gov.noaa.nodc:0213589 eng utf8 dataset NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information ncei.info@noaa.gov https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/contact HTTPS NOAA Contact Information Information for contacts at NCEI. information custodian 2025-09-29T21:23:19Z ISO 19115-2 Geographic Information - Metadata - Part 2: Extensions for Imagery and Gridded Data ISO 19115-2:2009(E) Patterns of parrotfish predation on Orbicella annularis and coral tissue regeneration from bite scars on the Caribbean islands of St. Croix and Bonaire from 2018-07-02 to 2019-08-24 (NCEI Accession 0213589) 2020-07-29 publication 2020-07-23 creation NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information gov.noaa.nodc:0213589 NCEI Archive Management System 0213589 NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information ncei.info@noaa.gov https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/contact HTTPS NCEI Contact Information Information for contacts at NCEI. information publisher Hannah S. Rempel UT Austin Marine Science Institute hannah.rempel@gmail.com http://www.utmsi.utexas.edu HTTP UT Austin Marine Science Institute website Institution web page information resourceProvider California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo http://www.calpoly.edu/ HTTP California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo website Institution web page information resourceProvider Hannah Sima Rempel California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo hannah.rempel@gmail.com http://www.calpoly.edu/ HTTP California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo website Institution web page information pointOfContact Benjamin Ruttenberg California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo bruttenb@calpoly.edu http://www.calpoly.edu/ HTTP California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo website Institution web page information principalInvestigator Rempel, Hannah S. University of Texas at Austin author Bodwin, Kelly N. author Ruttenberg, Benjamin I. California Polytechnic State University http://www.calpoly.edu/ HTTP California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo website Institution web page information author California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo http://www.calpoly.edu/ HTTP California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo website Institution web page information contributor tableDigital To determine the patterns and thresholds of tissue regeneration in Orbicella annularis coral colonies from parrotfish predation, we monitored tissue regeneration of fresh parrotfish bite scars on O. annularis colonies over time across two Caribbean islands, St. Croix and Bonaire. We monitored colonies on St. Croix from June to July 2018 for up to 28 days on Bonaire from June to August 2019 for up to 64 days. This file includes the four datasets used in our study entitled 'Impacts of parrotfish predation on a major reef-building coral: quantifying healing rates and thresholds of coral recovery' (https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-020-01977-9). For a detailed description of methods, please refer to this publication. Dataset overview: 1) 'A1_data_overview.csv', a file that describes each variable within each of the subsequent datasets. 2) OANN_scar_healing_after_up_to_28_days.csv, the total observed tissue regeneration of parrotfish bite scars on Orbicella annularis colonies on St. Croix and Bonaire between the initial monitoring date and after 21-28 days of monitoring. 3) OANN_scar_healing_after_up_to_64_days.csv, the total observed tissue regeneration of parrotfish bite scars on Orbicella annularis colonies on Bonaire between the initial monitoring data and after 55-64 days of monitoring. 4) OANN_scar_healing_time_series.csv, time series observations of tissue regeneration of parrotfish bite scars on Orbicella annularis colonies on St. Croix and Bonaire between each 2-7 day monitoring interval over the course of the study. There are multiple, successive observations of tissue regeneration for each scars on each monitoring day. 5) OANN_scar_standing_stock.csv, the distribution of haphazardly surveyed parrotfish predation scars on St. Croix and Bonaire at a point in time observed within 30m x 1m belt transects conducted across a range of depths up to 18m. This dataset includes the total abundance of scars per colony, the number of fresh bite scars, and the estimated minimum, median, and maximum observed scar per colony and colony size measurements for all Orbicella annularis colonies with parrotfish predation scars present within transects. Methods overview: We conducted this at four sites on St. Croix from June to July of 2018 and four sites on Bonaire from June to August of 2019. At each site, we opportunistically tagged O. annularis colonies with recent parrotfish bite scars. For each colony, we recorded the colony surface area, depth in the water column, and the abundance of recent parrotfish bite scars. For each scar on the colony, we took a close up photograph of the scar with a size reference. We