36156 NCRMP: Benthic Cover at Stratified Random Sites (Image Analysis) Marianas Data Set Published / External 32957 Marianas Archipelago Project On Going 2017-01 2023-06 2023 This data has been combined into a US Pacific-wide InPort record: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/77771. The data described here result from benthic photo-quadrat surveys conducted along transects at stratified random sites across the Mariana archipelago in 2014, 2017, and 2022 as a part of Rapid Ecological Assessment (REA) surveys for corals and fish. Benthic habitat imagery were quantitatively analyzed using the Coral Point Count with Excel extensions (CPCe; Kohler and Gill, 2006) software from 2010-2014 and using the web-based annotation tool CoralNet (Beijbom et al. 2016) from 2015 to present. Images are analyzed to produce three functional group levels of benthic cover: Tier 1 (e.g., hard coral, soft coral, macroalgae, turf algae, etc.), Tier 2 (e.g., Hard Coral = massive, branching, foliose, encrusting, etc.; Macroalgae = upright macroalgae, encrusting macroalgae, bluegreen macroalgae, and Halimeda, etc.), and Tier 3 (e.g., Hard Coral = Astreopora sp, Favia sp, Pocillopora, etc.; Macroalgae = Caulerpa sp, Dictyosphaeria sp, Padina sp, etc.). 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. The 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 is intended to coordinate various Coral Reef Conservation Coral Reef Program (CRCP) biological, physical, and human dimensions activities into a cohesive NOAA-wide effort. Through the implementation of the NCRMP, NOAA will be 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. 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 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. https://doi.org/10.7289/v57m0673 NOAA 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 > ECOLOGICAL DYNAMICS > COMMUNITY DYNAMICS 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 Theme CRCP Project 743 Theme CRCP Project National Coral Reef Monitoring Program Theme CoRIS Discovery Thesaurus Numeric Data Sets > Benthic 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 > Microbiota > Blue-green Algae Theme CoRIS Theme Thesaurus EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Vegetation > Algae > Algal Cover Theme CoRIS Theme Thesaurus EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Vegetation > Algae > Crustose Coralline Algae Theme CoRIS Theme Thesaurus EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Vegetation > Algae > Encrusting Macroalgae Theme CoRIS Theme Thesaurus EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Vegetation > Algae > Turf Algae Theme CoRIS Theme Thesaurus EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals Theme CoRIS Theme Thesaurus EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment Theme CoRIS Theme Thesaurus EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment > Benthos Analysis Theme CoRIS Theme Thesaurus EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment > Benthos Analysis > Quadrat Monitoring > Photograph Analysis Theme CoRIS Theme Thesaurus EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment > Benthos Analysis > Transect Monitoring Theme CoRIS Theme Thesaurus EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment > Benthos Analysis > Transect Monitoring > Belt Transect Theme CoRIS Theme Thesaurus EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment > Benthos Analysis > Transect Monitoring > Point Counts Theme CoRIS Theme Thesaurus EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment > In Situ Biological Theme CoRIS Theme Thesaurus EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment > Photographic Analysis Theme CoRIS Theme Thesaurus EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment > Rapid Assessment Studies Theme CoRIS Theme Thesaurus EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Mollusks > Tridacna Theme CoRIS Theme Thesaurus EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Sponges 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 > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs > Coral Reef Ecology > Coral Cover Theme CoRIS Theme Thesaurus EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs > Coral Reef Ecology > Hard Coral Cover Theme CoRIS Theme Thesaurus EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs > Coral Reef Ecology > Octocoral Cover Theme CoRIS Theme Thesaurus EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Marine Biology > Coral Theme CoRIS Theme Thesaurus EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Marine Biology > Coral Communities Theme CoRIS Theme Thesaurus EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Marine Biology > Marine Invertebrates Theme CoRIS Theme Thesaurus EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Marine Biology > Marine Invertebrates > Macroinvertebrates Theme CoRIS Theme Thesaurus EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Marine Biology > Marine Plants > Seagrass Theme ISO 19115 Topic Category 002 Theme ISO 19115 Topic Category biota Theme NODC DATA TYPES THESAURUS BENTHIC COMMUNITIES Theme NODC DATA TYPES THESAURUS BENTHIC SPECIES Theme NODC OBSERVATION TYPES THESAURUS biological Theme NODC OBSERVATION TYPES THESAURUS laboratory analyses Theme NODC OBSERVATION TYPES THESAURUS visual estimate Theme NODC PLATFORM NAMES THESAURUS HI'IALAKAI Theme NODC PLATFORM NAMES THESAURUS NOAA Ship Rainier 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 SUBMITTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS US DOC; NOAA; NMFS; Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center; Ecosystem Sciences Division Theme Benthic cover 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 > Agrihan Island > Agrihan Island (18N145E0002) Spatial CoRIS Place Thesaurus COUNTRY/TERRITORY > Northern Mariana Islands > Aguijan > Aguijan Island (14N145E0006) Spatial CoRIS Place Thesaurus COUNTRY/TERRITORY > Northern Mariana Islands > Alamagan Island > Alamagan Island (17N145E0002) 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 > Guguan > Guguan Island (17N145E0001) 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 > Sarigan Island > Sarigan Island (16N145E0003) 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 > Agrihan Island > Agrihan Island (18N145E0002) Spatial CoRIS Place Thesaurus OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Aguijan Island Reefs > Aguijan Island (14N145E0006) Spatial CoRIS Place Thesaurus OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Alamagan Island > Alamagan Island (17N145E0002) 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 > Guguan Island > Guguan Island (17N145E0001) 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 > Sarigan Island > Sarigan Island (16N145E0003) 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 Northwest Pacific Spatial CNMI Spatial Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Spatial Mariana Archipelago Spatial Mariana Islands Spatial Marianas Instrument NODC INSTRUMENT TYPES THESAURUS photograph Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center Honolulu HI USA Data Set CSV Files As Needed The dataset is usually updated every 3 years following NCRMP missions to the Mariana Archipelago, with the exception of a 2 year delay do to the COVID-19 Pandemic in 2020. The next mission is planned for 2025. Table (digital) Raw survey data includes metadata for each survey (where, when, who, area); site characteristics (depth, reef type, habitat); unique image name and individual point observations identified at three functional group levels of benthic cover: Tier 1 (e.g., hard coral, soft coral, macroalgae, turf algae, etc.), Tier 2 (e.g., Hard Coral = massive, branching, foliose, encrusting, etc.; Macroalgae = upright macroalgae, encrusting macroalgae, bluegreen macroalgae, and Halimeda, etc.), and Tier 3 (e.g., Hard Coral = Astreopora sp, Favia sp, Pocillopora, etc.; Macroalgae = Caulerpa sp, Dictyosphaeria sp, Padina sp, etc.). Classification scheme is updated here and provided with data package: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/36159 https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/36162 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 Not applicable Not applicable Not applicable 36159 Published / External On Going Classification Tiers, Categories, and Definitions Loaded by FGDC Metadata Uploader, batch 6156, 06-08-2015 16:28 Data File Yes GISDAT Classification Tiers, Categories, and Definitions In 2022 'Crustose Coralline Red Alga (CCA)' was redefined as 'Coralline Alga', 'Hard Coral' was redefined as 'Coral' and 'Macroalga and Seagrass' was redefined as 'Macroalga'. A new classification 'Tape and Wand' was also added. 