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Summary

Short Citation
Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, 2024: National Coral Reef Monitoring Program: Benthic Images Collected from Stratified Random Sites (StRS) across American Samoa since 2015, https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/25247.
Full Citation Examples

DOI: https://doi.org/10.7289/v52v2dfw

Abstract

The data described here are benthic habitat imagery that result from benthic photo-quadrat surveys conducted along transects at stratified random sites across American Samoa since 2014 as a part of Rapid Ecological Assessment (REA) surveys for corals and fish.

A stratified random sampling (StRS) design was employed to survey the coral reef ecosystems across the region. The survey domain encompassed the majority of the mapped area of reef and hard bottom habitats in the 0-30 m depth range. The stratification scheme included island, reef zone, and depth. Sampling effort was allocated based on strata area and sites were randomly located within strata. Sites were surveyed using photo-quadrats along transects to collect benthic imagery to ultimately produce estimates of relative abundance (benthic cover), frequency of occurrence, benthic community taxonomic composition and relative generic richness.

The StRS design effectively reduces estimate variance through stratification using environmental covariates and by sampling more sites rather than sampling more transects at a site. Therefore, site-level estimates and site to site comparisons should be used with caution.

Distribution Information

  • PDF - Adobe Portable Document Format

    SOP that describes method to collect benthic images during the surveys.

  • CSV - Comma Separated Values (Text)

    Metadata (site, date, and location) for photoquadrat benthic images collected at stratified random sites across American Samoa in 2015 by the NOAA Coral Reef Ecosystem Program (CREP)

  • JPEG

    Photoquadrat benthic images collected at stratified random sites across American Samoa in 2015 by the NOAA Coral Reef Ecosystem Program (CREP)

  • CSV - Comma Separated Values (Text)

    Metadata (site, date, and location) for photoquadrat benthic images collected at stratified random sites across American Samoa in 2018 during mission HA1801 by the PIFSC Ecosystem Sciences Division.

  • JPEG

    Photoquadrat benthic images collected at stratified random sites across American Samoa in 2018 by the PIFSC Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD).

  • JPEG, 93.2GB

    Photoquadrat benthic images collected at stratified random sites across American Samoa in 2023 by the PIFSC Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD)

  • CSV - Comma Separated Values (Text)

    Metadata (site, date, and location) for photoquadrat benthic images collected at stratified random sites across American Samoa in 2023 by the PIFSC Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD)

Access Constraints:

None

Use Constraints:

Please cite PIFSC Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD) when using the data.

Example:

Ecosystem Sciences Division; Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (2023). National Coral Reef Monitoring Program: Benthic Images from Stratified Random Sites (StRS) across American Samoa since 2015. NOAA's National Center for Environmental Information, https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/25247

Controlled Theme Keywords

BENTHIC, biota, CORAL REEF, DOC/NOAA/NMFS/PIFSC/ESD

Child Items

Type Title
Entity benthic_image_site_info_DataDictionary_2023

Contact Information

Point of Contact
Thomas Oliver
thomas.oliver@noaa.gov
(808)725-5444

Metadata Contact
Lori H Luers
lori.luers@noaa.gov

Extents

Geographic Area 1

-171.0925737° W, -168.13797° E, -11.04525081° N, -14.56050273° S

Time Frame 1
2015-02-15 - 2015-03-26

ASRAMP 2015

Time Frame 2
2018-06-19 - 2018-07-18

Photo-quad surveys conducted across American Samoa during ASRAMP 2018.

Time Frame 3
2023-03-30 - 2023-08-09

Time frame benthic images were collected across American Samoa during AS-NCRMP 2023.

Item Identification

Title: National Coral Reef Monitoring Program: Benthic Images Collected from Stratified Random Sites (StRS) across American Samoa since 2015
Short Name: NCRMP: Benthic Images StRS American Samoa
Status: On Going
Creation Date: 2016-12
Revision Date: 2023-11
Publication Date: 2024-03
Abstract:

The data described here are benthic habitat imagery that result from benthic photo-quadrat surveys conducted along transects at stratified random sites across American Samoa since 2014 as a part of Rapid Ecological Assessment (REA) surveys for corals and fish.

