National Coral Reef Monitoring Program: Benthic Cover from Annotated Benthic Images Collected During Photoquadrat Surveys at Climate Stations across the Mariana Archipelago since 2014
This data has been combined into a US Pacific-wide InPort record: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/78600.
The coral reef benthic community data described here result from the annotation (classification) of benthic images collected during photoquadrat surveys conducted by the NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC), Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD, formerly the Coral Reef Ecosystem Division) as part of NOAA's ongoing National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP). The photoquadrat surveys were conducted at coral reef sites according to protocols established by ESD and NCRMP during ESD-led NCRMP missions to the islands of the Mariana Archipelago in 2014, 2017, and 2022.
SCUBA divers conducted benthic photoquadrat surveys at permanent sites established in coral reef habitats by ESD. A select number of these sites were chosen in hard-bottom habitat at ~15-m depths, and a subset of the permanent sites (climate stations) were established at north, south, east, and west points around each of the islands. The divers estimated and delineated each site's rectangular perimeter by temporarily placing measuring tapes with 1-m markers starting from a permanently installed reference stake on the reef. Along the nearshore 10-m side of the survey site and the downslope 5-m side, the measuring tapes marked every meter of the L-shaped 15-m transect used for photoquadrat documentation. The divers photographed the reef at 1-m intervals on both sides of the 15-m tape, generating 20-30 photographs per survey site.
The benthic habitat images were quantitatively analyzed using Coral Point Count with Excel extensions (CPCe; Kohler and Gill, 2006) software from 2010-2014 and the web-based annotation tool, CoralNet (Beijbom et al. 2015), from 2015 to present. Ten points were randomly overlaid on each image and human analysts identified the organism or type of substrate beneath, with 300 annotations (points) generated per site. Benthic elements falling under each point were identified to genus/morphology for hard corals, and to genus/functional group for algae, invertebrates, and other taxa following Lozada-Misa et al. (2017). In general, the analysis resulted in three levels of benthic community data, including taxa group (Tier 1: hard coral, soft coral, macroalgae, turf algae, etc.), morphology (Tier 2: massive, branching, upright macroalgae, etc.), and genus (Tier 3). These benthic data can ultimately be used to produce estimates of relative abundance (percentage of benthic cover), frequency of occurrence, benthic community taxonomic composition, and relative generic richness.
Complete Metadata
| @type | dcat:Dataset |
|---|---|
| accessLevel | non-public |
| contactPoint |
{
"fn": "Oliver, Thomas",
"@type": "vcard:Contact",
"hasEmail": "mailto:thomas.oliver@noaa.gov"
}
|
| describedByType | application/octet-steam |
| description | This data has been combined into a US Pacific-wide InPort record: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/78600. The coral reef benthic community data described here result from the annotation (classification) of benthic images collected during photoquadrat surveys conducted by the NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC), Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD, formerly the Coral Reef Ecosystem Division) as part of NOAA's ongoing National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP). The photoquadrat surveys were conducted at coral reef sites according to protocols established by ESD and NCRMP during ESD-led NCRMP missions to the islands of the Mariana Archipelago in 2014, 2017, and 2022. SCUBA divers conducted benthic photoquadrat surveys at permanent sites established in coral reef habitats by ESD. A select number of these sites were chosen in hard-bottom habitat at ~15-m depths, and a subset of the permanent sites (climate stations) were established at north, south, east, and west points around each of the islands. The divers estimated and delineated each site's rectangular perimeter by temporarily placing measuring tapes with 1-m markers starting from a permanently installed reference stake on the reef. Along the nearshore 10-m side of the survey site and the downslope 5-m side, the measuring tapes marked every meter of the L-shaped 15-m transect used for photoquadrat documentation. The divers photographed the reef at 1-m intervals on both sides of the 15-m tape, generating 20-30 photographs per survey site. The benthic habitat images were quantitatively analyzed using Coral Point Count with Excel extensions (CPCe; Kohler and Gill, 2006) software from 2010-2014 and the web-based annotation tool, CoralNet (Beijbom et al. 2015), from 2015 to present. Ten points were randomly overlaid on each image and human analysts identified the organism or type of substrate beneath, with 300 annotations (points) generated per site. Benthic elements falling under each point were identified to genus/morphology for hard corals, and to genus/functional group for algae, invertebrates, and other taxa following Lozada-Misa et al. (2017). In general, the analysis resulted in three levels of benthic community data, including taxa group (Tier 1: hard coral, soft coral, macroalgae, turf algae, etc.), morphology (Tier 2: massive, branching, upright macroalgae, etc.), and genus (Tier 3). These benthic data can ultimately be used to produce estimates of relative abundance (percentage of benthic cover), frequency of occurrence, benthic community taxonomic composition, and relative generic richness. |
