36144
National Coral Reef Monitoring Program: Benthic Images Collected During Photoquadrat Surveys at Climate Stations across the Mariana Archipelago since 2014
NCRMP: Benthic Images from Climate Stations Marianas
Data Set
Published / External
32957
Marianas Archipelago
Project
On Going
2016-12-30
2019-09-13
2023
The data described here are benthic images (photographs) collected during photoquadrat surveys conducted by the NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC), Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD, formerly the Coral Reef Ecosystem Division) as part of NOAA's ongoing National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP). The photoquadrat surveys were conducted at coral reef sites according to protocols established by ESD and NCRMP during ESD-led NCRMP missions to the islands of the Mariana Archipelago since 2014.
SCUBA divers conducted benthic photoquadrat surveys at permanent sites established in coral reef habitats by ESD. A select number of these sites were chosen in hard-bottom habitat at ~15-m depths, and a subset of the permanent sites (climate stations) were established at north, south, east, and west points around each of the islands. The divers estimated and delineated each site's rectangular perimeter by temporarily placing measuring tapes with 1-m markers starting from a permanently installed reference stake on the reef. Along the nearshore 10-m side of the survey site and the downslope 5-m side, the measuring tapes marked every meter of the L-shaped 15-m transect used for photoquadrat documentation. The divers photographed the reef at 1-m intervals on both sides of the 15-m tape, generating 30 photographs per survey site.
The benthic images in this dataset are later analyzed by ESD to produce estimates of relative abundance (percentage of benthic cover), frequency of occurrence, benthic community taxonomic composition, and relative generic richness (documented and archived separately at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/36147).
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.
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 Ecosystem Sciences Division at NOAA Fisheries is leading climate monitoring in the U.S. Pacific Islands Region.
The climate component of NCRMP in the Pacific provides a comprehensive view of climate change impacts on coral reef ecosystems and helps identify areas of resilience and vulnerability. The key indicators used to identify and monitor climate-driven trends include 1) thermal stress caused by changes in sea temperature, 2) ocean acidification resulting from changes in carbonate chemistry, and 3) ecological impacts by collecting data on coral growth rates, erosion, and community structure to understand the impacts of thermal stress and ocean acidification on the ecosystem. Each year, ESD scientists work closely with CRCP and partners during Pacific RAMP missions to collect data using moored oceanographic (subsurface temperature recorders) and ecological (calcification accretion units [CAUs] and autonomous reef monitoring structures [ARMS]) instruments stationed at fixed sites in the Pacific Ocean, and water samples collected by divers. The in-situ data and satellite-based observations are also used in modeling efforts. Innovative analysis techniques are 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.
Theme
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
Theme
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords
EARTH SCIENCE > BIOSPHERE > ECOSYSTEMS > MARINE ECOSYSTEMS > BENTHIC
Theme
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords
EARTH SCIENCE > BIOSPHERE > ECOSYSTEMS > MARINE ECOSYSTEMS > REEF > CORAL REEF
Theme
ISO 19115 Topic Category
biota
Spatial
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords
OCEAN > PACIFIC OCEAN > WESTERN PACIFIC OCEAN > MICRONESIA > GUAM
Spatial
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords
OCEAN > PACIFIC OCEAN > WESTERN PACIFIC OCEAN > MICRONESIA > NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS
Instrument
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Instrument Keywords
CAMERAS
Theme
CRCP Project
743
Theme
CRCP Project
National Coral Reef Monitoring Program
Theme
CoRIS Discovery Thesaurus
Visual Images > Habitats
Theme
CoRIS Theme Thesaurus
EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Aquatic Habitat > Benthic Habitat
Theme
CoRIS Theme Thesaurus
EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Aquatic Habitat > Reef Habitat
Theme
CoRIS Theme Thesaurus
EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment
Theme
CoRIS Theme Thesaurus
EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs
Theme
CoRIS Theme Thesaurus
EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs > Coral Reef Ecology
Theme
CoRIS Theme Thesaurus
EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs > Coral Reef Ecology > Benthic biology
Theme
CoRIS Theme Thesaurus
EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Marine Biology > Coral Communities
Theme
CoRIS Theme Thesaurus
EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Ocean Chemistry > Climate Change
Theme
ISO 19115 Topic Category
002
Theme
ISO 19115 Topic Category
biota
Theme
NODC DATA TYPES THESAURUS
HABITAT - BENTHIC
Theme
NODC DATA TYPES THESAURUS
PHOTOQUADRAT IMAGES
Theme
NODC INSTRUMENT TYPES THESAURUS
CAMERA
Theme
NODC OBSERVATION TYPES THESAURUS
imagery
Theme
NODC OBSERVATION TYPES THESAURUS
in situ
Theme
NODC PROJECT NAMES THESAURUS
CORAL REEF STUDIES
Theme
NODC PROJECT NAMES THESAURUS
Coral Reef Conservation Program
Theme
NODC PROJECT NAMES THESAURUS
National Coral Reef Monitoring Program
Theme
NODC PROJECT NAMES THESAURUS
Pacific Reef and Assessment Monitoring Program
Theme
NODC SUBMITTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS
US DOC; NOAA; NMFS; Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center; Ecosystem Sciences Division
Theme
CRED
Theme
CREP
Theme
Coral Reef Ecosystem Division
Theme
Coral Reef Ecosystem Program
Theme
ESD
Theme
Ecosystem Sciences Division
Theme
PIFSC
Theme
Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center
Theme
RAMP
Theme
Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program
Temporal
Triennial
Spatial
CoRIS Place Thesaurus
COUNTRY/TERRITORY > Northern Mariana Islands > Asuncion Island > Asuncion Island (19N145E0001)
Spatial
CoRIS Place Thesaurus
COUNTRY/TERRITORY > Northern Mariana Islands > Farallon de Pajaros > Farallon de Pajaros (12N144E0001)
Spatial
CoRIS Place Thesaurus
COUNTRY/TERRITORY > Northern Mariana Islands > Maug > Maug Island (20N145E0001)
Spatial
CoRIS Place Thesaurus
COUNTRY/TERRITORY > Northern Mariana Islands > Northern Mariana Islands > Northern Mariana Islands ( CNMI ) (18N146E0000)
Spatial
CoRIS Place Thesaurus
COUNTRY/TERRITORY > Northern Mariana Islands > Pagan > Pagan Island (18N145E0001)
Spatial
CoRIS Place Thesaurus
COUNTRY/TERRITORY > Northern Mariana Islands > Rota > Rota Island ( Luta ) (14N145E0007)
Spatial
CoRIS Place Thesaurus
COUNTRY/TERRITORY > Northern Mariana Islands > Saipan > Saipan Island (15N145E0002)
Spatial
CoRIS Place Thesaurus
COUNTRY/TERRITORY > Northern Mariana Islands > Tinian > Tinian Island (14N145E0005)
Spatial
CoRIS Place Thesaurus
COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Guam > Guam (13N144E0000)
Spatial
CoRIS Place Thesaurus
OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Asuncion Island > Asuncion Island (19N145E0001)
Spatial
CoRIS Place Thesaurus
OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Farallon de Pajaros > Farallon de Pajaros (12N144E0001)
Spatial
CoRIS Place Thesaurus
OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Guam > Guam (13N144E0000)
Spatial
CoRIS Place Thesaurus
OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Mariana Archipelago > Northern Mariana Islands ( CNMI ) (18N146E0000)
Spatial
CoRIS Place Thesaurus
OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Maug Island > Maug Island (20N145E0001)
Spatial
CoRIS Place Thesaurus
OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Pagan Island > Pagan Island (18N145E0001)
Spatial
CoRIS Place Thesaurus
OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Rota Island > Rota Island ( Luta ) (14N145E0007)
Spatial
CoRIS Place Thesaurus
OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Saipan Island > Saipan Island (15N145E0002)
Spatial
CoRIS Place Thesaurus
OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Tinian Island Reefs > Tinian Island (14N145E0005)
Spatial
NODC Sea Area Names Thesaurus
Marianas Trench Marine National Monument
Spatial
NODC Sea Area Names Thesaurus
NW Pacific (limit-180)
Spatial
CNMI
Spatial
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
Spatial
Mariana Archipelago
Spatial
Marianas
Instrument
NODC INSTRUMENT TYPES THESAURUS
photograph
Platform
NODC PLATFORM NAMES THESAURUS
HI'IALAKAI
Platform
NODC PLATFORM NAMES THESAURUS
Rainier
Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center
Honolulu
HI
USA
Data Set
JPG Files
As Needed
Updated June 2023 to add imagery collected in 2022.
Image (digital)
Raw data include ~30 benthic photographs per survey site. Included in the archive package is a list of survey sites, including site, date, and location (latitude/longitude) where photoquad images were collected. The file naming convention for each photo/image is [SITE]_[YEAR]_[REPLICATE]_[PHOTO_NUMBER].JPG (e.g., TUT-903_2012_A_01.JPG).
REPLICATE may or may not apply to an image set.
https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/57478
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.
PIFSC Ecosystem Sciences Division and funded by the NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program
Digital camera
Not applicable
Not applicable
57478
benthic_image_site_info_climate
Published / External
List of sites associated with benthic images
Data Table
Yes
List of sites associated with benthic images
DATE_
DATETIME
No
No
Active
Date (day, month, year) photograph was taken (d-mmm-yy).
LATITUDE
NUMERIC
No
No
Active
Latitude of the survey site where photoquads were collected (WGS84, decimal degrees).
