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: 20100413 Title: CRED REA Reef Fish Assessment Survey at Palmyra Atoll, Pacific Remote Island Areas in 2008 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 21 March - 12 April 2008, reef fish assessment surveys were conducted, as a part of Rapid Ecological Assessments (REA), during the Pacific Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program (RAMP) Cruise HI0803 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, 28 REA sites were surveyed at Palmyra Atoll 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. Purpose: Part of a long-term monitoring program at biennial intervals which documents the state of the reefs. Supplemental_Information: Maximum depth was 22 meters. Fish species observed: Year Region Island Species TaxonName 2008 PRIAs Palmyra ACBL Acanthurus blochii 2008 PRIAs Palmyra ACGU Acanthurus guttatus 2008 PRIAs Palmyra ACLU Acanthurus leucocheilus 2008 PRIAs Palmyra ACLI Acanthurus lineatus 2008 PRIAs Palmyra ACMA Acanthurus maculiceps 2008 PRIAs Palmyra ACNC Acanthurus nigricans 2008 PRIAs Palmyra ACNI Acanthurus nigricauda 2008 PRIAs Palmyra ACNF Acanthurus nigrofuscus 2008 PRIAs Palmyra ACNR Acanthurus nigroris 2008 PRIAs Palmyra ACOL Acanthurus olivaceus 2008 PRIAs Palmyra ACSP Acanthurus sp 2008 PRIAs Palmyra ACTH Acanthurus thompsoni 2008 PRIAs Palmyra ACTR Acanthurus triostegus 2008 PRIAs Palmyra ACXA Acanthurus xanthopterus 2008 PRIAs Palmyra ANCA Anampses caeruleopunctatus 2008 PRIAs Palmyra ANME Anampses melanurus 2008 PRIAs Palmyra ANMG Anampses meleagrides 2008 PRIAs Palmyra ANTW Anampses twistii 2008 PRIAs Palmyra APFU Aphareus furca 2008 PRIAs Palmyra APXA Apolemichthys xanthopunctatus 2008 PRIAs Palmyra BAUN Balistapus undulatus 2008 PRIAs Palmyra BAVI Balistoides viridescens 2008 PRIAs Palmyra BLEN Blenniidae sp 2008 PRIAs Palmyra BOAX Bodianus axillaris 2008 PRIAs Palmyra BOLO Bodianus loxozonus 2008 PRIAs Palmyra BOMU Bolbometopon muricatum 2008 PRIAs Palmyra CATE Caesio teres 2008 PRIAs Palmyra CACA Calotomus carolinus 2008 PRIAs Palmyra CADU Cantherhines dumerilii 2008 PRIAs Palmyra CAAM Canthigaster amboinensis 2008 PRIAs Palmyra CASO Canthigaster solandri 2008 PRIAs Palmyra CAOR Carangoides orthogrammus 2008 PRIAs Palmyra CAIG Caranx ignobilis 2008 PRIAs Palmyra CALU Caranx lugubris 2008 PRIAs Palmyra CAME Caranx melampygus 2008 PRIAs Palmyra CAAB Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos 2008 PRIAs Palmyra CAML Carcharhinus melanopterus 2008 PRIAs Palmyra CEFI Centropyge fisheri 2008 PRIAs Palmyra CEFL Centropyge flavissima 2008 PRIAs Palmyra CELO Centropyge loricula 2008 PRIAs Palmyra CEAR Cephalopholis argus 2008 PRIAs Palmyra CELE Cephalopholis leopardus 2008 PRIAs Palmyra CEUR Cephalopholis urodeta 2008 PRIAs Palmyra CHAU Chaetodon auriga 2008 PRIAs Palmyra CHEP Chaetodon ephippium 2008 PRIAs Palmyra CHKL Chaetodon kleinii 2008 PRIAs Palmyra CHLU Chaetodon lunula 2008 PRIAs Palmyra CHLT Chaetodon lunulatus 2008 PRIAs Palmyra CHME Chaetodon meyeri 2008 PRIAs Palmyra CHOR Chaetodon ornatissimus 2008 PRIAs Palmyra CHPW Chaetodon pelewensis 2008 PRIAs Palmyra CHPU Chaetodon punctatofasciatus 2008 PRIAs Palmyra CHQU Chaetodon quadrimaculatus 2008 PRIAs Palmyra CHRE Chaetodon reticulatus 