensis 2009 PRIAs Wake BLEN Blenniidae sp 2009 PRIAs Wake BOAN Bodianus anthioides 2009 PRIAs Wake BOMU Bolbometopon muricatum 2009 PRIAs Wake BOMA Bothus mancus 2009 PRIAs Wake CACA Calotomus carolinus 2009 PRIAs Wake CADU Cantherhines dumerilii 2009 PRIAs Wake CAAM Canthigaster amboinensis 2009 PRIAs Wake CAJN Canthigaster janthinoptera 2009 PRIAs Wake CASO Canthigaster solandri 2009 PRIAs Wake CAOR Carangoides orthogrammus 2009 PRIAs Wake CALU Caranx lugubris 2009 PRIAs Wake CAME Caranx melampygus 2009 PRIAs Wake CASE Caranx sexfasciatus 2009 PRIAs Wake CAAB Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos 2009 PRIAs Wake CEFL Centropyge flavissima 2009 PRIAs Wake CELO Centropyge loricula 2009 PRIAs Wake CEML Centropyge multicolor 2009 PRIAs Wake CEAR Cephalopholis argus 2009 PRIAs Wake CESP Cephalopholis spiloparaea 2009 PRIAs Wake CEUR Cephalopholis urodeta 2009 PRIAs Wake CHAU Chaetodon auriga 2009 PRIAs Wake CHEP Chaetodon ephippium 2009 PRIAs Wake CHLU Chaetodon lunula 2009 PRIAs Wake CHOR Chaetodon ornatissimus 2009 PRIAs Wake CHPU Chaetodon punctatofasciatus 2009 PRIAs Wake CHQU Chaetodon quadrimaculatus 2009 PRIAs Wake CHRE Chaetodon reticulatus 2009 PRIAs Wake CHTR Chaetodon trifascialis 2009 PRIAs Wake CHUL Chaetodon ulietensis 2009 PRIAs Wake CHUN Chaetodon unimaculatus 2009 PRIAs Wake CHCH Chanos chanos 2009 PRIAs Wake CHCL Cheilinus chlorourus 2009 PRIAs Wake CHTL Cheilinus trilobatus 2009 PRIAs Wake CHUD Cheilinus undulatus 2009 PRIAs Wake CHIN Cheilio inermis 2009 PRIAs Wake CHFN Chlorurus frontalis 2009 PRIAs Wake CHMC Chlorurus microrhinos 2009 PRIAs Wake CHSO Chlorurus sordidus 2009 PRIAs Wake CHAC Chromis acares 2009 PRIAs Wake CHAG Chromis agilis 2009 PRIAs Wake CHVA Chromis vanderbilti 2009 PRIAs Wake CHBR Chrysiptera brownriggii 2009 PRIAs Wake CIPI Cirrhitus pinnulatus 2009 PRIAs Wake CIVR Cirripectes variolosus 2009 PRIAs Wake COAY Coris aygula 2009 PRIAs Wake CTCY Ctenochaetus cyanocheilus 2009 PRIAs Wake CTHA Ctenochaetus hawaiiensis 2009 PRIAs Wake CTSR Ctenochaetus striatus 2009 PRIAs Wake DEMA Decapterus macarellus 2009 PRIAs Wake ELBI Elagatis bipinnulata 2009 PRIAs Wake EPIN Epibulus insidiator 2009 PRIAs Wake EPFA Epinephelus fasciatus 2009 PRIAs Wake EPHE Epinephelus hexagonatus 2009 PRIAs Wake EPHO Epinephelus howlandi 2009 PRIAs Wake EPPO Epinephelus polyphekadion 2009 PRIAs Wake EPSP Epinephelus sp 2009 PRIAs Wake EPSL Epinephelus spilotoceps 2009 PRIAs Wake EPTA Epinephelus tauvina 2009 PRIAs Wake FICO Fistularia commersonii 2009 PRIAs Wake FOFL Forcipiger flavissimus 2009 PRIAs Wake FOLO Forcipiger longirostris 2009 PRIAs Wake GOVA Gomphosus varius 2009 PRIAs Wake GYFL Gymnothorax flavimarginatus 2009 PRIAs Wake GYJA Gymnothorax javanicus 2009 PRIAs Wake HABI Halichoeres biocellatus 2009 PRIAs Wake HAMT Halichoeres margaritaceus 2009 PRIAs Wake HAOR Halichoeres ornatissimus 2009 PRIAs Wake HEFA Hemigymnus fasciatus 2009 PRIAs Wake HETH Hemitaurichthys thompsoni 2009 PRIAs Wake HEAC Heniochus acuminatus 2009 PRIAs Wake HILO Hipposcarus longiceps 2009 PRIAs Wake CHUB Kyphosidae sp 2009 PRIAs Wake KYPA Kyphosus pacificus 2009 PRIAs Wake LABI Labroides bicolor 2009 PRIAs Wake LADI Labroides dimidiatus 2009 PRIAs Wake LARU Labroides rubrolabiatus 2009 PRIAs Wake LEOB Lethrinus obsoletus 2009 PRIAs Wake LEOL Lethrinus olivaceus 2009 PRIAs Wake LERU Lethrinus rubrioperculatus 2009 PRIAs Wake LEXA Lethrinus xanthochilus 2009 PRIAs Wake LUFU Lutjanus fulvus 2009 PRIAs Wake LUMO Lutjanus monostigma 2009 PRIAs Wake MENI Melichthys niger 2009 PRIAs Wake MEVI Melichthys vidua 2009 PRIAs Wake MOGR Monotaxis grandoculis 2009 PRIAs Wake MUFL Mulloidichthys flavolineatus 2009 PRIAs Wake MUVA Mulloidichthys vanicolensis 2009 PRIAs Wake MYSP Myripristinae sp 2009 PRIAs Wake MYAD Myripristis adusta 2009 PRIAs Wake MYAM Myripristis amaena 2009 PRIAs Wake MYBE Myripristis berndti 2009 PRIAs Wake MYKU Myripristis kuntee 2009 PRIAs Wake NABR Naso brevirostris 2009 PRIAs Wake NAHE Naso hexacanthus 2009 PRIAs Wake NALI Naso lituratus 2009 PRIAs Wake NAUN Naso unicornis 2009 PRIAs Wake