gov.noaa.nmfs.inport:36154 eng UTF8 dataset JPG 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 Luers, Lori H 1845 Wasp Blvd. Honolulu HI 96818 USA lori.luers@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) National Coral Reef Monitoring Program: Benthic Images Collected from Stratified Random Sites (StRS) across the Pacific Remote Island Areas since 2014 NCRMP: Benthic Images StRS PRIAs 2016-12 creation 2023-11 revision 2024-03 publication NOAA/NMFS/EDM 36154 NOAA https://doi.org/10.7289/v5154fbh https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/36154 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.coris.noaa.gov/monitoring/ WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link National Coral Reef Monitoring Program NOAA National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP) website. download https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/pacific-islands/ecosystems/coral-reefs-pacific WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link PIFSC ESD: Coral Reefs in the Pacific Overview of NOAA Ecosystem Sciences Division, Archipelagic Research Program's methods to assess corals. download https://www.pifsc.noaa.gov/ecosystem_sciences/ WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link Ecosystem Sciences Division PIFSC Ecosystem Sciences Division website download imageDigital The data described here are benthic habitat imagery that result from benthic photo-quadrat surveys conducted along transects at stratified random sites across the Pacific Remote Island Areas (PRIA) since 2014 as a part of Rapid Ecological Assessment (REA) surveys for corals and fish. A stratified random sampling (StRS) design was employed to survey the coral reef ecosystems across the region. The survey domain encompassed the majority of the mapped area of reef and hard bottom habitats in the 0-30 m depth range. The stratification scheme included island, reef zone, and depth. Sampling effort was allocated based on strata area and sites were randomly located within strata. Sites were surveyed using photo-quadrats along transects to collect benthic imagery to ultimately produce estimates of relative abundance (benthic cover), frequency of occurrence, benthic community taxonomic composition and relative generic richness. The StRS design effectively reduces estimate variance through stratification using environmental covariates and by sampling more sites rather than sampling more transects at a site. Therefore, site-level estimates and site to site comparisons should be used with caution. The NOAA National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP) details a long term approach to provide an ecosystem perspective via monitoring climate, fish, benthic, and socioeconomic variables in a consistent and integrated manner. The NCRMP coordinates various NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP) biological, physical, and human dimensions activities into a cohesive NOAA-wide effort. Through the implementation of the NCRMP, NOAA is able to clearly and concisely communicate results of national-scale monitoring to national, state, and territorial policy makers, resource managers, and the public on a periodic basis. PIFSC Ecosystem Sciences Division and funded by the NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program onGoing Oliver, Thomas (808)725-5444 1845 Wasp Blvd. Honolulu HI 96818 USA thomas.oliver@noaa.gov pointOfContact Oliver, Thomas (808)725-5444 1845 Wasp Blvd. Honolulu HI 96818 USA thomas.oliver@noaa.gov custodian asNeeded Updated March 2019 to add imagery collected in 2018 DOC/NOAA/NMFS/PIFSC/ESD > Ecosystem Sciences Division, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce dataCentre Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Data Center Keywords 17.0 EARTH SCIENCE > BIOSPHERE > ECOSYSTEMS > MARINE ECOSYSTEMS > BENTHIC EARTH SCIENCE > BIOSPHERE > ECOSYSTEMS > MARINE ECOSYSTEMS > REEF > CORAL REEF theme Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords 17.0 OCEAN > PACIFIC OCEAN > CENTRAL PACIFIC OCEAN > UNITED STATES MINOR OUTLYING ISLANDS place Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords 20.8 CAMERA > CAMERA instrument Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Instrument Keywords 17.2 743 National Coral Reef Monitoring Program theme CRCP Project Visual Images > Habitats theme CoRIS Discovery Thesaurus EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Aquatic Habitat > Benthic Habitat EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Aquatic Habitat > Reef Habitat 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 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 > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs > Coral Reef Ecology EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs > Coral Reef Ecology > Benthic biology EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Marine Biology > Coral EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Marine Biology > Coral Communities theme CoRIS Theme Thesaurus PHOTOQUADRAT