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) 20110825 digital image http://www.soest.hawaii.edu/pibhmc/ http://www.soest.hawaii.edu/pibhmc/pibhmc_cnmi_sai_optical.htm 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 Saipan. Saipan, the largest of the Northern Mariana Islands, has a land area of 122 square kilometers and is approximately 20 km long and 9 km wide. The island consists of a volcanic core enveloped by younger coral reef-derived limestone formations. Saipan has the most diverse types of coral reefs and associated habitats of all the islands and banks in the Commonwealth. A fringing and barrier reef system protects the majority of the beaches along the western shore and coastal plains. The western side of the island is the most populated and the coral reefs along these areas are negatively affected by human activity. Continuing sediment and nutrient pollution combined with sporadic stressors such as outbreaks of crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci) and temperature-induced bleaching affect many of Saipan's western and southeastern reefs. Furthermore, coral habitat on two large offshore banks (18 km x 22 km) in water depths between 30 m and 60 m on the western side of Saipan are negatively affected by the anchorage of commercial and naval vessels. Cruises CoRIS Metadata Record Names OES0307 cred_toad_saipan_oes0307_2003.txt SB0401 cred_toad_sai_sb0401_2004.txt SE1002 cred_toad_sai_se1002_2010.txt Resource Description: Digital video images that are geo-referenced to navigation files. 20030822 20100312 ground condition Complete As needed 145.58 145.92 15.13 15.09 CoRIS Theme Thesaurus EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Aquatic Habitat > Benthic Habitat EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef monitoring and assessment > Mapping CoRIS Discovery Thesaurus Map Images > Habitats ISO 19115 Topic Category imageryBaseMapsEarthCover 010 CoRIS Place Thesaurus COUNTRY/TERRITORY > Northern Mariana Islands > Saipan > Saipan Island (15N145E0002) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Saipan Island > Saipan Island (15N145E0002) CoRIS Region CNMI None Commonwealth of Northern Marianas Islands and Guam 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) mailing and physical address

1125B Ala Moana Blvd.

Honolulu HI 96814 (808) 983-3776 (808) 983-2902 pibhmc@soest.hawaii.edu e-mail preferred 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) 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_cnmi_sai_optical.htm ftp://ftp.soest.hawaii.edu/pibhmc/website/data/cnmi-guam/optical/saipan/sai_toad.jpg None 20121210 20110912 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) 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 20110912045445 None 20030822 20100312 http://www.coris.noaa.gov/metadata/records/html/sai_toad_map_met.html 6369