LONGITUDE
NUMERIC
No
No
Active
Longitude of the survey site where photoquads were collected (WGS84, decimal degrees).
1
SITE
VARCHAR2
No
No
Active
Unique id for survey site. Combines 3-letter island code with site number.
Data Set Credit
2014
Organization
NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program
CRCP
1305 East West Highway 10th Floor
Silver Spring
MD
20910-3281
(301) 713-3155
https://coralreef.noaa.gov
Link to the NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program website
Online Resource
Data Steward
2022-01-01
Person
Oliver, Thomas
thomas.oliver@noaa.gov
1845 Wasp Blvd.
Honolulu
HI
96818
USA
(808)725-5444
Data Steward
2014
2022
Person
Vargas-Angel, Bernardo
bernardo.vargasangel@noaa.gov
1845 Wasp Blvd.
Honolulu
HI
96818
USA
(808)725-5423
Distributor
2016
Organization
National Centers for Environmental Information - Silver Spring, Maryland
NCEI-MD
NOAA/NESDIS E/OC SSMC3, 4th Floor, 1351 East-West Highway
Silver Spring
MD
20910-3282
(301) 713-3277
Distributor
2014
2016
Person
Kanemura, Troy T
troy.kanemura@noaa.gov
1845 Wasp Blvd.
Honolulu
HI
96818
USA
(808)725-5422
Metadata Contact
2021-01-01
Person
Luers, Lori H
lori.luers@noaa.gov
1845 Wasp Blvd.
Honolulu
HI
96818
USA
Metadata Contact
2014
2021
Person
DesRochers, Annette M
annette.desrochers@noaa.gov
1845 Wasp Blvd.
Honolulu
HI
96818
USA
(808)725-5461
8 am - 5 pm
Originator
2014
Organization
Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center
PIFSC
pifsc.info@noaa.gov
1845 Wasp Blvd.
Honolulu
HI
96818
USA
808-725-5360
https://www.pifsc.noaa.gov
Pacific Island Fisheries Science Center homepage
Online Resource
8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Point of Contact
2022-01-01
Person
Oliver, Thomas
thomas.oliver@noaa.gov
1845 Wasp Blvd.
Honolulu
HI
96818
USA
(808)725-5444
Point of Contact
2014
2022
Person
Vargas-Angel, Bernardo
bernardo.vargasangel@noaa.gov
1845 Wasp Blvd.
Honolulu
HI
96818
USA
(808)725-5423
Ground Condition
Mariana Archipelago (Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, including Rota, Tinian, Saipan, Pagan, Asuncion, Maug, and Farallon de Pajaros).
144.6259167
145.8166
20.545128
13.240901
Range
2014-03-25
2014-05-05
HA1401
MARAMP 2014
Range
2017-05-03
2017-06-21
HA1701
Time frame benthic images were collected across the Mariana Archipelago during MARAMP 2017.
Range
2022-04-12
2022-08-06
RA2201
Time frame benthic images were collected across the Mariana Archipelago during MA-NRCMP 2022.
Unclassified
Not applicable
Not applicable
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 can be accessed online via the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) Ocean Archive.
None
Please cite PIFSC Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD) when using the data.
Suggested citation:
Ecosystem Sciences Division, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, 2023: National Coral Reef Monitoring Program: Benthic Images Collected During Photoquadrat Surveys at Climate Stations across the Mariana Archipelago since 2014, https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/36144.
None
None
https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0157759
2016
Organization
National Centers for Environmental Information - Silver Spring, Maryland
Climate Images MARIAN 2014
Photoquadrat benthic images collected at NCRMP climate stations and permanent sites across the Mariana archipelago in 2014 by the NOAA Coral Reef Ecosystem Program (CREP)
2016-12-30T00:00:00
JPEG
JPEG
https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0157759
2016
Organization
National Centers for Environmental Information - Silver Spring, Maryland
Site Info MARIAN 2014.csv
Metadata (site, date, and location) for photoquadrat benthic images collected at climate stations and permanent sites across the Mariana Archipelago in 2014 by the NOAA Coral Reef Ecosystem Program (CREP).
2016-12-30T00:00:00
csv (comma-separated values)
CSV - Comma Separated Values (Text)
https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0202138
2016
Organization
National Centers for Environmental Information - Silver Spring, Maryland
SiteInfo_Marianas_2017.csv
Metadata (site, date, and location) for photoquadrat benthic images collected at climate stations and permanent sites across the Mariana Archipelago during mission HA1701 by the PIFSC Ecosystem Sciences Division.
2019-08-30T00:00:00
csv (comma-separated values)
CSV - Comma Separated Values (Text)
https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0202138
2016
Organization
National Centers for Environmental Information - Silver Spring, Maryland
Climate Images Marianas 2017
Photoquadrat benthic images collected at NOAA National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP) climate stations and permanent sites across the Mariana Archipelago in 2017 by the PIFSC Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD).
