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Summary

Short Citation
Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, 2024: National Coral Reef Monitoring Program: Stratified Random Surveys (StRS) of Coral Demography (Adult and Juvenile Corals) across the Mariana Archipelago since 2014, https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/36165.
Full Citation Examples

DOI: doi:10.7289/V53N21Q5

Abstract

The data described here result from benthic coral demographic surveys for two life stages (juveniles, adults) across the Mariana archipelago since 2014. Juvenile colony surveys include morphology and size. Adult colony surveys record morphology, colony size, partial mortality in two categories - old dead and recent dead, cause of recent dead partial mortality, and non-lesion forming condition including bleaching and disease). In 2023 some segment observations were repeated for internal quality control; to filter for non-repeated data, be certain filter for TRANSECTNUM = 1.

A two-stage stratified random sampling (StRS) design was employed to survey the coral reef ecosystems throughout the U.S. Pacific regions. 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 in all regions, as well as habitat structure type in the Mariana Archipelago. Sampling effort was allocated based on strata area and sites were randomly located within strata. Sites were surveyed using belt transects to collect juvenile and adult coral colony metrics. These data provide information on juvenile and adult coral abundance (density, proportion occurrence, and total colony abundance), size distribution, partial mortality, prevalence and abundance of recent mortality and cause, prevalence of disease and bleaching, and diversity.

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 data from the coral demographic surveys can be accessed online via the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) Ocean Archive.

Distribution Information

  • PDF - Adobe Portable Document Format

    Pacific Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program. Benthic REA monitoring summary : southern Mariana Islands, 2017. PIFSC data report DR-17-036. https://doi.org/10.7289/V5/DR-PIFSC-17-036

  • PDF - Adobe Portable Document Format

    Pacific Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program. Benthic REA monitoring summary : northern Mariana Islands, 2017. PIFSC data report DR-17-037. https://doi.org/10.7289/V5/DR-PIFSC-17-037

  • PDF - Adobe Portable Document Format

    Ecosystem Sciences Division Standard Operating Procedures: Data Collection for Rapid Ecological Assessment Benthic Surveys. NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-PIFSC-71, 63 p. https://doi.org/10.25923/39jh-8993

  • PDF - Adobe Portable Document Format

    Winston M, Couch C, Ferguson M, Huntington B, Swanson D, Vargas-Ángel B. 2019. Ecosystem Sciences Division Standard Operating Procedures: Data Collection for Rapid Ecological Assessment Benthic Surveys, 2018 Update. NOAA Tech. Memo. NOAA-TM-NMFS-PIFSC-92, 66 p. doi:10.25923/w1k2-0y84

    https://doi.org/10.25923/w1k2-0y84

  • CSV - Comma Separated Values (Text)

    List of coral genera surveyed in the Mariana archipelago

  • CSV - Comma Separated Values (Text)

    List of coral species surveyed in the Mariana archipelago

  • CSV - Comma Separated Values (Text)

    Adult coral colony observations from coral demographic surveys of stratified random sites by the NOAA Coral Reef Ecosystem Program (CREP) conducted across the Mariana archipelago in 2014 (HA1401).

  • CSV - Comma Separated Values (Text)

    Presence / absence from coral demographic surveys of stratified random sites by the NOAA Coral Reef Ecosystem Program (CREP) conducted across the Mariana archipelago in 2014 (HA1401).

  • CSV - Comma Separated Values (Text)

    Juvenile coral colony observations from coral demographic surveys of stratified random sites by the NOAA Coral Reef Ecosystem Program (CREP) conducted across the Mariana archipelago in 2014 (HA1401).

  • CSV - Comma Separated Values (Text)

    List of coral genera surveyed in the Mariana archipelago

  • CSV - Comma Separated Values (Text)

    List of coral species surveyed in the Mariana archipelago

  • CSV - Comma Separated Values (Text)

    Adult coral colony observations from coral demographic surveys of stratified random sites by the NOAA Coral Reef Ecosystem Program (CREP) conducted across the Mariana archipelago in 2017 (HA1701).

  • CSV - Comma Separated Values (Text)

    Presence / absence from coral demographic surveys of stratified random sites by the NOAA Coral Reef Ecosystem Program (CREP) conducted across the Mariana archipelago in 2017 (HA1701).

  • CSV - Comma Separated Values (Text)

    Juvenile coral colony observations from coral demographic surveys of stratified random sites by the NOAA Coral Reef Ecosystem Program (CREP) conducted across the Mariana archipelago in 2017 (HA1701).

  • ERDDAP Data Service

    NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) ERDDAP web service for coral demographic data of adult corals collected by the PIFSC Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD) during ESD-led NOAA National Coral Reef Monitoring Program missions to the Mariana Archipelago since 2014.

    ERDDAP acts as a middleman between you and various remote data servers. ERDDAP offers an easy-to-use, consistent way to request data: via the OPeNDAP standard. Many datasets can also be accessed via ERDDAP's Web Map Service (WMS). ERDDAP returns data in the common file format of your choice. ERDDAP offers all data as .html table, ESRI .asc and .csv, Google Earth .kml, OPeNDAP binary, .mat, .nc, ODV .txt, .csv, .tsv, .json, and .xhtml. ERDDAP can also return a .png or .pdf image with a customized graph or map. ERDDAP also has web pages (for humans with browsers) and RESTful web services (for computer programs).

