Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED), Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
20090508
CRED REA Line Point Intercept Surveys of Benthic Parameter Assessments at Asuncion Island, Marianas Archipelago in 2009
spreadsheet
https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/pacific-islands/ecosystems/coral-reefs-pacific
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, line point intercept (LPI) surveys of benthic parameter assessments 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, coral biologists along with algal biologists, marine invertebrate zoologist, and fish biologists 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.
As a part of REA surveys, the line point intercept surveys were used to quantitatively assess average percent live coral cover and other benthic substrates at REA sites. The surveys were conducted along two consecutively-placed 25m transect lines by a coral biologist. All benthic elements falling directly underneath the transect line at 20-cm to 50-cm intervals were recorded as one of nine benthic categories: live coral, dead coral, carbonate pavement, encrusting coralline algae, macroalgae, coral rubble, sand, rock, and other benthic sessile invertebrates. All living benthic elements (e.g., coral, algae, and other invertebrates) were identified to the lowest taxonomic level possible. These data provide the basis for computing quantitative estimates of percent live coral cover, as well as percent cover of the different benthic constituents.
Part of a long-term monitoring program at biennial intervals which documents the state of the reefs.
Maximum depth was 23 meters.
Benthic cover parameters observed:
Year Region Island BenthicCategory BenthicName
2009 MARIAN Asuncion CALG crustose coralline red algae
2009 MARIAN Asuncion CALG Dead/coralline algae
2009 MARIAN Asuncion CALG Rock/Crustose coralline algae
2009 MARIAN Asuncion CALG Rubble/coralline algae
2009 MARIAN Asuncion CORL Acropora sp
2009 MARIAN Asuncion CORL Astreopora sp
2009 MARIAN Asuncion CORL Coscinaraea sp
2009 MARIAN Asuncion CORL Cyphastrea sp
2009 MARIAN Asuncion CORL Euphyllia sp
2009 MARIAN Asuncion CORL Favia sp
2009 MARIAN Asuncion CORL Favia stelligera
2009 MARIAN Asuncion CORL Galaxea sp
2009 MARIAN Asuncion CORL Goniastrea sp
2009 MARIAN Asuncion CORL Goniopora sp
2009 MARIAN Asuncion CORL Heliopora sp
2009 MARIAN Asuncion CORL Hydnophora sp
2009 MARIAN Asuncion CORL Leptastrea sp
2009 MARIAN Asuncion CORL Leptoria sp
2009 MARIAN Asuncion CORL Lobophyllia sp
2009 MARIAN Asuncion CORL Millepora sp
2009 MARIAN Asuncion CORL Montastrea sp
2009 MARIAN Asuncion CORL Montipora sp
2009 MARIAN Asuncion CORL Oulophyllia sp
2009 MARIAN Asuncion CORL Pavona sp
2009 MARIAN Asuncion CORL Pavona varians
2009 MARIAN Asuncion CORL Platygyra sp
2009 MARIAN Asuncion CORL Plerogyra sp
2009 MARIAN Asuncion CORL Pocillopora meandrina
2009 MARIAN Asuncion CORL Pocillopora sp
2009 MARIAN Asuncion CORL Porites sp
2009 MARIAN Asuncion CORL Stylophora sp
2009 MARIAN Asuncion CORL Tubastrea/Balanophyllia
2009 MARIAN Asuncion CORL Zoanthus & Palythoa
2009 MARIAN Asuncion CYAN Cyanobacteria
2009 MARIAN Asuncion CYAN Dead/Cyanobacteria
2009 MARIAN Asuncion CYAN Rock/Cyanobacteria
2009 MARIAN Asuncion INVT Other Invertebrate
2009 MARIAN Asuncion malg Bryopsis sp
2009 MARIAN Asuncion malg Caulerpa filicoides
2009 MARIAN Asuncion malg Caulerpa serrulata
2009 MARIAN Asuncion malg Dictyota sp
2009 MARIAN Asuncion malg Halimeda opuntia
2009 MARIAN Asuncion malg Halimeda sp
2009 MARIAN Asuncion malg Lobophora variegata
2009 MARIAN Asuncion malg Padina sp
2009 MARIAN Asuncion malg Tydemania sp
2009 MARIAN Asuncion OCTO Cladiella sp
2009 MARIAN Asuncion OCTO Lobophyton sp
2009 MARIAN Asuncion OCTO Sinularia sp
2009 MARIAN Asuncion OTHR Sponge
2009 MARIAN Asuncion SAND Sand
2009 MARIAN Asuncion TALG Dead/Turf algae
2009 MARIAN Asuncion TALG Rock/turf
2009 MARIAN Asuncion TALG Rubble
2009 MARIAN Asuncion TALG Rubble/turfalgae
