Dataset Overview | National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)

Pacific Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program: Belt transect surveys of corals at U.S. Pacific reefs from 2008-01-27 to 2008-04-27 (even size-class bins) (NCEI Accession 0189728)

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The coral demographic data described here result from belt transect surveys conducted by the Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC), Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD)---formerly the Coral Reef Ecosystem Division---from January 27 to April 27, 2008 at coral reef sites in American Samoa and the Pacific Remote Island Areas as part of NOAA's Pacific Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program (Pacific RAMP), with funding from the NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP).

Surveys were conducted at fixed sites at depths ranging from 3-21 m. Sites were surveyed using belt transects to collect coral colony metrics. At each site, the surveyor listed and identified to the genus or species level, all coral colonies occurring within 0.5 sq. meters of each side of two, 25-m transect lines; and recorded the visually estimated size class to which the maximum diameter of each colony belonged (0-5 cm; 6-10 cm; 11-20 cm; 21-30 cm; etc. Size-class bins continue through 300 cm in 10-cm increments).

These coral demographic data provide information on coral abundance (density, proportion occurrence, and total colony abundance), size distribution, and taxonomic richness.

Dataset Citation

Cite as: Ecosystem Sciences Division, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (2019). Pacific Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program: Belt transect surveys of corals at U.S. Pacific reefs from 2008-01-27 to 2008-04-27 (even size-class bins) (NCEI Accession 0189728). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0189728. Accessed [date].

Dataset Identifiers

ISO 19115-2 Metadata

gov.noaa.nodc:0189728

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Distribution Formats	CSV
Ordering Instructions	Contact NCEI for other distribution options and instructions.
Distributor	NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information +1-301-713-3277 NCEI.Info@noaa.gov
Dataset Point of Contact	NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information ncei.info@noaa.gov

Time Period	2008-01-27 to 2008-04-07
Spatial Bounding Box Coordinates	West: -176.624 East: -159.973 South: -14.5593 North: 16.7632
Spatial Coverage Map

General Documentation	NCEI Dataset Landing Page Navigate directly to the URL for a descriptive web page with download links. Descriptive Information Navigate directly to the URL for a descriptive web page with download links.
Associated Resources	Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, 2019: Pacific Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program: Belt Transect Surveys of Corals at U.S. Pacific Reefs in 2008 (even size-class bins), https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/25290. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/25290 InPort Metadata Record

Publication Dates	publication: 2019-06-20
Data Presentation Form	Digital table - digital representation of facts or figures systematically displayed, especially in columns
Dataset Progress Status	Complete - production of the data has been completed Historical archive - data has been stored in an offline storage facility
Data Update Frequency	As needed
Purpose	Belt transect surveys of corals were conducted during Pacific Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program (Pacific RAMP) cruises to support a long-term NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP) for sustainable management and conservation of coral reef ecosystems. Pacific RAMP, established by the Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC), Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD) and supported by NOAA's Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP), was tasked with documenting and understanding the status and trends of coral reef ecosystems in the U.S. Pacific Islands Region. Pacific RAMP involved interdisciplinary monitoring of oceanographic conditions and biological surveys of organisms associated with hard-bottom habitats in the 0-30 m depth range and aimed to support integrated, consistent and comparable monitoring of coral reef systems. RAMP missions were conducted in each Pacific region, including the Hawaiian and Mariana Archipelagos, American Samoa, and the Pacific Remote Island Areas, on a biennial cycle.
Use Limitations	accessLevel: Public Distribution liability: NOAA and NCEI make no warranty, expressed or implied, regarding these data, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty. NOAA and NCEI cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in these data. If appropriate, NCEI can only certify that the data it distributes are an authentic copy of the records that were accepted for inclusion in the NCEI archives.

Dataset Citation	Cite as: Ecosystem Sciences Division, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (2019). Pacific Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program: Belt transect surveys of corals at U.S. Pacific reefs from 2008-01-27 to 2008-04-27 (even size-class bins) (NCEI Accession 0189728). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0189728. Accessed [date].
Cited Authors	Ecosystem Sciences Division, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center
Principal Investigators	Bernardo Vargas-Ángel US DOC; NOAA; NMFS; Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center; Ecosystem Sciences Division
Collaborators	Kevin Trick US DOC; NOAA; NMFS; Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center; Ecosystem Sciences Division
Contributors	US DOC; NOAA; NMFS; Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center; Ecosystem Sciences Division
Resource Providers	US DOC; NOAA; NMFS; Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center; Ecosystem Sciences Division
Publishers	NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
Acknowledgments	Funding Agency: NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program

