National Coral Reef Monitoring Program: Towed-diver Surveys of Benthic Habitat, Key Benthic Species, and Marine Debris Sightings of the Marianas since 2014
Data Set (DS) | Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC)GUID: gov.noaa.nmfs.inport:35769 | Updated: October 3, 2024 | Published / External
Summary
Short Citation
Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, 2024: National Coral Reef Monitoring Program: Towed-diver Surveys of Benthic Habitat, Key Benthic Species, and Marine Debris Sightings of the Marianas since 2014, https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/35769.
Full Citation Examples
DOI: doi:10.7289/V5H13098
AbstractThe towed-diver method is used to conduct benthic surveys, assessing large-scale disturbances (e.g., bleaching) and quantifying benthic components such as habitat complexity/type and the general distribution and abundance patterns of live coral, crustose coralline algae (CCA), macroalgae, and macroinvertebrates. Surveys are conducted in the Hawaiian and Mariana Archipelagos, American Samoa, and the Pacific Remote Island Areas as part of the NOAA National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP). A suitable method for assessing relatively large areas of reef habitat, the method involves towing a pair of SCUBA divers—one benthic and one fish—behind a small boat for approximately 50 min following the ~15-m depth contour and covering about 2–3 km of habitat. Each diver is equipped with a towboard and attempts to maintain a constant elevation above the surface of the reef (~1 m) for the duration of the survey. A complete towed-diver survey is divided into 10, 5-min segments, with visual observations recorded by 5-min segment.
The visual estimate data provided in this dataset were collected during towed-diver surveys which includes percentage cover of total live hard corals, stressed hard corals, soft corals, sand, coralline algae, and macroalgae, and the number of individual macroinvertebrates (crown of thorns starfish (COTS), sea urchins, and giant clams). Benthic habitat complexity and type data are also collected as part of the survey with the following habitat type categories: continuous reef, spur and groove, patch reefs, rock boulders, pavement, rubble flat, sand flats, pinnacle, and wall.
The data were collected around the Marianas as part of the NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC), Coral Reef Ecosystem Program (CREP) led missions since 2014. These data can be accessed online via the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) Ocean Archive.
Distribution Information
-
CSV - Comma Separated Values (Text)
Observations from towed-diver surveys of the benthic habitat by the NOAA Coral Reef Ecosystem Program (CREP) conducted in the Marianas in 2014.
-
PDF - Adobe Portable Document Format
Ecosystem Sciences Division standard operating procedures: data collection for towed-diver benthic and fish surveys. PIFSC Administrative Report H-18-02. https://doi.org/10.25923/59sb-sy51
-
CSV - Comma Separated Values (Text)
Observations from towed-diver surveys of the benthic habitat by the NOAA Coral Reef Ecosystem Program (CREP) conducted in the Marianas in 2017.
None
Please cite NOAA Coral Reef Ecosystem Program (CREP) when using the data.
Suggested citation:
National Coral Reef Monitoring Program: Towed-diver Surveys of Benthic Habitat, Key Benthic Species, and Marine Debris Sightings of the Marianas in 2014. NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information, https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/35769.
Controlled Theme Keywords
biota
Child Items
Type | Title |
---|---|
Entity | View: VS_BENT_TDS |
Contact Information
Point of Contact
Bernardo Vargas-Angel
bernardo.vargasangel@noaa.gov
(808)725-5423
Metadata Contact
Annette M DesRochers
annette.desrochers@noaa.gov
(808)725-5461
Extents
144.6258831° W,
145.8533789° E,
20.54979267° N,
13.22982722° S
Mariana Archipelago including Guam, Rota, Tinian, Aguijan, Saipan, Sarigan, Guguan, Alamagan, Pagan, Asuncion, Maug, and Farallon de Pajaros.
