CRED REA Reef Fish Assessment Survey at Asuncion Island, Marianas Archipelago in 2009

Identification_Information:

Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator:

Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED), Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

Publication_Date: 20090508
Title:

CRED REA Reef Fish Assessment Survey at Asuncion Island, Marianas Archipelago in 2009

Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: spreadsheet
Online_Linkage:

https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/pacific-islands/ecosystems/coral-reefs-pacific

Description:

Abstract:

To support a long-term NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP) for sustainable management and conservation of coral reef ecosystems, from 15 April - 7 May 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 HI0903 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, 13 REA sites were surveyed at Asuncion Island in the Marianas Archipelago. 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.

Purpose:

Part of a long-term monitoring program at biennial intervals which documents the state of the reefs.

Supplemental_Information:

Maximum depth was 23 meters. Fish species observed: Year Region Island Species TaxonName 2009 MARIAN Asuncion ABSO Abudefduf sordidus 2009 MARIAN Asuncion ABVA Abudefduf vaigiensis 2009 MARIAN Asuncion SURG Acanthuridae sp 2009 MARIAN Asuncion ACBL Acanthurus blochii 2009 MARIAN Asuncion ACDU Acanthurus dussumieri 2009 MARIAN Asuncion ACGU Acanthurus guttatus 2009 MARIAN Asuncion ACLE Acanthurus leucopareius 2009 MARIAN Asuncion ACLI Acanthurus lineatus 2009 MARIAN Asuncion ACNC Acanthurus nigricans 2009 MARIAN Asuncion ACNI Acanthurus nigricauda 2009 MARIAN Asuncion ACNF Acanthurus nigrofuscus 2009 MARIAN Asuncion ACNR Acanthurus nigroris 2009 MARIAN Asuncion ACNU Acanthurus nubilus 2009 MARIAN Asuncion ACOL Acanthurus olivaceus 2009 MARIAN Asuncion ACPY Acanthurus pyroferus 2009 MARIAN Asuncion ACTH Acanthurus thompsoni 2009 MARIAN Asuncion ACXA Acanthurus xanthopterus 2009 MARIAN Asuncion ALSC Aluterus scriptus 2009 MARIAN Asuncion AMAU Amblyglyphidodon aureus 2009 MARIAN Asuncion AMCH Amphiprion chrysopterus 2009 MARIAN Asuncion ANCA Anampses caeruleopunctatus 2009 MARIAN Asuncion ANMG Anampses meleagrides 2009 MARIAN Asuncion APFU Aphareus furca 2009 MARIAN Asuncion APAN Apogon angustatus 2009 MARIAN Asuncion CARD Apogonidae sp 2009 MARIAN Asuncion APTR Apolemichthys trimaculatus 2009 MARIAN Asuncion APVI Aprion virescens 2009 MARIAN Asuncion ASTA Aspidontus taeniatus 2009 MARIAN Asuncion BAUN Balistapus undulatus 2009 MARIAN Asuncion BACO Balistoides conspicillum 2009 MARIAN Asuncion BLEN Blenniidae sp 2009 MARIAN Asuncion BOAN Bodianus anthioides 2009 MARIAN Asuncion BOAX Bodianus axillaris 2009 MARIAN Asuncion CATE Caesio teres 2009 MARIAN Asuncion CACA Calotomus carolinus 2009 MARIAN Asuncion CADU Cantherhines dumerilii 2009 MARIAN Asuncion CAPA Cantherhines pardalis 2009 MARIAN Asuncion CASO Canthigaster solandri 2009 MARIAN Asuncion CALU Caranx lugubris 2009 MARIAN Asuncion CAME Caranx melampygus 2009 MARIAN Asuncion CAAB Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos 2009 MARIAN Asuncion CEFL Centropyge flavissima 2009 MARIAN Asuncion CESH Centropyge shepardi 2009 MARIAN Asuncion CEAR Cephalopholis argus 2009 MARIAN Asuncion CEMI Cephalopholis miniata 2009 MARIAN Asuncion CEUR Cephalopholis urodeta 2009 MARIAN Asuncion CHAU Chaetodon auriga 