A stratified random sampling (StRS) design was employed to survey the coral reef ecosystems across the region. The survey domain encompassed the majority of the mapped area of reef and hard bottom habitats in the 0-30 m depth range. The stratification scheme included island, reef zone, and depth. Sampling effort was allocated based on strata area and sites were randomly located within strata. Sites were surveyed using photo-quadrats along transects to collect benthic imagery to ultimately produce estimates of relative abundance (benthic cover), frequency of occurrence, benthic community taxonomic composition and relative generic richness.

The StRS design effectively reduces estimate variance through stratification using environmental covariates and by sampling more sites rather than sampling more transects at a site. Therefore, site-level estimates and site to site comparisons should be used with caution.

Purpose:

The NOAA National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP) details a long term approach to provide an ecosystem perspective via monitoring climate, fish, benthic, and socioeconomic variables in a consistent and integrated manner. The NCRMP coordinates various NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP) biological, physical, and human dimensions activities into a cohesive NOAA-wide effort. Through the implementation of the NCRMP, NOAA is able to clearly and concisely communicate results of national-scale monitoring to national, state, and territorial policy makers, resource managers, and the public on a periodic basis.

Supplemental Information:

NCRMP is a framework for conducting sustained observations of biological, climate, and socioeconomic indicators at 10 priority coral reefs across the U.S. and its territories. This integrated approach consolidates monitoring of coral reefs under a uniform method in the Pacific, Atlantic, Caribbean, and the Gulf of Mexico for the first time. NCRMP is funded by the CRCP and supported by NOAA Fisheries, NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS), and many other partners. The PIFSC Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD) at NOAA Fisheries is leading biological monitoring in the U.S. Pacific Islands Region.

The biological component of NCRMP in the Pacific provides a triennial ecological characterization at a broad spatial scale of general reef condition for reef fishes, corals and benthic habitat (i.e., fish species composition/density/size, benthic cover, and coral density/size/condition). Innovative analysis techniques are then used to develop products that give fellow scientists, managers, decision makers and the public a better understanding of a region's resources and how they are changing over time.

DOI (Digital Object Identifier): https://doi.org/10.7289/v52v2dfw
DOI Registration Authority: NOAA

Keywords

Theme Keywords

Thesaurus Keyword
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Data Center Keywords
DOC/NOAA/NMFS/PIFSC/ESD > Ecosystem Sciences Division, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords
EARTH SCIENCE > BIOSPHERE > ECOSYSTEMS > MARINE ECOSYSTEMS > BENTHIC
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords
EARTH SCIENCE > BIOSPHERE > ECOSYSTEMS > MARINE ECOSYSTEMS > REEF > CORAL REEF
ISO 19115 Topic Category
biota
UNCONTROLLED
CoRIS Discovery Thesaurus Visual Images > Habitats
CoRIS Theme Thesaurus EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Aquatic Habitat > Benthic Habitat
CoRIS Theme Thesaurus EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Aquatic Habitat > Reef Habitat
CoRIS Theme Thesaurus EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals
CoRIS Theme Thesaurus EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment
CoRIS Theme Thesaurus EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment > Benthos Analysis > Transect Monitoring
CoRIS Theme Thesaurus EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment > Benthos Analysis > Transect Monitoring > Belt Transect
CoRIS Theme Thesaurus EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment > In Situ Biological
CoRIS Theme Thesaurus EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef monitoring and assessment > Rapid assessment studies
CoRIS Theme Thesaurus EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs
CoRIS Theme Thesaurus EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs > Coral Reef Ecology
CoRIS Theme Thesaurus EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs > Coral Reef Ecology > Benthic biology
CoRIS Theme Thesaurus EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Marine Biology > Coral
CoRIS Theme Thesaurus EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Marine Biology > Coral Communities
CRCP Project 743
CRCP Project National Coral Reef Monitoring Program
ISO 19115 Topic Category 002
ISO 19115 Topic Category biota
NODC DATA TYPES THESAURUS coral
NODC DATA TYPES THESAURUS PHOTOQUADRAT IMAGES
NODC OBSERVATION TYPES THESAURUS biological
NODC OBSERVATION TYPES THESAURUS imagery
NODC OBSERVATION TYPES THESAURUS in situ
NODC PROJECT NAMES THESAURUS Coral Reef Conservation Program
NODC PROJECT NAMES THESAURUS CORAL REEF STUDIES
NODC PROJECT NAMES THESAURUS National Coral Reef Monitoring Program
NODC PROJECT NAMES THESAURUS Pacific Reef and Assessment Monitoring Program
NODC SUBMITTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS US DOC; NOAA; NMFS; Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center; Ecosystem Sciences Division
None Coral Reef Ecosystem Division
None Coral Reef Ecosystem Program
None CRED
None CREP
None Ecosystem Sciences Division
None ESD
None Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center
None PIFSC
None RAMP
None Rapid Ecological Assessment
None REA
None Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program