2008 PRIAs Palmyra CHTR Chaetodon trifascialis 2008 PRIAs Palmyra CHUL Chaetodon ulietensis 2008 PRIAs Palmyra CHUN Chaetodon unimaculatus 2008 PRIAs Palmyra CHVG Chaetodon vagabundus 2008 PRIAs Palmyra CHOX Cheilinus oxycephalus 2008 PRIAs Palmyra CHTL Cheilinus trilobatus 2008 PRIAs Palmyra CHUD Cheilinus undulatus 2008 PRIAs Palmyra CHJA Chlorurus japanensis 2008 PRIAs Palmyra CHMC Chlorurus microrhinos 2008 PRIAs Palmyra CHSO Chlorurus sordidus 2008 PRIAs Palmyra CHAC Chromis acares 2008 PRIAs Palmyra CHLE Chromis lepidolepis 2008 PRIAs Palmyra CHMA Chromis margaritifer 2008 PRIAs Palmyra CHVA Chromis vanderbilti 2008 PRIAs Palmyra CHXA Chromis xanthura 2008 PRIAs Palmyra CIEX Cirrhilabrus exquisitus 2008 PRIAs Palmyra CIOX Cirrhitichthys oxycephalus 2008 PRIAs Palmyra CIPI Cirrhitus pinnulatus 2008 PRIAs Palmyra CISP Cirripectes sp 2008 PRIAs Palmyra CIVA Cirripectes vanderbilti 2008 PRIAs Palmyra CIVR Cirripectes variolosus 2008 PRIAs Palmyra COAY Coris aygula 2008 PRIAs Palmyra COCE Coris centralis 2008 PRIAs Palmyra COGA Coris gaimard 2008 PRIAs Palmyra CTCY Ctenochaetus cyanocheilus 2008 PRIAs Palmyra CTFL Ctenochaetus flavicauda 2008 PRIAs Palmyra CTHA Ctenochaetus hawaiiensis 2008 PRIAs Palmyra CTMA Ctenochaetus marginatus 2008 PRIAs Palmyra CTSP Ctenochaetus sp 2008 PRIAs Palmyra CTSR Ctenochaetus striatus 2008 PRIAs Palmyra DAAU Dascyllus auripinnis 2008 PRIAs Palmyra DATR Dascyllus trimaculatus 2008 PRIAs Palmyra EPIN Epibulus insidiator 2008 PRIAs Palmyra EPHE Epinephelus hexagonatus 2008 PRIAs Palmyra EPMC Epinephelus macrospilos 2008 PRIAs Palmyra EPML Epinephelus melanostigma 2008 PRIAs Palmyra EPME Epinephelus merra 2008 PRIAs Palmyra EPPO Epinephelus polyphekadion 2008 PRIAs Palmyra EPSL Epinephelus spilotoceps 2008 PRIAs Palmyra EPTA Epinephelus tauvina 2008 PRIAs Palmyra FOFL Forcipiger flavissimus 2008 PRIAs Palmyra GNAU Gnathodentex aureolineatus 2008 PRIAs Palmyra GOVA Gomphosus varius 2008 PRIAs Palmyra GRAL Gracila albomarginata 2008 PRIAs Palmyra GYJA Gymnothorax javanicus 2008 PRIAs Palmyra HAHO Halichoeres hortulanus 2008 PRIAs Palmyra HAMT Halichoeres margaritaceus 2008 PRIAs Palmyra HAME Halichoeres melasmapomus 2008 PRIAs Palmyra HAOR Halichoeres ornatissimus 2008 PRIAs Palmyra HEFA Hemigymnus fasciatus 2008 PRIAs Palmyra HILO Hipposcarus longiceps 2008 PRIAs Palmyra CHUB Kyphosidae sp 2008 PRIAs Palmyra KYCI Kyphosus cinerascens 2008 PRIAs Palmyra WRAS Labridae sp 2008 PRIAs Palmyra LABI Labroides bicolor 2008 PRIAs Palmyra LADI Labroides dimidiatus 2008 PRIAs Palmyra LARU Labroides rubrolabiatus 2008 PRIAs Palmyra LAXA Labropsis xanthonota 2008 PRIAs Palmyra LETA Lepidozygus tapeinosoma 2008 PRIAs Palmyra LEOL Lethrinus olivaceus 2008 PRIAs Palmyra LEXA Lethrinus xanthochilus 2008 PRIAs Palmyra LUBO Lutjanus bohar 2008 PRIAs Palmyra LUFU Lutjanus fulvus 2008 PRIAs Palmyra LUGI Lutjanus gibbus 2008 PRIAs Palmyra LUMO Lutjanus monostigma 2008 PRIAs Palmyra MAME Macropharyngodon meleagris 2008 PRIAs Palmyra MABI Manta birostris 2008 PRIAs Palmyra MENI Melichthys niger 2008 PRIAs Palmyra MEVI Melichthys vidua 2008 PRIAs Palmyra MOGR Monotaxis grandoculis 2008 PRIAs Palmyra GOAT Mullidae sp 2008 PRIAs Palmyra MUFL Mulloidichthys flavolineatus 2008 PRIAs Palmyra MUVA