77771 NCRMP: Pacific-wide Benthic Cover StRS Data Set Published / External 71549 Pacific-wide Benthic Project On Going This metadata record describes the benthic cover data collected under the National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP) across the U.S. Pacific Islands, including American Samoa, CNMI, Guam, Hawai'i, and Pacific Remote Island Areas. These data characterize benthic cover, coral communities, and habitat structure to support ecosystem condition assessments and resource management. This record replaces InPort items 25274, 36155, 36156, and 36157. The coral reef benthic community data described here result from the annotation (classification) of benthic images collected during photoquadrat surveys conducted by the NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC), Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD, formerly the Coral Reef Ecosystem Division) as part of NOAA's ongoing National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP). SCUBA divers conducted benthic photoquadrat surveys in coral reef habitats during ESD-led NCRMP missions to the islands and atolls the U.S. Pacific Islands region, according to protocols established by ESD and NCRMP. Sites prior to 2013 were collected via the Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program (RAMP), the predecessor to NCRMP, but annotated using NCRMP protocols. Still photographs were collected with a high-resolution digital camera mounted on a pole to document the benthic community composition at predetermined points along transects at stratified random sites surveyed only once as part of Rapid Ecological Assessment (REA) surveys for corals and fish (Ayotte et al. 2015 and Winston et al. 2020, respectively), with 30 photoquadrat images collected at each survey site. A stratified random sampling (StRS) design was employed to survey these coral reef ecosystems. 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 benthic habitat images 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 image annotation tool, CoralNet (Beijbom et al. 2015) from 2015 to present. Ten points were randomly overlaid on each image and analysts identified the organism or type of substrate beneath, with 300 annotations (points) generated per site following Lozada-Misa et al. (2017). Images are analyzed to produce three functional group levels of benthic cover: Tier 1 (e.g., hard coral, soft coral, macroalgae, turf algae), Tier 2 (e.g., Hard Coral = massive, branching, foliose, encrusting; Macroalgae = upright macroalgae, encrusting macroalgae, bluegreen macroalgae, and Halimeda), and Tier 3 (e.g., Hard Coral = Astreopora sp, Favia sp, Pocillopora; Macroalgae = Caulerpa sp, Dictyosphaeria sp, Padina sp). To consolidate regional NCRMP benthic survey metadata into a single Pacific-wide record for long-term monitoring and analysis of coral reef ecosystems. The benthic data resulting from the collection and annotation of benthic imagery can ultimately be used to produce estimates of benthic community taxonomic composition, relative abundance (percentage of benthic cover), and frequency of occurrence, which are fundamental to understanding the status and change of coral reef benthic communities. NOAA Fisheries, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC) https://doi.org/10.25921/9abz-6e67 NOAA NCEI 2026-08-20 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 > BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION > ANIMALS/INVERTEBRATES Theme Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords EARTH SCIENCE > BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION > BACTERIA/ARCHAEA > CYANOBACTERIA (BLUE-GREEN ALGAE) Theme Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords EARTH SCIENCE > BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION > PLANTS > ANGIOSPERMS (FLOWERING PLANTS) > MONOCOTS > SEAGRASS Theme Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords EARTH SCIENCE > BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION > PLANTS > MACROALGAE (SEAWEEDS) 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 Instrument Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Instrument Keywords CAMERAS Theme CRCP Project 743 Theme CRCP Project National Coral Reef Monitoring Program Theme CoRIS Discovery Thesaurus 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 > Baseline studies 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 > Hard Coral Cover Live percentage 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 NODC DATA TYPES