Temporal Keywords

Thesaurus Keyword
UNCONTROLLED
None Triennial

Spatial Keywords

Thesaurus Keyword
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords
OCEAN > PACIFIC OCEAN > CENTRAL PACIFIC OCEAN > AMERICAN SAMOA
UNCONTROLLED
CoRIS Place Thesaurus COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > American Samoa > American Samoa > American Samoa (14S170W0000)
CoRIS Place Thesaurus COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > American Samoa > American Samoa > Ofu Island (14S169W0013)
CoRIS Place Thesaurus COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > American Samoa > American Samoa > Olosega Island (14S169W0014)
CoRIS Place Thesaurus COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > American Samoa > American Samoa > Rose Atoll (14S168W0001)
CoRIS Place Thesaurus COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > American Samoa > American Samoa > Swains Atoll (11S171W0001)
CoRIS Place Thesaurus COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > American Samoa > American Samoa > Ta'u Island (14S169W0012)
CoRIS Place Thesaurus COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > American Samoa > American Samoa > Tutuila Island (14S170W0016)
CoRIS Place Thesaurus COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > American Samoa > Ofu Island > Ofu (14S169W0002)
CoRIS Place Thesaurus COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > American Samoa > Olosega Island > Olosega (14S169W0016)
CoRIS Place Thesaurus OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > American Samoa > American Samoa (14S170W0000)
CoRIS Place Thesaurus OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > American Samoa > Rose Atoll (14S168W0001)
CoRIS Place Thesaurus OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > American Samoa > Swains Atoll (11S171W0001)
CoRIS Place Thesaurus OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > American Samoa > Tutuila Island (14S170W0016)
CoRIS Place Thesaurus OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Manu'a Group > Ofu (14S169W0002)
CoRIS Place Thesaurus OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Manu'a Group > Ofu Island (14S169W0013)
CoRIS Place Thesaurus OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Manu'a Group > Olosega (14S169W0016)
CoRIS Place Thesaurus OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Manu'a Group > Olosega Island (14S169W0014)
CoRIS Place Thesaurus OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Manu'a Group > Ta'u Island (14S169W0012)
NODC Sea Area Names Thesaurus Rose Atoll Marine National Monument
NODC Sea Area Names Thesaurus South Pacific Ocean
None American Samoa
None Rose Atoll Marine National Monument

Instrument Keywords

Thesaurus Keyword
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Instrument Keywords
CAMERA > CAMERA
UNCONTROLLED
NODC INSTRUMENT TYPES THESAURUS camera

Platform Keywords

Thesaurus Keyword
UNCONTROLLED
NODC PLATFORM NAMES THESAURUS HI'IALAKAI
NODC PLATFORM NAMES THESAURUS Rainier

Physical Location

Organization: Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center
City: Honolulu
State/Province: HI
Country: USA

Data Set Information

Data Set Scope Code: Data Set
Data Set Type: JPG Files
Maintenance Frequency: As Needed
Maintenance Note:

Updated November 2023 to add imagery collected in 2023

Data Presentation Form: Image (digital)
Entity Attribute Overview:

Raw data include ~30 benthic photographs per survey site. Included in the archive package is a list of survey sites, including site, date, latitude (dd), longitude (dd) where photoquads were collected. The file naming convention for each photo/image is [SITE]_[YEAR]_[TRANSECT]_[PHOTO_NUMBER].JPG (e.g., TUT-903_2012_A_01.JPG).