  • ERDDAP Data Service

    NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) ERDDAP web service for coral demographic data of juvenile corals collected by the PIFSC Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD) during ESD-led NOAA National Coral Reef Monitoring Program missions to the Mariana Archipelago since 2014.

    ERDDAP acts as a middleman between you and various remote data servers. ERDDAP offers an easy-to-use, consistent way to request data: via the OPeNDAP standard. Many datasets can also be accessed via ERDDAP's Web Map Service (WMS). ERDDAP returns data in the common file format of your choice. ERDDAP offers all data as .html table, ESRI .asc and .csv, Google Earth .kml, OPeNDAP binary, .mat, .nc, ODV .txt, .csv, .tsv, .json, and .xhtml. ERDDAP can also return a .png or .pdf image with a customized graph or map. ERDDAP also has web pages (for humans with browsers) and RESTful web services (for computer programs).

  • CSV - Comma Separated Values (Text)

    List of coral genera surveyed in the Mariana archipelago

  • CSV - Comma Separated Values (Text)

    List of coral species surveyed in the Mariana archipelago

  • CSV - Comma Separated Values (Text)

    Adult coral colony observations from coral demographic surveys of stratified random sites by the NOAA Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD) conducted across the Mariana archipelago in 2022 (RA2201). Note a repeat segment flag was included to mark those repeated for internal review. To use without repeats, filter for transectnum = 1 prior to analyses.

  • CSV - Comma Separated Values (Text)

    Juvenile coral colony observations from coral demographic surveys of stratified random sites by the NOAA Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD) conducted across the Mariana archipelago in 2022 (RA2201). Note a repeat segment flag was included to mark those repeated for internal review. To use without repeats, filter for transectnum = 1 prior to analyses.

Access Constraints:

None

Use Constraints:

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

Example:

Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, 2023: National Coral Reef Monitoring Program: Stratified Random Surveys (StRS) of Coral Demography (Adult and Juvenile Corals) across the Mariana Archipelago since 2014, https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/36165.

Controlled Theme Keywords

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

Contact Information

Point of Contact
Courtney S Couch
courtney.s.couch@noaa.gov

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

Extents

Geographic Area 1

144.634585° W, 145.85269754° E, 20.55177966° N, 13.241626° S

Mariana Archipelago, including Guam, Rota, Tinian, Aguijan, Saipan, Sarigan, Guguan, Alamagan, Pagan, Asuncion, Maug, and Farallon de Pajaros.

Time Frame 1
2014-03-25 - 2014-05-07

MARAMP 2014, Legs I through III

Time Frame 2
2017-05-05 - 2017-06-21
Time Frame 3
2022-05-10 - 2022-06-01

Timeframe of coral demographic surveys conducted on RA-22-01 Leg 4. Islands visited: Mariana Archipelago, including Guam, Rota, Tinian, Saipan, Pagan, Asuncion, and Maug.

Item Identification

Title: National Coral Reef Monitoring Program: Stratified Random Surveys (StRS) of Coral Demography (Adult and Juvenile Corals) across the Mariana Archipelago since 2014
Short Name: NCRMP: Coral Demography Marianas
Status: On Going
Creation Date: 2014
Revision Date: 2023-06
Publication Date: 2023
Abstract:

The data described here result from benthic coral demographic surveys for two life stages (juveniles, adults) across the Mariana archipelago since 2014. Juvenile colony surveys include morphology and size. Adult colony surveys record morphology, colony size, partial mortality in two categories - old dead and recent dead, cause of recent dead partial mortality, and non-lesion forming condition including bleaching and disease). In 2023 some segment observations were repeated for internal quality control; to filter for non-repeated data, be certain filter for TRANSECTNUM = 1.

A two-stage stratified random sampling (StRS) design was employed to survey the coral reef ecosystems throughout the U.S. Pacific regions. 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 in all regions, as well as habitat structure type in the Mariana Archipelago. Sampling effort was allocated based on strata area and sites were randomly located within strata. Sites were surveyed using belt transects to collect juvenile and adult coral colony metrics. These data provide information on juvenile and adult coral abundance (density, proportion occurrence, and total colony abundance), size distribution, partial mortality, prevalence and abundance of recent mortality and cause, prevalence of disease and bleaching, and diversity.

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 data from the coral demographic surveys can be accessed online via the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) Ocean Archive.

Purpose:

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.

Notes:

Updated as new data collected (2023). FGDC Import, mostly updated. AMD 2015-06-02, AMD updated 2015-06-15

Supplemental Information:

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.