returned to photograph scars every 2 to 7 days, with more frequent monitoring at the start of the study. On St. Croix, we monitored scars for 21- 28 days or until the scars fully healed (i.e., a soft tissue layer had completely enclosed the scar area). Research on tissue regeneration in O. annularis suggests that the majority of scar tissue regeneration occurs within the first few weeks after scars are inflicted, though scars may continue to heal for up to almost two months (Meesters et al. 1994, 1997). Therefore, on Bonaire, we monitored scars for 55- 64 days or until scars fully healed. We used Image J 1.46r to trace and measure the surface area of each scar on a given monitoring day and used these measurements to calculate change in scar area over time. References: Meesters EH, Noordeloos M, Bak RPM (1994) Damage and regeneration: Links to growth in the reef-building coral Montastraea annularis. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 112:119-128 Meesters EH, Pauchli W, Bak RPM (1997) Predicting regeneration of physical damage on a reef-building coral by regeneration capacity and lesion shape. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 146:91-99 We collected these data to compare patterns in Orbicella annularis tissue regeneration from fresh parrotfish predation scars based on the initial scar surface area, island, and other variables. Funding Agency: Harvard Travellers Club Permanent Fund Funding Agency: Dr. Earl H. Myers & Ethel M. Myers Oceanographic & Marine Biology Trust Funding Agency: California Polytechnic State University Bill & Melinda Frost Fund Funding Agency: American Museum of Natural History Lerner-Gray Memorial Fund Funding Agency: California State University Council on Ocean Affairs, Science & Technology (CSU COAST) Funding Agency: NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program completed historicalArchive NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information ncei.info@noaa.gov https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/contact HTTPS NCEI Contact Information Information for contacts at NCEI. information pointOfContact asNeeded https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/metadata/landing-page/bin/gfx?id=gov.noaa.nodc:0213589 Preview graphic PNG 0213589 NCEI ACCESSION NUMBER 2020-07-16 publication CORAL - COLONY SIZE CORAL - FISH BITES theme NODC DATA TYPES THESAURUS photograph swimmer/diver visual observation instrument NODC INSTRUMENT TYPES THESAURUS biological in situ laboratory analyses theme NODC OBSERVATION TYPES THESAURUS California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo dataCentre NODC COLLECTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo dataCentre NODC SUBMITTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP) CORAL REEF STUDIES project NODC PROJECT NAMES THESAURUS Caribbean Sea place NODC SEA AREA NAMES THESAURUS oceanography theme WMO_CategoryCode 2012-09-15 publication FY16 Domestic Grant NA16NOS4820050 Quantifying corallivory by parrotfishes: species-specific preferences and impacts on threatened corals project CRCP Project Numeric Data Sets > Biology theme CoRIS Discovery Thesaurus EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Aquatic Habitat > Reef Habitat EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Ecological Dynamics > Predation > Coral Predation EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Feeding Scars On Hard Coral EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Feeding Scars On Hard Coral > Fish EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Damage Assessment > Coral Recovery EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment > Benthos Analysis > Transect Monitoring > Belt Transect EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment > In Situ Biological EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment > Photographic Analysis EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Scleractinia (stony corals) EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs > Coral Reef Ecology theme CoRIS Theme Thesaurus EARTH SCIENCE > BIOSPHERE > ECOSYSTEMS > MARINE ECOSYSTEMS > REEF > CORAL REEF theme Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords 2026 revision 24 Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Greenbelt MD https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords HTTPS GCMD Keyword Forum Page Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2025. GCMD Keywords, Version 21. Greenbelt, MD: Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). URL (GCMD Keyword Forum Page): https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD+Keywords information custodian VISUAL OBSERVATIONS > VISUAL OBSERVATIONS instrument Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Instrument Keywords 2026 revision 24 Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Greenbelt MD https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords HTTPS GCMD Keyword Forum Page Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2025. GCMD Keywords, Version 21. Greenbelt, MD: Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). URL (GCMD Keyword Forum Page): https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD+Keywords information custodian COUNTRY/TERRITORY > Netherlands Antilles > Bonaire > Bonaire (12N068W0002) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > Netherlands Antilles > Bonaire > Karpata (12N068W0006) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > U. S. Virgin Islands > St. Croix > Buck Island Reef (17N064W0001) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > U. S. Virgin Islands > St. Croix > Cane Garden Bay (17N064W0014) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > U. S. Virgin Islands > St. Croix > St. Croix (17N064W0003) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > U. S. Virgin Islands > U. S. Virgin Islands > U. S. Virgin Islands (17N064W0000) OCEAN BASIN > Atlantic Ocean > Caribbean Sea > Bonaire > Karpata (12N068W0006) OCEAN BASIN > Atlantic Ocean > Caribbean Sea > Leeward Group > Bonaire (12N068W0002) OCEAN BASIN > Atlantic Ocean > Caribbean Sea > Virgin Islands > Lesser Antilles > U. S. Virgin Islands (17N064W0000) OCEAN BASIN > Atlantic Ocean > Caribbean Sea > Virgin Islands > St. Croix > Buck Island Reef (17N064W0001) OCEAN BASIN > Atlantic Ocean > Caribbean Sea > Virgin Islands > St. Croix > Cane Garden Bay (17N064W0014) OCEAN BASIN > Atlantic Ocean > Caribbean Sea > Virgin Islands > Virgin Islands > St. Croix (17N064W0003) place CoRIS Place Thesaurus OCEAN > ATLANTIC OCEAN > NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN > CARIBBEAN SEA place Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords 2026 revision 24 Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Greenbelt MD https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords HTTPS GCMD Keyword Forum Page Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2025. GCMD Keywords, Version 21. Greenbelt, MD: Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). URL (GCMD Keyword Forum Page): https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD+Keywords information custodian B6TCXG Send2NCEI Submission Package ID accessLevel: public otherRestrictions Cite as: Rempel, Hannah S.; Bodwin, Kelly N.; Ruttenberg, Benjamin I. (2020). Patterns of parrotfish predation on Orbicella annularis and coral tissue regeneration from bite scars on the Caribbean islands of St. Croix and Bonaire from 2018-07-02 to 2019-08-24 (NCEI Accession 0213589). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0213589. Accessed [date]. 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. otherRestrictions 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. Rempel, H. S., Bodwin, K. N., & Ruttenberg, B. I. (2020). Impacts of parrotfish predation on a major reef-building coral: quantifying healing rates and thresholds of coral recovery. Coral Reefs, 39(5), 1441–1452. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-020-01977-9 2020-07-28 publication International DOI Foundation (IDF) https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-020-01977-9 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-020-01977-9 HTTPS https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-020-01977-9 journal article information Rempel, Hannah S. University of Texas at Austin author Bodwin, Kelly N. author Ruttenberg, Benjamin I. California Polytechnic State University http://www.calpoly.edu/ HTTP California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo website Institution web page information author Springer Science and Business Media LLC publisher documentDigital Coral Reefs 39(5) ISSN 0722-4028, ISSN 1432-0975, pp. 1441-1452 crossReference sciencePaper Meesters, E., Noordeloos, M., & Bak, R. (1994). Damage and regeneration: links to growth in the reef-building coral Montastrea annularis. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 112, 119–128. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps112119 1994 publication International DOI Foundation (IDF) https://doi.org/10.3354/meps112119 https://doi.org/10.3354/meps112119 HTTPS https://doi.org/10.3354/meps112119 journal article information Meesters, EH author Noordeloos, M author Bak, RPM author Inter-Research Science Center publisher documentDigital Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 112 ISSN 0171-8630, ISSN 1616-1599, pp. 119-128 crossReference sciencePaper Meesters, E., Pauchli, W., & Bak, R. (1997). Predicting regeneration of physical damage on a reef-building coral by regeneration capacity and lesion shape. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 146, 91–99. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps146091 1997 publication International DOI Foundation (IDF) https://doi.org/10.3354/meps146091 https://doi.org/10.3354/meps146091 HTTPS https://doi.org/10.3354/meps146091 journal article information Meesters, EH author Pauchli, W author Bak, RPM author Inter-Research Science Center publisher documentDigital Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 146 ISSN 0171-8630, ISSN 1616-1599, pp. 91-99 crossReference sciencePaper eng; USA utf8 environment oceans biota -68.352684 -64.6087981 12.125726 17.7878653 2018-07-02 2019-08-24 NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information +1-301-713-3277 ncei.info@noaa.gov pointOfContact 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. Contact NCEI for other distribution options and instructions. CSV 0.636 https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0213589 HTTPS Web browser NCEI Dataset Landing Page Navigate directly to the URL for a descriptive web page with download links. information https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/oas/213589 HTTPS Web browser Descriptive Information Navigate directly to the URL for a descriptive web page with download links. information https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/download/213589 HTTPS Web browser HTTPS Navigate directly to the URL for data access and direct download. download ftp://ftp-oceans.ncei.noaa.gov/nodc/archive/arc0158/0213589/ FTP Any FTP client FTP These data are available through the File Transfer Protocol (FTP). FTP is no longer supported by most internet browsers. You may copy and paste the FTP link to the data into an FTP client (e.g., FileZilla or WinSCP). download dataset NCEI Accession 0213589 v1.1 was published. 2020-07-29T20:32:16Z NCEI Accession 0213589 v1.1 publication https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0213589/1.1 HTTPS NCEI Accession 0213589 v1.1 published 2020-07-29T20:32:16Z download dataset Parameter or Variable: island (measured); Units: N/A; Observation Category: other; Sampling Instrument: Not applicable; Sampling and Analyzing Method: This is a categorical variable of the names of the islands in the Caribbean on which the data were collected (St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands and Bonaire, Dutch Caribbean) Parameter or Variable: site (measured); Units: N/A; Observation Category: other; Sampling Instrument: Not applicable; Sampling and Analyzing Method: This is a categorical variable of the names of the study sites on St. Croix and Bonaire Parameter or Variable: site_latitude (measured); Units: Decimal Degrees; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: Garmin GPS 72; Sampling and Analyzing Method: To estimate the coordinates of a central location at each study site sites we towed a Garmin GPS 72 receiver on a surface float while on SCUBA Parameter or Variable: site_longitude (measured); Units: Decimal Degrees; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: Garmin GPS 72; Sampling and Analyzing Method: To estimate the coordinates of a central location at each study site sites we towed a Garmin GPS 72 receiver on a surface float while on SCUBA Parameter or Variable: initial_monitoring_date (measured); Units: YYYY-MM-DD; Observation Category: other; Sampling Instrument: N/A; Sampling and Analyzing Method: The initial date on which we began monitoring fresh parrotfish bite scars on Orbicella annularis coral colonies in years, months and days (YYYY-MM-DD) Parameter or Variable: final_monitoring_date (measured); Units: YYYY-MM-DD; Observation Category: other; Sampling Instrument: N/A; Sampling and Analyzing Method: The final date on which we monitored parrotfish bite scars on Orbicella annularis coral colonies in years, months and days (YYYY-MM-DD) Parameter or Variable: days_monitored (measured); Units: days; Observation Category: other; Sampling Instrument: N/A; Sampling and Analyzing Method: The total days over which we monitored tissue regeneration of a given parrotfish bite scars on Orbicella annularis coral colonies (Final date- initial date) Parameter or Variable: colony_id (measured); Units: N/A; Observation Category: other; Sampling Instrument: N/A; Sampling and Analyzing Method: A unique identifying number for each colony we observed across study sites. Parameter or Variable: colony_surface_area_cm2 (measured); Units: square centimeters; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: flexible metric ruler; Sampling and Analyzing Method: We measured the maximum diameter and perpendicular diameter of each coral colony in situ. We also estimated the percent live tissue on the colony (to account for dead patches of coral tissue). We used these measurements to calculate coral area as the surface area of a hemisphere and multiplied this by the percent live tissue to estimate the surface area of live coral tissue per Orbicella annularis colony Parameter or Variable: n_scars_on_colony (measured); Units: integer; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: visual observation; Sampling and Analyzing Method: The observed number of fresh parrotfish predation scars present on the Orbicella annularis colony at the start of monitoring.; Data Quality Method: A bite scar was defined as one contiguous area of recently grazed coral tissue observed on the colony. Fresh scars were defined as those without visible healing at the scar perimeter or algae growth within the scar area. Parameter or Variable: water_depth_m (measured); Units: meter; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: Dive computer; Sampling and Analyzing Method: We recorded the water depth of each coral colony in situ as measured via the observer's Mares Smart dive