Pacific Islands Benthic Habitat Mapping Center (PIBHMC), Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED), Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) 200705 digital image http://www.soest.hawaii.edu/pibhmc/pibhmc_pria_pal_optical.htm ftp://ftp.soest.hawaii.edu/pibhmc/website/data/pria/optical/palmyra/pal_toad.jpg This map displays optical validation observation locations and percent coverage of scleractinian coral overlaid on bathymetry. To display locations of optical validation data collected and percent coverage of scleractinian coral at Palmyra Atoll. Palmyra, a low-lying, 12 sq.km. atoll in the Pacific Remote Island Area (PRIA), is a member of the Line Islands and is centered around 55.3'N, 162.05'W. Its lush vegetation and fresh water table makes it unique among the PRIA islands. Although Palmyra was unhabited at the time of its discovery by Western sailors and lacks archaeological remains, Polynesians probably visited it periodically over many centuries to harvest fish and wildlife. The lack of human habitation allowed Palmyra's coral reefs to remain completely pristine until the early 20th century. Even today it lies beyond the influence of urban centers, associated pollutants and major shipping lanes. In 1856, Palmyra was claimed by the U.S. under the Guano Act. During World War II, the U.S. constructed a military base on Palmyra, dredging out a harbor in the the atoll's lagoon and building a causeway across the lagoon which limited the natural circulation within the lagoon. A National Wildlife Refuge administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, limited catch-and-release sport fishing and fishing for local consumption are allowed. Palmyra is under the joint jurisdiction of the Departments of Interior and Commerce and The Nature Conservancy. Ocean currents transport and distribute larvae among and between different atolls and islands, and particularly in the Pacific equatorial region, define sea surface temperatures (SSTs) and available nutrient regimes. The North Equatorial Current (NEC), Equatorial Counter Current (ECC), Equatorial Undercurrent or Cromwell Current (EUC), and South Equatorial Current (SEC) provide the mechanism by which many species are distributed among the PRIAs, nearby central Pacific islands, the main Hawaiian Islands (MHI), as well as other distant regions. Cruises CoRIS Metadata Record Names TC0201 cred_toad_palmyra_2002 OES0404 cred_toad_palmyra_2004 Resource Description: Digital video images that are geo-referenced to navigation files. 2002 2004 ground condition Complete As needed -162.20 -161.99 5.91 5.85 CoRIS Theme Thesaurus EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Aquatic Habitat > Benthic Habitat EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef monitoring and assessment > Mapping EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs > Coral Reef Ecology > Coral Cover EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs CoRIS Discovery Thesaurus Map Images > Habitats ISO 19115 Topic Category environment 007 biota 002 None Synthesis Map TC0201, OES0404 CoRIS Place Thesaurus OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Line Islands > Palmyra Atoll (05N162W0001) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > USA Minor Outlying Islands > Palmyra Atoll (05N162W0001) None Pacific Remote Islands Area CoRIS Region PRIA None Please acknowledge the NOAA Coral Reef Ecosystem Division, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center as the source of this information. Pacific Islands Benthic Habitat Mapping Center (PIBHMC), Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED), Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) John Rooney mailing and physical address

1125B Ala Moana Blvd.

Honolulu HI 96814 (808) 983-3776 (808) 983-2902 pibhmc@soest.hawaii.edu e-mail preferred http://www.soest.hawaii.edu/pibhmc/PRIAs_images/pal_toad_445px.jpg This map displays optical validation observation locations and percent coverage of scleractinian coral overlaid on bathymetry. JPEG Benthic Habitat Mapping Group, Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED), Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC), NOAA Not applicable Unclassified Not applicable Pacific Islands Benthic Habitat Mapping Center (PIBHMC), Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED), Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) John Rooney mailing and physical address

1125B Ala Moana Blvd.

Honolulu HI 96814 (808) 983-3776 (808) 983-2902 pibhmc@soest.hawaii.edu e-mail preferred Downloadable Data These data are not to be used for navigational purposes. NOAA makes no warranty regarding these data, expressed or implied, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty. NOAA cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in these data, nor as a result of the failure of these data to function on a particular system. JPEG http://www.soest.hawaii.edu/pibhmc/pibhmc_pria_pal_optical.htm ftp://ftp.soest.hawaii.edu/pibhmc/website/data/pria/optical/palmyra/pal_toad.jpg None 20121217 20080905 Pacific Islands Benthic Habitat Mapping Center (PIBHMC), Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED), Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) CRED Data Management Team mailing and physical address

1125B Ala Moana Blvd.

Honolulu HI 96814 (808) 983-3776 (808) 983-2902 pibhmc@soest.hawaii.edu e-mail preferred FGDC Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata FGDC-STD-001-1998 Local Time None None 20080905025020 None 20020101 20041231 http://www.coris.noaa.gov/metadata/records/html/cred_toad_map_palmyra_2002_2004.html 2203