DOI (Digital Object Identifier): doi:10.7289/V53N21Q5
DOI Registration Authority: NOAA

Keywords

Theme Keywords

Thesaurus Keyword
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Data Center Keywords
DOC/NOAA/NMFS/PIFSC/ESD > Ecosystem Sciences Division, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords
EARTH SCIENCE > BIOSPHERE > ECOSYSTEMS > MARINE ECOSYSTEMS > BENTHIC
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords
EARTH SCIENCE > BIOSPHERE > ECOSYSTEMS > MARINE ECOSYSTEMS > REEF > CORAL REEF
ISO 19115 Topic Category
biota
UNCONTROLLED
CoRIS Discovery Thesaurus Numeric Data Sets > Biology
CoRIS Theme Thesaurus EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Ecological Dynamics > Species Richness
CoRIS Theme Thesaurus EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment
CoRIS Theme Thesaurus EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment > Coral Colony Size and Condition
CoRIS Theme Thesaurus EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment > Rapid assessment studies
CoRIS Theme Thesaurus EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs
CoRIS Theme Thesaurus EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs > Coral Reef Ecology
CoRIS Theme Thesaurus EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs > Coral Reef Ecology > BioDiversity
CoRIS Theme Thesaurus EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs > Coral reef ecology > Coral cover
CoRIS Theme Thesaurus EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Marine Biology > Coral
CoRIS Theme Thesaurus EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Marine Biology > Coral Communities
CRCP Project 743
CRCP Project National Coral Reef Monitoring Program
ISO 19115 Topic Category 002
ISO 19115 Topic Category biota
NODC DATA TYPES THESAURUS CORAL
NODC DATA TYPES THESAURUS CORAL - CENSUS
NODC DATA TYPES THESAURUS CORAL - COLONY SIZE
NODC DATA TYPES THESAURUS CORAL - SPECIES IDENTIFICATION
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 swimmer/diver
NODC OBSERVATION TYPES THESAURUS visual observation
NODC PROJECT NAMES THESAURUS Coral Reef Conservation Program
NODC PROJECT NAMES THESAURUS CORAL REEF STUDIES
NODC PROJECT NAMES THESAURUS National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP)
NODC PROJECT NAMES THESAURUS Pacific Reef and Assessment Monitoring Program
NODC SUBMITTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS US DOC; NOAA; NMFS; Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center; Ecosystem Sciences Division
None CNMI
None Coral Belt Survey
None Coral Disease
None Coral Reef Ecosystem Division
None Coral Reef Ecosystem Program
None CRED
None CREP
None Ecosystem Sciences Division
None Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center
None PIFSC
None Rapid Ecological Assessments
None REA

Temporal Keywords

Thesaurus Keyword
UNCONTROLLED
None Triennial

Spatial Keywords

Thesaurus Keyword
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords
OCEAN > PACIFIC OCEAN > WESTERN PACIFIC OCEAN > MICRONESIA > GUAM
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords
OCEAN > PACIFIC OCEAN > WESTERN PACIFIC OCEAN > MICRONESIA > NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS
UNCONTROLLED
CoRIS Place Thesaurus COUNTRY/TERRITORY > Northern Mariana Islands > Aguihan > Aguihan Island (Aguijan) (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 (20N144E0001)
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 > Aguihan Island Reefs > Aguihan Island (Aguijan) (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 (20N144E0001)
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 THESAURUS Marianas Trench Marine National Monument
NODC SEA AREA NAMES THESAURUS NW Pacific
None Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
None Mariana Archipelago
None Mariana Islands
None Marianas

Platform Keywords

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

Physical Location

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

Data Set Information

Data Set Scope Code: Data Set
Data Set Type: Database
Maintenance Frequency: As Needed
Data Presentation Form: Table (digital)
Entity Attribute Overview:

Raw survey data includes metadata for each survey (where, when, who, area); site characteristics (depth, reef type, habitat); individual adult and juvenile coral observations identified to the lowest taxonomic level possible (usually species) including morphology, empirical size measurement, and all other recorded colony attributes including partial mortality and condition. The raw data also include individual observations of crustose coralline algae diseases and Alcyonarian disease recorded disease type and lesion size. Finally, the third type of raw data include presence of other Anthozoans (other cnidarians including Alcyonareans, Zoantharians, Corallimorpharians, and Antipatharians).

Adult Coral Observations Data Dictionary

https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/36173

Juvenile Coral Observations Data Dictionary

https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/36176

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: NOAA Fisheries, ESD and funded by the NOAA CRCP

Support Roles

Data Set Credit

CC ID: 371062
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

CC ID: 1235754
Date Effective From: 2021
Date Effective To:
Contact (Person): Charendoff, Jonathan
Email Address: jonathan.charendoff@noaa.gov

Distributor

CC ID: 371063
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

CC ID: 1235755
Date Effective From: 2021
Date Effective To:
Contact (Person): Luers, Lori H
Address: 1845 Wasp Blvd.
Honolulu, HI 96818
USA
Email Address: lori.luers@noaa.gov

Originator

CC ID: 371057
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

CC ID: 1235756
Date Effective From: 2021
Date Effective To:
Contact (Person): Couch, Courtney S
Email Address: courtney.s.couch@noaa.gov
View Historical Support Roles