2009 MARIAN Asuncion TALG Sand/turf
2009 MARIAN Asuncion TALG turf algae
2009 MARIAN Asuncion ZOAN Palythoa sp
20090425
20090426
Ground condition
asNeeded
145.380285
145.426744
19.714531
19.66881
NCEI Geoportal FilterCoRIS_MetadataCRCP ProjectPacific Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program (Pacific RAMP): Biennial monitoring for the U.S. Pacific Islands and Atolls1221
None
Marine Ecosystem
Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program (RAMP)
Rapid Ecological Assessments (REA)
Coral Reef Ecosystem
Benthic Cover
Marianas Archipelago
Asuncion Island
HI0903
CoRIS Theme Thesaurus
EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs
EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs > Coral reef ecology
EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef monitoring and assessment
EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef monitoring and assessment > Rapid assessment studies
CoRIS Discovery Thesaurus
Numeric Data Sets > Biology
ISO 19115 Topic Category
biota
002
None
Marianas Archipelago
Asuncion Island
CoRIS Place Thesaurus
OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Asuncion Island > Asuncion Island (19N145E0001)
COUNTRY/TERRITORY > Northern Mariana Islands > Asuncion Island > Asuncion Island (19N145E0001)
CoRIS Region
CNMI
Data are available two years following data collection date
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
Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED), Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Dr. Bernardo Vargas-Angel
mailing and physical address
NOAA IRC
NMFS/PIFSC/CRED
1845 WASP Blvd., Building 176
Honolulu
HI
96818
USA
808 725-5360
808 725-5429
nmfs.pic.credinfo@noaa.gov
e-mail preferred
"Cristi Richards, Stephanie Schopmeyer", Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED), Pacific Islands Fisheries Sciences Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA
Not applicable
Unclassified
Not applicable
Oracle
The benthic cover parameter observations were made by a single diver who is coral reef ecologist. The benthic cover assessment surveys are conducted one time per site per survey year; it is not replicated.
The same methods of data collection were used at each of the sites surveyed at this location, and were conducted by the same scientist.
The survey sites were selected to be representative of the dominant habitats at this reef system. The majority of surveys were conducted in the lagoon due to inclement sea conditions in other habitats.
GPS unit
1
Instrument parameters
Dive computer and SCUBA depth gauge
0.3
Instrument parameters
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.
Unknown
0.0001
0.0001
Decimal Degrees
World Geodetic System 1984 (WGS84)
Geodetic Reference System 80 (GRS80)
6378137
298.2572236
Local surface
1
meters
Explicit Depth Coordinate Included with Horizontal Coordinates
Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED), Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
CRED Data Management Team
mailing and physical address
NOAA IRC
NMFS/PIFSC/CRED
1845 WASP Blvd., Building 176
Honolulu
HI
96818
USA
808 725-5360
808 725-5429
nmfs.pic.credinfo@noaa.gov
e-mail preferred
Offline Data
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.
XLS (Microsoft Excel worksheet)
CDROM, or email
ISO 9660
None if receiving the data online
Contact CRED data management team for information
Contact CRED data management team for information
20190526
20090908
Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED), Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
mailing and physical address
NOAA IRC
NMFS/PIFSC/CRED
1845 WASP Blvd., Building 176
Honolulu
HI
96818
USA
808 725-5360
808 725-5429
nmfs.pic.credinfo@noaa.gov
e-mail preferred
Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata
FGDC-STD-001-1998
20090908081720
None
20090425
20090426
https://www.coris.noaa.gov/metadata/records/html/cred_rea_benthic_cover_asuncion_island_2009.html
2843