CRED REA Coral Population Parameters at Agrihan Island, CNMI, 2005

Metadata also available as - [Outline]

Frequently-anticipated questions:

What does this data set describe?

Title:
CRED REA Coral Population Parameters at Agrihan Island, CNMI, 2005
Abstract:
Sixteen quadrats (0.5m x 0.5m) were haphazardly tossed at 5-m intervals along 3 consecutively-placed, 25m transect lines, and examined for coral as part of Rapid Ecological Assessments in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) in September, 2005 from the NOAA vessel Oscar Elton Sette (OES05-11). Three sites were surveyed at Agrihan. For each quadrat, raw survey data included species presence, colony counts, measured maximum diameter (cm) of each colony, and diameter (cm) measured perpendicular to the maximum diameter. From these raw data, geometric diameter and area are computed for each colony.
Supplemental_Information:
Maximum depth was 15 meters. Corals observed:

Common Name Scientific Name Species Genus Family Order Class Phylum- Kingdom Division Coral Pavona Agariciidae Scleractinia Anthozoa Cnidaria Animalia Coral Pocillopora Pocilloporidae Scleractinia Anthozoa Cnidaria Animalia Coral Goniastrea Faviidae Scleractinia Anthozoa Cnidaria Animalia

  1. How should this data set be cited?

    Peter Houk; CNMI Division of Environmental Quality, 20070915, CRED REA Coral Population Parameters at Agrihan Island, CNMI, 2005.

    Online Links:

  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?

    West_Bounding_Coordinate: 145.625762
    East_Bounding_Coordinate: 145.705743
    North_Bounding_Coordinate: 18.823275
    South_Bounding_Coordinate: 18.716814

  3. What does it look like?

  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?

    Calendar_Date: 15-Sep-2005
    Currentness_Reference: Ground condition

  5. What is the general form of this data set?

    Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: spreadsheet

  6. How does the data set represent geographic features?

    1. How are geographic features stored in the data set?

    2. What coordinate system is used to represent geographic features?

      Horizontal positions are specified in geographic coordinates, that is, latitude and longitude. Latitudes are given to the nearest 0.0001. Longitudes are given to the nearest 0.0001. Latitude and longitude values are specified in Degrees and Decimal Minutes.

      The horizontal datum used is World Geodetic System 1984 (WGS84).
      The ellipsoid used is Geodetic Reference System 80 (GRS80).
      The semi-major axis of the ellipsoid used is 6378137.
      The flattening of the ellipsoid used is 1/298.2572236.

      Vertical_Coordinate_System_Definition:
      Depth_System_Definition:
      Depth_Datum_Name: Local surface
      Depth_Resolution: 1
      Depth_Distance_Units: meters
      Depth_Encoding_Method: Explicit Depth Coordinate Included with Horizontal Coordinates

  7. How does the data set describe geographic features?

Who produced the data set?

  1. Who are the originators of the data set? (may include formal authors, digital compilers, and editors)

  2. Who also contributed to the data set?

  3. To whom should users address questions about the data?

    CNMI Division of Environmental Quality
    c/o Peter Houk
    P.O. Box 501304
    Saipan, MP 96950
    U.S.A.

    670-664-8505 (voice)
    deq.biologist@saipan.com

Why was the data set created?

Part of a long-term monitoring program at biennial intervals in which corals, algae, fish, and other macroinvertebrates are co-sampled along the same set of transect lines

How was the data set created?

  1. From what previous works were the data drawn?

  2. How were the data generated, processed, and modified?

    Date: Unknown (process 1 of 1)
    Two divers swam along transect lines (3 x 25m) that had previously been laid out along an isobath by a fish survey team. At ~5 m intervals, a 0.5m x 0.5m quadrat was tossed. The divers identified all corals whose center fell within the quadrat to the species level. For each coral colony, the maximum diameter and diameter perpendicular to the maximum was measured using a hand held tape measured. This process continued until both divers reached the end of the third transect line (16 quadrat tosses).

  3. What similar or related data should the user be aware of?

How reliable are the data; what problems remain in the data set?

  1. How well have the observations been checked?

    Observations were made by a diver who is an expert in coral biology. The population parameter survey is conducted one time per site per survey year; it is not replicated.

  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?

    GPS unit

  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?

    Dive computer and SCUBA depth gauge

  4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?

    The survey sites were selected to be representative of the dominant habitats at this reef system

  5. How consistent are the relationships among the observations, including topology?

    The same methods of data collection were used at each of the sites surveyed at this location, and were conducted by the same scientist.

How can someone get a copy of the data set?

Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?

Access_Constraints: None.
Use_Constraints:
Please cite CRED when using the data.Coral Reef Ecosystem Division, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

  1. Who distributes the data set? (Distributor 1 of 1)

    Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED), Pacific Island Fisheries Sciences
    c/o Michael Parke
    1125B Ala Moana Blvd.
    Honolulu, HI 96814
    U.S.A.

    808-592-7017 (voice)

  2. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set?

  3. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?

    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 dies the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty.

  4. How can I download or order the data?

  5. Is there some other way to get the data?

    Contact CRED data management team for information

  6. What hardware or software do I need in order to use the data set?

    Contact CRED data management team for information

Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:
Last modified: 12-Aug-2008
Metadata author:
Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED), Pacific Island Fisheries Sciences
c/o Haiying Wang
1125B Ala Moana Blvd.
Honolulu, HI 96814
U.S.A.

808-592-7017 (voice)

Metadata standard:
FGDC Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata (FGDC-STD-001-1998)

Generated by mp version 2.8.23 on Tue Oct 14 04:36:07 2008