gov.noaa.nmfs.inport:10512 eng UTF8 dataset CSV Files Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center 808-725-5300 1845 Wasp Blvd. Honolulu HI 96818 USA https://www.pifsc.noaa.gov WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link Website Website for this organization information 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. resourceProvider DesRochers, Annette M (808)725-5461 1845 Wasp Blvd. Honolulu HI 96818 USA annette.desrochers@noaa.gov 8 am - 5 pm pointOfContact Akridge, Michael W (808)725-5483 1845 Wasp Blvd. Honolulu HI 96818 USA michael.akridge@noaa.gov pointOfContact 2026-03-04T19:17:28 ISO 19115-2 Geographic Information - Metadata Part 2 Extensions for imagery and gridded data ISO 19115-2:2009(E) Pacific Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program: Belt Transect Surveys of Corals at U.S. Pacific Reefs from 2002 to 2007 (uneven size-class bins) RAMP: Coral Demographics from 2002 to 2007 (uneven size-class bins) 2017-09-26 creation 2019 publication NOAA/NMFS/EDM 10512 https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/10512 WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link Full Metadata Record View the complete metadata record on InPort for more information about this dataset. information Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center 808-725-5360 1845 Wasp Blvd. Honolulu HI 96818 USA pifsc.info@noaa.gov https://www.pifsc.noaa.gov WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center Website Pacific Island Fisheries Science Center homepage information 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. originator https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/pacific-islands/ecosystems/surveying-vast-ocean WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link Ecosystem Sciences Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center website download tableDigital The coral demographic data described here result from belt transect surveys conducted by the Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC), Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD)---formerly the Coral Reef Ecosystem Division---from 2002 to 2007 at coral reef sites in the Hawaiian and Mariana Archipelagos, American Samoa, and the Pacific Remote Island Areas as part of NOAA's Pacific Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program (Pacific RAMP) with funding from the NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP). Surveys were conducted at fixed sites at depths ranging between 10 m and 15 m. Sites were surveyed using belt transects to collect coral colony metrics. At each site, the surveyor listed and identified to the genus or species level, all coral colonies occurring within 0.5 sq. meters of each side of two, 25-m transect lines; and recorded the visually estimated size class to which the maximum diameter of each colony belonged (0-5 cm; >5-10 cm; >10-20 cm; >20-40 cm; >40-80 cm; >80-160 cm; or >160 cm). In geographic regions such as the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands where coral richness and abundance are reduced relative to lower latitude regions with higher species richness, the protocol was amended to include all corals occurring within 1 m of each side of the transect lines. These coral demographic data provide information on coral abundance (density, proportion occurrence, and total colony abundance), size distribution, and taxonomic richness. Belt transect surveys of corals were conducted during Pacific Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program (Pacific RAMP) cruises to support a long-term NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP) for sustainable management and conservation of coral reef ecosystems. PIFSC Ecosystem Sciences Division and funded by the NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program completed Vargas-Angel, Bernardo (808)725-5423 1845 Wasp Blvd. Honolulu HI 96818 USA bernardo.vargasangel@noaa.gov pointOfContact Vargas-Angel, Bernardo (808)725-5423 1845 Wasp Blvd. Honolulu HI 96818 USA bernardo.vargasangel@noaa.gov custodian notPlanned 1221 C204 Pacific Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program (Pacific RAMP): Biennial monitoring for the US Pacific Islands and Atolls theme CRCP Project Numeric Data Sets > Biology theme CoRIS Discovery Thesaurus EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Aquatic Habitat > Reef Habitat EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Ecological Dynamics > Species Richness EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment > Benthos Analysis > Transect Monitoring > Belt Transect EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment > In Situ Biological EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment > Rapid assessment studies EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Marine Biology > Coral EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Marine Biology > Coral Communities theme CoRIS Theme Thesaurus CORAL CORAL - CENSUS