2017-05-04 - 2017-06-20
2014-03-25 - 2014-05-06
MARAMP 2014, Legs I through III
Item Identification
Title: | National Coral Reef Monitoring Program: Towed-diver Surveys of Benthic Habitat, Key Benthic Species, and Marine Debris Sightings of the Marianas since 2014 |
---|---|
Short Name: | NCRMP: Benthic Towed-diver Surveys Marianas |
Status: | Completed |
Publication Date: | 2016 |
Abstract: |
The towed-diver method is used to conduct benthic surveys, assessing large-scale disturbances (e.g., bleaching) and quantifying benthic components such as habitat complexity/type and the general distribution and abundance patterns of live coral, crustose coralline algae (CCA), macroalgae, and macroinvertebrates. Surveys are conducted in the Hawaiian and Mariana Archipelagos, American Samoa, and the Pacific Remote Island Areas as part of the NOAA National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP). A suitable method for assessing relatively large areas of reef habitat, the method involves towing a pair of SCUBA divers—one benthic and one fish—behind a small boat for approximately 50 min following the ~15-m depth contour and covering about 2–3 km of habitat. Each diver is equipped with a towboard and attempts to maintain a constant elevation above the surface of the reef (~1 m) for the duration of the survey. A complete towed-diver survey is divided into 10, 5-min segments, with visual observations recorded by 5-min segment. The visual estimate data provided in this dataset were collected during towed-diver surveys which includes percentage cover of total live hard corals, stressed hard corals, soft corals, sand, coralline algae, and macroalgae, and the number of individual macroinvertebrates (crown of thorns starfish (COTS), sea urchins, and giant clams). Benthic habitat complexity and type data are also collected as part of the survey with the following habitat type categories: continuous reef, spur and groove, patch reefs, rock boulders, pavement, rubble flat, sand flats, pinnacle, and wall. The data were collected around the Marianas as part of the NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC), Coral Reef Ecosystem Program (CREP) led missions since 2014. These data can be accessed online via the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) Ocean Archive. |
Purpose: |
The National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP) details an integrated ecosystem approach to provide a consistent flow of information to assess and report the status and trends of environmental conditions, living reef resources, and the people and processes that interact with coral reef ecosystems. Although the scope of NCRMP is broad, it is intended to assess the status of coral reef ecosystems and their conditions throughout U.S. States and Territories and provide a steady and comprehensive analytical context to gauge changes in conditions at the sub-jurisdictional scale of an island or atoll. Through the implementation of the NCRMP, NOAA is able to clearly and concisely communicate results of national-scale monitoring to Federal, State, and Territorial policy makers, resource managers, scientists, and the public on a periodic basis. |
Other Citation Details: |
Lino K, Asher J, Ferguson M, Gray A, McCoy K, Timmers M, Vargas-Ángel B (2018) Ecosystem Sciences Division standard operating procedures: data collection for towed-diver benthic and fish surveys. Pacific Islands Fish. Sci. Cent., Natl. Mar. Fish. Serv., NOAA, Honolulu, HI 96818-5007. Pacific Islands Fish. Sci. Cent. Admin. Rep. H-18-02, 76 p. |
Supplemental Information: |
The National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (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 will consolidate 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 Coral Reef Ecosystem Program (CREP) 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). Each year, CREP scientists work closely with CRCP and local partners to collect biological data on fish populations and coral reef communities from strategically selected sites during Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program (RAMP) missions. 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): | doi:10.7289/V5H13098 |
DOI Registration Authority: | NOAA |
Keywords
Theme Keywords
Thesaurus | Keyword |