THESAURUS REEF AND/OR BOTTOM REGIME - PERCENT COVER Theme NODC OBSERVATION TYPES THESAURUS laboratory analyses Theme NODC PLATFORM NAMES THESAURUS HI'IALAKAI Theme NODC PLATFORM NAMES THESAURUS OSCAR ELTON SETTE Theme NODC PLATFORM NAMES THESAURUS 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; Coral Reef Ecosystem Program 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 Spatial CoRIS Place Thesaurus COUNTRY/TERRITORY > Northern Mariana Islands > Aguihan > Aguihan Island (Aguijan) (14N145E0006) Spatial CoRIS Place Thesaurus COUNTRY/TERRITORY > Northern Mariana Islands > Asuncion Island > Asuncion Island (19N145E0001) 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 > American Samoa > American Samoa > American Samoa (14S170W0000) Spatial CoRIS Place Thesaurus COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > American Samoa > American Samoa > Ofu Island (14S169W0013) Spatial CoRIS Place Thesaurus COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > American Samoa > American Samoa > Olosega Island (14S169W0014) Spatial CoRIS Place Thesaurus COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > American Samoa > American Samoa > Rose Atoll (14S168W0001) Spatial CoRIS Place Thesaurus COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > American Samoa > American Samoa > Swains Atoll (11S171W0001) Spatial CoRIS Place Thesaurus COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > American Samoa > American Samoa > Ta'u Island (14S169W0012) Spatial CoRIS Place Thesaurus COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > American Samoa > American Samoa > Tutuila Island (14S170W0016) Spatial CoRIS Place Thesaurus COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > American Samoa > Ofu Island > Ofu (14S169W0002) Spatial CoRIS Place Thesaurus COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > American Samoa > Olosega Island > Olosega (14S169W0016) Spatial CoRIS Place Thesaurus COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Guam > Guam (13N144E0000) Spatial CoRIS Place Thesaurus COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Hawaii > Hawaii (21N160W0000) Spatial CoRIS Place Thesaurus COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Hawaii > Hawaii Island (19N155W0003) Spatial CoRIS Place Thesaurus COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Hawaii > Kauai Island (22N159W0001 Spatial CoRIS Place Thesaurus COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Hawaii > Kauai Island (22N159W0001) Spatial CoRIS Place Thesaurus COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Hawaii > Molokai Island (21N157W0001) Spatial CoRIS Place Thesaurus COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Honolulu > French Frigate Shoals (24N166W0001) Spatial CoRIS Place Thesaurus COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Honolulu > Kure Atoll (28N178W0001) Spatial CoRIS Place Thesaurus COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Honolulu > Lisianski Island (25N173W0001) Spatial CoRIS Place Thesaurus COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Honolulu > Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (28N178W0000) Spatial CoRIS Place Thesaurus COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Honolulu > Oahu (21N157W0003) Spatial CoRIS Place Thesaurus COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Honolulu > Pearl and Hermes Reef (27N176W0001) Spatial CoRIS Place Thesaurus COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Kalawao > Kahoolawe Island (20N156W0001) Spatial CoRIS Place Thesaurus COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Kauai > Niihau Island (21N160W0001) Spatial CoRIS Place Thesaurus COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Maui > Lanai Island (20N156W0002 Spatial CoRIS Place Thesaurus COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Maui > Lanai Island (20N156W0002) Spatial CoRIS Place Thesaurus COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Maui > Maui Island (20N156W0004 Spatial CoRIS Place Thesaurus COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Maui > Maui Island (20N156W0004) Spatial CoRIS Place Thesaurus COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaiian Islands (21N157W0027) Spatial CoRIS Place Thesaurus COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > USA Minor Outlying Islands > Baker Island (00N176W0001) Spatial CoRIS Place Thesaurus COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > USA Minor Outlying Islands > Howland Island (00S176W0001) Spatial CoRIS Place