Extents

Currentness Reference: Ground Condition

Extent Group 1

Extent Description:

Mariana Archipelago

Extent Group 1 / Geographic Area 1

CC ID: 371196
W° Bound: 144.634585
E° Bound: 145.85269754
N° Bound: 20.55177966
S° Bound: 13.241626
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

CC ID: 371197
Time Frame Type: Range
Start: 2014-03-25
End: 2014-05-07
Alternate Start As Of Info: HA1401
Description:

MARAMP 2014, Legs I through III

Extent Group 1 / Time Frame 2

CC ID: 581272
Time Frame Type: Range
Start: 2017-05-05
End: 2017-06-21
Alternate Start As Of Info: HA1701

Extent Group 1 / Time Frame 3

CC ID: 1255650
Time Frame Type: Range
Start: 2022-05-10
End: 2022-06-01
Alternate Start As Of Info: RA2201_Leg4
Description:

Timeframe of coral demographic surveys conducted on RA-22-01 Leg 4. Islands visited: Mariana Archipelago, including Guam, Rota, Tinian, Saipan, Pagan, Asuncion, and Maug.

Access Information

Security Class: Unclassified
Security Classification System:

Not applicable

Security Handling Description:

Not applicable

Data Access Policy:

NOAA Ecosystem Sciences Division (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 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, 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 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 Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD) when using the data.

Example:

Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, 2023: National Coral Reef Monitoring Program: Stratified Random Surveys (StRS) of Coral Demography (Adult and Juvenile Corals) across the Mariana Archipelago since 2014, https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/36165.

Metadata Access Constraints:

None

Metadata Use Constraints:

None

Distribution Information

Distribution 1

CC ID: 812675
Download URL: https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0157633
Distributor: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) (2016 - Present)
File Name: PIFSC_DR-17-036_2017_BenthicBrief_S.Marianas.pdf
Description:

Pacific Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program. Benthic REA monitoring summary : southern Mariana Islands, 2017. PIFSC data report DR-17-036. https://doi.org/10.7289/V5/DR-PIFSC-17-036

File Date/Time: 2017-10-20 00:00:00
File Type (Deprecated): PDF
Distribution Format: PDF - Adobe Portable Document Format

Distribution 2

CC ID: 812676
Download URL: https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0157633
Distributor: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) (2016 - Present)
File Name: PIFSC_DR-17-037_2017_BenthicBrief_N.Marianas.pdf
Description:

Pacific Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program. Benthic REA monitoring summary : northern Mariana Islands, 2017. PIFSC data report DR-17-037. https://doi.org/10.7289/V5/DR-PIFSC-17-037

File Date/Time: 2017-10-20 00:00:00
File Type (Deprecated): PDF
Distribution Format: PDF - Adobe Portable Document Format

Distribution 3

CC ID: 812677
Download URL: https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0157633
Distributor: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) (2016 - Present)
File Name: PIFSC_NTM-PIFSC-71_2018_SOP_Benthic.pdf
Description:

Ecosystem Sciences Division Standard Operating Procedures: Data Collection for Rapid Ecological Assessment Benthic Surveys. NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-PIFSC-71, 63 p. https://doi.org/10.25923/39jh-8993

File Date/Time: 2018-08-01 00:00:00
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Distribution 4

CC ID: 886715
Download URL: https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0157633
Distributor: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) (2016 - Present)
File Name: PIFSC_NTM-PIFSC-92_2018_SOP_Benthic.pdf
Description:

Winston M, Couch C, Ferguson M, Huntington B, Swanson D, Vargas-Ángel B. 2019. Ecosystem Sciences Division Standard Operating Procedures: Data Collection for Rapid Ecological Assessment Benthic Surveys, 2018 Update. NOAA Tech. Memo. NOAA-TM-NMFS-PIFSC-92, 66 p. doi:10.25923/w1k2-0y84

https://doi.org/10.25923/w1k2-0y84

File Date/Time: 2019-10-01 00:00:00
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Distribution Format: PDF - Adobe Portable Document Format

Distribution 5

CC ID: 371172
Download URL: https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0159166
Distributor: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) (2016 - Present)
File Name: MARIAN2014_coralgenera.csv
Description:

List of coral genera surveyed in the Mariana archipelago

File Date/Time: 2016-12-23 00:00:00
File Type (Deprecated): csv (comma-separated values)
Distribution Format: CSV - Comma Separated Values (Text)

Distribution 6

CC ID: 371173
Download URL: https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0159166
Distributor: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) (2016 - Present)
File Name: MARIAN2014_coralspecies.csv
Description:

List of coral species surveyed in the Mariana archipelago

File Date/Time: 2016-12-23 00:00:00
File Type (Deprecated): csv (comma-separated values)
Distribution Format: CSV - Comma Separated Values (Text)

Distribution 7

CC ID: 371076
Download URL: https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0159166
Distributor: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) (2016 - Present)
File Name: V0_CORAL_OBS_E_ MARIANA 2014.csv
Description:

Adult coral colony observations from coral demographic surveys of stratified random sites by the NOAA Coral Reef Ecosystem Program (CREP) conducted across the Mariana archipelago in 2014 (HA1401).