Mulloidichthys vanicolensis 2008 PRIAs Palmyra MYSP Myripristinae sp 2008 PRIAs Palmyra MYAD Myripristis adusta 2008 PRIAs Palmyra MYAM Myripristis amaena 2008 PRIAs Palmyra MYBE Myripristis berndti 2008 PRIAs Palmyra MYKU Myripristis kuntee 2008 PRIAs Palmyra NABR Naso brevirostris 2008 PRIAs Palmyra NAHE Naso hexacanthus 2008 PRIAs Palmyra NALI Naso lituratus 2008 PRIAs Palmyra NAUN Naso unicornis 2008 PRIAs Palmyra NAVL Naso vlamingii 2008 PRIAs Palmyra NESA Neoniphon sammara 2008 PRIAs Palmyra NONE no individuals seen 2008 PRIAs Palmyra NOTA Novaculichthys taeniourus 2008 PRIAs Palmyra OXUN Oxycheilinus unifasciatus 2008 PRIAs Palmyra PAAR Paracirrhites arcatus 2008 PRIAs Palmyra PAFO Paracirrhites forsteri 2008 PRIAs Palmyra PAHE Paracirrhites hemistictus 2008 PRIAs Palmyra PABA Parupeneus barberinus 2008 PRIAs Palmyra PACY Parupeneus cyclostomus 2008 PRIAs Palmyra PAIN Parupeneus insularis 2008 PRIAs Palmyra PAMU Parupeneus multifasciatus 2008 PRIAs Palmyra PEOU Pempheris oualensis 2008 PRIAs Palmyra SAND Pinguipedidae sp 2008 PRIAs Palmyra PLTA Plagiotremus tapeinosoma 2008 PRIAs Palmyra PLDI Plectroglyphidodon dickii 2008 PRIAs Palmyra PLIM Plectroglyphidodon imparipennis 2008 PRIAs Palmyra PLJO Plectroglyphidodon johnstonianus 2008 PRIAs Palmyra PLPH Plectroglyphidodon phoenixensis 2008 PRIAs Palmyra POIM Pomacanthus imperator 2008 PRIAs Palmyra POCO Pomacentrus coelestis 2008 PRIAs Palmyra PSBA Pseudanthias bartlettorum 2008 PRIAs Palmyra PSDI Pseudanthias dispar 2008 PRIAs Palmyra PSOL Pseudanthias olivaceus 2008 PRIAs Palmyra PSFL Pseudobalistes flavimarginatus 2008 PRIAs Palmyra PSEV Pseudocheilinus evanidus 2008 PRIAs Palmyra PSHE Pseudocheilinus hexataenia 2008 PRIAs Palmyra PSOC Pseudocheilinus octotaenia 2008 PRIAs Palmyra PSTE Pseudocheilinus tetrataenia 2008 PRIAs Palmyra PSYA Pseudocoris yamashiroi 2008 PRIAs Palmyra PSMO Pseudodax moluccanus 2008 PRIAs Palmyra PTTI Pterocaesio tile 2008 PRIAs Palmyra RHRE Rhinecanthus rectangulus 2008 PRIAs Palmyra SACA Sargocentron caudimaculatum 2008 PRIAs Palmyra SADI Sargocentron diadema 2008 PRIAs Palmyra SASP Sargocentron spiniferum 2008 PRIAs Palmyra SATI Sargocentron tiere 2008 PRIAs Palmyra PARR Scaridae sp 2008 PRIAs Palmyra SCAL Scarus altipinnis 2008 PRIAs Palmyra SCFR Scarus frenatus 2008 PRIAs Palmyra SCGH Scarus ghobban 2008 PRIAs Palmyra SCGL Scarus globiceps 2008 PRIAs Palmyra SCOV Scarus oviceps 2008 PRIAs Palmyra SCPS Scarus psittacus 2008 PRIAs Palmyra SCRU Scarus rubroviolaceus 2008 PRIAs Palmyra SCSP Scarus sp 2008 PRIAs Palmyra SCSI Scarus spinus 2008 PRIAs Palmyra SCTR Scarus tricolor 2008 PRIAs Palmyra SCLY Scomberoides lysan 2008 PRIAs Palmyra STAU Stegastes aureus 2008 PRIAs Palmyra STFA Stegastes fasciolatus 2008 PRIAs Palmyra STNI Stegastes nigricans 2008 PRIAs Palmyra STBA Stethojulis balteata 2008 PRIAs Palmyra STBN Stethojulis bandanensis 2008 PRIAs Palmyra SUBU Sufflamen bursa 2008 PRIAs Palmyra LIZA Synodontidae sp 2008 PRIAs Palmyra THAM Thalassoma amblycephalum 2008 PRIAs Palmyra THHA Thalassoma hardwicke 2008 PRIAs Palmyra THLN Thalassoma lunare 2008 PRIAs Palmyra THLU Thalassoma lutescens 2008 PRIAs Palmyra THPU Thalassoma purpureum 2008 PRIAs Palmyra THQU Thalassoma quinquevittatum 2008 PRIAs Palmyra THTR Thalassoma