---|---|
ISO 19115 Topic Category |
biota
|
UNCONTROLLED | |
CoRIS Discovery Thesaurus | Numeric Data Sets > Biology |
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 > Coral Mortality |
CoRIS Theme Thesaurus | EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Photic Zone Corals |
CoRIS Theme Thesaurus | EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment |
CoRIS Theme Thesaurus | EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs |
CoRIS Theme Thesaurus | EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs > Coral Reef Ecology > Benthic biology |
CoRIS Theme Thesaurus | EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs > Coral Reef Ecology > Coral Cover |
CoRIS Theme Thesaurus | EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs > Coral Reef Ecology > Habitats |
CoRIS Theme Thesaurus | EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs > Coral Reef Ecology > Hard Coral Cover |
CoRIS Theme Thesaurus | EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs > Coral Reef Ecology > Hard Coral Cover Dead percentage |
CoRIS Theme Thesaurus | EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs > Coral Reef Ecology > Hard Coral Cover Live percentage |
CoRIS Theme Thesaurus | EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Marine Biology > Coral |
CoRIS Theme Thesaurus | EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Marine Biology > Coral Communities |
CoRIS Theme Thesaurus | EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Marine Biology > Macroinvertebrates |
CoRIS Theme Thesaurus | EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Marine Biology > Marine Invertebrates |
CoRIS Theme Thesaurus | EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Marine Biology > Marine Invertebrates > Census |
CoRIS Theme Thesaurus | EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Marine Biology > Marine Invertebrates > Census > Macroinvertebrates |
CoRIS Theme Thesaurus | EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Marine Biology > Marine Invertebrates > Census > Population Density |
CoRIS Theme Thesaurus | EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Marine Biology > Marine Invertebrates > Macroinvertebrates |
CRCP Project | 743 |
CRCP Project | National Coral Reef Monitoring Program |
NODC DATA TYPES THESAURUS | CORAL |
NODC DATA TYPES THESAURUS | DEBRIS |
NODC DATA TYPES THESAURUS | DEPTH - SENSOR |
NODC DATA TYPES THESAURUS | HABITAT - BENTHIC |
NODC DATA TYPES THESAURUS | MACROINVERTEBRATE CENSUS |
NODC DATA TYPES THESAURUS | REEF AND/OR BOTTOM REGIME - PERCENT COVER |
NODC DATA TYPES THESAURUS | TEMPERATURE |
NODC OBSERVATION TYPES THESAURUS | survey |
NODC OBSERVATION TYPES THESAURUS | survey - biological |
NODC OBSERVATION TYPES THESAURUS | survey - coral reef |
NODC OBSERVATION TYPES THESAURUS | survey - swimmer/diver |
NODC OBSERVATION TYPES THESAURUS | tows |
NODC OBSERVATION TYPES THESAURUS | visual estimate |
NODC PLATFORM NAMES THESAURUS | HI'IALAKAI |
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 SUBMITTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS | US DOC; NOAA; NMFS; Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center; Ecosystem Sciences Division; Coral Reef Ecosystem Program |
None | Coral Reef Ecosystem Division |
None | Coral Reef Ecosystem Program |
None | CRED |
None | CREP |
None | Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center |
None | PIFSC |
None | TDS |
None | towboard |
None | towed diver |
None | Towed-diver surveys |
Temporal Keywords
Thesaurus | Keyword |
---|---|
UNCONTROLLED | |
None | Triennial |
Spatial Keywords
Thesaurus | Keyword |
---|---|
UNCONTROLLED | |
CoRIS Place Thesaurus | COUNTRY/TERRITORY > Northern Mariana Islands > Aguijan > Aguijan Island (14N145E0006) |
CoRIS Place Thesaurus | COUNTRY/TERRITORY > Northern Mariana Islands > Alamagan Island > Alamagan Island (17N145E0002) |
CoRIS Place Thesaurus | COUNTRY/TERRITORY > Northern Mariana Islands > Asuncion Island > Asuncion Island (19N145E0001) |
CoRIS Place Thesaurus | COUNTRY/TERRITORY > Northern Mariana Islands > Farallon de Pajaros > Farallon de Pajaros (12N144E0001) |
CoRIS Place Thesaurus | COUNTRY/TERRITORY > Northern Mariana Islands > Guguan > Guguan Island (17N145E0001) |