File Date/Time: 2016-12-30 00:00:00
File Type (Deprecated): csv (comma-separated values)
Distribution Format: CSV - Comma Separated Values (Text)

Distribution 8

CC ID: 378829
Download URL: https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0159166
Distributor: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) (2016 - Present)
File Name: V0_CORAL_OBS_E_PRESENCE MARIAN 2014.csv
Description:

Presence / absence from coral demographic surveys of stratified random sites by the NOAA Coral Reef Ecosystem Program (CREP) conducted across the Mariana archipelago in 2014 (HA1401).

File Date/Time: 2017-09-06 00:00:00
File Type (Deprecated): csv (comma-separated values)
Distribution Format: CSV - Comma Separated Values (Text)

Distribution 9

CC ID: 371162
Download URL: https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0159166
Distributor: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) (2016 - Present)
File Name: V0_CORAL_OBS_F MARIANA 2014.csv
Description:

Juvenile coral colony observations from coral demographic surveys of stratified random sites by the NOAA Coral Reef Ecosystem Program (CREP) conducted across the Mariana archipelago in 2014 (HA1401).

File Date/Time: 2016-12-30 00:00:00
File Type (Deprecated): csv (comma-separated values)
Distribution Format: CSV - Comma Separated Values (Text)

Distribution 10

CC ID: 371174
Download URL: https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0166383
Distributor: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) (2016 - Present)
File Name: MARIAN2017_coralgenera.csv
Description:

List of coral genera surveyed in the Mariana archipelago

File Date/Time: 2018-01-19 00:00:00
File Type (Deprecated): csv (comma-separated values)
Distribution Format: CSV - Comma Separated Values (Text)

Distribution 11

CC ID: 812673
Download URL: https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0166383
Distributor: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) (2016 - Present)
File Name: MARIAN2017_coralspecies.csv
Description:

List of coral species surveyed in the Mariana archipelago

File Date/Time: 2018-01-19 00:00:00
File Type (Deprecated): csv (comma-separated values)
Distribution Format: CSV - Comma Separated Values (Text)

Distribution 12

CC ID: 581273
Download URL: https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0166383
Distributor: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) (2016 - Present)
File Name: V0_CORAL_OBS_E_ MARIAN 2017.csv
Description:

Adult coral colony observations from coral demographic surveys of stratified random sites by the NOAA Coral Reef Ecosystem Program (CREP) conducted across the Mariana archipelago in 2017 (HA1701).

File Date/Time: 2017-09-26 00:00:00
File Type (Deprecated): csv (comma-separated values)
Distribution Format: CSV - Comma Separated Values (Text)

Distribution 13

CC ID: 581274
Download URL: https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0166383
Distributor: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) (2016 - Present)
File Name: V0_CORAL_OBS_E_PRESENCE MARIAN 2017.csv
Description:

Presence / absence from coral demographic surveys of stratified random sites by the NOAA Coral Reef Ecosystem Program (CREP) conducted across the Mariana archipelago in 2017 (HA1701).

File Date/Time: 2017-09-06 00:00:00
File Type (Deprecated): csv (comma-separated values)
Distribution Format: CSV - Comma Separated Values (Text)

Distribution 14

CC ID: 581275
Download URL: https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0166383
Distributor: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) (2016 - Present)
File Name: V0_CORAL_OBS_F MARIAN 2017.csv
Description:

Juvenile coral colony observations from coral demographic surveys of stratified random sites by the NOAA Coral Reef Ecosystem Program (CREP) conducted across the Mariana archipelago in 2017 (HA1701).

File Date/Time: 2017-09-06 00:00:00
File Type (Deprecated): csv (comma-separated values)
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Distribution 15

CC ID: 886721
Download URL: https://ecowatch.ncddc.noaa.gov/erddap/tabledap/CRCP_Coral_Demographic_Survey_Adult_CNMI_Guam.html
Distributor: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) (2016 - Present)
Description:

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) ERDDAP web service for coral demographic data of adult corals collected by the PIFSC Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD) during ESD-led NOAA National Coral Reef Monitoring Program missions to the Mariana Archipelago since 2014.

ERDDAP acts as a middleman between you and various remote data servers. ERDDAP offers an easy-to-use, consistent way to request data: via the OPeNDAP standard. Many datasets can also be accessed via ERDDAP's Web Map Service (WMS). ERDDAP returns data in the common file format of your choice. ERDDAP offers all data as .html table, ESRI .asc and .csv, Google Earth .kml, OPeNDAP binary, .mat, .nc, ODV .txt, .csv, .tsv, .json, and .xhtml. ERDDAP can also return a .png or .pdf image with a customized graph or map. ERDDAP also has web pages (for humans with browsers) and RESTful web services (for computer programs).