Thesaurus COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > USA Minor Outlying Islands > Jarvis Island (00S160W0001) Spatial CoRIS Place Thesaurus COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > USA Minor Outlying Islands > Johnston Atoll (16N169W0001) Spatial CoRIS Place Thesaurus COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > USA Minor Outlying Islands > Kingman Reef (06N162W0001) Spatial CoRIS Place Thesaurus COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > USA Minor Outlying Islands > Palmyra Atoll (05N162W0001) Spatial CoRIS Place Thesaurus COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > USA Minor Outlying Islands > Wake Atoll (19N167E0001) Spatial CoRIS Place Thesaurus OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > American Samoa > American Samoa (14S170W0000) Spatial CoRIS Place Thesaurus OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > American Samoa > Rose Atoll (14S168W0001) Spatial CoRIS Place Thesaurus OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > American Samoa > Swains Atoll (11S171W0001) Spatial CoRIS Place Thesaurus OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > American Samoa > Tutuila Island (14S170W0016) Spatial CoRIS Place Thesaurus OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean Spatial CoRIS Place Thesaurus OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Baker Island > Baker Island (00N176W0001) Spatial CoRIS Place Thesaurus OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Hawaiian Islands (21N157W0027) Spatial CoRIS Place Thesaurus OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Hawaiian Islands > Hawaii > Hawaii (21N160W0000 Spatial CoRIS Place Thesaurus OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Hawaiian Islands > Hawaii > Hawaii (21N160W0000) Spatial CoRIS Place Thesaurus OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Hawaiian Islands > Hawaii Island > Hawaii Island (19N155W0003 Spatial CoRIS Place Thesaurus OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Hawaiian Islands > Hawaii Island > Hawaii Island (19N155W0003) Spatial CoRIS Place Thesaurus OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Hawaiian Islands > Kahoolawe Island > Kahoolawe Island (20N156W0001) Spatial CoRIS Place Thesaurus OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Hawaiian Islands > Kauai Island > Kauai Island (22N159W0001) Spatial CoRIS Place Thesaurus OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Hawaiian Islands > Lanai Island > Lanai Island (20N156W0002) Spatial CoRIS Place Thesaurus OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Hawaiian Islands > Maui Island > Maui Island (20N156W0004) Spatial CoRIS Place Thesaurus OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Hawaiian Islands > Molokai Island > Molokai Island (21N157W0001) Spatial CoRIS Place Thesaurus OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Hawaiian Islands > Niihau Island > Niihau Island (21N160W0001) Spatial CoRIS Place Thesaurus OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Hawaiian Islands > Oahu Island > Oahu (21N157W0003) Spatial CoRIS Place Thesaurus OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Howland Island > Howland Island (00S176W0001 Spatial CoRIS Place Thesaurus OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Johnston Atoll > Johnston Atoll (16N169W0001) Spatial CoRIS Place Thesaurus OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Line Islands > Jarvis Island (00S160W0001) Spatial CoRIS Place Thesaurus OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Line Islands > Kingman Reef (06N162W0001) Spatial CoRIS Place Thesaurus OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Line Islands > Palmyra Atoll (05N162W0001) Spatial CoRIS Place Thesaurus OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (28N178W0000) Spatial CoRIS Place Thesaurus OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Northwestern Hawaiian Islands > French Frigate Shoals (24N166W0001) Spatial CoRIS Place Thesaurus OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Northwestern Hawaiian Islands > Kure Atoll (28N178W0001) Spatial CoRIS Place Thesaurus OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Northwestern Hawaiian Islands > Lisianski Island (25N173W0001) Spatial CoRIS Place Thesaurus OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Northwestern Hawaiian Islands > Pearl and Hermes Reef (27N176W0001) Spatial CoRIS Place Thesaurus OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Wake Atoll > Wake