CoRIS Place Thesaurus | COUNTRY/TERRITORY > Northern Mariana Islands > Maug > Maug Island (20N145E0001) |
CoRIS Place Thesaurus | COUNTRY/TERRITORY > Northern Mariana Islands > Northern Mariana Islands > Northern Mariana Islands ( CNMI ) (18N146E0000) |
CoRIS Place Thesaurus | COUNTRY/TERRITORY > Northern Mariana Islands > Pagan > Pagan Island (18N145E0001) |
CoRIS Place Thesaurus | COUNTRY/TERRITORY > Northern Mariana Islands > Rota > Rota Island ( Luta ) (14N145E0007) |
CoRIS Place Thesaurus | COUNTRY/TERRITORY > Northern Mariana Islands > Saipan > Saipan Island (15N145E0002) |
CoRIS Place Thesaurus | COUNTRY/TERRITORY > Northern Mariana Islands > Sarigan Island > Sarigan Island (16N145E0003) |
CoRIS Place Thesaurus | COUNTRY/TERRITORY > Northern Mariana Islands > Tinian > Tinian Island (14N145E0005) |
CoRIS Place Thesaurus | COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Guam > Guam (13N144E0000) |
CoRIS Place Thesaurus | OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Aguijan Island Reefs > Aguijan Island (14N145E0006) |
CoRIS Place Thesaurus | OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Alamagan Island > Alamagan Island (17N145E0002) |
CoRIS Place Thesaurus | OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Asuncion Island > Asuncion Island (19N145E0001) |
CoRIS Place Thesaurus | OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Farallon de Pajaros > Farallon de Pajaros (12N144E0001) |
CoRIS Place Thesaurus | OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Guam > Guam (13N144E0000) |
CoRIS Place Thesaurus | OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Guguan Island > Guguan Island (17N145E0001) |
CoRIS Place Thesaurus | OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Mariana Archipelago > Northern Mariana Islands ( CNMI ) (18N146E0000) |
CoRIS Place Thesaurus | OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Maug Island > Maug Island (20N145E0001) |
CoRIS Place Thesaurus | OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Pagan Island > Pagan Island (18N145E0001) |
CoRIS Place Thesaurus | OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Rota Island > Rota Island ( Luta ) (14N145E0007) |
CoRIS Place Thesaurus | OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Saipan Island > Saipan Island (15N145E0002) |
CoRIS Place Thesaurus | OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Sarigan Island > Sarigan Island (16N145E0003) |
CoRIS Place Thesaurus | OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Tinian Island Reefs > Tinian Island (14N145E0005) |
NODC SEA AREA NAMES | Marianas Trench Marine National Monument |
NODC SEA AREA NAMES THESAURUS | NW Pacific |
None | CNMI |
None | Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands |
None | Mariana Islands |
None | Marianas |
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: | CSV Files |
Maintenance Frequency: | As Needed |
Data Presentation Form: | Table (digital) |
Entity Attribute Overview: |
Raw survey data includes metadata for each survey (where, when, who, length, duration, depth, reef type, temperature); and benthic observations. |
Entity Attribute Detail URL: | https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/35771 |
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 Coral Reef Ecosystem Program and funded by the NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program |
Support Roles
Data Set Credit
Date Effective From: | 2014 |
---|---|
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
Date Effective From: | 2014 |
---|---|
Date Effective To: | |
Contact (Person): | Ferguson, Marie H |
Address: |
1845 Wasp Blvd. Honolulu, HI 96818 |
Email Address: | marie.ferguson@noaa.gov |
Phone: | (808)725-5414 |
Contact Instructions: |
email preferred |
Distributor
Date Effective From: | 2016 |
---|---|
Date Effective To: | |
Contact (Organization): | NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) |
Email Address: | ncei.info@noaa.gov |
URL: | NCEI Contact Information |
Metadata Contact
Date Effective From: | 2014 |
---|---|
Date Effective To: | |
Contact (Person): | DesRochers, Annette M |
Address: |
1845 Wasp Blvd. Honolulu, HI 96818 USA |
Email Address: | annette.desrochers@noaa.gov |
Phone: | (808)725-5461 |
Business Hours: | 8 am - 5 pm |
Contact Instructions: |
email preferred |