Entity Attribute Detail URL: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/55984
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.

Data Set Credit: PIFSC Ecosystem Sciences Division and funded by the NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program

Support Roles

Data Set Credit

CC ID: 1277648
Date Effective From: 2015
Date Effective To:
Contact (Organization): NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP)
Address: 1305 East West Highway 10th Floor
Silver Spring, MD 20910-3281
Phone: (301) 713-3155
URL: https://coralreef.noaa.gov

Data Steward

CC ID: 1277649
Date Effective From: 2022
Date Effective To:
Contact (Person): Oliver, Thomas
Address: 1845 Wasp Blvd.
Honolulu, HI 96818
USA
Email Address: thomas.oliver@noaa.gov
Phone: (808)725-5444

Distributor

CC ID: 1277651
Date Effective From: 2016
Date Effective To:
Contact (Organization): National Centers for Environmental Information - Silver Spring, Maryland (NCEI-MD)
Address: NOAA/NESDIS E/OC SSMC3, 4th Floor, 1351 East-West Highway
Silver Spring, MD 20910-3282
Phone: (301) 713-3277

Metadata Contact

CC ID: 1277653
Date Effective From: 2021
Date Effective To:
Contact (Person): Luers, Lori H
Address: 1845 Wasp Blvd.
Honolulu, HI 96818
USA
Email Address: lori.luers@noaa.gov

Originator

CC ID: 1277655
Date Effective From: 2015
Date Effective To:
Contact (Organization): Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC)
Address: 1845 Wasp Blvd.
Honolulu, HI 96818
USA
Email Address: pifsc.info@noaa.gov
Phone: 808-725-5360
URL: https://www.pifsc.noaa.gov
Business Hours: 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Point of Contact

CC ID: 1277656
Date Effective From: 2022
Date Effective To:
Contact (Person): Oliver, Thomas
Address: 1845 Wasp Blvd.
Honolulu, HI 96818
USA
Email Address: thomas.oliver@noaa.gov
Phone: (808)725-5444
View Historical Support Roles

Extents

Currentness Reference: Ground Condition

Extent Group 1

Extent Description:

American Samoa including Tutuila, Manu'a (Ofo, Olosega, and Ta'u), Rose Atoll, and Swains.

Extent Group 1 / Geographic Area 1

CC ID: 369814
W° Bound: -171.0925737
E° Bound: -168.13797
N° Bound: -11.04525081
S° Bound: -14.56050273

Extent Group 1 / Time Frame 1

CC ID: 369815
Time Frame Type: Range
Start: 2015-02-15
End: 2015-03-26
Alternate Start As Of Info: HA1501
Description:

ASRAMP 2015

Extent Group 1 / Time Frame 2

CC ID: 831421
Time Frame Type: Range
Start: 2018-06-19
End: 2018-07-18
Alternate Start As Of Info: HA1801
Description:

Photo-quad surveys conducted across American Samoa during ASRAMP 2018.

Extent Group 1 / Time Frame 3

CC ID: 1277726
Time Frame Type: Range
Start: 2023-03-30
End: 2023-08-09
Alternate Start As Of Info: RA2301
Description:

Time frame benthic images were collected across American Samoa during AS-NCRMP 2023.

Access Information

Security Class: Unclassified
Security Classification System:

Not applicable

Security Handling Description:

Not applicable

Data Access Policy:

NOAA Coral Reef Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD) Data Sharing Recommendations, version 9.0 updated August 12, 2015:

The ESD welcomes the opportunity to collaborate on research issues contributing to the scientific basis for better management of marine ecosystems. The ESD has a very diverse set of field activities that generates large volumes of data using an array of data collection protocols.

The following recommendations are for your consideration as you use this data:

1) Data analyses should take all field exigencies into account. The most effective way to do this would be active collaboration with ESD principal investigators.

2) In all presentations, product releases, or publications using data generated by ESD, proper acknowledgement of both ESD and the individuals responsible for data collection is expected. Citing the DOI (if available) is preferred, a non-DOI example is listed below.

