Belt transects along 3 consecutively-placed, 25m transect lines were
surveyed as part of Rapid Ecological Assessments conducted at 22 sites at
Tutuila Island in American Samoa in February, 2004 from the NOAA vessel
Oscar Elton Sette (OES04-02). Raw survey data included species level
abundance estimates.
Purpose:
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
Supplemental_Information:
The maximum observation depth was 20 meters.
Fish observed:
Common Name Scientific Name
Species Genus Family Order Class Phylum- Kingdom
Division
Bony Fishes Osteichthyes Vertebrata Animalia
Sharks and Rays Osteichthyes Vertebrata Animalia
EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment > Reef Fish Census > Belt Transect
Theme:
Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: ISO 19115 Topic Category
Theme_Keyword: biota
Theme_Keyword: 002
Place:
Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: CoRIS Place Thesaurus
Place_Keyword:
COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > American Samoa > American Samoa > American Samoa (14S170W0000)
Place_Keyword:
OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > American Samoa > American Samoa (14S170W0000)
Place_Keyword:
COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > American Samoa > American Samoa > Tutuila Island (14S170W0016)
Place_Keyword:
OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > American Samoa > Tutuila Island (14S170W0016)
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
Point_of_Contact:
Contact_Information:
Contact_Organization_Primary:
Contact_Organization:
Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED), Pacific Island Fisheries Sciences
Center, National Marine Fisheries Service
Contact_Person: Robert Schroeder
Contact_Address:
Address_Type: mailing and physical
Address: 1125B Ala Moana Blvd.
City: Honolulu
State_or_Province: HI
Postal_Code: 96814
Country: U.S.A.
Contact_Voice_Telephone: 808-592-7019
Data_Set_Credit: Craig Musburger; University of Hawaii, Department of Zoology
Data_Quality_Information:
Attribute_Accuracy:
Attribute_Accuracy_Report:
Observations at each site were made by two divers both of whom are experts
in fish taxonomy. Observations were periodically checked during the
expedition for consistency between divers, and little discrepancy was ever
noted between divers. It should be noted, however, that this data set is
quite large, and probably includes typographical or other errors that might
be discovered at a future date.
Logical_Consistency_Report:
The same methods of data collection were used at each of the sites surveyed
at this location, and were conducted by the same scientists. Periodic
examination of the data through the duration of the trip showed no signs of
diver bias or other discrepancies.
Completeness_Report:
The survey sites were selected to be representative of the coral reef
habitats at this reef system. Efforts were made to include broad spatial
coverage of the reef area, but weather conditions or other environmental
constraints may have precluded the team from surveying windward or exposed
sites.
Data were collected by two divers swimming in tandem along the length of a
25m transect line. The team swam each transect two times. During the
initial swim-out, each diver recorded the abundance and size of all fish
observed over 20cm TL within 4m of their side of the transect line. On the
return swim, each diver recorded the abundance and size of all fish less
than 20cm TL within 2m of their side of the transect line. Fish were
identified to the lowest possible taxon which in most cases was the species
level. This data is recorded in the spreadsheet as DataTyp = QUAN.
Following the completion of three transect replicates at each site, the
divers spent their remaining bottom time roving the general area near the
site recording the presence of all fish species observed at the site. This
data is recorded in the spreadsheet as DataTyp = PRES. Upon returning to
the ship and Honolulu offices, data were error checked, and data from the
three fish surveyors were consolidated into one spreadsheet. Data have not
been modified, and this data set includes raw data.
Process_Date: Unknown
Spatial_Reference_Information:
Horizontal_Coordinate_System_Definition:
Geographic:
Latitude_Resolution: 0.0001
Longitude_Resolution: 0.0001
Geographic_Coordinate_Units: Degrees and Decimal Minutes
Geodetic_Model:
Horizontal_Datum_Name: World Geodetic System 1984 (WGS84)
Ellipsoid_Name: Geodetic Reference System 80 (GRS80)
Semi-major_Axis: 6378137
Denominator_of_Flattening_Ratio: 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
Distribution_Information:
Distributor:
Contact_Information:
Contact_Organization_Primary:
Contact_Organization:
Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED), Pacific Island Fisheries Sciences
Center, National Marine Fisheries Service
Contact_Person: Michael Parke
Contact_Address:
Address_Type: mailing and physical
Address: 1125B Ala Moana Blvd.
City: Honolulu
State_or_Province: HI
Postal_Code: 96814
Country: U.S.A.
Contact_Voice_Telephone: 808-592-7017
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 dies the fact of
distribution constitute such a warranty.
Standard_Order_Process:
Digital_Form:
Digital_Transfer_Information:
Format_Name: XLS (Microsoft Excel worksheet)
Digital_Transfer_Option:
Offline_Option:
Offline_Media: CDROM, or email
Recording_Format: ISO 9660
Fees: None if receiving the data online
Custom_Order_Process: Contact CRED data management team for information
Technical_Prerequisites: Contact CRED data management team for information
Metadata_Reference_Information:
Metadata_Date: 20080812
Metadata_Contact:
Contact_Information:
Contact_Organization_Primary:
Contact_Organization:
Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED), Pacific Island Fisheries Sciences
Center, National Marine Fisheries Service
Contact_Person: Craig Musburger, Haiying Wang
Contact_Address:
Address_Type: mailing and physical
Address: 1125B Ala Moana Blvd.
City: Honolulu
State_or_Province: HI
Postal_Code: 96814
Country: U.S.A.
Contact_Voice_Telephone: 808-592-7017
Metadata_Standard_Name: FGDC Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata
Metadata_Standard_Version: FGDC-STD-001-1998
Generated by mp version 2.8.23 on Mon Oct 6 04:24:52 2008