Shallow-Water Benthic Habitats of Southwest Puerto Rico: Ground Validation Site Locations

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Metadata:

Identification_Information
Data_Quality_Information
Spatial_Data_Organization_Information
Spatial_Reference_Information
Entity_and_Attribute_Information
Distribution_Information
Metadata_Reference_Information
CoRIS

Identification_Information:

Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator: NOAA/NOS/NCCOS/CCMA Biogeography Branch

Publication_Date: 2012

Title:

Shallow-Water Benthic Habitats of Southwest Puerto Rico: Ground Validation Site Locations

Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: vector digital data

Publication_Information:

Publication_Place: Silver Spring, MD
Publisher:: NOAA's Ocean Service, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS)

Other_Citation_Details:

Please use citation for “Shallow-Water Benthic Habitats of Southwest Puerto Rico.”

Online_Linkage:

https://products.coastalscience.noaa.gov/collections/benthic/e92swpr/default.aspx

Larger_Work_Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator:

Department of Commerce (DOC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Service (NOS), National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS), Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment (CCMA), Biogeography Branch

Publication_Date: 2012

Title: Shallow-Water Benthic Habitats of Southwest Puerto Rico

Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: shapefile

Publication_Information:

Publication_Place: Silver Spring, MD
Publisher: NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science

Other_Citation_Details:

Bauer, L.J., K. Edwards, K.K.W. Roberson, M.S. Kendall, S. Tormey, and T. Battista. 2012. Shallow-water benthic habitats of Southwest Puerto Rico. NOAA Technical Memorandum NOAA NOS NCCOS 155. Silver Spring, MD.

Description:

Abstract:

Shallow-water (<30m) benthic habitat maps of the nearshore marine environment of two areas in Southwest Puerto Rico (PR), including the Guanica Bay/La Parguera region on the south coast and the Belvedere reserve on the west coast, were mapped and characterized using visual interpretation of optical and acoustic remotely sensed imagery. The objective was to provide spatially-explicit information on the habitat types, biological cover and live coral cover of the region’s coral reef ecosystem. These maps will be used to support marine resource management and conservation in the Commonwealth. In addition, the maps will enable change detection in an assessment of the effectiveness of restoration activities on the condition of adjacent coral reef ecosystems. The data contained in this shapefile denote the location of ground validation (GV) sites, which were explored by NOAA field scientists to further refine habitat map classification. In particular, this shapefile includes the location of 511 ground-validation sites that were explored either by video drop camera or by snorkel.

Purpose:

Extensive field work is needed to create high-quality benthic habitat maps because it enhances the accuracy of habitat attribution and (to a lesser degree) habitat delineation. Given the importance of field work, the primary purpose of this survey data was to explore and verify existing habitat information on the seafloor. In particular, these ground validation locations were targeted by the cartographer to satisfy the following objectives:

1. Explore features in the imagery with unknown or confusing optical or acoustic signatures 2. Confirm that the habitat type correlated with a particular optical or acoustic signature remained consistent throughout the entire study area.

This information was incorporated into fine-scale maps of marine habitats of Southwest Puerto Rico. Direct implications to management measures include evaluation of management efficacy, a spatial framework for improved monitoring sampling design, improved assessment of human-use impacts, and marine spatial planning to support alternative marine protected area boundary alternatives. In addition, the maps will enable change detection in an assessment of the effectiveness of restoration activities on the condition of adjacent coral reef ecosystems.

Supplemental_Information:

The creation of high-quality benthic habitat maps required extensive field work to enhance accuracies of habitat attribution and, to a lesser degree, habitat delineation. Data were collected at 511 ground validation sites in March 2011 aboard a small research vessel. As anchoring at each site was not feasible for rapid assessment, wind and wave effects caused the survey vessel to drift along a transect. Post-processing of the GPS data allowed for a series of points to represent the actual survey location.

Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Range_of_Dates/Times:

Beginning_Date: 201103
Ending_Date: 201103

Currentness_Reference: ground condition

Status:

Progress: Complete
Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: None planned

Spatial_Domain:

Bounding_Coordinates:

West_Bounding_Coordinate: -67.4
East_Bounding_Coordinate: -66.8
North_Bounding_Coordinate: 18.1
South_Bounding_Coordinate: 17.9

Keywords:

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: NCEI Geoportal Filter
Theme_Keyword: CoRIS_Metadata

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: None
Theme_Keyword: coral reef
Theme_Keyword: benthic habitats
Theme_Keyword: reef
Theme_Keyword: submerged aquatic vegetation
Theme_Keyword: unconsolidated sediments
Theme_Keyword: zone
Theme_Keyword: geomorphological structure
Theme_Keyword: biological cover

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: NOS Data Explorer Topic Category
Theme_Keyword: Environmental Monitoring

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: CRCP Project
Theme_Keyword:: Mapping Shallow Benthic Habitats of the North East Reserves MPA, Puerto Rico
Theme_Keyword: 793

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: ISO 19115 Topic Category
Theme_Keyword: environment
Theme_Keyword: 007