3) If you collect or generate data for the same study areas, ESD requests that you share relevant information on complimentary data collections.

4) Those receiving data are strongly urged to inform the ESD Data Management Team of any errors and discrepancies that are discovered during the course of using these data. They are further urged to bring to the attention of the Team all problems and difficulties encountered in using these data. This information is necessary in order to improve the collections and to facilitate more efficient and economical data processing and retrieval. The users are asked to supply copies of any missing data that may be located, and to provide information as to significant subsets and special aggregations of data that are developed in using the material provided.

Example citation:

"This publication makes use of data products provided by the Coral Reef Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD), Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), with funding support from the NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP). The analysis and interpretations presented here are solely that of the current authors."

Data Access Procedure:

Data can be accessed online via the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) Ocean Archive.

Data Access Constraints:

None

Data Use Constraints:

Please cite PIFSC Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD) when using the data.

Example:

Ecosystem Sciences Division; Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (2023). National Coral Reef Monitoring Program: Benthic Images from Stratified Random Sites (StRS) across American Samoa since 2015. NOAA's National Center for Environmental Information, https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/25247

Metadata Access Constraints:

None

Metadata Use Constraints:

None

Distribution Information

Distribution 1

CC ID: 831427
Download URL: https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0157633
Distributor: National Centers for Environmental Information - Silver Spring, Maryland (NCEI-MD) (2016 - Present)
File Name: PIFSC_NTM-PIFSC-71_2018_SOP_Benthic.pdf
Description:

SOP that describes method to collect benthic images during the surveys.

File Date/Time: 2018-08-31 00:00:00
File Type (Deprecated): PDF
Distribution Format: PDF - Adobe Portable Document Format

Distribution 2

CC ID: 831422
Download URL: https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0159168
Distributor: National Centers for Environmental Information - Silver Spring, Maryland (NCEI-MD) (2016 - Present)
File Name: Site Info SAMOA 2015.csv
Description:

Metadata (site, date, and location) for photoquadrat benthic images collected at stratified random sites across American Samoa in 2015 by the NOAA Coral Reef Ecosystem Program (CREP)

File Type (Deprecated): csv (comma-separated values)
Distribution Format: CSV - Comma Separated Values (Text)

Distribution 3

CC ID: 268719
Download URL: https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0159168
Distributor: National Centers for Environmental Information - Silver Spring, Maryland (NCEI-MD) (2016 - Present)
File Name: StR Images SAMOA 2015
Description:

Photoquadrat benthic images collected at stratified random sites across American Samoa in 2015 by the NOAA Coral Reef Ecosystem Program (CREP)

File Type (Deprecated): JPEG
Distribution Format: JPEG

Distribution 4

CC ID: 831424
Download URL: https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0187563
Distributor: National Centers for Environmental Information - Silver Spring, Maryland (NCEI-MD) (2016 - Present)
File Name: Site Info SAMOA 2018.csv
Description:

Metadata (site, date, and location) for photoquadrat benthic images collected at stratified random sites across American Samoa in 2018 during mission HA1801 by the PIFSC Ecosystem Sciences Division.

File Date/Time: 2019-03-30 00:00:00
File Type (Deprecated): csv (comma-separated values)
Distribution Format: CSV - Comma Separated Values (Text)

Distribution 5

CC ID: 831425
Download URL: https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0187563
Distributor: National Centers for Environmental Information - Silver Spring, Maryland (NCEI-MD) (2016 - Present)
File Name: StR Images SAMOA 2018
Description:

Photoquadrat benthic images collected at stratified random sites across American Samoa in 2018 by the PIFSC Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD).