trilobatum 2008 PRIAs Palmyra TROB Triaenodon obesus 2008 PRIAs Palmyra VAAL Variola albimarginata 2008 PRIAs Palmyra VALO Variola louti 2008 PRIAs Palmyra ZACO Zanclus cornutus 2008 PRIAs Palmyra ZERO Zebrasoma rostratum 2008 PRIAs Palmyra ZESC Zebrasoma scopas 2008 PRIAs Palmyra ZEVE Zebrasoma veliferum Time_Period_of_Content: Time_Period_Information: Range_of_Dates/Times: Beginning_Date: 20080330 Ending_Date: 20080403 Currentness_Reference: Ground condition Status: Progress: In Work Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: asNeeded Spatial_Domain: Bounding_Coordinates: West_Bounding_Coordinate: -162.188484 East_Bounding_Coordinate: -161.975032 North_Bounding_Coordinate: 5.916696 South_Bounding_Coordinate: 5.848978 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: Pacific Remote Island Areas Theme_Keyword: Palmyra Atoll Theme_Keyword: HI0803 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: Pacific Remote Island Areas Place_Keyword: Palmyra Atoll Place: Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: CoRIS Place Thesaurus Place_Keyword: OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Line Islands > Palmyra Atoll (05N162W0001) Place_Keyword: COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > USA Minor Outlying Islands > Palmyra Atoll (05N162W0001) Place: Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: CoRIS Region Place_Keyword: PRIA 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: "Marc Nadon, Robert Schroeder, Kevin O'Brien, Paula Ayotte", 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 Spatial_Reference_Information: Horizontal_Coordinate_System_Definition: Geographic: Latitude_Resolution: 0.0001 Longitude_Resolution: 0.0001 Geographic_Coordinate_Units: Decimal Degrees Geodetic_Model: Horizontal_Datum_Name: World Geodetic System 1984 (WGS84) Ellipsoid_Name: Geodetic Reference System 80 (GRS80) Semi-major_Axis: 6378137 Denominator_of_Flattening_Ratio: 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 Distribution_Information: Distributor: 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: CRED Data Management Team 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 Resource_Description: Offline Data Distribution_Liability: 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. Standard_Order_Process: Digital_Form: Digital_Transfer_Information: Format_Name: XLS (Microsoft Excel worksheet) Digital_Transfer_Option: Offline_Option: Offline_Media: CDROM, or email Recording_Format: ISO 9660 Fees: None if receiving the data online Custom_Order_Process: Contact CRED data management team for information Technical_Prerequisites: Contact CRED data management team for information Metadata_Reference_Information: Metadata_Date: 20190526 Metadata_Review_Date: 20090914 Metadata_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_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 Metadata_Standard_Name: the Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata Metadata_Standard_Version: FGDC-STD-001-1998 CoRIS: CoRIS_ID: 20090914084632 CoRIS_Children: None CoRIS_Beginning_Date: 20080330 CoRIS_Ending_Date: 20080403 CoRIS_Metadata_Link: https://www.coris.noaa.gov/metadata/records/html/cred_rea_fish_palmyra_atoll_2008.html CoRIS_Tracking_ID: 2922