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: CoRIS Discovery Thesaurus
Theme_Keyword: Geographic Information > Habitats

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: CoRIS Theme Thesaurus
Theme_Keyword:: EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs > Coral Reef Ecology > Habitats
Theme_Keyword:: EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment > Mapping > Habitat Mapping

Place:

Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: None
Place_Keyword: United States
Place_Keyword: U.S. Caribbean
Place_Keyword: Puerto Rico
Place_Keyword: Southwest
Place_Keyword: Guanica Bay
Place_Keyword: La Parguera
Place_Keyword: Belvedere

Place:

Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: CoRIS Place Thesaurus
Place_Keyword:: OCEAN BASIN > Atlantic Ocean > Caribbean Sea /North Atlantic Ocean > Puerto Rico > Puerto Rico (18N066W0000)
Place_Keyword:: COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Puerto Rico > Puerto Rico (18N066W0000)

Place:

Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: CoRIS Region
Place_Keyword: PR

Stratum:

Stratum_Keyword_Thesaurus: None
Stratum_Keyword: Seafloor

Temporal:

Temporal_Keyword_Thesaurus: None
Temporal_Keyword: 2012

Access_Constraints: Please cite any use of this data.

Use_Constraints:

Note: NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATION.

These data were prepared by an agency of the United States Government. Neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, make any warranty, expressed or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed in this report, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference therein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof. Any views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government or any agency thereof. Although all data have been used by NOAA, no warranty, expressed or implied, is made by NOAA as to the accuracy of the data and/or related materials. The act of distribution shall not constitute any such warranty, and no responsibility is assumed by NOAA in the use of these data or related materials.

Point_of_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Organization_Primary:

Contact_Organization:: Department of Commerce (DOC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Service (NOS), Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment (CCMA), Biogeography Branch
Contact_Person: Laurie Bauer

Contact_Position: Project Manager

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: mailing and physical address
Address: 1305 East West Highway, N-SCI-1, SSMC 4, 9th Floor
City: Silver Spring
State_or_Province: MD
Postal_Code: 20910
Country: USA

Contact_Voice_Telephone: (301) 713-3028

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: Laurie.Bauer@noaa.gov

Data_Set_Credit:

Department of Commerce (DOC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Service (NOS), Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment (CCMA), Biogeography Branch

Native_Data_Set_Environment:

Microsoft Windows XP Version 5.1 (Build 2600) Service Pack 3; ESRI ArcCatalog 9.3.0.1770

Data_Quality_Information:

Attribute_Accuracy:

Attribute_Accuracy_Report:: The points in this data layer were acquired by GPS data using a Trimble GeoXT receiver. All data point characteristics were recorded in the GPS data logger automatically and seamlessly transferred to ArcGIS shapefiles using Trimble Pathfinder Office software. Attributes are all expected to be correct.

Logical_Consistency_Report:

Data points were collected with mapping-grade GPS receivers. The data were post processed for differential correction to the Continually Operating Reference System (CORS) station at Coamo, Puerto Rico (PRN4).

All attribute information was recorded by the GPS receiver and stored directly in the raw GPS files. This automated process was assumed to be error free. This file is believed to be logically consistent.

Completeness_Report:

511 field positions were occupied and habitat characterizations were conducted for ground validation during this work.

Positional_Accuracy:

Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy:

Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Report:: The true positional accuracy of individual epics was determined to be within 1 m for 96% of the logged points. However, it is estimated that horizontal accuracies may be 0 - 20m from the true position of the underwater camera assessment due to line "lay-back" during drift.

Lineage:

Source_Information:

Source_Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator: NOAA
Publication_Date: 2011
Title: GPS Data

Type_of_Source_Media: GPS data

Source_Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Single_Date/Time:

Calendar_Date: 2011

Source_Currentness_Reference: ground condition

Source_Citation_Abbreviation: Trimble SSF files

Source_Contribution:

GPS data, which were originally recorded as code-phase signals in Trimble SSF format, were differentially post-processed to the Continually Operating Reference System (CORS) station at Coamo, Puerto Rico (PRN4).

Process_Step:

Process_Description:

A first draft benthic habitat map was generated using heads-up visual interpretation and digitization to delineate features on the seafloor with discrete optical or acoustic signatures. During the creation of this first draft map, the cartographer placed discrete points on features in the map that had unknown optical or acoustic signatures. Points were also placed on features with known optical or acoustic signatures (evenly distributed throughout the geographic extent of the map) to confirm that the habitats associated with these signatures remained consistent through the area of interest. These two types of points were labeled as "ground validation" sites and were visited in the field.