Originator
Date Effective From: | 2014 |
---|---|
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
Date Effective From: | 2014 |
---|---|
Date Effective To: | |
Contact (Person): | Vargas-Angel, Bernardo |
Address: |
1845 Wasp Blvd. Honolulu, HI 96818 USA |
Email Address: | bernardo.vargasangel@noaa.gov |
Phone: | (808)725-5423 |
Contact Instructions: |
email preferred |
Extents
Currentness Reference: | Ground Condition |
---|
Extent Group 1
Extent Description: |
Mariana Archipelago |
---|
Extent Group 1 / Geographic Area 1
W° Bound: | 144.6258831 | |
---|---|---|
E° Bound: | 145.8533789 | |
N° Bound: | 20.54979267 | |
S° Bound: | 13.22982722 | |
Description |
Mariana Archipelago including Guam, Rota, Tinian, Aguijan, Saipan, Sarigan, Guguan, Alamagan, Pagan, Asuncion, Maug, and Farallon de Pajaros. |
Extent Group 1 / Time Frame 1
Time Frame Type: | Range |
---|---|
Start: | 2017-05-04 |
End: | 2017-06-20 |
Alternate Start As Of Info: | HA1701 |
Extent Group 1 / Time Frame 2
Time Frame Type: | Range |
---|---|
Start: | 2014-03-25 |
End: | 2014-05-06 |
Alternate Start As Of Info: | HA1401 |
Description: |
MARAMP 2014, Legs I through III |
Access Information
Security Class: | Unclassified |
---|---|
Security Classification System: |
Not applicable |
Security Handling Description: |
Not applicable |
Data Access Policy: |
NOAA Coral Reef Ecosystem Program (CREP) Data Sharing Recommendations, version 9.0 updated August 12, 2015: CREP welcomes the opportunity to collaborate on research issues contributing to the scientific basis for better management of marine ecosystems. CREP 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 CREP principal investigators. 2) In all presentations, product releases, or publications using data generated by CREP, proper acknowledgement of both CREP 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, CREP requests that you share relevant information on complimentary data collections. 4) Those receiving data are strongly urged to inform the CREP 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 Program (CREP), 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 NOAA Coral Reef Ecosystem Program (CREP) when using the data. Suggested citation: National Coral Reef Monitoring Program: Towed-diver Surveys of Benthic Habitat, Key Benthic Species, and Marine Debris Sightings of the Marianas in 2014. NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information, https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/35769. |
Metadata Access Constraints: |
None |
Metadata Use Constraints: |
None |
Distribution Information
Distribution 1
Download URL: | https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0157550 |
---|---|
Distributor: | NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) (2016 - Present) |
File Name: | VS_BENT_TDS MARIAN 2014.csv |
Description: |
Observations from towed-diver surveys of the benthic habitat by the NOAA Coral Reef Ecosystem Program (CREP) conducted in the Marianas in 2014. |
File Date/Time: | 2016-12-14 00:00:00 |
File Type (Deprecated): | csv (comma-separated values) |
Distribution Format: | CSV - Comma Separated Values (Text) |
Distribution 2
Download URL: | https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0157633 |
---|---|
Distributor: | NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) (2016 - Present) |
File Name: | PIFSC_H-18-02_2018_SOP_towed-diver.pdf |
Description: |
Ecosystem Sciences Division standard operating procedures: data collection for towed-diver benthic and fish surveys. PIFSC Administrative Report H-18-02. https://doi.org/10.25923/59sb-sy51 |
File Date/Time: | 2018-06-01 00:00:00 |
File Type (Deprecated): | |
Distribution Format: | PDF - Adobe Portable Document Format |
Distribution 3
Download URL: | https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0166629 |
---|---|
Distributor: | NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) (2016 - Present) |
File Name: | VS_BENT_TDS MARIAN 2017.csv |
Description: |
Observations from towed-diver surveys of the benthic habitat by the NOAA Coral Reef Ecosystem Program (CREP) conducted in the Marianas in 2017. |
File Date/Time: | 2017-09-11 00:00:00 |
File Type (Deprecated): | csv (comma-separated values) |
Distribution Format: | CSV - Comma Separated Values (Text) |
