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    • National Coral Reef Monitoring Program: Stratified Random Surveys (StRS) of Coral Demography (Adult and Juvenile Corals) across the Pacific Remote Island Areas from 2014 to 2018

    Metadata Updated: November 22, 2025

    NCRMP CORAL DEMOGRAPHIC DATA HAS NOW BEEN MERGED INTO A PACIFIC-WIDE METADATA RECORD -- PLEASE REFER TO https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/71550 FOR MOST UPDATED DATA.

    The data described here result from benthic coral demographic surveys within belt transects of specified length and width for two life stages (juveniles and adults) across the islands and atolls of the Pacific Remote Island Areas from 2014 to 2018. The data provide information on adult coral colony counts, morphology, size, partial mortality (old and recent dead), presence and causation of disease and other compromised health conditions, including bleaching. Juvenile colony surveys include morphology and size. Taxonomic identification of adult colonies is to the species level and genus level for juveniles.

    A two-stage stratified random sampling (StRS) design was employed to survey the coral reef ecosystems of the Pacific Remote Island Areas from 2014 to 2017, and starting in 2018 a one-stage StRS design was employed. 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 (i.e., shallow: >0–6 m; mid-depth: >6–18 m; and deep: >18–30 m), as well as reef zone (i.e., forereef, backreef, lagoon, and protected slope; the latter three only at Johnston and Kingman). Sampling effort allocation was determined based on strata area and sites randomly located within strata. The StRS design effectively reduces estimate variance through stratification using environmental covariates and by sampling more sites rather than more transects per site. Therefore, site-level estimates and site-to-site comparisons should proceed with caution.

    The data were collected as part of the NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC) and Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD; formerly the Coral Reef Ecosystem Division) led National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP) missions around the islands and atolls of the Pacific Remote Island Areas from 2014 to 2018.

    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.

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    Dates

    Metadata Date November 12, 2025
    Metadata Created Date October 19, 2024
    Metadata Updated Date November 22, 2025
    Reference Date(s) 2016-12 (creation), 2019-01 (revision), 2019 (publication)
    Frequency Of Update asNeeded

    Metadata Source

    Harvested from NMFS PIFSC

    Other Data Resources

    Graphic Preview

    Graphic Preview

    Additional Metadata

    Resource Type Dataset
    Metadata Date November 12, 2025
    Metadata Created Date October 19, 2024
    Metadata Updated Date November 22, 2025
    Reference Date(s) 2016-12 (creation), 2019-01 (revision), 2019 (publication)
    Responsible Party (Point of Contact, Custodian)
    Contact Email
    Guid gov.noaa.nmfs.inport:36166
    Access Constraints Cite As: Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, [Date of Access]: National Coral Reef Monitoring Program: Stratified Random Surveys (StRS) of Coral Demography (Adult and Juvenile Corals) across the Pacific Remote Island Areas from 2014 to 2018 [Data Date Range], https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/36166., Access Constraints: None, Use Constraints: Please cite PIFSC Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD) when using the data. Example: Ecosystem Sciences Division; Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (2019). National Coral Reef Monitoring Program: Stratified Random Surveys (StRS) of Coral Demography (Adult and Juvenile Corals) across the Pacific Remote Island Areas since 2014. NOAA's National Center for Environmental Information, https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/36166, 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 -159.972386
    Bbox North Lat 16.780927
    Bbox South Lat -0.382556
    Bbox West Long -176.6252
    Coupled Resource
    Frequency Of Update asNeeded
    Graphic Preview File https://origin-apps-pifsc.fisheries.noaa.gov/cred/img/diver_performing_belt_transect_survey_sm.jpg
    Graphic Preview Type JPG
    Harvest Object Id fbe3d0c4-ba36-4560-b1e8-c83508081aff
    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 belt transect methodology for adult and juvenile corals, employed by the PIFSC Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD) since 2013. A two-stage StRS design was employed from 2014 to 2017 and starting in 2018 a one-stage design was employed.
    Metadata Language eng
    Metadata Type geospatial
    Old Spatial {"type": "Polygon", "coordinates": [[[-176.6252, -0.382556], [-159.972386, -0.382556], [-159.972386, 16.780927], [-176.6252, 16.780927], [-176.6252, -0.382556]]]}
    Progress onGoing
    Spatial Data Service Type
    Spatial Reference System
    Spatial Harvester True
    Temporal Extent Begin 2015-01-26
    Temporal Extent End 2015-02-11

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