File Date/Time: 2019-03-30 00:00:00
File Type (Deprecated): JPG
Distribution Format: JPEG

Distribution 6

CC ID: 1279648
Start Date: 2024-03
End Date: Present
Download URL: http://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0289905
Distributor: National Centers for Environmental Information - Silver Spring, Maryland (NCEI-MD) (2016 - Present)
File Name: NCRMP_STRS_IMAGES_SAMOA_2023
Description:

Photoquadrat benthic images collected at stratified random sites across American Samoa in 2023 by the PIFSC Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD)

Distribution Format: JPEG
File Size: 93.2GB
Compression: Zip

Distribution 7

CC ID: 1279637
Start Date: 2024-03
End Date: Present
Download URL: http://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0289905
Distributor: National Centers for Environmental Information - Silver Spring, Maryland (NCEI-MD) (2016 - Present)
File Name: NCRMP_STRS_SITEINFO_SAMOA_2023.csv
Description:

Metadata (site, date, and location) for photoquadrat benthic images collected at stratified random sites across American Samoa in 2023 by the PIFSC Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD)

Distribution Format: CSV - Comma Separated Values (Text)

URLs

URL 1

CC ID: 369553
URL: https://www.pifsc.noaa.gov/ecosystem_sciences/
Name: Ecosystem Sciences Division
URL Type:
Online Resource
File Resource Format: HTML
Description:

NOAA Fisheries, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center website

URL 2

CC ID: 369554
URL: https://www.coris.noaa.gov/monitoring/
Name: National Coral Reef Monitoring Program
URL Type:
Online Resource
File Resource Format: HTML
Description:

NOAA National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP) website.

URL 3

CC ID: 1279858
URL: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/pacific-islands/ecosystems/coral-reefs-pacific
Name: PIFSC ESD: Coral Reefs in the Pacific
URL Type:
Online Resource
File Resource Format: HTML
Description:

Overview of NOAA Ecosystem Sciences Division, Archipelagic Research Program's methods to assess corals.

Technical Environment

Description:

PIFSC network/file system:

\\picQueenFish\optical\OPTICAL\

\\picQueenFish\general\Cruise\CruiseData

Data Quality

Accuracy:

Handheld GPS units were used to locate random sites and mark site locations.

Analytical Accuracy:

Image data include ~30 benthic photographs per survey site from both the fish and benthic team surveys. The fish team conducts the photoquadrat surveys along one 30-m transect. The benthic team conducts the surveys along 2 independent 18-m transects. Therefore, the site level image data contain one transect (A) for fish team surveys and two transects (A and B) for benthic team surveys. Appropriate site level image grouping should include all 30 images.

Completeness Report:

Only shallow water (0 to 30 meter depth range) hard-bottom habitats are surveyed. The survey sites were randomly selected using a systematic process based on available habitat and bathymetric data. Although efforts are made to include broad spatial coverage of surveys at each island, weather conditions and other environmental constraints may have prevented the team from surveying exposed reef areas.

Conceptual Consistency:

The same methods of data collection were used at each surveyed site.

Quality Control Procedures Employed:

The photos are reviewed by the diver for accuracy and usability. The data management team also uses a optical validation script to re-name photos and enforce several validation checks.

Data Management

Have Resources for Management of these Data Been Identified?: Yes
Approximate Percentage of Budget for these Data Devoted to Data Management: Unknown
Do these Data Comply with the Data Access Directive?: Yes
Is Access to the Data Limited Based on an Approved Waiver?: No
Approximate Delay Between Data Collection and Dissemination: Unknown
Actual or Planned Long-Term Data Archive Location: NCEI-MD
Approximate Delay Between Data Collection and Archiving: Unknown
How Will the Data Be Protected from Accidental or Malicious Modification or Deletion Prior to Receipt by the Archive?:

The images reside on a file server maintained and regularly backed up by PIFSC ITS.

Lineage

Lineage Statement:

The stratified random sampling (StRS) design and benthic photoquadrat survey methodology, employed by the PIFSC Ecosystem Sciences Division since 2013. Benthic imagery is collected at stratified random sites. These photos are color-corrected (if necessary) prior to analysis. The data management team also uses a optical validation script to re-name photos and enforce several validation checks.

Sources

Swanson D, Bailey H, Schumacher B, Ferguson M, Vargas-Angel B. 2018. Ecosystem Sciences Division standard operating procedures: data collection for rapid ecological assessment benthic surveys. U.S. Dept. of Commerce, NOAA Technical Memorandum NOAA-TM-NMFS-PIFSC-71, 63 p.