Theme keywords	NODC DATA TYPES THESAURUS biological data CORAL CORAL - CENSUS CORAL - COLONY SIZE CORAL - SPECIES IDENTIFICATION NODC OBSERVATION TYPES THESAURUS biological in situ survey survey - biological survey - coral reef survey - swimmer/diver WMO_CategoryCode oceanography CoRIS Discovery Thesaurus Numeric Data Sets > Biology CoRIS Theme Thesaurus EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Ecological Dynamics > Species Richness EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment > Coral Colony Size and Condition EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment > Rapid assessment studies EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs > Coral Reef Ecology EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs > Coral Reef Ecology > BioDiversity EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs > Coral reef ecology > Coral cover EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Marine Biology > Coral EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Marine Biology > Coral Communities Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords EARTH SCIENCE > BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION EARTH SCIENCE > BIOSPHERE > ECOSYSTEMS > MARINE ECOSYSTEMS > REEF > CORAL REEF EARTH SCIENCE > SOLID EARTH > GEOMORPHIC LANDFORMS/PROCESSES > COASTAL LANDFORMS > CORAL REEFS Provider Keywords Coral Belt Survey Coral Disease REA Rapid Ecological Assessment
Data Center keywords	NODC COLLECTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS US DOC; NOAA; NMFS; Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center; Ecosystem Sciences Division NODC SUBMITTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS US DOC; NOAA; NMFS; Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center; Ecosystem Sciences Division Contributing Data Centers CRED CREP Coral Reef Ecosystem Division Coral Reef Ecosystem Program ESD Ecosystem Sciences Division PIFSC Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center 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
Platform keywords	NODC PLATFORM NAMES THESAURUS NOAA Ship Hi'ialakai Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Platform Keywords Ships ICES/SeaDataNet Ship Codes Hi'ialakai (call sign: WTEY, ICES code: 33HL, 2004)
Instrument keywords	NODC INSTRUMENT TYPES THESAURUS swimmer/diver visual observation Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Instrument Keywords VISUAL OBSERVATIONS > VISUAL OBSERVATIONS
Place keywords	NODC SEA AREA NAMES THESAURUS National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa North Pacific Ocean Rose Atoll Marine National Monument South Pacific Ocean CoRIS Place Thesaurus COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > American Samoa > American Samoa > American Samoa (14S170W0000) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > American Samoa > American Samoa > Manu'a Islands (14S170W0038) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > American Samoa > American Samoa > Ofu Island (14S169W0013) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > American Samoa > American Samoa > Olosega Island (14S169W0014) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > American Samoa > American Samoa > Rose Atoll (14S168W0001) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > American Samoa > American Samoa > Swains Atoll (11S171W0001) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > American Samoa > American Samoa > Ta'u Island (14S169W0012) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > American Samoa > American Samoa > Tutuila Island (14S170W0016) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > American Samoa > South Bank (14S170W0067) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > USA Minor Outlying Islands > Baker Island (00N176W0001) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > USA Minor Outlying Islands > Howland Island (00S176W0001) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > USA Minor Outlying Islands > Jarvis Island (00S160W0001) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > USA Minor Outlying Islands > Kingman Reef (06N162W0001) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > USA Minor Outlying Islands > Palmyra Atoll (05N162W0001) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > American Samoa > American Samoa (14S170W0000) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > American Samoa > Manu'a Islands (14S170W0038) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > American Samoa > Rose Atoll (14S168W0001) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > American Samoa > South Bank (14S170W0067) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > American Samoa > Swains Atoll (11S171W0001) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > American Samoa > Tutuila Island (14S170W0016) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Baker Island > Baker Island (00N176W0001) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Howland Island > Howland Island (00S176W0001) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Line Islands > Jarvis Island (00S160W0001) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Line Islands > Kingman Reef (06N162W0001) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Line Islands > Palmyra Atoll (05N162W0001) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Manu'a Group > Ofu Island (14S169W0013) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Manu'a Group > Olosega Island (14S169W0014) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Manu'a Group > Ta'u Island (14S169W0012) Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords OCEAN > PACIFIC OCEAN > CENTRAL PACIFIC OCEAN > AMERICAN SAMOA OCEAN > PACIFIC OCEAN > NORTH PACIFIC OCEAN OCEAN > PACIFIC OCEAN > SOUTH PACIFIC OCEAN Provider Place Names PRIA Pacific Remote Island Areas
Project keywords	NODC PROJECT NAMES THESAURUS Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP) CORAL REEF STUDIES Pacific Reef and Assessment Monitoring Program (Pacific RAMP) CRCP Project 1221 587 C204 Pacific Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program (Pacific RAMP): Biennial monitoring for the US Pacific Islands and Atolls Pacific Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program: Monitoring coral reef ecosystems of the US Pacific Islands and Atolls Send2NCEI Submission Package ID 3736P3
Keywords	NCEI ACCESSION NUMBER 0189728