2009 MARIAN Asuncion CHCI Chaetodon citrinellus 2009 MARIAN Asuncion CHEP Chaetodon ephippium 2009 MARIAN Asuncion CHLU Chaetodon lunula 2009 MARIAN Asuncion CHMR Chaetodon mertensii 2009 MARIAN Asuncion CHOR Chaetodon ornatissimus 2009 MARIAN Asuncion CHPU Chaetodon punctatofasciatus 2009 MARIAN Asuncion CHQU Chaetodon quadrimaculatus 2009 MARIAN Asuncion CHRE Chaetodon reticulatus 2009 MARIAN Asuncion CHUL Chaetodon ulietensis 2009 MARIAN Asuncion CHFN Chlorurus frontalis 2009 MARIAN Asuncion CHMC Chlorurus microrhinos 2009 MARIAN Asuncion CHAC Chromis acares 2009 MARIAN Asuncion CHAG Chromis agilis 2009 MARIAN Asuncion CHMA Chromis margaritifer 2009 MARIAN Asuncion CHVA Chromis vanderbilti 2009 MARIAN Asuncion CHVR Chromis viridis 2009 MARIAN Asuncion CHXA Chromis xanthura 2009 MARIAN Asuncion CHBR Chrysiptera brownriggii 2009 MARIAN Asuncion CIKA Cirrhilabrus katherinae 2009 MARIAN Asuncion CIFL Cirrhitichthys falco 2009 MARIAN Asuncion CIPI Cirrhitus pinnulatus 2009 MARIAN Asuncion CIVR Cirripectes variolosus 2009 MARIAN Asuncion COAY Coris aygula 2009 MARIAN Asuncion COGA Coris gaimard 2009 MARIAN Asuncion CTCY Ctenochaetus cyanocheilus 2009 MARIAN Asuncion CTHA Ctenochaetus hawaiiensis 2009 MARIAN Asuncion CTSP Ctenochaetus sp 2009 MARIAN Asuncion CTSR Ctenochaetus striatus 2009 MARIAN Asuncion DARE Dascyllus reticulatus 2009 MARIAN Asuncion DATR Dascyllus trimaculatus 2009 MARIAN Asuncion DIHY Diodon hystrix 2009 MARIAN Asuncion ECBC Ecsenius bicolor 2009 MARIAN Asuncion ELBI Elagatis bipinnulata 2009 MARIAN Asuncion EPFA Epinephelus fasciatus 2009 MARIAN Asuncion EPHE Epinephelus hexagonatus 2009 MARIAN Asuncion EPMA Epinephelus maculatus 2009 MARIAN Asuncion EPML Epinephelus melanostigma 2009 MARIAN Asuncion EPME Epinephelus merra 2009 MARIAN Asuncion FOFL Forcipiger flavissimus 2009 MARIAN Asuncion FOLO Forcipiger longirostris 2009 MARIAN Asuncion GNAU Gnathodentex aureolineatus 2009 MARIAN Asuncion GOVA Gomphosus varius 2009 MARIAN Asuncion GRAL Gracila albomarginata 2009 MARIAN Asuncion GYUC Gymnosarda unicolor 2009 MARIAN Asuncion GYFL Gymnothorax flavimarginatus 2009 MARIAN Asuncion GYUN Gymnothorax undulatus 2009 MARIAN Asuncion HABI Halichoeres biocellatus 2009 MARIAN Asuncion HAHO Halichoeres hortulanus 2009 MARIAN Asuncion HAMT Halichoeres margaritaceus 2009 MARIAN Asuncion HAOR Halichoeres ornatissimus 2009 MARIAN Asuncion HEFA Hemigymnus fasciatus 2009 MARIAN Asuncion HETH Hemitaurichthys thompsoni 2009 MARIAN Asuncion HEMO Heniochus monoceros 2009 MARIAN Asuncion HECR Heteropriacanthus cruentatus 2009 MARIAN Asuncion HODO Hologymnosus doliatus 2009 MARIAN Asuncion CHUB Kyphosidae sp 2009 MARIAN Asuncion KYCI Kyphosus cinerascens 2009 MARIAN Asuncion KYPA Kyphosus pacificus 2009 MARIAN Asuncion WRAS Labridae sp 2009 MARIAN Asuncion LABI Labroides bicolor 2009 MARIAN Asuncion LADI Labroides dimidiatus 2009 MARIAN Asuncion LAPE Labroides pectoralis 2009 MARIAN Asuncion LAXA Labropsis xanthonota 2009 MARIAN Asuncion LETA Lepidozygus tapeinosoma 2009 MARIAN Asuncion LUBO Lutjanus bohar 2009 MARIAN Asuncion LUFU Lutjanus fulvus 2009 MARIAN Asuncion LUGI Lutjanus gibbus 2009 MARIAN Asuncion LUKA Lutjanus kasmira 2009 MARIAN Asuncion LUMO Lutjanus monostigma 2009 MARIAN Asuncion MAMA Macolor macularis 2009 MARIAN Asuncion MANI Macolor niger 2009 MARIAN Asuncion MAME Macropharyngodon meleagris 2009 MARIAN Asuncion MALA Malacanthus latovittatus 2009 MARIAN Asuncion MENI Melichthys niger 2009 MARIAN Asuncion