IMAGES theme NODC DATA TYPES THESAURUS biological imagery in situ theme NODC OBSERVATION TYPES THESAURUS CORAL REEF STUDIES Coral Reef Conservation Program National Coral Reef Monitoring 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 > 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 > Central Pacific Ocean > Baker Island > Baker Island (00N176W0001) 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 > Wake Atoll > Wake Atoll (19N167E0001) place CoRIS Place Thesaurus Equatorial Pacific Ocean Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument place NODC Sea Area Names Thesaurus photograph instrument NODC INSTRUMENT TYPES THESAURUS HI'IALAKAI OSCAR ELTON SETTE Rainier platform NODC PLATFORM 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 theme Triennial temporal PRIA PRIMNM 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 Pacific Remote Island Areas project InPort otherRestrictions Cite As: Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, [Date of Access]: National Coral Reef Monitoring Program: Benthic Images Collected from Stratified Random Sites (StRS) across the Pacific Remote Island Areas since 2014 [Data Date Range], https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/36154. 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 (2023). National Coral Reef Monitoring Program: Benthic Images from Stratified Random Sites (StRS) across the Pacific Remote Island Areas since 2014. NOAA's National Center for Environmental Information, https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/36154 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 National Coral Reef Monitoring Program: Benthic Cover Derived from Analysis of Benthic Images Collected during Stratified Random Surveys (StRS) across the Pacific Remote Island Areas since 2014 NOAA/NMFS/EDM 36157 crossReference National Coral Reef Monitoring Program: Benthic Images Collected from Stratified Random Sites (StRS) across American Samoa since 2015 NOAA/NMFS/EDM 25247 crossReference National Coral Reef Monitoring Program: Benthic Images Collected from Stratified Random Sites (StRS) across the Hawaiian Archipelago since 2013 NOAA/NMFS/EDM 36152 crossReference National Coral Reef Monitoring Program: Benthic Images Collected from Stratified Random Sites (StRS) across the Mariana Archipelago since 2014 NOAA/NMFS/EDM 36153 crossReference NOAA Data Management Plan (DMP) NOAA/NMFS/EDM 36154 https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inportserve/waf/noaa/nmfs/pifsc/dmp/pdf/36154.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 network/file system: \\picQueenFish\optical\OPTICAL\ \\picQueenFish\general\Cruise\CruiseData Pacific Remote Island Areas (PRIA) including Baker, Howland, Jarvis, and Wake islands, Kingman Reef, and Johnston and Palmyra atolls. -176.6267816 -159.971695 -0.382607 16.780927 Phoenix (Baker and Howland) and Line Islands (Jarvis, Kingman, and Palmyra), and Johnston Atoll. These six of the seven PRIA are routinely surveyed as part of the American Samoa RAMP (ASRAMP) missions (Johnston, Baker and Howland during the first leg of ASRAMP, and Jarvis, Kingman, and Palmyra during the last leg of ASRAMP). 166.5937066 166.657759 19.26737797 19.32573345 Wake Island, one of the seven PRIA, is routinely surveyed as part of the Mariana Archipelago RAMP (MARAMP) missions. Time frame of surveys at Wake during MARAMP 2014 | Currentness: Ground Condition 2014-03-16 2014-03-20 Time frame of surveys in the PRIA during ASRAMP 2015 | Currentness: Ground Condition 2015-01-26 2015-04-28 Time frame of surveys at Jarvis in 2016 | Currentness: Ground Condition 2016-05-16 2016-05-22 Time frame of surveys at Baker, Howland, Jarvis, and Wake during MARAMP 2017 | Currentness: Ground Condition 2017-04-02 2017-04-23 Photo-quad surveys conducted at Baker, Howland, Jarvis, Kingman, and Palmyra during ASRAMP 2018. | Currentness: Ground Condition 2018-06-08 2018-08-11 Time frame benthic images were collected across the Pacific Remote Island Areas (PRIA) during AS-NCRMP 2023. | Currentness: Ground Condition 2023-03-15 2023-05-07 NCRMP is a framework for conducting sustained observations of biological, climate, and socioeconomic indicators at 10 priority coral reefs across the U.S. and its territories. This integrated approach consolidates monitoring of coral reefs under a uniform method in the Pacific, Atlantic, Caribbean, and the Gulf of Mexico for the first time. NCRMP is funded by the CRCP and supported by NOAA Fisheries, NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS), and many other partners. The PIFSC Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD) at NOAA Fisheries is leading biological monitoring in the U.S. Pacific Islands Region. The biological component of NCRMP in the Pacific provides a triennial ecological characterization at a broad spatial scale of general reef condition for reef fishes, corals and benthic habitat (i.e., fish species composition/density/size, benthic cover, and coral density/size/condition). Innovative analysis techniques are