CC ID: 345012
Contact Role Type: Originator
Contact Type: Organization
Contact Name: Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, PIFSC
Publish Date: 2018-08-31
Citation URL: https://doi.org/10.25923/39jh-8993
Citation URL Name: NOAA Institutional Repository
Citation URL Description:

Ecosystem Sciences Division standard operating procedures: data collection for rapid ecological assessment benthic surveys

Source Contribution:

The SOP describes the method to collect benthic images during the survey.

Process Steps

Process Step 1

CC ID: 345013
Description:

A stratified random sampling (StRS) design was employed to survey the coral reef ecosystems through the U.S. Pacific regions. The survey domain encompassed the majority of the mapped area of reef and hard bottom habitats. The stratification scheme included island, reef zone, and depth. The habitat structure types included simple, complex, and coral-rich. Depth categories of shallow (0-6 m), mid (> 6-18m) and deep (>18-30 m) were also incorporated into the stratification scheme. Allocation of sampling effort was proportional to strata area. Sites were randomly selected within each stratum.

A geographic information system (GIS) and digital spatial databases of benthic habitats (NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science NCCOS), reef zones (IKONOS satellite imagery, NDGC 1998) bathymetry (NDGC 1998, CREP benthic mapping data), and marine reserve boundaries (NOAA) were used to facilitate spatial delineation of the sampling survey domain, strata, and sample units. Map resolution was such that the survey domain could be overlain by a grid using a GIS with individual cells of size 50 m by 50 m in area. A two-stage sampling scheme following Cochran (1977) was employed to control for spatial variation in population parameters at scales smaller than the grid cell minimum mapping unit (2,500 m2). Grid cells containing hard-bottom reef habitats were designated as primary sample units (referred to as sites).

Process Contact: Swanson, Dione W
Phone (Voice): (808)725-5417
Email Address: dione.swanson@noaa.gov
Source: Swanson D, Bailey H, Schumacher B, Ferguson M, Vargas-Angel B. 2018. Ecosystem Sciences Division standard operating procedures: data collection for rapid ecological assessment benthic surveys. U.S. Dept. of Commerce, NOAA Technical Memorandum NOAA-TM-NMFS-PIFSC-71, 63 p.

Process Step 2

CC ID: 372123
Description:

Photoquadrat surveys were conducted by both the fish and benthic teams. Still photographs were collected to record the benthic community composition at predetermined points along the transect lines with a high-resolution digital camera mounted on a pole. Overall, ~30 photoquadrat images are collected at each site. The fish team conducts these surveys along one 30-meter transect that spans the length of two stationary point count (SPC) cylinders used to assess fish abundance (30 images total, Transect A). Benthic substrate photos are taken at one-meter intervals along the right hand side of the 30-m transect line. The benthic team conducts the photoquadrat surveys along two, independent 18-meter transects. Photos of the benthic substrate are taken at one-meter intervals starting at meter 1, along the left hand side of each 18-meter transect (15 images/transect; 30 images total; Transect A and B).

Process Step 3

CC ID: 372124
Description:

Raw data include ~30 benthic photographs per survey site. Included in the archive package is a list of survey sites, including site, date, latitude (dd), and longitude (dd) where photoquads were collected. The file naming convention for each photo/image is [SITE]_[YEAR]_[TRANSECT]_[PHOTO_NUMBER].JPG (e.g., TUT-903_2012_A_01.JPG).

Acquisition Information

Instruments

Instrument Unavailable Reason: Not Applicable

Platforms

Platform Unavailable Reason: Not Applicable

Child Items

Rubric scores updated every 15m

Rubric Score Type Title
Entity benthic_image_site_info_DataDictionary_2023

Catalog Details

Catalog Item ID: 25247
GUID: gov.noaa.nmfs.inport:25247
Metadata Record Created By: Annette M DesRochers
Metadata Record Created: 2015-06-05 18:26+0000
Metadata Record Last Modified By: Lori H Luers
Metadata Record Last Modified: 2024-03-05 20:11+0000
Metadata Record Published: 2024-03-05
Owner Org: PIFSC
Metadata Publication Status: Published Externally
Do Not Publish?: N
Metadata Last Review Date: 2017-01-23
Metadata Review Frequency: 1 Year
Metadata Next Review Date: 2018-01-23