MEVI Melichthys vidua 2009 MARIAN Asuncion MOGR Monotaxis grandoculis 2009 MARIAN Asuncion MUVA Mulloidichthys vanicolensis 2009 MARIAN Asuncion MYAM Myripristis amaena 2009 MARIAN Asuncion MYBE Myripristis berndti 2009 MARIAN Asuncion NABR Naso brevirostris 2009 MARIAN Asuncion NACA Naso caesius 2009 MARIAN Asuncion NAHE Naso hexacanthus 2009 MARIAN Asuncion NALI Naso lituratus 2009 MARIAN Asuncion NATO Naso tonganus 2009 MARIAN Asuncion NAUN Naso unicornis 2009 MARIAN Asuncion NAVL Naso vlamingii 2009 MARIAN Asuncion NEMA Nemateleotris magnifica 2009 MARIAN Asuncion NEAR Neocirrhites armatus 2009 MARIAN Asuncion NEOP Neoniphon opercularis 2009 MARIAN Asuncion ODNI Odonus niger 2009 MARIAN Asuncion OPPU Oplegnathus punctatus 2009 MARIAN Asuncion OXUN Oxycheilinus unifasciatus 2009 MARIAN Asuncion PAAR Paracirrhites arcatus 2009 MARIAN Asuncion PAFO Paracirrhites forsteri 2009 MARIAN Asuncion PAHE Paracirrhites hemistictus 2009 MARIAN Asuncion PAMI Parapercis millepunctata 2009 MARIAN Asuncion PACY Parupeneus cyclostomus 2009 MARIAN Asuncion PAIN Parupeneus insularis 2009 MARIAN Asuncion PAMU Parupeneus multifasciatus 2009 MARIAN Asuncion PEOU Pempheris oualensis 2009 MARIAN Asuncion PLTA Plagiotremus tapeinosoma 2009 MARIAN Asuncion PLDI Plectroglyphidodon dickii 2009 MARIAN Asuncion PLIM Plectroglyphidodon imparipennis 2009 MARIAN Asuncion PLJO Plectroglyphidodon johnstonianus 2009 MARIAN Asuncion PLLA Plectroglyphidodon lacrymatus 2009 MARIAN Asuncion PLLE Plectroglyphidodon leucozonus 2009 MARIAN Asuncion PLPH Plectroglyphidodon phoenixensis 2009 MARIAN Asuncion POIM Pomacanthus imperator 2009 MARIAN Asuncion POVA Pomacentrus vaiuli 2009 MARIAN Asuncion POGU Pomachromis guamensis 2009 MARIAN Asuncion PSCO Pseudanthias cooperi 2009 MARIAN Asuncion PSPA Pseudanthias pascalus 2009 MARIAN Asuncion PSHE Pseudocheilinus hexataenia 2009 MARIAN Asuncion PSOC Pseudocheilinus octotaenia 2009 MARIAN Asuncion PSTE Pseudocheilinus tetrataenia 2009 MARIAN Asuncion PSMO Pseudodax moluccanus 2009 MARIAN Asuncion PSAT Pseudojuloides atavai 2009 MARIAN Asuncion PTEV Ptereleotris evides 2009 MARIAN Asuncion PTZE Ptereleotris zebra 2009 MARIAN Asuncion PTTI Pterocaesio tile 2009 MARIAN Asuncion PYDI Pygoplites diacanthus 2009 MARIAN Asuncion RHRE Rhinecanthus rectangulus 2009 MARIAN Asuncion SACA Sargocentron caudimaculatum 2009 MARIAN Asuncion SASP Sargocentron spiniferum 2009 MARIAN Asuncion SATI Sargocentron tiere 2009 MARIAN Asuncion SAGR Saurida gracilis 2009 MARIAN Asuncion PARR Scaridae sp 2009 MARIAN Asuncion SCFO Scarus forsteni 2009 MARIAN Asuncion SCFR Scarus frenatus 2009 MARIAN Asuncion SCOV Scarus oviceps 2009 MARIAN Asuncion SCRU Scarus rubroviolaceus 2009 MARIAN Asuncion SCLY Scomberoides lysan 2009 MARIAN Asuncion SPBA Sphyraena barracuda 2009 MARIAN Asuncion STFA Stegastes fasciolatus 2009 MARIAN Asuncion STBN Stethojulis bandanensis 2009 MARIAN Asuncion SUBU Sufflamen bursa 2009 MARIAN Asuncion THAM Thalassoma amblycephalum 2009 MARIAN Asuncion THLU Thalassoma lutescens 2009 MARIAN Asuncion THQU Thalassoma quinquevittatum 2009 MARIAN Asuncion THSP Thalassoma sp 2009 MARIAN Asuncion THTR Thalassoma trilobatum 2009 MARIAN Asuncion TRBA Trachinotus baillonii 2009 MARIAN Asuncion TROB Triaenodon obesus 2009 MARIAN Asuncion TYCR Tylosurus crocodilus 2009 MARIAN Asuncion VAST Valenciennea strigata 2009 MARIAN Asuncion VALO Variola louti 2009 MARIAN Asuncion ZACO Zanclus cornutus 2009 MARIAN Asuncion ZEFL Zebrasoma flavescens

Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Range_of_Dates/Times:

Beginning_Date: 20090425
Ending_Date: 20090426

Currentness_Reference: Ground condition

Status:

Progress: In Work
Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: asNeeded

Spatial_Domain:

Bounding_Coordinates:

West_Bounding_Coordinate: 145.380285
East_Bounding_Coordinate: 145.426744
North_Bounding_Coordinate: 19.714531
South_Bounding_Coordinate: 19.66881

Keywords:

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: NCEI Geoportal Filter
Theme_Keyword: CoRIS_Metadata

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: CRCP Project
Theme_Keyword:

Pacific Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program (Pacific RAMP): Biennial monitoring for the U.S. Pacific Islands and Atolls

Theme_Keyword: 1221

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: None
Theme_Keyword: Marine Ecosystem
Theme_Keyword: Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program (RAMP)
Theme_Keyword: Rapid Ecological Assessments (REA)
Theme_Keyword: Coral Reef
Theme_Keyword: Reef Fishes
Theme_Keyword: Belt Transect (BLT) Survey
Theme_Keyword: Stationary Point Count (SPC )Surveys
Theme_Keyword: Roving-diver surveys
Theme_Keyword: Marianas Archipelago
Theme_Keyword: Asuncion Island
Theme_Keyword: HI0903

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: CoRIS Discovery Thesaurus
Theme_Keyword: Numeric Data Sets > Biology

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: CoRIS Theme Thesaurus
Theme_Keyword: EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs
Theme_Keyword:

EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs > Coral reef ecology

Theme_Keyword:

EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef monitoring and assessment

Theme_Keyword:

EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef monitoring and assessment > Rapid assessment studies

Theme_Keyword:

EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef monitoring and assessment > Reef fish census

Theme_Keyword:

EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef monitoring and assessment > Reef fish census > Stationary

Theme_Keyword:

EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef monitoring and assessment > Reef fish census > Random swimming

Theme_Keyword:

EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef monitoring and assessment > Reef fish census > Belt transect

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: ISO 19115 Topic Category
Theme_Keyword: biota
Theme_Keyword: 002

Place:

Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: None
Place_Keyword: Marianas Archipelago
Place_Keyword: Asuncion Island

Place:

Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: CoRIS Place Thesaurus
Place_Keyword:

OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Asuncion Island > Asuncion Island (19N145E0001)

Place_Keyword:

COUNTRY/TERRITORY > Northern Mariana Islands > Asuncion Island > Asuncion Island (19N145E0001)

Place:

Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: CoRIS Region
Place_Keyword: CNMI

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

Point_of_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Organization_Primary:

Contact_Organization:

Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED), Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

Contact_Person: Ivor Williams

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: mailing and physical address
Address: NOAA IRC
Address: NMFS/PIFSC/CRED
Address: 1845 WASP Blvd., Building 176
City: Honolulu
State_or_Province: HI
Postal_Code: 96818
Country: USA

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 808 725-5360
Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 808 725-5429
Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: nmfs.pic.credinfo@noaa.gov
Contact_Instructions: e-mail preferred

Data_Set_Credit:

"Robert Schroeder, Marc Nadon, Paula Ayotte, Valerie Brown, Marie Ferguson", Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED), Pacific Islands Fisheries Sciences Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA

Security_Information:

Security_Classification_System: Not applicable
Security_Classification: Unclassified
Security_Handling_Description: Not applicable

Native_Data_Set_Environment: Oracle

Data_Quality_Information:

Attribute_Accuracy:

Attribute_Accuracy_Report:

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.

Logical_Consistency_Report:

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.

Completeness_Report:

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.

Positional_Accuracy:

Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy:

Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Report: GPS unit
Quantitative_Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Assessment:

Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Value: 1
Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Explanation: Instrument parameters

Vertical_Positional_Accuracy:

Vertical_Positional_Accuracy_Report: Dive computer and SCUBA depth gauge
Quantitative_Vertical_Positional_Accuracy_Assessment:

Vertical_Positional_Accuracy_Value: 0.3
Vertical_Positional_Accuracy_Explanation: Instrument parameters

Lineage:

Process_Step:

Process_Description:

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.

Process_Date: Unknown

CRED REA Reef Fish Assessment Survey at Asuncion Island, Marianas Archipelago in 2009

Metadata: