CRED REA Coral Population Parameters at Johnston Atoll, 2004

Metadata also available as - [Outline]

Frequently-anticipated questions:

What does this data set describe?

Title: CRED REA Coral Population Parameters at Johnston Atoll, 2004
Abstract:
Belt transects along 2 consecutively-placed, 25m transect lines were surveyed as part of Rapid Ecological Assessments conducted at 12 sites at Johnston Atoll in January, 2004 from the NOAA vessel Oscar Elton Sette (OES04-01). Raw survey data included genus presence and relative abundance, colony counts and size classes, and visual estimation of percent cover. Either 0.5m or 1m on each side of the transect lines were included in the belt (for a total of 50m2 or 100m2 per site), depending on colony density.
Supplemental_Information:
Maximum depth was 18 meters. Corals observed: Common Name Scientific Name Species Genus Family Order Class Phylum- Kingdom Division Coral Pocillopora Pocilloporidae Scleractinia Anthozoa Cnidaria Animalia Coral Acropora Acroporidae Scleractinia Anthozoa Cnidaria Animalia Coral Montipora Acroporidae Scleractinia Anthozoa Cnidaria Animalia
  1. How should this data set be cited?

    Jean Kenyon; Coral Reef Ecosyst, NOAA Fisheries Pacific Island Fisher, 20060116, CRED REA Coral Population Parameters at Johnston Atoll, 2004.

    Online Links:

  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?

    West_Bounding_Coordinate: -169.571385
    East_Bounding_Coordinate: -169.33355
    North_Bounding_Coordinate: 16.803112
    South_Bounding_Coordinate: 16.642373

  3. What does it look like?

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

    Beginning_Date: 12-Jan-2004
    Ending_Date: 16-Jan-2004
    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?

    James Maragos; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

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

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

    808-592-7019 (voice)

Why was the data set created?

Part of an initial assessment 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)
    As a diver swam along the transect line, he inspected the corals whose center fell within a 1m- or 2m-wide belt (i.e., 0.5 or 1m on each side of the transect line, depending on colony density). Each such coral was tallied by genus and classified by its maximum diameter in one of 7 size classes: 0-5cm, 5-10cm, 10-20cm, 20-40cm, 40-80cm, 80-160cm, or >160cm. At the end of this survey, a visual estimation of coral percent cover was made and recorded. Lastly, a larger area around the transect belt was inspected for additional coral taxa that did not occur within the belt; the relative abundance of all corals was qualitatively assessed using the DACOR system (D = Dominant, A = Abundant, C = Common, O = Occasional, R = Rare.

  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 single 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 are primarily located within the lagoon, as inclement sea conditions prevented access outside the atoll reef barrier by small boats used as dive platforms

  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), NOAA Fisheries Pacific Island
    c/o CRED Data Management Team
    1125B Ala Moana Blvd.
    Honolulu, HI 96814
    U.S.A.

    808-983-3722 (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: 21-Oct-2009
Metadata author:
Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED), NOAA Fisheries Pacific Island
c/o Haiying Wang
1125B Ala Moana Blvd.
Honolulu, HI 96814
U.S.A.

808-983-5367 (voice)

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

Generated by mp version 2.8.23 on Mon Nov 23 05:02:23 2009