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National Coral Reef Monitoring Program: Benthic Images Collected from Stratified Random Sites (StRS) across the Hawaiian Archipelago from 2013 to 2019

Metadata Updated: March 16, 2024

The data described here are benthic habitat imagery (color-corrected photographs) from benthic photo-quadrat surveys conducted along transects at stratified random sites by the Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC) Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD)--formerly the Coral Reef Ecosystem Division--as part of the NOAA National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP). The photo-quadrat surveys are part of Rapid Ecological Assessment (REA) surveys for corals and fish conducted during ESD-led NCRMP missions across the Hawaiian Archipelago in 2013, 2016, 2015, and 2019. In 2015, there was also a NCRMP (formerly known as RAMP) mission led by the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument (PMNM) (HA1505) to the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI).

A stratified random sampling (StRS) design was employed to survey the coral reef ecosystems across the Hawaiian Archipelago. 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 Main Hawaiian Islands. Allocation of sampling effort was proportional to strata area and variance in coral density. Sites were surveyed using photo-quadrats along transects to collect benthic imagery to ultimately produce estimates of relative abundance (percent cover), frequency of occurrence, benthic community taxonomic composition and relative generic richness.

The StRS design effectively reduces estimate variance through stratification using environmental covariates and by sampling more sites rather than sampling more transects at a site. Therefore, site-level estimates and site to site comparisons should be used with caution.

Access & Use Information

License: No license information was provided. If this work was prepared by an officer or employee of the United States government as part of that person's official duties it is considered a U.S. Government Work.

Downloads & Resources

Dates

Metadata Date February 29, 2024
Metadata Created Date January 27, 2023
Metadata Updated Date March 16, 2024
Reference Date(s) 2017-01 (creation), 2020-06 (revision), 2020 (publication)
Frequency Of Update asNeeded

Metadata Source

Harvested from NMFS PIFSC

Additional Metadata

Resource Type Dataset
Metadata Date February 29, 2024
Metadata Created Date January 27, 2023
Metadata Updated Date March 16, 2024
Reference Date(s) 2017-01 (creation), 2020-06 (revision), 2020 (publication)
Responsible Party (Point of Contact, Custodian)
Contact Email
Guid gov.noaa.nmfs.inport:36152
Access Constraints Cite As: Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, [Date of Access]: National Coral Reef Monitoring Program: Benthic Images Collected from Stratified Random Sites (StRS) across the Hawaiian Archipelago from 2013 to 2019 [Data Date Range], https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/36152., Access Constraints: None, Use Constraints: Please cite NOAA Fisheries, Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD) when using the data. Example: Ecosystem Sciences Division; Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, 2020: National Coral Reef Monitoring Program: Benthic Images Collected from Stratified Random Sites (StRS) across the Hawaiian Archipelago from 2013 to 2019, https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/36152., 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.
Bbox East Long -154.804172
Bbox North Lat 22.218748
Bbox South Lat 18.91922507
Bbox West Long -160.251839
Coupled Resource
Frequency Of Update asNeeded
Harvest Object Id b02b5566-14c5-4bb7-aefe-f91d96ef9778
Harvest Source Id c0beac72-5f43-4455-8c33-1b345fbc2dfe
Harvest Source Title NMFS PIFSC
Licence NOAA provides no warranty, nor accepts any liability occurring from any incomplete, incorrect, or misleading data, or from any incorrect, incomplete, or misleading use of the data. It is the responsibility of the user to determine whether or not the data is suitable for the intended purpose.
Lineage The stratified random sampling (StRS) design and benthic photoquadrat survey methodology, employed by the NOAA Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD) from 2013 to 2019. Benthic imagery is collected at stratified random sites. These photos are color-corrected (if necessary) prior to analysis. The data management team also uses an optical validation script to re-name photos and enforce several validation checks.
Metadata Language eng
Metadata Type geospatial
Old Spatial {"type": "Polygon", "coordinates": [[[-160.251839, 18.91922507], [-154.804172, 18.91922507], [-154.804172, 22.218748], [-160.251839, 22.218748], [-160.251839, 18.91922507]]]}
Progress onGoing
Spatial Data Service Type
Spatial Reference System
Spatial Harvester True
Temporal Extent Begin 2013-08-02
Temporal Extent End 2013-08-22

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