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National Coral Reef Monitoring Program: Calcification Rates of Crustose Coralline Algae Derived from Calcification Accretion Units (CAUs) Deployed across the Pacific Remote Island Areas in 2012 or 2015 and Retrieved in 2018 (NCEI Accession 0231439)

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The calcification rate data described here are derived from Calcification Accretion Units (CAUs) that were deployed and retrieved at long-term climate monitoring sites during NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC), Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD) led National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP) missions in American Samoa in 2015 and 2018. CAUs are PVC settlement plates that facilitate the recruitment and colonization of crustose coralline algae, hard corals, and other reef calcifiers. Laboratory experiments show that CCA and coral calcification rates are strongly correlated with seawater chemistry, and shifts in carbonate chemistry conditions due to ocean acidification could lead to reduced calcification and accretion rates and ecological phase shifts in coral reef communities.

Coral reef calcium carbonate accretion rates can be estimated by measuring the change in weight of the CAUs between deployment and retrieval. Monitoring net accretion over successive deployments allows for the detection of changes in reef calcification rates over time. Five units were deployed on the seafloor at each CAU site for 3 years. The number of processed CAUs for a site may be less than the number deployed, either because the units were lost or damaged at sea and therefore not recovered, or in rare instances, due to errors during laboratory processing.

This study provides information about spatial and temporal patterns of reef carbonate calcification and accretion rates and serves as a basis for detecting changes associated with changing seawater chemistry due to ocean acidification. These data can also be used in comparative analyses across natural gradients, thereby assisting efforts to determine whether key reef-building taxa can acclimatize to changing oceanographic environments. These data will have immediate, direct impacts on predictions of reef resilience in a higher carbon dioxide (CO2) world and on the design of reef management strategies.
  • Cite as: Ecosystem Sciences Division, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (2021). National Coral Reef Monitoring Program: Calcification Rates of Crustose Coralline Algae Derived from Calcification Accretion Units (CAUs) Deployed across the Pacific Remote Island Areas in 2012 or 2015 and Retrieved in 2018 (NCEI Accession 0231439). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0231439. Accessed [date].
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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 2012-05-03 to 2018-08-10
Spatial Bounding Box Coordinates
West: -176.6239
East: -159.9788
South: -.38235459
North: 16.7633668
Spatial Coverage Map
General Documentation
Associated Resources
  • National Coral Reef Monitoring Program: Calcification rates of crustose coralline algae derived from calcification accretion units (CAUs) deployed across the Pacific Remote Island Areas
    • NCEI Collection
      Navigate directly to the URL for data access and direct download.
  • Coral Reef Conservation Program (2016). Documentation for NOAA's Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP) National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP) data archived at NCEI (NCEI Accession 0157633). NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0157633.
  • Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, 2022: National Coral Reef Monitoring Program: Calcification Rates of Crustose Coralline Algae Derived from Calcification Accretion Units (CAUs) Deployed across the Pacific Remote Island Areas from 2010 to 2018, https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/36069.
  • Diel Variability in Seawater pH Relates to Calcification and Benthic Community Structure on Coral Reefs
    • Parent ID (indicates this dataset is related to other data):
    • gov.noaa.nodc:NCRMP-CAU-PRIA
Publication Dates
  • publication: 2021-05-25
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
Supplemental Information
Submission Package ID: 288RLH
Purpose CAU data collected as part of NOAA National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP) missions can be used to establish calcium carbonate accretion rate baselines and assess change in reef accretion rates due to ocean acidification and other environmental drivers. The NOAA National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP) details a long-term, ecosystem-scale approach for assessing coral reef climate, fish, benthic, and socioeconomic variables in a consistent and integrated manner. 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 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 provides 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. NCRMP is funded by the CRCP and the NOAA Ocean Acidification Program (OAP), and supported by NOAA Fisheries, NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS), NOAA's Atlantic Oceanographic & Meteorological Laboratory (AOML), NOAA Coral Reef Watch, and many other partners. The Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC), Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD) at NOAA Fisheries leads in-situ NCRMP climate monitoring in the U.S. Pacific Islands Region (formerly under the Pacific Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program [RAMP]). The climate component of NCRMP in the Pacific provides a comprehensive view of climate change impacts on coral reef ecosystems and helps identify areas of resilience and vulnerability. The key indicators used to identify and monitor climate-driven trends include 1) thermal stress caused by changes in sea temperature, 2) ocean acidification resulting from changes in carbonate chemistry, and 3) associated ecological impacts on carbonate accretion rates, erosion, and benthic community structure. ESD scientists work closely with CRCP and partners during annual Pacific NCRMP missions to deploy oceanographic (subsurface temperature recorders) and ecological (calcification accretion units [CAUs] and bioerosion monitoring units [BMUs]) instruments at fixed sites in the Pacific Ocean and conduct CTD casts and water sampling to evaluate coral reef environments. The in-situ data and satellite-based observations are also used in modeling efforts. Innovative analysis techniques are used to develop products that provide scientists, managers, decision makers and the public a better understanding of a region's resources and how they are changing over time.