Atoll (19N167E0001) Spatial CoRIS Place Thesaurus OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Manu'a Group > Ofu (14S169W0002) Spatial CoRIS Place Thesaurus OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Manu'a Group > Ofu Island (14S169W0013) Spatial CoRIS Place Thesaurus OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Manu'a Group > Olosega (14S169W0016) Spatial CoRIS Place Thesaurus OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Manu'a Group > Olosega Island (14S169W0014) Spatial CoRIS Place Thesaurus OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Manu'a Group > Ta'u Island (14S169W0012) Spatial CoRIS Place Thesaurus OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Aguihan Island Reefs > Aguihan Island (Aguijan) (14N145E0006) 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 > 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 Coastal Waters of Hawaii Spatial NODC SEA AREA NAMES THESAURUS Equatorial Pacific Ocean Spatial NODC SEA AREA NAMES THESAURUS Marianas Trench Marine National Monument Spatial NODC SEA AREA NAMES THESAURUS Northwest Pacific Spatial NODC SEA AREA NAMES THESAURUS Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument Spatial NODC SEA AREA NAMES THESAURUS: Central Pacific Ocean Spatial NODC SEA AREA NAMES THESAURUS: North Pacific Ocean Spatial NODC Sea Area Names Thesaurus North Pacific Ocean Spatial NODC Sea Area Names Thesaurus Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument Spatial NODC Sea Area Names Thesaurus Rose Atoll Marine National Monument Spatial NODC Sea Area Names Thesaurus South Pacific Ocean Spatial AMSM Spatial American Samoa Spatial CNMI Spatial Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands Spatial MHI Spatial Main Hawaiian Islands Spatial Marianas Spatial NWHI Spatial Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Spatial PMNM Spatial PRIA Spatial PRIMNM Spatial Pacific Remote Island Areas Instrument NODC INSTRUMENT TYPES THESAURUS photograph Instrument NODC INSTRUMENT TYPES THESAURUS scale Platform NODC PLATFORM NAMES THESAURUS small boat Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center Honolulu HI USA Data Set Benthic survey data including benthic cover, composition, coral community structure, and habitat metrics across U.S. Pacific Islands coral reefs. NOAA cannot assume liability for any damages caused by errors or omissions in the data, nor for the failure of the data to function on a particular system. NOAA Fisheries, Ecosystem Sciences Division, funded by NOAA Ocean Acidification Program 77772 Published / External Completed Column descriptions for the annotations of benthic image analysis results for stratified random sites Data Table Yes GISDAT Benthic image analysis results for stratified random sites Column definitions are updated as needed. From 2023 PERM_SITE and CLIMATE_STATION flags were no longer applicable. Datasets before 2023 had DATE_ formatted as d-mmm-yy. Updated to machine-readable format in 2023 YYYY-MM-DD. From 2023, if type = 'Fish' then the min and max depth come from the fish stationary-point-count survey. 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. 1 ROUNDID NUMERIC 22 Yes No 28 0 Active Unique Identifier auto-assigned by database for ROUND record (corresponds to mission, cruise, cruise leg, etc.) 2 MISSIONID TEXT 30 Yes No Active Mission Identifier typically assigned by PIFSC 3 REGION_NAME TEXT 30 No No Active One of the five Pacific Island regions ESD surveys: Main Hawaiian islands, Northwestern Hawaiian islands, American Samoa, Marianas, and the Pacific Remote Island Areas. 4 ISLAND TEXT 150 No No Active Island or Atoll surveyed 5 SITE TEXT 150 No No Active The unique identifier/code for the site surveyed. Combines a 3-letter island code with a site number (usually 2-4 digits), separated by a hypen 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 or Lagoon) 9 DEPTH_BIN TEXT 60 No No Active Classification of depth (shallow, mid, deep) based on midpoint between minimum and maximum depths of replicates at this site. Shallow = 0-6m, Mid = 6-18m, Deep = 18-30m. 12 MIN_DEPTH NUMERIC 22 No No 38 8 Active Minimum depth (measured in feet), typically only recorded during 'Benthic' surveys (refer to SURVEY_TYPE). May 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), typically only recorded during 'Benthic' surveys (refer to SURVEY_TYPE). May be null for photos collected during fish and oceanographic surveys. 14 DATE_ DATE 7 Yes No Active Date the survey was conducted (YYYY-MM-DD). 