CORAL - COLONY SIZE CORAL - SPECIES IDENTIFICATION theme NODC DATA TYPES THESAURUS in situ survey - biological survey - swimmer/diver theme NODC OBSERVATION TYPES THESAURUS HI'IALAKAI OSCAR ELTON SETTE TOWNSEND CROMWELL theme NODC PLATFORM NAMES THESAURUS CORAL REEF STUDIES Coral Reef Conservation Program Pacific Reef and Assessment Monitoring Program theme NODC PROJECT NAMES THESAURUS US DOC; NOAA; NMFS; Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center; Ecosystem Sciences Division theme NODC SUBMITTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS COUNTRY/TERRITORY > Northern Mariana Islands > Aguihan > Aguihan Island (Aguijan) (14N145E0006) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > Northern Mariana Islands > Northern Mariana Islands > Northern Mariana Islands ( CNMI ) (18N146E0000) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > Northern Mariana Islands > Rota > Rota Island ( Luta ) (14N145E0007) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > Northern Mariana Islands > Saipan > Saipan Island (15N145E0002) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > Northern Mariana Islands > Tinian > Tinian Island (14N145E0005) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > American Samoa > American Samoa > American Samoa (14S170W0000) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > American Samoa > American Samoa > Manu'a Islands (14S170W0038) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > American Samoa > American Samoa > Ofu Island (14S169W0013) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > American Samoa > American Samoa > Olosega Island (14S169W0014) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > American Samoa > American Samoa > Rose Atoll (14S168W0001) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > American Samoa > American Samoa > Swains Atoll (11S171W0001) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > American Samoa > American Samoa > Ta'u Island (14S169W0012) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > American Samoa > American Samoa > Tutuila Island (14S170W0016) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Guam > Guam (13N144E0000) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Guam > Santa Rosa Bank (12N144E0051) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Hawaii > Hawaii Island (19N155W0003) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Hawaii > Kauai Island (22N159W0001) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Hawaii > Molokai Island (21N157W0001) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Honolulu > French Frigate Shoals (24N166W0001) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Honolulu > Gardner Pinnacles (25N168W0001) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Honolulu > Kure Atoll (28N178W0001) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Honolulu > Laysan Island (25N171W0001) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Honolulu > Lisianski Island (25N173W0001) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Honolulu > Maro Reef (25N170W0001) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Honolulu > Midway Atoll (28N177W0001) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Honolulu > Necker Island (23N164W0001) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Honolulu > Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (28N178W0000) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Honolulu > Oahu (21N157W0003) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Honolulu > Pearl and Hermes Reef (27N176W0001) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Kauai > Kaula Island (21N160W0003) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Kauai > Lehua Island (22N160W0001) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Kauai > Niihau Island (21N160W0001) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Maui > Lanai Island (20N156W0002) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Maui > Maui Island (20N156W0004) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaiian Islands (21N157W0027) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > USA Minor Outlying Islands > Baker Island (00N176W0001) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > USA Minor Outlying Islands > Howland Island (00S176W0001) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > USA Minor Outlying Islands > Jarvis Island (00S160W0001) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > USA Minor Outlying Islands > Johnston Atoll (16N169W0001) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > USA Minor Outlying Islands > Kingman Reef (06N162W0001) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > USA Minor Outlying Islands > Palmyra Atoll (05N162W0001) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > USA Minor Outlying Islands > Wake Atoll (19N167E0001) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > American Samoa > American Samoa (14S170W0000) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > American Samoa > Manu'a Islands (14S170W0038) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > American Samoa > Rose Atoll (14S168W0001) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > American Samoa > Swains Atoll (11S171W0001) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > American Samoa > Tutuila Island (14S170W0016) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Baker Island > Baker Island (00N176W0001) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Hawaiian Islands (21N157W0027) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Hawaiian Islands > Hawaii Island > Hawaii Island (19N155W0003) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Hawaiian Islands > Kauai Island > Kauai Island (22N159W0001) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Hawaiian Islands > Lanai Island > Lanai Island (20N156W0002) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Hawaiian Islands > Maui Island > Maui Island (20N156W0004) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Hawaiian Islands > Molokai Island > Molokai Island (21N157W0001) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Hawaiian Islands > Niihau Island > Kaula Island (21N160W0003) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Hawaiian Islands > Niihau Island > Lehua Island (22N160W0001) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Hawaiian Islands > Niihau Island > Niihau Island (21N160W0001) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Hawaiian Islands > Oahu Island > Oahu (21N157W0003) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Howland Island > Howland Island (00S176W0001) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Johnston Atoll > Johnston Atoll (16N169W0001) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Line Islands > Jarvis Island (00S160W0001) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Line Islands > Kingman Reef (06N162W0001) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Line Islands > Palmyra Atoll (05N162W0001) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (28N178W0000) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Northwestern Hawaiian Islands > French Frigate Shoals (24N166W0001) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Northwestern Hawaiian Islands > Gardner Pinnacles (25N168W0001) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Northwestern Hawaiian Islands > Kure Atoll (28N178W0001) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Northwestern Hawaiian Islands > Laysan Island (25N171W0001) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Northwestern Hawaiian Islands > Lisianski Island (25N173W0001) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Northwestern Hawaiian Islands > Maro Reef (25N170W0001) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Northwestern Hawaiian Islands > Midway Atoll (28N177W0001) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Northwestern Hawaiian Islands > Necker Island (23N164W0001) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Northwestern Hawaiian Islands > Pearl and Hermes Reef (27N176W0001) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Wake Atoll > Wake Atoll (19N167E0001) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Manu'a Group > Ofu Island (14S169W0013) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Manu'a Group > Olosega Island (14S169W0014) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Manu'a Group > Ta'u Island (14S169W0012) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Aguihan Island Reefs > Aguihan Island (Aguijan) (14N145E0006) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Guam > Guam (13N144E0000) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Guam > Santa Rosa Bank (12N144E0051) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Mariana Archipelago > Northern Mariana Islands ( CNMI ) (18N146E0000) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Rota Island > Rota Island ( Luta ) (14N145E0007) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Saipan Island > Saipan Island (15N145E0002) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Tinian Island Reefs > Tinian Island (14N145E0005) place CoRIS Place Thesaurus Equatorial Pacific Ocean Marianas Trench Marine National Monument NW Pacific North Pacific Ocean Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument Rose Atoll Marine National Monument South Pacific Ocean place NODC SEA AREA NAMES THESAURUS CRED CREP Coral Reef Ecosystem Division Coral Reef Ecosystem Program ESD Ecosystem Sciences Division PIFSC Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center RAMP REA Rapid Ecological Assessment Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program belt transect theme CNMI Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands MHI Main Hawaiian Islands Mariana Archipelago Mariana Islands Marianas NWHI Northwestern Hawaiian Islands PRIA Pacific Remote Island Areas place DOC/NOAA/NMFS/PIFSC > Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce dataCentre Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Data Center Keywords 2017-04-24 publication 8.5 Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords GCMD Keyword Forum Page Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2025. GCMD Keywords, Version 22. Greenbelt, MD: Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). URL (GCMD Keyword Forum Page): https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD+Keywords information custodian Ecosystem Monitoring and Assessment project InPort otherRestrictions Cite As: Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, [Date of Access]: Pacific Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program: Belt Transect Surveys of Corals at U.S. Pacific Reefs from 2002 to 2007 (uneven size-class bins) [Data Date Range], https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/10512. NOAA provides no warranty, nor accepts any liability occurring from any incomplete, incorrect, or misleading data, or from any incorrect, incomplete, or misleading use of the data. It is the responsibility of the user to determine whether or not the data is suitable for the intended purpose. otherRestrictions Access Constraints: None otherRestrictions Use Constraints: Please cite PIFSC Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD) when using the data. Example: Ecosystem Sciences Division; Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, 2019: Pacific Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program: Belt Transect Surveys of Corals at U.S. Pacific Reefs from 2002 to 2007 (uneven size-class bins), https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/10512. otherRestrictions 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 does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty. unclassified Not applicable Not applicable Pacific Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program: Belt Transect Surveys for Demographics and Condition of Corals at U.S. Pacific Reefs from 2007 to 2012 NOAA/NMFS/EDM 25260 crossReference Pacific Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program: Belt Transect Surveys of Corals at U.S. Pacific Reefs in 2008 (even size-class bins) NOAA/NMFS/EDM 25290 crossReference NOAA Data Management Plan (DMP) NOAA/NMFS/EDM 10512 https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inportserve/waf/noaa/nmfs/pifsc/dmp/pdf/10512.pdf WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link NOAA Data Management Plan (DMP) NOAA Data Management Plan for this record on InPort. information crossReference eng; US biota PIFSC Oracle Database View: V0_CORAL_OBS_A Mariana Archipelago 144.42387 145.81442 12.8113 15.27353 Mariana Archipelago, including Santa Rosa, Guam, Rota, Aguijan, Tinian, and Saipan. Mission OES0512 to Guam and Santa Rosa. | Currentness: Ground Condition 2005-10-03 2005-10-08 Mission HI0702 to Aguijan, Guam, Rota, Saipan, and Tinian in the Mariana Archipelago. | Currentness: Ground Condition 2007-05-12 2007-05-22 American Samoa -171.0919 -168.13982 -14.55932 -11.04588 American Samoa, including Tutuila, Ofu & Olosega, Tau, Rose, and Swains. Mission TC0201 to Ofu, Olosega, Ta'u, and Tutuila. | Currentness: Ground Condition 2002-02-09 2002-02-14 Mission OES0402 to Ofu, Olosega, Rose, Swains, Ta'u, and Tutuila. | Currentness: Ground Condition 2004-02-04 2004-02-25 Mission HI0602 to Ofu and Olosega, Rose Atoll, Swains, Tau, and Tutuila. | Currentness: Ground Condition 2006-02-11 2006-03-08 Hawaiian Archipelago -160.54522 -154.8178 18.92203 22.2306 Main Hawaiian Islands, including Hawaii, Lehua, Maui, Lanai, Molokai, Oahu, Kauai, Niihau, and Kaula. -178.37858 -164.69 23.57333 28.45365 Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, including Necker, French Frigate Shoals, Gardner, Maro, Laysan, Lisianski, Pearl and Hermes, Midway, and Kure. Mission TC0207 to French Frigate Shoals, Kure, Laysan, Lisianski, Maro, Midway, Necker, and Pearl and Hermes of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. | Currentness: Ground Condition 2002-09-10 2002-10-04 Mission OES0306 to French Frigate, Gardner, Kure, Laysan, Lisianski, Maro, Midway, Necker, and Pearl & Hermes. | Currentness: Ground Condition 2003-07-14 2003-08-08 Misson OES0502 to Hawaii and Maui of the main Hawaiian Islands. | Currentness: Ground Condition 2005-02-25 2005-03-05 Mission HI0505 to Kauai, Lanai, Lehua, Maui, Molokai, Niihau, and Oahu of the main Hawaiian Islands. | Currentness: Ground Condition 2005-07-14 2005-08-05 MIssion HI0507 to French Frigate shoals, Kure, Maro, Midway, Necker, and Pearl and Hermes of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. | Currentness: Ground Condition 2005-09-17 2005-10-04 Mission HI0401 to French Frigate Shoals, Gardner, Kure, Layson, Lisianski, Maro, Midway, and Pearl and Hermes of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. | Currentness: Ground Condition 2004-09-16 2004-10-11 Mission HI0610 to Hawaii, Kaula, Kauai, Lanai, Maui, Molokai, Niihau, and Oahu of the main Hawaiian