computer.; Data Quality Method: To account for minor discrepancies in depth recordings on different dive computers, only one dive computer was used to record the depth of all colonies. Parameter or Variable: bite_scar_id (measured); Units: N/A; Observation Category: other; Sampling Instrument: N/A; Sampling and Analyzing Method: A unique identifying number for each bite scar we observed across colonies and study sites. Parameter or Variable: initial_scar_surface_area_cm2 (measured); Units: square centimeters; Observation Category: other; Sampling Instrument: flexible ruler, camera, ImageJ; Sampling and Analyzing Method: The initial surface area of a scar. We took a close-up photo of each scar on the initial monitoring day with a flexible ruler parallel and next to each scar as a size reference. We then used ImageJ to trace each scar and measure the scar area. Parameter or Variable: final_scar_surface_area_cm2 (measured); Units: square centimeters; Observation Category: other; Sampling Instrument: flexible ruler, camera, ImageJ; Sampling and Analyzing Method: The surface area of a scar on the final monitoring date. We took a close-up photo of each scar on the initial monitoring day with a flexible ruler parallel and next to each scar as a size reference. We then used ImageJ to trace each scar and measure the scar area. Parameter or Variable: date (measured); Units: YYYY-MM-DD; Observation Category: other; Sampling Instrument: N/A; Sampling and Analyzing Method: The monitoring date or survey date for a given row of data in years, months and days (YYYY-MM-DD) Parameter or Variable: current_scar_surface_area_cm2 (measured); Units: square centimeters; Observation Category: other; Sampling Instrument: flexible ruler, camera, ImageJ; Sampling and Analyzing Method: The surface area of the scar on a given date. We took a close-up photo of each scar on each monitoring day with a flexible ruler parallel and next to each scar as a size reference. We then used ImageJ to trace each scar and measure the scar area. Parameter or Variable: transect (measured); Units: N/A; Observation Category: other; Sampling Instrument: N/A; Sampling and Analyzing Method: A unique identifying number for each belt transect within a given study site. Transects were 30 x 1 m. We placed them parallel to the reef slope on fore reef habitats and parallel to spurs on spur-groove habitats. Parameter or Variable: transect_depth_m (measured); Units: meters; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: Dive computer; Sampling and Analyzing Method: The water depth at which the transect was conducted, based on the average of the depths measured at each end of the transect Parameter or Variable: OANN_with_scars_present (measured); Units: N/A; Observation Category: other; Sampling Instrument: N/A; Sampling and Analyzing Method: A binary category indicating whether there were Orbicella annularis coral colonies Parameter or Variable: percent_colony_within_transect (measured); Units: percent; Observation Category: other; Sampling Instrument: N/A; Sampling and Analyzing Method: Some colonies were partially within the 30 x 1 m belt transect. To account for this, we recorded the percentage of the colony within the transect area as estimated by the diver in situ to the nearest 10%. Parameter or Variable: n_total_scars_on_colony (measured); Units: N/A; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: N/A; Sampling and Analyzing Method: The total number of contiguous parrotfish predation scars visible and reliably identifiable on the colony. This includes both fresh and older (but still reliably identifiable) parrotfish bite scars. Parameter or Variable: n_fresh_scars_on_colony (measured); Units: N/A; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: N/A; Sampling and Analyzing Method: The number of scars that were fresh- i.e. exhibiting now signs of tissue regneration at the perimeter or algae growth within the denuded coral area. Parameter or Variable: minimum_scar_area_cm2 (measured); Units: square centimeters; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: flexible ruler; Sampling and Analyzing Method: The surface area of the estimated smallest scar on the colony Parameter or Variable: median_scar_area_cm2 (measured); Units: square centimeters; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: flexible ruler; Sampling and Analyzing Method: The surface area of the estimated median-sided scar on the colony Parameter or Variable: maximum_scar_area_cm2 (measured); Units: square centimeters; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: flexible ruler; Sampling and Analyzing Method: The surface area of the estimated largest scar on the colony asNeeded Metadata are developed, maintained and distributed by NCEI. Updates are performed as needed to maintain currentness. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information custodian photograph photograph still images used as the basis for making parameter determinations swimmer/diver swimmer/diver not an instrument - use as observation type visual observation visual observation not an instrument - maybe an observation type