then used to develop products that give fellow scientists, managers, decision makers and the public a better understanding of a region's resources and how they are changing over time. false eng false Data Table benthic_image_site_info_DataDictionary_2023 2024-03-05 publication JPEG JPEG CSV - Comma Separated Values (Text) CSV - Comma Separated Values (Text) CSV - Comma Separated Values (Text) CSV - Comma Separated Values (Text) JPEG JPEG PDF - Adobe Portable Document Format CSV - Comma Separated Values (Text) JPEG JPEG Zip 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/0159157 WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link StR Images PRIAs 2014 Photoquadrat benthic images collected at stratified random sites across Wake Island in 2014 by the NOAA Coral Reef Ecosystem Program (CREP) download https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0159153 WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link StR Images PRIAs 2015 Photoquadrat benthic images collected at stratified random sites across the Pacific Remote Island Areas in 2015 by the NOAA Coral Reef Ecosystem Program (CREP) download https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0159157 WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link Site Info PRIAs 2014.csv Metadata (site, date, and location) for photoquadrat benthic images collected at stratified random sites across Wake Islands of the Pacific Remote Island Areas in 2014 by the NOAA Coral Reef Ecosystem Program (CREP) download https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0159153 WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link Site Info PRIAs 2015.csv Metadata (site, date, and location) for photoquadrat benthic images collected at stratified random sites across the Pacific Remote Island Areas in 2015 by the NOAA Coral Reef Ecosystem Program (CREP) download https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0176287 WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link Site Info PRIAs 2016.csv Metadata (site, date, and location) for photoquadrat benthic images collected at stratified random sites across Jarvis of the Pacific Remote Island Areas in 2016 by the PIFSC Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD) download https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0176288 WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link Site Info PRIAs 2017.csv Metadata (site, date, and location) for photoquadrat benthic images collected at stratified random sites across the Pacific Remote Island Areas in 2017 by the PIFSC Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD) download https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0176287 WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link StR Images PRIAs 2016 Photoquadrat benthic images collected at stratified random sites across Jarvis Island in 2016 by the PIFSC Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD) download https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0176288 WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link StR Images PRIAs 2017 Photoquadrat benthic images collected at stratified random sites across the Pacific Remote Island Areas in 2017 by the PIFSC Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD) download https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0157633 WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link PIFSC_NTM-PIFSC-71_2018_SOP_Benthic.pdf SOP that describes method to collect benthic images during the surveys. download https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0187564 WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link Site Info PRIAs 2018.csv Metadata (site, date, and location) for photoquadrat benthic images collected at stratified random sites across the Pacific Remote Island Areas in 2018 during mission HA1801 by the PIFSC Ecosystem Sciences Division. download https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0187564 WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link StR Images PRIAs 2018 Photoquadrat benthic images collected at stratified random sites across the Pacific Remote Island Areas in 2018 by the PIFSC Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD). download https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0289904 WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link NCRMP_STRS_IMAGES_PRIA_2023 Photoquadrat benthic images collected at stratified random sites across the Pacific Remote Island Areas in 2023 by the PIFSC Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD) download https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0289904 WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link NCRMP_STRS_SITEINFO_PRIA_2023.csv Metadata (site, date, and location) for photoquadrat benthic images collected at stratified random sites across the Pacific Remote Island Areas in 2023 by the PIFSC Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD) download dataset Accuracy Handheld GPS units were used to locate random sites and mark