Use Constraints	Cite as: Ecosystem Sciences Division, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (2019). Pacific Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program: Belt transect surveys of corals at U.S. Pacific reefs from 2008-01-27 to 2008-04-27 (even size-class bins) (NCEI Accession 0189728). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0189728. Accessed [date].
Access Constraints	Use liability: NOAA and NCEI cannot provide any warranty as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of furnished data. Users assume responsibility to determine the usability of these data. The user is responsible for the results of any application of this data for other than its intended purpose.
Fees	In most cases, electronic downloads of the data are free. However, fees may apply for custom orders, data certifications, copies of analog materials, and data distribution on physical media.

Lineage information for: dataset
Processing Steps	2019-06-20T15:30:27Z - NCEI Accession 0189728 v1.1 was published.
Output Datasets	NCEI Accession 0189728 v1.1 NCEI Accession 0189728 v1.1 (download) published 2019-06-20T15:30:27Z

Lineage information for: dataset
Processing Steps	Parameter or Variable: CORAL (measured); Units: unitless; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: swimmer/diver; Sampling and Analyzing Method: Coral Belt Version B, even size-class bins: At each site, benthic Rapid Ecological Assessment (REA) surveys of corals were conducted along dedicated transects lines deployed following a specific isobath. At each site, the surveyor listed and identified to the genus or species level, all coral colonies occurring within 0.5 m of each side of the transect lines; and recorded the visually estimated size class to which the maximum diameter of each colony belonged (0-5 cm; 6–10 cm; 11-20 cm; 21-30 cm; etc. Size-class bins continue in 10-cm increments through 300 cm). Two 25-m transects were deployed.. Parameter or Variable: CORAL - CENSUS (measured); Units: count; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: swimmer/diver; Sampling and Analyzing Method: Number of coral colonies of a specific taxon belonging to a specific size class per survey transect.. Parameter or Variable: CORAL - COLONY SIZE (measured); Units: cm; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: swimmer/diver; Sampling and Analyzing Method: Coral colony size binned into 1 of 29 size-class categories (0-5 cm; 6–10 cm; 11-20 cm; 21-30 cm; etc.). Bin size-class categories continue in 10-cm increments through 300 cm.. Parameter or Variable: CORAL - SPECIES IDENTIFICATION (measured); Units: unitless; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: swimmer/diver; Sampling and Analyzing Method: Scientific name of observed organism to the finest taxonomic resolution that divers can identify a colony to, usually either to species or genus level identification.

Lineage information for: dataset

Processing Steps

Parameter or Variable: CORAL (measured); Units: unitless; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: swimmer/diver; Sampling and Analyzing Method: Coral Belt Version B, even size-class bins: At each site, benthic Rapid Ecological Assessment (REA) surveys of corals were conducted along dedicated transects lines deployed following a specific isobath. At each site, the surveyor listed and identified to the genus or species level, all coral colonies occurring within 0.5 m of each side of the transect lines; and recorded the visually estimated size class to which the maximum diameter of each colony belonged (0-5 cm; 6–10 cm; 11-20 cm; 21-30 cm; etc. Size-class bins continue in 10-cm increments through 300 cm). Two 25-m transects were deployed..
Parameter or Variable: CORAL - CENSUS (measured); Units: count; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: swimmer/diver; Sampling and Analyzing Method: Number of coral colonies of a specific taxon belonging to a specific size class per survey transect..
Parameter or Variable: CORAL - COLONY SIZE (measured); Units: cm; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: swimmer/diver; Sampling and Analyzing Method: Coral colony size binned into 1 of 29 size-class categories (0-5 cm; 6–10 cm; 11-20 cm; 21-30 cm; etc.). Bin size-class categories continue in 10-cm increments through 300 cm..
Parameter or Variable: CORAL - SPECIES IDENTIFICATION (measured); Units: unitless; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: swimmer/diver; Sampling and Analyzing Method: Scientific name of observed organism to the finest taxonomic resolution that divers can identify a colony to, usually either to species or genus level identification.

Acquisition Information (collection)
Instrument	swimmer/diver visual observation
Platform	NOAA Ship Hi'ialakai

Last Modified: 2024-09-10T19:39:37Z
For questions about the information on this page, please email: ncei.info@noaa.gov

Pacific Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program: Belt transect surveys of corals at U.S. Pacific reefs from 2008-01-27 to 2008-04-27 (even size-class bins) (NCEI Accession 0189728)

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