File Type (Deprecated): ERDDAP Data Server
Distribution Format: ERDDAP Data Service

Distribution 16

CC ID: 886722
Download URL: https://ecowatch.ncddc.noaa.gov/erddap/tabledap/CRCP_Coral_Demographic_Survey_Juvenile_CNMI_Guam.html
Distributor: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) (2016 - Present)
Description:

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) ERDDAP web service for coral demographic data of juvenile corals collected by the PIFSC Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD) during ESD-led NOAA National Coral Reef Monitoring Program missions to the Mariana Archipelago since 2014.

ERDDAP acts as a middleman between you and various remote data servers. ERDDAP offers an easy-to-use, consistent way to request data: via the OPeNDAP standard. Many datasets can also be accessed via ERDDAP's Web Map Service (WMS). ERDDAP returns data in the common file format of your choice. ERDDAP offers all data as .html table, ESRI .asc and .csv, Google Earth .kml, OPeNDAP binary, .mat, .nc, ODV .txt, .csv, .tsv, .json, and .xhtml. ERDDAP can also return a .png or .pdf image with a customized graph or map. ERDDAP also has web pages (for humans with browsers) and RESTful web services (for computer programs).

File Type (Deprecated): ERDDAP Data Server
Distribution Format: ERDDAP Data Service

Distribution 17

CC ID: 1235762
Start Date: 2023
End Date: Present
Download URL: https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0279491
Distributor: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) (2016 - Present)
File Name: MARIAN2022_coralgenera.csv
Description:

List of coral genera surveyed in the Mariana archipelago

File Date/Time: 2023-05-19 00:00:00
File Type (Deprecated): csv (comma-separated values)
Distribution Format: CSV - Comma Separated Values (Text)

Distribution 18

CC ID: 1235763
Start Date: 2023
End Date: Present
Download URL: https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0279491
Distributor: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) (2016 - Present)
File Name: MARIAN2022_coralspecies.csv
Description:

List of coral species surveyed in the Mariana archipelago

File Date/Time: 2023-05-19 00:00:00
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Distribution 19

CC ID: 1235760
Start Date: 2023
End Date: Present
Download URL: https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0279491
Distributor: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) (2016 - Present)
File Name: NCRMP_CORAL_OBS_ADU_MARIAN_2022.csv
Description:

Adult coral colony observations from coral demographic surveys of stratified random sites by the NOAA Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD) conducted across the Mariana archipelago in 2022 (RA2201). Note a repeat segment flag was included to mark those repeated for internal review. To use without repeats, filter for transectnum = 1 prior to analyses.

File Date/Time: 2023-02-23 16:39:15
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Distribution 20

CC ID: 1235761
Start Date: 2023
End Date: Present
Download URL: https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0279491
Distributor: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) (2016 - Present)
File Name: NCRMP_CORAL_OBS_JUV_MARIAN_2022.csv
Description:

Juvenile coral colony observations from coral demographic surveys of stratified random sites by the NOAA Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD) conducted across the Mariana archipelago in 2022 (RA2201). Note a repeat segment flag was included to mark those repeated for internal review. To use without repeats, filter for transectnum = 1 prior to analyses.

File Date/Time: 2023-02-23 16:41:50
File Type (Deprecated): csv (comma-separated values)
Distribution Format: CSV - Comma Separated Values (Text)

URLs

URL 1

CC ID: 371068
URL: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/pacific-islands/ecosystems/coral-reefs-pacific
Name: Coral Reefs in the Pacific
URL Type:
Online Resource
Description:

NOAA Fisheries, Pacific Islands website

URL 2

CC ID: 371069
URL: https://www.coris.noaa.gov/monitoring/
Name: National Coral Reef Monitoring Program
URL Type:
Online Resource
Description:

NOAA National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP) website.

URL 3

CC ID: 886719
URL: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/pacific-islands/ecosystems/coral-reefs-pacific#survey-methods
Name: Survey Methods
URL Type:
Online Resource
Description:

NOAA Fisheries, Pacific Islands website

URL 4

CC ID: 886720
URL: ftp://ftp.nodc.noaa.gov/nodc/archive/arc0101/0157633/
Name: Benthic Monitoring Briefs since 2016
URL Type:
Online Resource
File Resource Format: PDF
Description:

NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC), Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD) Benthic Monitoring Briefs available for FTP download for surveys starting in 2016. Monitoring briefs provide timely release of a summary overview of monitoring effort and preliminary data following a research expedition led by ESD, including Pacific Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program cruises and other missions. This type of report is intended as an initial and provisional summary of the data collected, and the information contained in these briefs is subject to change.

URL 5

CC ID: 1256533
URL: https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/erddap/search/index.html?page=1&itemsPerPage=1000&searchFor=CRCP
Name: ERRDAP datasets for download
URL Type:
Online Resource
File Resource Format: HTML
Description:

Downloadable links to other CRCP datasets; coral demographic data for other regions is available here.