URLs
URL 1
URL: | https://www.pifsc.noaa.gov/cred/benthic_monitoring.php |
---|---|
URL Type: |
Online Resource
|
File Resource Format: | PHP |
Description: |
Coral Reef Ecosystem Program website, Benthic Monitoring |
URL 2
URL: | http://www.coris.noaa.gov/monitoring/ |
---|---|
URL Type: |
Online Resource
|
File Resource Format: | HTML |
Description: |
Information about the NOAA National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP) on the NOAA Coral Reef Information System website. |
URL 3
URL: | https://www.pifsc.noaa.gov/cred/img/towboard.jpg |
---|---|
URL Type: |
Browse Graphic
|
File Resource Format: | JPG |
Description: |
A diver conducting a survey of the benthos and benthic habitat using the towed diver method. |
URL 4
URL: | http://www.pifsc.noaa.gov/cred/survey_methods.php |
---|---|
URL Type: |
Online Resource
|
File Resource Format: | PHP |
Description: |
NOAA Coral Reef Ecosystem Program website, survey methods page, which includes a brief description of the towed-diver survey method used since 2000 to survey the benthic habitat. |
Technical Environment
Description: |
PIFSC Oracle database view: VS_BENT_TDS The latitude and longitude coordinates of the survey track are recorded using a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver on-board the tow boat. The survey track is georeferenced and a layback model is applied (python script in ESRI ArcGIS for Desktop) that more accurately maps the positions of the recorded observations. |
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Data Quality
Representativeness: |
The towed-diver surveys are completed in forereef, backreef, and lagoon habitats. Considering that the towed divers are covering ~200 m during each 5-min time frame of a 50-minute survey, benthic coverage calculations are broad estimates. These data can be used to see large differences but can not be processed to a fine scale. |
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Accuracy: |
Observations during each tow were made by trained divers. The visual variation throughout the tow may change drastically as well as current and surface conditions for the support vessel impacting the preferred depth contour and accompanying track lines. |
Analytical Accuracy: |
The percentage cover for the different benthic elements are binned within 1 of 10 classification categories. NOAA PIFSC CREP’s use of the 10-category method is similar to AIMS, whereby percent cover of living hard coral, stressed coral, soft coral, macroalgae, crustose coralline algae, sand, and rubble are calculated from towed-diver results by representing each cover category through the midpoint of its range. Note that the total percentage cover will not add up to 100%, as several habitat categories (e.g., rock, pavement, etc) are not included. Benthic cover categories and the corresponding percentage range bins are as follows: Category 1: 0.1 -1 % Category 2: 1.1 - 5 % Category 3: 5.1 - 10 % Category 4: 10.1 - 20 % Category 5: 20.1 - 30 % Category 6: 30.1 - 40 % Category 7: 40.1 - 50 % Category 8: 50.1 - 62.5 % Category 9: 62.6 - 75 % Category 10: 75.1 - 100 % Macroinvertebrates are counted independently up to 25 individuals. Above that, numbers of each macroinvertebrate taxa are binned as follows: Category 1: 26 – 50 Category 2: 51 – 100 Category 3: 101 – 250 Category 4: 251 – 500 Category 5: 501 – 1000 Category 6: > 1000 Data entry conversion for each macroinvertebrate category is as follows: Category 1: 37 Category 2: 75 Category 3: 175 Category 4: 375 Category 5: 750 Category 6: 1001 The habitat complexity data is based on a six-point subjective assessment of topographical diversity and complexity of the benthic habitat. Classified according to 1 of 6 categories: low (L), medium-low (ML), medium (M), medium-high (MH), high (H), and very high (VH). |
Completeness Report: |
There are a few scenarios that will affect the completeness of the data: -If the GPS points are not collected, associated diver's positions and survey tracks are not generated -If the estimation of the divers' positions are erroneous and it is impossible to make corrections, the tow tracks/points are flagged and removed from further analyses -If SEABIRD sensor (SB 39) is not operational during surveys, temperature and depth data are not available |
