FBSAB Recruit Fish Habitat Use Surveys at Hawaii Island (Big Island), Main Hawaiian Islands, 2009 (NODC Accession 0073870)

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What does this data set describe?

Title:
FBSAB Recruit Fish Habitat Use Surveys at Hawaii Island (Big Island), Main Hawaiian Islands, 2009 (NODC Accession 0073870)
Abstract:
Recruit-habitat relations (habitat use by recruits) were surveyed at 1 to ~5 m depths based on all "Encounters" of singletons and "groups" (where a group comprised > 1 recruit associating with one another and within 10-cm distance of one another), along transects conducted at a total two (2) sites on the leeward coast (South Kohala district) of the Big Island (Hawaii Island, in the MHI) during spring 2009. The substrate type ("SUBSTRTYP") closest to recruits encountered within transect swaths were recorded as one or more of fourteen (14) main taxonomic and functional habitat types. Because of personnel limitations, habitat availability was not characterized in 2009. Quadrat methods were NOT used in 2009; hence, the "rugosity" ("RUG_L1_M", "RUG_L2_M"), "HABTYP", and "HABCOVR_UPER36" variables were NOT measured or recorded in 2009.
Supplemental_Information:
The maximum observation depth was 17 feet (5.2 meters). Habitat characterized DATAFILE NAME: RECRUIT-HABITAT_Use_Surveys_2009.xls File date: 28MAR11 Size: 1,055 records (288 kb)

This file consists of the following sixteen (16) variables. The permissible values of these variables, including names of categories if the variable is a classification variable, are noted [in brackets]:

DATE $ DDMMMYYYY [Range: 22MAY2009 to 10JUN2009]

LOCATION $ [One (1 category: 'BigIsl']

SITE $ [Two (2) categories: 'BIPuakoEndofRd_', and 'BISpencersPk___']

OBSRVR $ [One (1) category: 'EED']

TRANSNMBR [Transect number = 1, 2, 3 ... n, where n = 20 if (YEAR = 2009 and SITE = 'BISpencersPk___') or (YEAR = 2009 and SITE = 'BIPuakoEndofRd_']

OBSTYP $ [This new 2009 variable represents the type of recruit observation or sighting made in 2009 (when quadrats were not used); it replaces the "QUADTYP" variable used in 2008 and prior to 2008. Since all OBSTYPs in 2009 were quadrat-free encounters, OBSTYP = 'E' was the only category recorded in 2009]

ENCOUNTRNMBR [Each singleton or group of recruit(s) encountered was/were assigned a discrete encounter number per TransNmbr. All recruits encountered within each transect swath were included. This variable replaces the analogous "QUAD_ENCOUNTRNMBR" variable that was recorded in 2008]

TRANSDEP_ft [Depth in feet on transect, with "TransNmbr" specified; values range from minimum 1 foot to maximum 17 feet (5.2 m) among all observations in 2009. In 2009 recorded the minimum and maximum DEP_ft per TransNmbr. Replaces the nalogous "QUADDEP_ft" variable recorded in 2006-2008]