Islands. | Currentness: Ground Condition 2006-07-27 2006-08-19 Mission HI0611 to French Frigate Shoals, Kure, Laysan, Lisianski, Maro, Midway, Necker, and Pearl and Hermes in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. | Currentness: Ground Condition 2006-09-03 2006-10-01 Pacific Remote Island Areas 166.59378 -159.9731 -0.3825 19.3254 Pacific Remote Island Areas, including Wake, Johnston, Kingman, Palmyra, Howland, Baker, and Jarvis. Mission OES0401 to Johnston, Howland, and Baker. | Currentness: Ground Condition 2004-01-12 2004-01-24 Mission OES0404 to Jarvis, Palmyra, and Kingman. | Currentness: Ground Condition 2004-03-26 2004-04-04 Mission OES0513 to Wake. | Currentness: Ground Condition 2005-10-18 2005-10-22 Mission HI0601 to Johnston, Howland, and Baker. | Currentness: Ground Condition 2006-01-18 2006-02-01 Mission HI0604 to Jarvis, Palmyra, and Kingman. | Currentness: Ground Condition 2006-03-20 2006-04-03 Mission HI0701 to Wake. | Currentness: Ground Condition 2007-04-30 2007-05-03 Pacific RAMP, established by the Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC), Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD) and supported by NOAA's Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP), was tasked with documenting and understanding the status and trends of coral reef ecosystems in the U.S. Pacific Islands Region. Pacific RAMP involved interdisciplinary monitoring of oceanographic conditions and biological surveys of organisms associated with hard-bottom habitats in the 0-30 m depth range and aimed to support integrated, consistent and comparable monitoring of coral reef systems. RAMP missions were conducted in each Pacific region, including the Hawaiian and Mariana Archipelagos, American Samoa, and the Pacific Remote Island Areas, on a biennial cycle. false eng false Data View View: V0_CORAL_OBS_A 2019-05-31 publication CSV - Comma Separated Values (Text) NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information ncei.info@noaa.gov https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/contact WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link NCEI Contact Information Information for contacts at NCEI. information distributor https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0189729 WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link V0_CORAL_OBS_A.csv Coral colony observations from belt transect surveys at sites across the U.S. Pacific Reefs conducted by the PIFSC Ecosystem Sciences Division from 2002 to 2007. download dataset Accuracy Observations were made by experienced benthic survey personnel. The lowest taxonomic level was species in the Main Hawaiian Islands and the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. For the remaining three Pacific regions, the lowest taxonomic level of coral identification was genus. The accuracy of coral taxa identification at the genus level is highly reliable. Coral taxa identification at the species level in field conditions is known to be challenging. Taxonomic identity was verified against pictorial guides. Field identification of coral taxa at the species level improved with time, as experts gained a better knowledge of the morphological plasticity of individual coral species across the different study locations. Handheld GPS units were used to locate random sites and mark site locations. Completeness Report Only shallow water (0 to 30 meter depth range) hard-bottom habitats were surveyed. The survey sites were fixed and selected in consultation with local jurisdictional coral reef management practitioners, because of their ecological uniqueness, management needs (eg. Marine Protected Areas), and to include a broad spatial coverage of surveys sites at each island/reef system. Weather conditions and other environmental constraints may have prevented the selection and/or execution of surveys in exposed and windward reef areas. Conceptual Consistency The same methods of data collection are used at each surveyed site. Examination of the data is conducted to check for diver bias or other discrepancies. Belt transect survey method for corals, version A: uneven size-class bins, employed by the Ecosystem Sciences Division from 2002 to 2007. At each site, benthic Rapid Ecological Assessment (REA) surveys of corals were conducted along dedicated transects lines deployed following a specific isobath. At each site, the surveyor listed and identified to the genus or species level, all coral colonies occurring within 0.5-1.0 m of each side of the transect lines; and recorded the visually estimated size class to which the maximum diameter of each colony belonged (0-5 cm; >5–10 cm; >10-20 cm; >20-40 cm; >40-80 cm; >80-160 cm; or >160 cm). The number of transects deployed and total belt survey area varied between sites depending on specific project objectives and weather conditions Vargas-Angel, Bernardo (808)725-5423 bernardo.vargasangel@noaa.gov processor otherRestrictions otherRestrictions Access Constraints: None | Use Constraints: None