Conceptual Consistency: |
The same methods of data collection are used during each tow. Regular examination and comparisons of the data are conducted throughout each mission to check for diver bias or other discrepancies. |
Quality Control Procedures Employed: |
The data is entered in an MS Access database, then quality controlled against the physical data sheets prior to the data being considered final. Several queries in the MS Access and Oracle databases flag any errors based on predefined criteria. |
Data Management
Have Resources for Management of these Data Been Identified?: | Yes |
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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 data is captured in several locations: physical data sheets, MS Access cruise database, and PIFSC Oracle database. The physical data sheets are housed at PIFSC. The MS Access cruise database is regularly backed up by the cruise data manager while at sea. The PIFSC Oracle database is regularly backed up by PIFSC ITS. |
Lineage
Lineage Statement: |
Benthic towed-diver survey method |
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Sources
Lino K, Asher J, Ferguson M, Gray A, McCoy K, Timmers M, Vargas-Ángel B (2018) Ecosystem Sciences Division standard operating procedures: data collection for towed-diver benthic and fish surveys. Pacific Islands Fish. Sci. Cent., Natl. Mar. Fish. Serv., NOAA, Honolulu, HI 96818-5007. Pacific Islands Fish. Sci. Cent. Admin. Rep. H-18-02, 76 p.
Contact Role Type: | Originator |
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Contact Type: | Organization |
Contact Name: | Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center |
Publish Date: | 2018-06-01 |
Citation URL: | https://doi.org/10.25923/59sb-sy51 |
Citation URL Name: | NOAA Institutional Repository |
Citation URL Description: |
Ecosystem Sciences Division standard operating procedures: data collection for towed-diver benthic and fish surveys. |
Source Contribution: |
Survey protocol |
Process Steps
Process Step 1
Description: |
A pair of scuba divers is towed about 1 m above the reef roughly 60 m behind a small boat at a constant speed of about 1.5 knots. One diver quantifies fish populations, and the other diver quantifies the benthos. Each diver maneuvers their own towboard. Towboards are connected to the small boat by a bridle and towline and outfitted with various survey equipment, including a video camera on the fish towboard. The benthic diver records percentage cover of total live hard corals, stressed hard corals, soft corals, sand, coralline algae, and macroalgae, and the number of individual macroinvertebrates (crown of thorns starfish (COTS), sea urchins, and giant clams) as well as benthic habitat complexity and type data. A towed survey is typically 50 min long and covers about 2 km of habitat. Each survey is divided into 5-min segments, with data recorded separately per segment to allow for georeferencing of observations within the ~200 m covered during each segment. Throughout a survey, the latitude and longitude of its survey track are recorded at 5-s intervals on the small boat with a global positioning system (GPS). Following a survey, diver tracks are generated using this GPS data and a layback algorithm to account for position of the diver relative to the small boat. |
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Process Contact: | Ferguson, Marie H |
Phone (Voice): | (808)725-5414 |
Email Address: | marie.ferguson@noaa.gov |
Child Items
Rubric scores updated every 15m
Type | Title | |
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Entity | View: VS_BENT_TDS |
Related Items
Catalog Details
Catalog Item ID: | 35769 |
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GUID: | gov.noaa.nmfs.inport:35769 |
Metadata Record Created By: | Kevin L Trick |
Metadata Record Created: | 2016-11-21 19:44+0000 |
Metadata Record Last Modified By: | SysAdmin InPortAdmin |
Metadata Record Last Modified: | 2024-10-03 18:16+0000 |
Metadata Record Published: | 2017-09-18 |
Owner Org: | PIFSC |
Metadata Publication Status: | Published Externally |
Do Not Publish?: | N |
Metadata Last Review Date: | 2017-09-18 |
Metadata Review Frequency: | 1 Year |
Metadata Next Review Date: | 2018-09-18 |