14 DEPTH_SOURCE TEXT No No Active Indicates where depth values come from, if available. 'Site' indicates it was measured during an situ benthic coral demography survey, 'fish' indicates it came from min and max depths of the fish stationary-point-count survey area, a 7.5 meter radius circle, 'sfm' indicates it came from the min and max depths of markers laid on the benthos for structure-from-motion photogrammetry, a 3x15 m or 3x20 m area, 'occ' indicates depths were taken from the reference depth of the fixed site. 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 REP TEXT 4 No No Active Letter associated to replicate (A, B, C, or D), only applicable before 2018. Transitioned to 'REPLICATE' for 2018+ 17 REPLICATE TEXT No No Active Letter associated to replicate (A, B) starting in 2018 (REP column in previous years). 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. Distributor 2025 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 Metadata Contact 2021 Person Luers, Lori H lori.luers@noaa.gov 1845 Wasp Blvd. Honolulu HI 96818 USA 808-725-5593 Originator 2019 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 2023 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 Pacific Remote Island Areas (PRIA) including Baker, Howland, Jarvis, and Wake islands, Kingman Reef, and Johnston and Palmyra atolls. -176.6267816 -159.9717 16.780927 -0.382607 Phoenix (Baker and Howland) and Line Islands (Jarvis, Kingman, and Palmyra), and Johnston Atoll. These six of the seven PRIA are routinely surveyed as part of the American Samoa RAMP (ASRAMP) missions (Johnston, Baker and Howland during the first leg of ASRAMP, and Jarvis, Kingman, and Palmyra during the last leg of ASRAMP). 166.5937066 166.657759 19.32573345 19.26737797 Wake Island, one of the seven PRIA, is routinely surveyed as part of the Mariana Archipelago RAMP (MARAMP) missions. Range 2014-03-16 2014-03-20 HA1401 Surveys at Wake during MARAMP 2014 Range 2015-01-26 2015-04-28 HA1501 Surveys at the islands in the PRIA during the first and last legs of ASRAMP 2015 Range 2016-05-16 2016-05-22 SE1602 Surveys at Jarvis on the Sette cruise in 2016 Range 2017-04-02 2017-04-23 HA1701 Surveys at Baker, Howland, Jarvis and Wake during MARAMP 2017 Range 2018-06-10 2018-08-11 HA1801 Surveys at Baker, Howland, Jarvis, Kingman, and Palmyra during ASRAMP 2018 Range 2023-03-15 2023-05-07 RA2301 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. Hawaiian Archipelago including the main and Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. -160.251839 -154.804172 22.218748 18.91922507 Main Hawaiian Islands (MHI), including Hawaii, Kauai, Maui, Oahu, Molokai, Niihau, Kahoolawe, and Lanai. -178.3843301 -166.053528 28.457971 23.6242 Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI), including French Frigate Shoals, Kure, Lisianki, and Pearl & Hermes. Range 2013-08-02 2013-08-22 HA1304 MHI RAMP 2013 Discrete 2013-09-18 HA1305 NWHI RAMP 2013 (only one day of fish/benthic surveys conducted during this otherwise climate-focused mission) Range 2013-10-18 2013-10-31 SB1320 Shore-based surveys of Oahu Range 2016-07-13 2016-08-24 HA1606 MHI RAMP 2016 Range 2016-08-31 2016-09-27 HA1606 NWHI RAMP 2016 Range 2019-04-21 2019-08-06 SE1902 MHI RAMP 2019 Range 2019-10-30 2019-10-31 SB1910 Shore-based fish surveys around Oahu as part of MHI RAMP 2019 Continuing 2024-05-13 Time frame of benthic imagery collected starting with 2024 NCRMP surveys across the Hawaiian Archipelago. Includes MP2404, the shore-based mission in O'ahu, and SE2406 legs 1 and 2. American Samoa including Tutuila, Manu'a (Ofo, Olosega, and Ta'u), Rose Atoll, and Swains. -171.091706 -168.1373351 -11.04525081 -14.559759 Range 2015-02-15 2015-03-26 HA1501 ASRAMP 2015 Range 2018-06-19 2018-07-18 HA1801 ASRAMP2018 Range 2023-03-30 2023-08-09 RA2301 Pacific-wide 144.634585 -154.804172 28.457971 -14.559759 U.S. Pacific Island Areas Continuing 2010-03-16 Start of Pacific-wide dataset Custom Unclassified Not applicable Not applicable NOAA ESD Data Sharing Recommendations (v9.0) Data can be accessed via NOAA NCEI Ocean Archive. NOAA Ecosystem Science 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 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 Science 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. None Please cite NOAA Ecosystem Science Division (ESD) when using the data. Example: Ecosystem Science Division (ESD); Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (2026). National Coral Reef Monitoring Program: National Coral Reef Monitoring Program: Benthic Cover Derived from Analysis of Benthic Images Collected during Stratified Random Surveys (StRS) across the U.S. Pacific since 2010. NOAA's National Center for Environmental Information, https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/77771 None None https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0317464 2025 Organization NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information https://ror.org/04r0wrp59 NCRMP_BENTHIC_COVER_STRS_HAWAII_2015-2024 Raw data of annotations of benthic photoquadrat images to capture benthic cover data at random sites across Hawaiian Archipelago, including Main Hawaiian Islands and Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. 2024-05-13T00:00:00 CSV - Comma Separated Values (Text) https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0317464 2025 Organization NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information https://ror.org/04r0wrp59 NCRMP_BENTHIC_COVER_STRS_MARIAN_2017-2025 Raw data of annotations of benthic photoquadrat images to capture benthic cover data at random sites across Mariana Archipelago, including Guam and the CNMI. CSV - Comma Separated Values (Text) https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0317464 2025 Organization NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information https://ror.org/04r0wrp59 NCRMP_BENTHIC_COVER_STRS_PRIA_2012-2025 Raw data of annotations of benthic photoquadrat images to capture benthic cover data at random sites across the Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument. CSV - Comma Separated Values (Text) https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0317464 2025 Organization NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information https://ror.org/04r0wrp59 NCRMP_BENTHIC_COVER_STRS_SAMOA_2010-2023 Raw data of annotations of benthic photoquadrat images to capture benthic cover data at random sites across American Samoa. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/region/pacific-islands#science NOAA Fisheries Pacific Islands Region - Science Overview Online Resource PIFSC Oracle database view: MV_BIA_CNET_ANALYSIS_DATA (CoralNet) / MV_BIA_PERC_COVER_PHOTO_CLI_RW (CPCe) Data collected using standard NCRMP benthic survey protocols; accuracy verified through QA/QC procedures. Complete for all surveyed sites across American Samoa, CNMI, Guam, and Hawaii. Data follows consistent schema across regions. Field and lab QA/QC protocols applied; data reviewed before publication. Yes Unknown Yes No Unknown NCEI-MD Unknown NOAA IRC and NOAA Fisheries ITS resources and assets. The stratified random sampling (StRS) design and benthic photoquadrat survey methodology, employed by the NOAA Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD) since 2013. Benthic imagery is collected at stratified random sites. The imagery is analyzed 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://repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/14205 NOAA Institutional Repository The published 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 Oliver, Thomas thomas.oliver@noaa.gov https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0684-1287 1845 Wasp Blvd. Honolulu HI 96818 USA (808)725-5444 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). Person Oliver, Thomas thomas.oliver@noaa.gov https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0684-1287 1845 Wasp Blvd. Honolulu HI 96818 USA (808)725-5444 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. Person Oliver, Thomas thomas.oliver@noaa.gov https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0684-1287 1845 Wasp Blvd. Honolulu HI 96818 USA (808)725-5444 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. Person Oliver, Thomas thomas.oliver@noaa.gov https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0684-1287 1845 Wasp Blvd. Honolulu HI 96818 USA (808)725-5444 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. 77772 Entity 78600 Data Set Cross Reference The same data type as described on this metadata record, but for established fixed (revisited) sites 36155 Data Set Cross Reference Prior region-specific metadata record. 36156 Data Set Cross Reference Prior region-specific metadata record. 36157 Data Set Cross Reference Prior region-specific metadata record. 71814 Data Set Cross Reference Imagery from which benthic cover data was derived gov.noaa.nmfs.inport:77771 Lori Luers 2025-09-17T23:46:32 SysAdmin InPortAdmin 2026-08-28T22:22:34 2026-08-20 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 2026-07-01 1 Year 2027-07-01