1 Coral TEXT No No Active For the purposes of this image analysis, hard corals are defined as those that are responsible for the persistent, hard, three-dimensional structure of a coral reef. In general, this classification will include all members of Order Scleractinia, as well as some other small groups of non-scleractinian corals with hard skeletons, including fire corals (Family Milleporidea), blue coral (Order Helioporacea), and Stylasterid hydrocorals (Family Stylasteridae). Massive (MASS), Tabulate (TAB), Encrusting (ENC), Branching (BR), Columnar (COL), Free-living (FREE), Foliose (FOL), Non-scleractinian hard coral (NS) 2 Soft Coral TEXT No No Active For the purposes of this image analysis, this category groups a collection of fairly related organisms that do not produce a substantial, rigid calcium carbonate skeleton and therefore are neither reef-builders nor do they lay new foundations for future corals. This classification will include members of Subclass Alcyonaria (octocorals), except blue coral and the organ pipe coral, which includes true soft corals, sea fans, sea whips, sea pens, and also members of the Order Antipatheria (black corals). Octocoral (OCT), Unclassified (USC) 3 Coralline Alga TEXT No No Active For the purpose of these image analyses, CCA is defined as any calcified, hard, non-segmented, encrusting or branched, red (or pink) alga. CCA growing on rubble substrate (CCAR), CCA growing on hard[bottom] substrate (CCAH) 4 Turf Alga TEXT No No Active Turf algae is a category that includes numerous species from multiple evolutionary groups (red algae, green algae, brown algae, and cyanobacteria). These types of mixed algal assemblages are typically short in stature (< 2 cm in height), and often contain filamentous algae (hair-like morphologies) as opposed to fleshy algae (thick branched or sheet-like morphologies). Visible turf on rubble substrate (TURFR), Visible turf on hard[bottom] substrate (TURFH), [Invisible turf on] Rubble substrate (RUB), [Invisible turf on] Hard[bottom] substrate (HARD) 5 Macroalga TEXT No No Active Any alga whose structure can be seen in the photograph should be labeled as a macroalga rather than turf. Macroalgae possess numerous different types of morphologies that resemble leaves, blades, umbrellas, ferns, grapes, balls, feathers, branched shrubs, etc. Some macroalgae do possess calcification; however, for the purpose of image analyses here, calcified and fleshy representatives (with the exception of Halimeda sp., below) will be lumped together. Upright macroalga (UPMA), Encrusting macroalga (EMA), Blue-green macroalga (a.k.a. cyanobacteria) (BGMA), Halimeda sp. (HAL), Seagrass 6 Sessile Invertebrate TEXT No No Active Many organisms besides corals and algae are found in coral reef ecosystems. This Tier 1 classification is to be used for animals that are permanently affixed to the substrate. Animals with ability to move about the substrate or swim are classified as Mobile Fauna. Giant clam (GC), Bivalve (BI), Sponge (SP), Tunicate (TUN), Bryozoan (BRY), Corallimorph (CMOR), Anemone (AMNE), Zoanthid (ZO), Unclassified (UI) 7 Mobile Fauna TEXT No No Active Photographs capture a solitary instant in time. As a result, creatures that are not permanently affixed to a single location on the sea floor (e.g. sea cucumbers, sea stars, sea urchins, fish) sometimes also appear in photographs intended for benthic analysis. While every effort should be made to discern what the benthic classification is underneath the mobile fauna, if that is not possible, this classification category should be used. This is both a Tier 1 and Tier 2 classification category. Mobile fauna (MOBF) 8 Sediment TEXT No No Active Sediment describes a "soft" benthos smaller than rubble (i.e. < 5 mm) which due to it's unsettled nature generally, but not always, is devoid of organisms growing on the individual gains comprising the sediment. However, sea grasses, macroalgae including Halimeda spp., and blue-green algae (a.k.a. cyanobacteria) can be found in soft sediment areas. If a classification point falls on an identifiable organism growing in sediment, that's what should be used for the point classification. The sediment classification should only be used if point falls on the sediment itself. Sand (SAND), Fine sediment (FINE) 9 Unclassified TEXT No No Active A particular analysis point may be unclassified because image quality was poor, because not enough of the surrounding area is visible to definitively classify the organism underneath the point, because the benthos is obstructed by something other than mobile fauna, tape, wand, or shadow (e.g. bubble or smear on the camera lens, high turbidity in the water column). Tape, Wand, or Shadow (TAPE, WAND, SHAD), Unclassified (UNK) 10 Tape and Wand TEXT No No Active This category is appropriate when the point falls on the transect tape/line or tape hardware. 