SUBSTRTYP $ [Benthic substratum type closest to each singleton or group of recruit(s) that was encountered.. In 2009 continued to record SUBSTRTYP according to fourteen (14) main substratum categories: live, massive or mounding (encrusting) Porites lobata coral (= 'PLob'); live erect rice corals (MoErect) including Montipora capitata (formerly recorded separately as 'MoCap' and 'MoFlab'); live crustose rice corals (MoCrust) including heretofore unrecorded Montipora patula; live Hawaiian finger coral Porites compressa (= 'PCom'); two other live encrusting corals, Pavona duerdini ('PavDuer') and Pavona varians ('PavVar'); live cauliflower coral Pocillopora meandina (= 'PMed'); other live Pocillopora spp (distinguished from Pocillopora meandrina as 'PX'); erect foliose algae > 1-cm tall (= 'EFA'); crustose (encrusting, 2-dimensional) coralline algae (= 'CCA'); "knobby" or otherwise 3-dimensional (e.g., branching) coralline algae (recorded as 'KCA' in 2006 and 2007) was pooled with 'CCA' in 2008 and 2009; consolidated carbonate rock (dead coral limestone), not easily moveable by hand, and generally with turf algae < 1-cm tall (= 'L'); unconsolidated carbonate rock easily moveable by hand but = 1-cm particle diameter (= 'Ru'); and unconsolidated particulate carbonate < 1-cm diameter (= 'S'); plus the category ('Othr') comprising miscellaneous sessile (sponge, tunicate, etc) and weakly motile (echinoids like pencil urchins - 'PenUrch', holothurians, etc. benthic invertebrates. Specific observations sometimes comprised combinations of SUBSTRTYP variables if the recruit(s) present was(were) equidistant to > 1 SUBSTRTYP.]

RUG_L1_m ["Rugosity Index" = ratio of conforming-to-straight line distance over substrate features within an individual 1-m**2 quadrat; typical values range from > 1.2 to < 3.0; the theoretical minimum value is 1.0; both RUG_L1_m and RUG_L2_m (see next) measurements are made with an accuracy of 0.05 m (5 cm). Fields for this variable were retained in 2009 as placeholder only in this data file; no "RUG_L1_M" variable was measured or recorded in 2009]

RUG_L2_m [Same measurement as RUG_L1_m except taken perpendicular to RUG_L1_m within same quadrat placement. Fields for this variable in 2009 were retained as placeholder only in this data file; no "RUG_L2_M" variable was measured or recorded in 2009]

SPECIES $ [Four-letter acronym based on 1st 2 letters of the genus name and 1st 2 letters of the specific epithet of each fish individual recorded; the acronyms used are identical to those used by the Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED) of the NOAA Fisheries, Pacific Islands Fisheries Research Center, to code all of their central and western North Pacific reef fish records]

SIZE_TLcm [Visually estimated body length in centimeters of recruit fishes recorded as present for QUADTYP = 'T'; TL is the abbreviation for "Total Length", the same metric is used to represent length on the CRED Fish Surveys; range: 1 to 5 cm TL]

HABTYP $ [There was no change since 2008 in the fourteen (14) main substratum categories recognized at each site at both LOCATION = 'BigIsl' and LOCATION = 'Midway'. However, fields for this variable were retained in 2009 as placeholder only in this data file; no "HABTYP" variable was measured or recorded in 2009]

HABCOVR_UPER36 [There was nio change since 2008 in the underlying rational for this variable: benthic cover was still recognized as the number of squares occupied by a particular HABTYP within a given 1 m**2 quadrat; range 0 to 36 squares. There also was no change since 2008 in the fourteen (14) main substratum categories recognized - see "HABTYP". However, fields for this variable were retained in 2009 as placeholder only in this data file; no "HABCOVR_UPER36" variable was measured or recorded in 2009]

YEAR [One (1) category for year in which data were recorded: 2009]

  1. How might this data set be cited?
    Fishery Biology and Stock Assessment Branch (FBSAB), Fishery Research and Monitoring Division (FRMD), Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, 20110610, FBSAB Recruit Fish Habitat Use Surveys at Hawaii Island (Big Island), Main Hawaiian Islands, 2009 (NODC Accession 0073870).

    Online Links:

  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?
    West_Bounding_Coordinate: -155.859
    East_Bounding_Coordinate: -155.823
    North_Bounding_Coordinate: 19.958
    South_Bounding_Coordinate: 19.955
  3. What does it look like?
  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?
    Beginning_Date: 22-May-2009
    Ending_Date: 10-Jun-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 Degrees and decimal minutes. 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?
    EED = Edward E. DeMartini, Fishery Biology and Stock Assessment Branch (FBSAB), Fishery Research and Monitoring Division (FRMD), Pacific Island Fisheries Sciences Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA; the following persons contributed to data collection in 2009: Edward E. DeMartini (EED) only
  3. To whom should users address questions about the data?
    Fishery Biology and Stock Assessment Branch (FBSAB), Fishery Research and Monitoring Division (FRMD), Pacific Island Fisheries Sciences Center, National Marine Fisheries Service
    Attn: Dr. Edward E. DeMartini
    NOAA IRC
    Honolulu, HI
    USA

    808-725-5376 (voice)
    808-983-2902 (FAX)

Why was the data set created?