Process_Date: 2011

Process_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Organization_Primary:

Contact_Organization:: Department of Commerce (DOC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Service (NOS), Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment (CCMA), Biogeography Branch
Contact_Person: Laurie Bauer

Contact_Position: Project Manager

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: mailing and physical address
Address: 1305 East West Highway, N-SCI-1, SSMC 4, 9th Floor
City: Silver Spring
State_or_Province: MD
Postal_Code: 20910
Country: USA

Contact_Voice_Telephone: (301) 713-3028

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: Laurie.Bauer@noaa.gov

Process_Step:

Process_Description:

NOAA scientists explored these ground validation locations using using a manually operated drop camera, underwater still camera and look bucket. The resulting GPS, video and photographic information was processed, analyzed and used to classify each distinct habitat polygon. At the start of every morning, the boat captain selected a general region to begin the day's work. Navigating to field locations was accomplished using a Garmin GPS 76 device with the uploaded GV site coordinates. The boat captain maneuvered the vessel to within 5 m of the target location and made every effort to maintain that location without jeopardizing crew and equipment safety. Once on site, NOAA scientists would simultaneously deploy a SeaViewer Sea-Drop 950 camera and begin logging a waypoint on a Trimble GeoXT GPS receiver. While the video camera was capturing bottom imagery, an observer viewed the video real-time on a Panasonic Toughbook aboard the survey vessel. They categorized each site according to the levels of the habitat classification scheme: major and detailed geomorphological structure, major biological cover, percent major biological cover and percent coral cover. Data was entered into a custom data dictionary generated in Trimble Pathfinder Office software and loaded onto the Trimble data logger.

Process_Date: 2011

Process_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Organization_Primary:

Contact_Organization:: Department of Commerce (DOC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Service (NOS), Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment (CCMA), Biogeography Branch
Contact_Person: Laurie Bauer

Contact_Position: Project Manager

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: mailing and physical address
Address: 1305 East West Highway, N-SCI-1, SSMC 4, 9th Floor
City: Silver Spring
State_or_Province: MD
Postal_Code: 20910
Country: USA

Contact_Voice_Telephone: (301) 713-3028

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: Laurie.Bauer@noaa.gov

Process_Step:

Process_Description:

Trimble Pathfinder Office software was used to post process and differentially correct the raw GPS data to the Continually Operating Reference System (CORS) station at Coamo, Puerto Rico (PRN4).

Process_Date: 2011

Process_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Organization_Primary:

Contact_Organization:: Department of Commerce (DOC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Service (NOS), Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment (CCMA), Biogeography Branch
Contact_Person: Laurie Bauer

Contact_Position: Project Manager

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: mailing and physical address
Address: 1305 East West Highway, N-SCI-1, SSMC 4, 9th Floor
City: Silver Spring
State_or_Province: MD
Postal_Code: 20910
Country: USA

Contact_Voice_Telephone: (301) 713-3028

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: Laurie.Bauer@noaa.gov

Process_Step:

Process_Description:

Precisely positioned GPS positions and its associated transects were viewed in a GIS to enhance the accuracy of the draft benthic habitat map. Polygon boundaries and habitat classifications were revised where field data necessitated changes.

Process_Date: 2011

Process_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Organization_Primary:

Contact_Organization:: Department of Commerce (DOC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Service (NOS), Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment (CCMA), Biogeography Branch
Contact_Person: Laurie Bauer

Contact_Position: Project Manager

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: mailing and physical address
Address: 1305 East West Highway, N-SCI-1, SSMC 4, 9th Floor
City: Silver Spring
State_or_Province: MD
Postal_Code: 20910
Country: USA

Contact_Voice_Telephone: (301) 713-3028

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: Laurie.Bauer@noaa.gov

Spatial_Data_Organization_Information:

Direct_Spatial_Reference_Method: Vector

Point_and_Vector_Object_Information:

SDTS_Terms_Description:

SDTS_Point_and_Vector_Object_Type: Entity point
Point_and_Vector_Object_Count: 511

Spatial_Reference_Information:

Horizontal_Coordinate_System_Definition:

Planar:

Grid_Coordinate_System:

Grid_Coordinate_System_Name: Universal Transverse Mercator

Universal_Transverse_Mercator:

UTM_Zone_Number: 19

Transverse_Mercator:

Scale_Factor_at_Central_Meridian: 0.999600
Longitude_of_Central_Meridian: -63.000000
Latitude_of_Projection_Origin: 0.000000
False_Easting: 500000.000000
False_Northing: 0.000000

Planar_Coordinate_Information:

Planar_Coordinate_Encoding_Method: coordinate pair

Coordinate_Representation:

Abscissa_Resolution: 0.000001
Ordinate_Resolution: 0.000001

Planar_Distance_Units: meters

Geodetic_Model:

Horizontal_Datum_Name: North American Datum of 1983
Ellipsoid_Name: Geodetic Reference System 80
Semi-major_Axis: 6378137.000000
Denominator_of_Flattening_Ratio: 298.257222

Entity_and_Attribute_Information:

Detailed_Description:

Entity_Type:

Entity_Type_Label: SWPR_GV_Mean_Site_Locations
Entity_Type_Definition: Shapefile attribute table
Entity_Type_Definition_Source: None

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: FID

Attribute_Definition: Internal feature number.

Attribute_Definition_Source: ESRI