36162 Published / External Completed Data Table Yes Data dictionary for the benthic cover dataset. Describes benthic image analysis results from site imagery using the CoralNet annotation tool, and includes the mission and site-specific information. Updated to include SITEVISITID in 2022, and for consistency across data dictionaries for benthic image analysis data sets. In 2022 columns PERM_SITE and CLIMATE_STATION_YN were irrelevant and excluded. 1 ROUNDID NUMERIC 22 Yes No 28 0 Active Unique Identifier for MISSIONID auto-assigned by database for ROUND record (corresponds to mission, cruise, cruise leg, etc.). 2 MISSIONID TEXT 30 Yes No Active Mission Identifier. 3 REGION_NAME TEXT 30 No No Active The name of the region surveyed in the Pacific Islands region: American Samoa, Pacific Remote Island Areas, Mariana Archipelago, main Hawaiian Islands, Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. 4 ISLAND TEXT 150 No No Active Name of island or atoll surveyed in the Pacific Islands region (REGION_NAME). 5 SITE TEXT 150 No No Active The code for the site surveyed at the island or atoll (ISLAND). Combines a 3-letter island code with a 2-5 digit site number, separated by a hyphen. 5 SITEVISITID NUMERIC No No Active Unique identifier created each time a SITE is surveyed on a DATE_. 6 LATITUDE NUMERIC 22 No No 38 8 Active Latitude in decimal degrees, WGS84, for the given SITE. 7 LONGITUDE NUMERIC 22 No No 28 8 Active Longitude in decimal degrees, WGS84 for the given SITE. 8 REEF_ZONE TEXT 150 No No Active The reef zone for the given SITE (Forereef, Backreef, Lagoon, Protected Slope). 9 DEPTH_BIN TEXT 60 No No Active Classification of depth (shallow, mid, deep) based on midpoint between minimum and maximum depths of transect(s) of a given SITE. Shallow: >0-6 m, Mid: >6-18 m, Deep: >18-30 m. 10 PERM_SITE NUMERIC 22 No No 5 0 Active Flag for PERMANENT SITE (-1), many of which were established in the early years of the Pacific Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program. Applicable only to climate sites surveyed by the oceanography team, not applicable to stratified random sites and therefore all records in this dataset are NULL. Only a subset of activities conducted at CLIMATE STATIONS are conducted at PERMANENT SITES. Climate sites are usually flagged as PERM_SITE or CLIMATE_STATION, and in some cases may be flagged as both or none. 11 CLIMATE_STATION_YN NUMERIC 22 No No Active Flag for NOAA National Coral Reef Monitoring Program CLIMATE STATION (-1). Applicable only to climate sites surveyed by the oceanography team, and therefor all records in this dataset are zero or NULL. CLIMATE STATIONS are PERMANENT SITES (regardless of PERM_SITE flag). Climate sites are usually flagged as PERM_SITE or CLIMATE_STATION, and may be flagged as both or none. Typically, 3-4 CLIMATE STATIONS were selected to be roughly equally spaced around the island/atoll, along the 15-m contour, on hard bottom, and at least 1-km away from a river mouth or embayment (if relevant to the island/atoll). Multiple features of the coral reef environment are assessed at CLIMATE STATIONS, including in-situ water temperature using subsurface temperature recorders (STRs), seawater carbonate chemistry from water samples, net carbonate accretion using calcification accretion units (CAUs), bioerosion using bioerosion monitoring units (BMUs), and cryptobiota diversity using autonomous reef monitoring structures (ARMS). 12 MIN_DEPTH NUMERIC 22 No No 38 8 Active Minimum depth (measured in feet). Only recorded during benthic coral demographic surveys, will be null for photos collected during fish and oceanographic surveys. 13 MAX_DEPTH NUMERIC 22 No No 28 8 Active Maximum depth (measured in feet). Only recorded during benthic coral demographic surveys, will be null for photos collected during fish and oceanographic surveys. 14 DATE_ DATE 7 Yes No Active Date the survey was conducted (d-mmm-yy). 15 IMAGE_NAME TEXT 4000 No No Active Image name (SITE_YEAR_REP_PHOTOID). 16 OBS_YEAR NUMERIC 16 No No Active 4-digit year the survey was conducted (DATE_). 17 REPLICATE TEXT 4 No No Active Letter associated to replicate / transect for the survey. In 2013 and 2016, Rep A is for reef fish surveys and Rep A or B is for coral demographic surveys. In 2019, all fish and coral surveys are rep A. If no letter, it refers to photo number: Photo 1-9 = 0 Photo 10-19 = 1 Photo 20-29 = 2 Photo 30-39 = 3 18 PHOTOID TEXT 4000 No No Active Sequential image number along transect, usually 1-30, though some sites may have less than or exceed 30 images. 