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 (2021). National Coral Reef Monitoring Program: Calcification Rates of Crustose Coralline Algae Derived from Calcification Accretion Units (CAUs) Deployed across the Pacific Remote Island Areas in 2012 or 2015 and Retrieved in 2018 (NCEI Accession 0231439). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0231439. Accessed [date].
Cited Authors
  • Ecosystem Sciences Division, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center
Principal Investigators
Collaborators
Contributors
Resource Providers
Points of Contact
  • Michael Akridge
Publishers
Acknowledgments
  • Related Funding Agency: NOAA Ocean Acidification Program
  • Related Funding Agency: NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program
Theme keywords NODC DATA TYPES THESAURUS NODC OBSERVATION TYPES THESAURUS WMO_CategoryCode
  • oceanography
CoRIS Discovery Thesaurus
  • Numeric Data Sets > Calcification Rate
CoRIS Theme Thesaurus
  • EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Aquatic Habitat > Reef Habitat
  • EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Vegetation > Algae > Algal Cover
  • EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Vegetation > Algae > Algal Growth > Calcification Rate
  • EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Vegetation > Algae > Calcareous Macroalgae
  • EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Vegetation > Algae > Crustose Coralline Algae
  • EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Vegetation > Algae > Encrusting Macroalgae
  • EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Vegetation > Algae > Fleshy Macroalgae
  • EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Vegetation > Algae > Reef Monitoring and Assessment
  • EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Vegetation > Algae > Reef Monitoring and Assessment > Calcification Accretion Unit (CAU)
  • EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment
  • EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Ocean Chemistry > Calcification
  • EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Ocean Chemistry > Carbonate Chemistry
  • EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Ocean Chemistry > Ocean Acidification
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords
Data Center keywords NODC COLLECTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS NODC SUBMITTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS 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
Platform keywords NODC PLATFORM NAMES THESAURUS Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Platform Keywords ICES/SeaDataNet Ship Codes
Instrument keywords NODC INSTRUMENT TYPES THESAURUS Provider Instruments
  • CAU
  • Calcification Plate
  • Settling Plate
  • calcification accretion unit
Place keywords NODC SEA AREA NAMES THESAURUS CoRIS Place Thesaurus
  • 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 > 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)
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords
Project keywords NODC PROJECT NAMES THESAURUS CRCP Project
  • 1221
  • 409
  • 587
  • 743
  • C204 Pacific Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program (Pacific RAMP): Biennial monitoring for the US Pacific Islands and Atolls
  • National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP)
  • Pacific Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program: Monitoring coral reef ecosystems of the US Pacific Islands and Atolls
Provider Project Names
  • RAMP
  • Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program
Keywords NCEI ACCESSION NUMBER
Use Constraints
  • Cite as: Ecosystem Sciences Division, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (2021). National Coral Reef Monitoring Program: Calcification Rates of Crustose Coralline Algae Derived from Calcification Accretion Units (CAUs) Deployed across the Pacific Remote Island Areas in 2012 or 2015 and Retrieved in 2018 (NCEI Accession 0231439). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0231439. 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
  • 2021-05-25T18:56:10Z - NCEI Accession 0231439 v1.1 was published.
Output Datasets
Lineage information for: dataset
Processing Steps
  • Parameter or Variable: CALCIFICATION (measured); Units: gram/centimeter/year; Observation Category: laboratory analysis; Sampling Instrument: calcification accretion unit (CAU); Sampling and Analyzing Method: Assembled calcification accretion units (CAUs) are attached to the benthos using stainless steel threaded rods. Five CAUs are deployed in roughly 15m depths at permanent monitoring sites established by the NOAA Fisheries, Ecosystem Sciences Division. Calcareous organisms, primarily crustose coralline algae and encrusting corals, recruit to these CAUs and accrete/calcify carbonate skeletons over 3 to 6 year deployments. Once recovered from the seafloor, the CAUs are processed to provide estimates of net calcification. CAUs have been deployed and replaced at existing, long-term monitoring sites during National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP) cruises, in accordance with protocols developed by Price et al. 2012.; Data Quality Method: Prior to processing the calcification accretion unit (CAU) samples, laboratory analysts are trained to properly use relevant lab equipment (analytical balance, vacuum filtration pump, etc.) and are familiarized with the data entry tool/spreadsheet. Laboratory analysts are also required to go through the CAU Processing Standard Operating Procedure and other training materials..
Acquisition Information (collection)
Instrument
  • scale
Platform
  • NOAA Ship Hi'ialakai
Last Modified: 2023-02-07T19:47:58Z
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