URL 6

CC ID: 1257613
URL: https://repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/22060
Name: Ecosystem Sciences Division Standard Operating Procedures: Data Collection for Rapid Ecological Assessment Benthic Surveys, 2018 Update
URL Type:
Online Resource
File Resource Format: PDF
Description:

SOPs for Benthic REA Surveys from 2018

URL 7

CC ID: 1257614
URL: https://repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/16088
Name: Pacific Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program. Benthic REA monitoring summary : southern Mariana Islands, 2017
URL Type:
Online Resource
File Resource Format: PDF
Description:

Benthic REA monitoring summary : southern Mariana Islands, 2017 (for Pacific RAMP, which is more recently called NCRMP)

Technical Environment

Description:

PIFSC Oracle database view: V_NCEI_CORAL_OBS_E and V_NCEI_CORAL_OBS_F

Data Quality

Accuracy:

This data should be assessed at the genus level due to variabilities in identifying at genus or species level.

Observations were made by experienced benthic survey personnel who have been trained, undergone a series of calibration surveys and coral taxon identification testing, and have met a set of minimum standards for colony assessment and taxon identification in each region. The accuracy of species and genus level identification was high. The lowest taxonomic level was species in the Main Hawaiian Islands and the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. For the remaining three Pacific regions, the lowest taxonomic level of coral identification was genus except for a select number of species that were consistently identified to species by all divers conducting the surveys. The number of species may change for each survey year depending on the experience and training of the benthic divers. The list of coral species is included for each region and survey year. The total number of species was 28 coral species and 57 coral genera in 2014, 81 coral species and 48 coral genera in 2017, 54 coral species and 48 coral genera in 2022 in Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands. In other words, the individual records within each year may include many more species than encompassed by the region lists, however, these were not consistently identified across all survey years and regions so these records should be assessed at the genus level.

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

Analytical Accuracy:

The taxon code AAAA is included where the segment was surveyed and no individual colonies were found in both the juvenile and adult colony records. These are true zeros. The value -9 is a placeholder or missing value for the fields: colony length, colony width (juveniles), extent, and severity.

Completeness Report:

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

Conceptual Consistency:

The same methods of data collection are used at each surveyed site. Periodic examination of the data is conducted throughout each mission to check for diver bias or other discrepancies.

Quality Control Procedures Employed:

Quality control of the data occurred at a few stages from data entry to data ingestion into the Oracle database. Observations, including species identification, are periodically checked during expeditions for consistency between and among divers. Data entry is usually conducted on the same day as the surveys using a data entry interface with several data controls employed, and are quality controlled by individual divers checking entry errors at a separate time. Following a mission, the data is then run through rigorous quality control checks by the data management team before the data are migrated to the Oracle database. The data is quality controlled against the physical data sheets following data entry. There are also several queries in the MS Access / Oracle database to flag errors based on pre-defined criteria. Given the size of the data set, there remains some possibility of typographical or other errors.

Data Management

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

The data is captured in several locations: physical data sheets, MS Access cruise database (historically), and PIFSC Oracle database (currently). The physical data sheets are housed at PIFSC. The MS Access cruise database was regularly backed up by the cruise data manager while at sea. The PIFSC Oracle database is regularly backed up by PIFSC ITS. Currently the data lives only in the PIFSC Oracle Database.

Lineage

Lineage Statement:

The two-stage stratified random sampling (StRS) design and belt transect methodology for adult and juvenile corals, employed by the PIFSC Ecosystem Sciences Division since 2013.

Sources

Ecosystem Sciences Division Standard Operating Procedures: Data Collection for Rapid Ecological Assessment Benthic Surveys, 2019 Update

CC ID: 1235764
Contact Role Type: Originator
Contact Type: Person
Contact Name: Courtney Couch
Publish Date: 2020-02-01
Extent Type: Continuing
Extent Start Date/Time: 2019
Citation URL: https://repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/23951
Citation URL Name: Winston W, Couch C, Huntingon B, Vargas-Ángel B. 2020. Ecosystem Sciences Division standard operating procedures: data collection for rapid ecological assessment benthic surveys, 2019 update. NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-PIFSC-96, 56 p.
Citation URL Description:

Ecosystem Sciences Division Standard Operating Procedures: Data Collection for Rapid Ecological Assessment Benthic Surveys, 2019 Update

Swanson D, Bailey H, Schumacher B, Ferguson M, Vargas-Angel B. 2018. Ecosystem Sciences Division standard operating procedures: data collection for rapid ecological assessment benthic surveys. U.S. Dept. of Commerce, NOAA Technical Memorandum NOAA-TM-NMFS-PIFSC-71, 63 p. doi:10.25923/39jh-8993.

CC ID: 812678
Publish Date: 2018-08-01
Citation URL: https://repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/18267
Citation URL Name: NOAA Institutional Repository
Source Contribution:

Survey protocol

Process Steps

Process Step 1

CC ID: 371073
Description:

A stratified random sampling (StRS) design was employed to survey the coral reef ecosystems throughout the region. The survey domain encompassed the majority of the mapped area of reef and hard bottom habitats. The stratification scheme included island, reef zone, and depth. The habitat structure types included simple, complex, and coral-rich. Depth categories of shallow (>0-6 m), mid (>6-18 m) 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, ESD 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 sq meters). Grid cells containing hard-bottom reef habitats were designated as primary sample units (referred to as sites), while the second-stage sample unit was defined as a diver visual belt transect of fixed area (10 sq. meters or less).