2019-08-28T00:00:00
JPG
JPEG
https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0279443
2016
Organization
National Centers for Environmental Information - Silver Spring, Maryland
NCRMP_CLIMATE_IMAGES_MARIAN_2022.zip
Photoquadrat benthic images collected at NOAA National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP) climate stations and permanent sites across the Mariana Archipelago in 2022 by the PIFSC Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD).
2023-05-12T00:00:00
JPG
JPEG
20.5GB
Zip
https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0279443
2016
Organization
National Centers for Environmental Information - Silver Spring, Maryland
NCRMP_CLIMATE_SITEINFO_MARIAN_2022.csv
Metadata (site, date, and location) for photoquadrat benthic images collected at climate stations and permanent sites across the Mariana Archipelago during RA2201 mission by the PIFSC Ecosystem Sciences Division.
2023-05-11T00:00:00
.csv
CSV - Comma Separated Values (Text)
https://www.coris.noaa.gov/monitoring/
National Coral Reef Monitoring Program
Online Resource
HTML
NOAA National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP) website.
https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/pacific-islands/ecosystems/coral-reefs-pacific
PIFSC ESD: Coral Reefs in the Pacific
Online Resource
Overview of NOAA Ecosystem Sciences Division, Archipelagic Research Program's methods to assess corals.
https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/region/pacific-islands#science
Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center
Online Resource
HTML
NOAA Fisheries, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center website
PIFSC network/file system:
\\picQueenFish\optical\OPTICAL\
\\picGoldFish\general\Cruise\CruiseData
Handheld GPS units were used to mark site locations.
Image data include ~30 benthic photographs per survey site. Appropriate site level image grouping should include all 30 images.
Survey transects were appropriately marked to allow direct, site-level temporal comparisons.
Complete; photoquads were taken at all sites surveyed.
Only sites classified as climate stations / permanent sites were surveyed in shallow water (0-30 m depths) hard-bottom habitats.
Survey methods were consistent across all sites. Typically, 30 photographs are collected per site; however, there may be instances in which camera issues, survey conditions, or image quality results in fewer or more than the standard 30 photos per site.
The photos are reviewed by the diver for accuracy and usability. An optical validation script is used to re-name photos and enforce several validation checks.
Yes
Unknown
Yes
No
Unknown
NCEI-MD
Unknown
The images reside on a file server maintained and regularly backed up by PIFSC ITS.
Benthic photographs were collected during photoquadrat surveys conducted at permanent sites and climate stations in coral reef habitats by the PIFSC Ecosystem Sciences Division.
1
SCUBA divers conduct benthic photoquadrat surveys at permanent sites established in hard-bottom habitat at ~15-m depths. A subset of the permanent sites (climate stations) were established at north, south, east, and west points around the island/atoll. The divers estimate and delineate each site’s rectangular perimeter by temporarily placing measuring tapes with 1-m markers starting from a permanently installed reference stake on the reef. Along the nearshore 10-m side of the survey site and the downslope 5-m side, the measuring tapes mark every meter of the L-shaped 15-m transect used for photoquadrat documentation. Divers photograph the reef at 1-m intervals on both sides of the 15-m tape, generating 30 photographs per survey site.
Photoquadrat images are organized by site, color-corrected (if necessary), and quality controlled to remove non-photoquadrat/poor quality images. An optical validation script is used to re-name photos and enforce several validation checks.
Person
Barkley, Hannah C
hannah.barkley@noaa.gov
1845 Wasp Blvd.
Honolulu
HI
96818
USA
Unknown
Not Applicable
57478
Entity
benthic_image_site_info_climate
36147
Data Set
National Coral Reef Monitoring Program: Benthic Cover from Annotated Benthic Images Collected During Photoquadrat Surveys at Climate Stations across the Mariana Archipelago since 2014
Cross Reference
36145
Data Set
National Coral Reef Monitoring Program: Benthic Images Collected During Photoquadrat Surveys at Climate Stations across the Pacific Remote Island Areas since 2014
Cross Reference
25380
Data Set
National Coral Reef Monitoring Program: Benthic Images Collected from Climate Stations across American Samoa since 2015
Cross Reference
36143
Data Set
National Coral Reef Monitoring Program: Benthic Images Collected from Climate Stations across the Hawaiian Archipelago since 2013
Cross Reference
gov.noaa.nmfs.inport:36144
Troy Kanemura
2016-12-30T12:58:42
SysAdmin InPortAdmin
2023-10-17T16:12:09
2023-06-27
Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center
PIFSC
1845 Wasp Blvd.
Honolulu
HI
96818
USA
808-725-5300
http://www.pifsc.noaa.gov
8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
1001
Public
No
2019-09-13
1 Year
2020-09-13