19 ANALYST TEXT 20 No No Active Username of the person that annotated the images. The analyst for automated annotations (as opposed to annotations generated by humans) is ALLEVIATE (aka the CoralNet Robot). 20 TIER_1 TEXT 5 No No Active Code for CATEGORY NAME. 21 CATEGORY_NAME TEXT 20 No No Active Category classification for the point on the analyzed image (X POS, Y POS). Taxa/functional group includes: coral, coralline alga, macroalga, mobile fauna, sediment, sessile invertebrate, soft coral, tape and wand, turf alga, and unclassified. 22 TIER_2 TEXT 5 No No Active Code for SUBCATEGORY NAME. 23 SUBCATEGORY_NAME TEXT 50 No No Active Subcategory classification name for the point on the analyzed image (X POS, Y POS). Includes morphology for hard corals and functional groups (giant clam, zoanthid, etc.) 24 TIER_3 TEXT 5 No No Active Code for GENERA NAME. 25 GENERA_NAME TEXT 50 No No Active Genus taxonomic name for the point on the analyzed image (X POS, Y POS) or the subcategory classification/description. 26 X_POS NUMERIC 22 No No 38 Active X position of the analyzed point on the image. 27 Y_POS NUMERIC 22 No No Active Y position of the analyzed point on the image. 28 SURVEY_TYPE TEXT No No Active Identifies the ESD team that conducted the survey, typically 'Fish' or 'Benthic' for stratified random surveys, or 'Oceanography' for climate surveys at permanent sites. Fish and Oceanography surveys do not capture depth measurements. 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 2015 Person Oliver, Thomas thomas.oliver@noaa.gov https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0684-1287 1845 Wasp Blvd. Honolulu HI 96818 USA (808)725-5444 Distributor 2016 Organization NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information NCEI ncei.info@noaa.gov https://ror.org/04r0wrp59 https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/contact NCEI Contact Information Information for contacts at NCEI. Online Resource Distributor 2014 2016 Person Kanemura, Troy T troy.kanemura@noaa.gov 1845 Wasp Blvd. Honolulu HI 96818 USA (808)725-5422 Metadata Contact 2021 Person Luers, Lori H lori.luers@noaa.gov 1845 Wasp Blvd. Honolulu HI 96818 USA Originator 2014 Organization Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center PIFSC pifsc.info@noaa.gov https://ror.org/02apffz65 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 2014 Person Oliver, Thomas thomas.oliver@noaa.gov https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0684-1287 1845 Wasp Blvd. Honolulu HI 96818 USA (808)725-5444 Ground Condition Mariana Archipelago (Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, including Agrihan, Aguijan, Alamagan, Asuncion, Farallon de Pajaros, Guguan, Maug, Pagan, Rota, Saipan, Sarigan, and Tinian). 144.624971 145.852711 20.553116 13.22889458 Range 2014-03-25 2014-05-07 HA1401 MARAMP 2014 Range 2017-05-03 2017-06-21 HA1701 MARAMP 2017 Range 2022-04-12 2022-08-10 RA2201 MARAMP 2022; timeframe of collection of photoquadrat imagery for which this benthic cover dataset was derived. Unclassified Not applicable Not applicable NOAA Coral Reef Ecosystem Program (ESD) Data Sharing Recommendations, version 9.0 updated August 12, 2015: ESD welcomes the opportunity to collaborate on research issues contributing to the scientific basis for better management of marine ecosystems. 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 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. Example: Ecosystem Sciences Division; Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (2023). National Coral Reef Monitoring Program: Benthic Cover Derived from Analysis of Benthic Images Collected during Stratified Random Surveys (StRS) across the Mariana Archipelago since 2014. NOAA's National Center for Environmental Information, https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/36156 None None https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0157633 2016 Organization NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information https://ror.org/04r0wrp59 PIFSC_H-17-02_2017_SOP_ImageAnalysis_CN.pdf PIFSC Administrative Report, January 2017: Analysis of benthic survey images via CoralNet : a summary of standard operating procedures and guidelines 2017-01-31T00:00:00 PDF PDF - Adobe Portable Document Format https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0159148 2016 Organization NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information https://ror.org/04r0wrp59 MV_BIA_CNET_ANALYSIS_DATA MARIAN 2014.csv Image analysis data derived from photoquadrat benthic images at stratified random sites across the Mariana archipelago in 2014 by the NOAA Coral Reef Ecosystem Program (CREP) csv (comma-separated values) CSV - Comma Separated Values (Text) https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0176574 2016 Organization NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information https://ror.org/04r0wrp59 MV_BIA_CNET_ANALYSIS_DATA MARIAN 2017.csv Benthic cover data derived from analysis of photoquadrat benthic images collected from stratified random sites across the Mariana archipelago in 2017 by the PIFSC Ecosystem Sciences Division. 