site locations. Analytical Accuracy Image data include ~30 benthic photographs per survey site from both the fish and benthic team surveys. The fish team conducts the photoquadrat surveys along one 30-m transect. The benthic team conducts the surveys along 2 independent 18-m transects. Therefore, the site level image data contain one transect (A) for fish team surveys and two transects (A and B) for benthic team surveys. Appropriate site level image grouping should include all 30 images. Completeness Report Only shallow water (0 to 30 meter depth range) hard-bottom habitats are surveyed. The survey sites were randomly selected using a systematic process based on available habitat and bathymetric data. Although efforts are made to include broad spatial coverage of surveys at each island, weather conditions and other environmental constraints may have prevented the team from surveying exposed reef areas. Conceptual Consistency The same methods of data collection were used at each surveyed site. The stratified random sampling (StRS) design and benthic photoquadrat survey methodology, employed by the PIFSC Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD) since 2013. Benthic imagery is collected at stratified random sites. These photos are color-corrected (if necessary) prior to analysis. The data management team also uses a optical validation script to re-name photos and enforce several validation checks. A stratified random sampling (StRS) design was employed to survey the coral reef ecosystems through the U.S. Pacific regions. The survey domain encompassed the majority of the mapped area of reef and hard bottom habitats. The stratification scheme included island, reef zone, and depth in all regions, as well as habitat structure type in the Main Hawaiian Islands. The habitat structure types included simple, complex, and coral-rich. Depth categories of shallow (0-6 m), mid (> 6-18m) and deep (>18-30 m) were also incorporated into the stratification scheme. Allocation of sampling effort was proportional to strata area. Sites were randomly selected within each stratum. A geographic information system (GIS) and digital spatial databases of benthic habitats (NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science NCCOS), reef zones (IKONOS satellite imagery, NDGC 1998) bathymetry (NDGC 1998, CREP benthic mapping data), and marine reserve boundaries (NOAA) were used to facilitate spatial delineation of the sampling survey domain, strata, and sample units. Map resolution was such that the survey domain could be overlain by a grid using a GIS with individual cells of size 50 m by 50 m in area. A two-stage sampling scheme following Cochran (1977) was employed to control for spatial variation in population parameters at scales smaller than the grid cell minimum mapping unit (2,500 m2). Grid cells containing hard-bottom reef habitats were designated as primary sample units (referred to as sites). Swanson, Dione W (808)725-5417 dione.swanson@noaa.gov processor Photoquadrat surveys were conducted by both the fish and benthic teams. Still photographs were collected to record the benthic community composition at predetermined points along the transect lines with a high-resolution digital camera mounted on a pole. Overall, 30 photoquadrat images are collected at each site. The fish team conducts these surveys along one 30 meter transect that spans the length of two stationary point count (SPC) cylinders used to assess fish abundance (30 images total, Transect A). Benthic substrate photos are taken at one meter intervals along the right hand side of the 30 m transect line. The benthic team conducts the photoquadrat surveys along two, independent 18 meter transects. Photos of the benthic substrate are taken at one meter intervals starting at meter 1, along the left hand side of each 18 meter transect (15 images/transect; 30 images total; Transect A and B). Raw data include ~30 benthic photographs per survey site. Included in the archive package is a list of survey sites, including site, date, latitude (dd), and longitude (dd) where photoquads were collected. The file naming convention for each photo/image is [SITE]_[YEAR]_[TRANSECT]_[PHOTO_NUMBER].JPG (e.g., TUT-903_2012_A_01.JPG). Source Contribution: The SOP describes the method to collect benthic images during the survey. Swanson D, Bailey H, Schumacher B, Ferguson M, Vargas-Angel B. 2018. Ecosystem Sciences Division standard operating procedures: data collection for rapid ecological assessment benthic surveys. U.S. Dept. of Commerce, NOAA Technical Memorandum NOAA-TM-NMFS-PIFSC-71, 63 p. 2018-08-31 publication Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, PIFSC https://doi.org/10.25923/39jh-8993 WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link NOAA Institutional Repository Ecosystem Sciences Division standard operating procedures: data collection for rapid ecological assessment benthic surveys information originator otherRestrictions otherRestrictions Access Constraints: None | Use Constraints: None