Process Contact: Couch, Courtney S
Email Address: courtney.s.couch@noaa.gov
Source: Ecosystem Sciences Division Standard Operating Procedures: Data Collection for Rapid Ecological Assessment Benthic Surveys, 2019 Update

Process Step 2

CC ID: 371075
Description:

At each site, benthic Rapid Ecological Assessment (REA) surveys were conducted within two 10 sq. meter belt transects (before 2018), and within one 10 sq. meter belt transect (after 2018), 18 meters in length. Adult coral colonies (>=5 cm) were surveyed within four (1.0 x 2.5 m) segments at 5 meter increments along the 18 meter transect in the following manner: 0-2.5 m (segment 1); 5.0-7.5 m (segment 3); 10-12.5 m (segment 5); and 15-17.5 m (segment 7). All colonies whose center fell within 0.5 m on either side of each transect line were identified to lowest taxonomic level possible (species or genus), measured for size (maximum diameter to nearest cm), and morphology was noted. In addition, partial mortality and condition of each colony was assessed. Partial mortality was estimated as percent of the colony in terms of old dead and recent dead. The cause of recent mortality was identified if possible. The condition of each colony including disease (not attributed to recent tissue loss) and bleaching was noted along with the extent (percent of colony affected) and level of severity (range from moderate to acute). The lowest taxonomic level of coral identification was genus except for a select number of species consistently identified to species by all divers conducting the surveys. The number of species may change for each survey year depending on the experience and training of the benthic divers conducting the surveys. The list of coral species is included for each survey year.

Within the same four segments per transect as the adult coral surveys, crustose coralline algae (CCA) diseases and Alcyonarian disease are surveyed. In each segment, each occurrence of a specific disease is identified and the lesion is measured (maximum diameter). In addition to the adult coral surveys, CCA diseases, and Alcyonarian disease, the presence of other Anthozoans (other cnidarians including Alcyonareans, Zoantharians, coralliomorphs and Antipatharians) are also noted. These data exist as individual records coded for each group. This portion of the survey was not conducted after 2017.

Juvenile coral colonies (<5 cm) were surveyed within three (1.0 x 1.0 m) segments along the same two transects: 0-1.0 m (segment 1); 5.0-6.0 m (segment 3); and 10.0-11.0 m (segment 5). Juvenile colonies were distinguished in the field by a distinct tissue and skeletal boundary (not a fragment of larger colony). Each juvenile colony was identified to genus level measured for size by recording both the maximum diameter to the nearest 5 mm.

Process Contact: Couch, Courtney S
Email Address: courtney.s.couch@noaa.gov
Source: Ecosystem Sciences Division Standard Operating Procedures: Data Collection for Rapid Ecological Assessment Benthic Surveys, 2019 Update

Process Step 3

CC ID: 371074
Description:

Raw data include individual colony records with the corresponding physical data which reflect the description of the site. An individual colony record for adult corals includes colony species/genus identification, morphology, maximum diameter (cm), percent old dead, percent recent dead, cause of recent dead general category, cause of recent dead specific category, condition, extent and severity.

Juvenile coral colony records include colony species/genus identification, morphology, maximum diameter (cm) and perpendicular diameter (cm).

For species level identification of adult and juvenile corals, check the species list for each year to ensure species identification across all divers conducting the surveys.

Individual records for crustose coralline algae diseases use the taxon code CALG and the Alcyonarian disease uses the taxon code for the octocoral genus. The colony length measurement is the maximum diameter of the lesion for both disease types.

The raw presence/absence data for other Anthozoans include the general identification code and 0 or 1 to represent absence or presence respectively.

The physical data for all records includes the following: region, island, site, date (day, month, year), latitude (dd), longitude (dd), transect, segment, segment length, segment width, minimum depth (ft), and maximum depth.

Process Contact: Swanson, Dione W
Phone (Voice): (808)725-5417
Email Address: dione.swanson@noaa.gov
Source: Swanson D, Bailey H, Schumacher B, Ferguson M, Vargas-Angel B. 2018. Ecosystem Sciences Division standard operating procedures: data collection for rapid ecological assessment benthic surveys. U.S. Dept. of Commerce, NOAA Technical Memorandum NOAA-TM-NMFS-PIFSC-71, 63 p. doi:10.25923/39jh-8993.

Catalog Details

Catalog Item ID: 36165
GUID: gov.noaa.nmfs.inport:36165
Metadata Record Created By: Troy T Kanemura
Metadata Record Created: 2016-12-30 19:35+0000
Metadata Record Last Modified By: SysAdmin InPortAdmin
Metadata Record Last Modified: 2024-10-03 18:16+0000
Metadata Record Published: 2023-06-28
Owner Org: PIFSC
Metadata Publication Status: Published Externally
Do Not Publish?: N
Metadata Last Review Date: 2017-09-11
Metadata Review Frequency: 1 Year
Metadata Next Review Date: 2018-09-11