2018-07-29T00:00:00 csv (comma-separated values) CSV - Comma Separated Values (Text) https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0279339 2016 Organization NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information https://ror.org/04r0wrp59 NCRMP_BIA_CNET_ANALYSIS_StRS_MARIAN_2022.csv Benthic cover data derived from analysis of photoquadrat benthic images collected from stratified random sites across the Mariana archipelago in 2022 by the PIFSC Ecosystem Sciences Division. 2023-06-15T00:00:00 csv (comma-separated values) CSV - Comma Separated Values (Text) 32,597KB https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0279339 2016 Organization NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information https://ror.org/04r0wrp59 CNET_CLASSIFICATION_SCHEME_2022.csv Updated classification scheme that defines categories in photoquad annotations using CoralNet. csv (comma-separated values) CSV - Comma Separated Values (Text) https://cnso.nova.edu/cpce/ Online Resource HTML Coral Point Count with Excel Extensions (CPCe) Home Page https://coralnet.ucsd.edu/ Online Resource HTML CoralNet Home Page https://www.coris.noaa.gov/monitoring/ Online Resource PHP NOAA National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP) website. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/region/pacific-islands#science Online Resource PHP PIFSC Oracle database view: MV_BIA_CNET_ANALYSIS_DATA (CoralNet) / MV_BIA_PERC_COVER_PHOTO_STR_RW (CPCe) Data sets derived from image analysis are highly reliable within the stipulated taxonomic context. Each time a production run is performed for a region a calibration exercise is conducted by all staff that will participate in that round of image analysis classification. Usually 100-150 photos are selected from the photos being processed as part of the production run series, or other region-relevant photo streams. Then, CPCE or CoralNet assigns 10 random points per photo. Each photo analyst is asked to classify the same set of points in each of the photos used as part of the calibration exercise. The goal of the calibration exercise is to assess inter-observer variability. Inter-observer variability rates are available upon request for each production run. Handheld GPS units were used to locate random sites and mark site locations. Data sets derived from image analysis include 20-30 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 18m transects. Therefore, the site level image analysis data contain one rep (A) for fish team surveys and two reps (A and B) for benthic team surveys. Appropriate site level benthic cover estimates are generated from all 30 images. The data set derived from the image analysis is as good as the images themselves; poor images with low contrast, inappropriate white balance, or out of focus may have to be discarded. Therefore, benthic cover estimates for some sites may derive from differing number of points between sites. Although the analysis process is statistically robust to allow for differing n (points) between sites the users should be aware of this limitation. For REA survey imagery analyzed or collected since 2013, classification is completed to the functional group/genus level (Tier 3). 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. There are several missions in which the benthic images collected by the program are in the process of or have not yet been analyzed. In some cases, the benthic imagery sets are not planned to be analyzed due to funding and resource constraints. Contact ESD at nmfs.pic.credinfo@noaa.gov for more information. The same method of image analysis was used at each surveyed site. Quality control is enforced by means of point-to-point, inter-observer calibration exercises that are conducted before each image analysis production series. Training modules and standard operating procedures have also been developed and documented to ensure improved performance and consistent imagery analysis results produced by multiple analysts. Yes Unknown Yes No Unknown NCEI-MD Unknown NOAA IRC and NOAA Fisheries ITS resources and assets. The stratified random sampling site (StRS) design and benthic photoquadrat survey methodology, employed by the PIFSC Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD) since 2013. Benthic imagery is collected at stratified random sites. The imagery is annotated using Coral Point Count with Excel Extentions (CPCe) or CoralNet to derive benthic cover values. Lozada-Misa P, Schumacher BD, Vargas-Angel B. 2017. Analysis of benthic survey images via CoralNet : a summary of standard operating procedures and guidelines. Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, PIFSC Administrative Report, H-17-02, 169 p. https://doi.org/10.7289/V5/AR-PIFSC-H-17-02. Organization Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, PIFSC Originator 2017-01-31 https://doi.org/10.7289/V5/AR-PIFSC-H-17-02 NOAA Institutional Repository The NOAA Fisheries, Ecosystem Sciences Division benthic image analysis SOP using CoralNet. 1 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 in all regions, as well as habitat structure type in the Main Hawaiian Islands. 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). Person Couch, Courtney S courtney.s.couch@noaa.gov https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5642-8765 Lozada-Misa P, Schumacher BD, Vargas-Angel B. 2017. Analysis of benthic survey images via CoralNet : a summary of standard operating procedures and guidelines. Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, PIFSC Administrative Report, H-17-02, 169 p. https://doi.org/10.7289/V5/AR-PIFSC-H-17-02. 2 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, Rep 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; Rep A and B). Lozada-Misa P, Schumacher BD, Vargas-Angel B. 2017. Analysis of benthic survey images via CoralNet : a summary of standard operating procedures and guidelines. Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, PIFSC Administrative Report, H-17-02, 169 p. https://doi.org/10.7289/V5/AR-PIFSC-H-17-02. 3 The benthic photoquadrat imagery that are collected as part of the Rapid Ecological Assessment (REA) surveys for coral and fish are analyzed by using Coral Point Count with Excel extensions (CPCe; Kohler and Gill 2006) software through 2014 or by using the web-based annotation tool CoralNet (Beijbom et al. 2016) from 2015 to present. CPCe or CoralNet assigns 10 random points per photo and the benthic elements falling directly underneath each point is identified to three functional group levels: Tier 1 (e.g. hard coral, soft coral, macroalgae, turf algae, etc.), Tier 2 (e.g. Hard coral by morphology = massive, branching, foliose, encrusting, etc.; Macroalgae = upright macroalgae, encrusting macroalgae, bluegreen macroalgae, and Halimeda, etc.), and Tier 3 (e.g. Hard coral by genus and morphology; Macroalgae by genus or grouped genera). The detailed list of each functional group level or tier is included in the benthic image analysis classification scheme. Lozada-Misa P, Schumacher BD, Vargas-Angel B. 2017. Analysis of benthic survey images via CoralNet : a summary of standard operating procedures and guidelines. Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, PIFSC Administrative Report, H-17-02, 169 p. https://doi.org/10.7289/V5/AR-PIFSC-H-17-02. 4 Raw survey data includes unique image name and individual point observations identified at three functional group levels of benthic cover with the corresponding physical data which reflect the description of the site. The physical data for all records includes the following: region, island, site, date (day, month, year), latitude (dd), longitude (dd), reef zone, habitat type, depth category, minimum depth and maximum depth. Lozada-Misa P, Schumacher BD, Vargas-Angel B. 2017. Analysis of benthic survey images via CoralNet : a summary of standard operating procedures and guidelines. Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, PIFSC Administrative Report, H-17-02, 169 p. https://doi.org/10.7289/V5/AR-PIFSC-H-17-02. 36159 Entity 36162 Entity 25274 Data Set Cross Reference 36155 Data Set Cross Reference 36157 Data Set Cross Reference 36153 Data Set Cross Reference gov.noaa.nmfs.inport:36156 Troy Kanemura 2016-12-30T17:22:44 SysAdmin InPortAdmin 2026-03-04T19:17:25 2023-06-20 Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center PIFSC 1845 Wasp Blvd. Honolulu HI 96818 USA 808-725-5300 https://www.pifsc.noaa.gov 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. 1001 Public No No 2017-01-23 1 Year 2018-01-23