To provide taxonomic and functional characterizations of reef habitat types used by recruits; these complement the recruit and predator reef fish density estimates provided by the companion databases named "RECRUIT_Reef_Fish_Belt_Transects_2009.xls" and "PREDATOR_Reef_Fish_Belt_Transects_2009.xls". These data represent the fifth spring-summer surveys in a multi-year project using in situ diver observations at sites of differing habitat structure, to descriptively test predictions relating to the use of specific habitats by the juveniles of various species of reef fishes in Hawaii.

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)
    Data on each transect were collected by a single trained diver-Observer (EED), who (subsequent to having tallied piscivore fishes) then tallied the numbers of recruits, by SPECIES and SIZE_TLcm, present along the transect line on a return swim. Recruits were tallied by RECRUIT_ENCOUNTRNMBR; as this was done, the SUBSTRTYP closest to each singleton or group of recruits was identified and the median distance between the recruit(s) and that SUBSTRTYP also was recorded. Upon returning to shore, the Observer (EED) corrected his field sheets for legibility, and the data were then entered by EED into Excel spreadsheets and error checked by computer for outliers and other discrepancies.

    The GPS positions of individual transects at LOCATION = 'BigIsl' were not recorded by GPS; the transects at each of these two sites in 2009 were scattered haphazardly throughout 1.0-1.5 ha areas and were centered on: LOCATION = 'BigIsl" and SITE = 'BIPuakoEndofRd_': 19.955 N lat, -155.859 W lon LOCATION = 'BigIsl' and SITE = 'BISpencersPk___': 19.958 N lat, -155.823 W lon

  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 one Observer (EED) experienced in taxonomy and underwater mensuration of Hawaiian reef corals and associated benthic substrata. Observations were periodically checked during the surveys for consistency in recording protocols.
  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/site-groups were selected to be representative of either relatively wave-exposed environments (SITE = 'BIPuakoEndofRd_') or relatively wave-protected environments (SITE = 'BISpencersPk___') at Hawaii Island (the Big Island of Hawaii). In terms of transect sample sizes, a completely balanced design (20 transects at each of 2 sites) was accomplished during 2009.
  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. Periodic examination of the data through the duration of the surveys 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: None
Use_Constraints:
Please cite the FBSAB of the FRMD when using the data. Fishery Biology and Stock Assessment Branch (FBSAB), Fishery Research and Monitoring Division (FRMD), Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
  1. Who distributes the data set? (Distributor 1 of 1)
    Fishery Biology and Stock Assessment Branch (FBSAB), Fishery Research and Monitoring Division (FRMD), Pacific Island Fisheries Sciences Center, National Marine Fisheries Service
    Attn: Edward E. DeMartini
    NOAA IRC
    Honolulu, HI
    USA

    808-725-5376 (voice)
    808-983-2902 (FAX)
    edward.demartini@noaa.gov
  2. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set? Downloadable 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?
    Please contact Dr. Edward E. DeMartini for inquiries and data
  6. What hardware or software do I need in order to use the data set?
    None

Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:
Last modified: 06-Jan-2021
Last Reviewed: 23-Jun-2011
Metadata author:
Edward E. DeMartini
Fishery Biology and Stock Assessment Division (FBSAD), Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service
NOAA IRC
Honolulu, HI
USA

808-725-5376 (voice)
808-983-2902 (FAX)
edward.demartini@noaa.gov
Metadata standard:
Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata (FGDC-STD-001-1998)

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