NAVL Naso vlamingii 2009 PRIAs Wake NEAR Neocirrhites armatus 2009 PRIAs Wake NOTA Novaculichthys taeniourus 2009 PRIAs Wake OPFA Oplegnathus fasciatus 2009 PRIAs Wake OPPU Oplegnathus punctatus 2009 PRIAs Wake OSCU Ostracion cubicus 2009 PRIAs Wake OXDI Oxycheilinus digramma 2009 PRIAs Wake OXUN Oxycheilinus unifasciatus 2009 PRIAs Wake PAAR Paracirrhites arcatus 2009 PRIAs Wake PAFO Paracirrhites forsteri 2009 PRIAs Wake PAHE Paracirrhites hemistictus 2009 PRIAs Wake PABA Parupeneus barberinus 2009 PRIAs Wake PACY Parupeneus cyclostomus 2009 PRIAs Wake PAIN Parupeneus insularis 2009 PRIAs Wake PAMU Parupeneus multifasciatus 2009 PRIAs Wake PAPL Parupeneus pleurostigma 2009 PRIAs Wake PEOU Pempheris oualensis 2009 PRIAs Wake PLDI Plectroglyphidodon dickii 2009 PRIAs Wake PLIM Plectroglyphidodon imparipennis 2009 PRIAs Wake PLJO Plectroglyphidodon johnstonianus 2009 PRIAs Wake PLPH Plectroglyphidodon phoenixensis 2009 PRIAs Wake PSPA Pseudanthias pascalus 2009 PRIAs Wake PSHE Pseudocheilinus hexataenia 2009 PRIAs Wake PSOC Pseudocheilinus octotaenia 2009 PRIAs Wake PSTE Pseudocheilinus tetrataenia 2009 PRIAs Wake PSAU Pseudocoris aurantiofasciata 2009 PRIAs Wake PSAT Pseudojuloides atavai 2009 PRIAs Wake PTAN Pterois antennata 2009 PRIAs Wake RHAC Rhinecanthus aculeatus 2009 PRIAs Wake RHRE Rhinecanthus rectangulus 2009 PRIAs Wake SASP Sargocentron spiniferum 2009 PRIAs Wake SATI Sargocentron tiere 2009 PRIAs Wake PARR Scaridae sp 2009 PRIAs Wake SCAL Scarus altipinnis 2009 PRIAs Wake SCFO Scarus forsteni 2009 PRIAs Wake SCGH Scarus ghobban 2009 PRIAs Wake SCOV Scarus oviceps 2009 PRIAs Wake SCPS Scarus psittacus 2009 PRIAs Wake SCRU Scarus rubroviolaceus 2009 PRIAs Wake SCLY Scomberoides lysan 2009 PRIAs Wake STFA Stegastes fasciolatus 2009 PRIAs Wake STNI Stegastes nigricans 2009 PRIAs Wake STBN Stethojulis bandanensis 2009 PRIAs Wake SUBU Sufflamen bursa 2009 PRIAs Wake THLU Thalassoma lutescens 2009 PRIAs Wake THPU Thalassoma purpureum 2009 PRIAs Wake THQU Thalassoma quinquevittatum 2009 PRIAs Wake THTR Thalassoma trilobatum 2009 PRIAs Wake TRBA Trachinotus baillonii 2009 PRIAs Wake FISH Un-id fish sp 2009 PRIAs Wake VALO Variola louti 2009 PRIAs Wake XAME Xanthichthys mento 2009 PRIAs Wake ZACO Zanclus cornutus 2009 PRIAs Wake ZEFL Zebrasoma flavescens 2009 PRIAs Wake ZEVE Zebrasoma veliferum
  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), 20090402, CRED REA Reef Fish Assessment Survey at Wake Island, Pacific Remote Island Areas in 2009.

    Online Links:

  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?
    West_Bounding_Coordinate: 166.600357
    East_Bounding_Coordinate: 166.658737
    North_Bounding_Coordinate: 19.318853
    South_Bounding_Coordinate: 19.26869
  3. What does it look like?
  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?
    Beginning_Date: 22-Mar-2009
    Ending_Date: 26-Mar-2009
    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?
    "Marc Nadon, Kevin O'Brien, Paula Ayotte, Kaylyn McCoy", Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED), Pacific Islands 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)
    Attn: Ivor Williams
    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 which documents the state of the reefs.

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)
    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.
  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 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.
  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 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.
  5. How consistent are the relationships among the observations, including topology?
    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.

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 constitute 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: 26-May-2019
Last Reviewed: 14-Sep-2009
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:
the Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata (FGDC-STD-001-1998)
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