| distribution |
[
{
"@type": "dcat:Distribution",
"title": "MV_BIA_PERC_COVER_PHOTO_CLI_RW MARIAN 2014.csv",
"mediaType": "placeholder/value",
"description": "Image analysis data derived from photoquadrat benthic images at NCRMP climate stations and permanent sites across the Mariana archipelago in 2014 by the NOAA Coral Reef Ecosystem Program (CREP)",
"downloadURL": "https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0157721",
"describedByType": "application/octet-steam"
},
{
"@type": "dcat:Distribution",
"title": "MV_BIA_CNET_ANALYSIS_DATA_CLIMATE_Marianas_2017.csv",
"mediaType": "placeholder/value",
"description": "Benthic community data from annotated benthic images collected during photoquadrat surveys at permanent sites and climate stations across the Mariana Archipelago in 2017 by the PIFSC Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD).",
"downloadURL": "https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0202299",
"describedByType": "application/octet-steam"
},
{
"@type": "dcat:Distribution",
"title": "PIFSC_H-17-02_2017_SOP_ImageAnalysis_CN.pdf",
"mediaType": "placeholder/value",
"description": "PIFSC Administrative Report, January 2017: Analysis of benthic survey images via CoralNet : a summary of standard operating procedures and guidelines",
"downloadURL": "https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0157633",
"describedByType": "application/octet-steam"
},
{
"@type": "dcat:Distribution",
"title": "CNET_CLASSIFICATION_SCHEME_2022.csv",
"mediaType": "placeholder/value",
"description": "Updated classification scheme that defines categories in photoquad annotations using CoralNet.",
"downloadURL": "https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0279414",
"describedByType": "application/octet-steam"
},
{
"@type": "dcat:Distribution",
"title": "NOAA Data Management Plan (DMP)",
"mediaType": "placeholder/value",
"description": "NOAA Data Management Plan for this record on InPort.",
"downloadURL": "https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inportserve/waf/noaa/nmfs/pifsc/dmp/pdf/36147.pdf",
"describedByType": "application/octet-steam"
},
{
"@type": "dcat:Distribution",
"title": "GCMD Keyword Forum Page",
"mediaType": "placeholder/value",
"description": "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",
"downloadURL": "https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords",
"describedByType": "application/octet-steam"
},
{
"@type": "dcat:Distribution",
"title": "Full Metadata Record",
"mediaType": "placeholder/value",
"description": "View the complete metadata record on InPort for more information about this dataset.",
"downloadURL": "https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/36147",
"describedByType": "application/octet-steam"
}
]
|
| identifier | gov.noaa.nmfs.inport:36147 |
| issued | 2016-12-01T00:00:00.000+00:00 |
| keyword |
[
"DOC/NOAA/NMFS/PIFSC/ESD > Ecosystem Sciences Division, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce",
"EARTH SCIENCE > BIOSPHERE > ECOLOGICAL DYNAMICS > COMMUNITY DYNAMICS",
"EARTH SCIENCE > BIOSPHERE > ECOSYSTEMS > MARINE ECOSYSTEMS > BENTHIC",
"EARTH SCIENCE > BIOSPHERE > ECOSYSTEMS > MARINE ECOSYSTEMS > REEF > CORAL REEF",
"OCEAN > PACIFIC OCEAN > WESTERN PACIFIC OCEAN > MICRONESIA > GUAM",
"OCEAN > PACIFIC OCEAN > WESTERN PACIFIC OCEAN > MICRONESIA > NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS",
"743",
"National Coral Reef Monitoring Program",
"Numeric Data Sets > Benthic",
"EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Aquatic Habitat > Benthic Habitat",
"EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Aquatic Habitat > Reef Habitat",
"EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Microbiota > Blue-green Algae",
"EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Vegetation > Algae > Crustose Coralline Algae",
"EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Vegetation > Algae > Encrusting Macroalgae",
"EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Vegetation > Algae > Turf Algae",
"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",
"EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment > Photographic Analysis",
"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",
"EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Marine Biology > Marine Invertebrates",
"EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Marine Biology > Marine Invertebrates > Macroinvertebrates",
"EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Ocean Chemistry > Climate Change",
"BENTHIC COMMUNITIES",
"BENTHIC SPECIES",
"BENTHIC SPECIES - TAXA COUNTS",
"BENTHIC SPECIES - TAXA IDENTITIES",
"CORAL - SPECIES IDENTIFICATION",
"HABITAT - BENTHIC",
"photograph",
"biological",
"laboratory analyses",
"visual estimate",
"HI'IALAKAI",
"NOAA Ship Rainier",
"CORAL REEF STUDIES",
"Coral Reef Conservation Program",
"National Coral Reef Monitoring Program",
"Pacific Reef and Assessment Monitoring Program",
"US DOC; NOAA; NMFS; Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center; Ecosystem Sciences Division",
"COUNTRY/TERRITORY > Northern Mariana Islands > Asuncion Island > Asuncion Island (19N145E0001)",
"COUNTRY/TERRITORY > Northern Mariana Islands > Maug > Maug Island (20N145E0001)",
"COUNTRY/TERRITORY > Northern Mariana Islands > Northern Mariana Islands > Northern Mariana Islands ( CNMI ) (18N146E0000)",
"COUNTRY/TERRITORY > Northern Mariana Islands > Pagan > Pagan Island (18N145E0001)",
"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 > Guam > Guam (13N144E0000)",
"OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Asuncion Island > Asuncion Island (19N145E0001)",
"OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Guam > Guam (13N144E0000)",
"OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Mariana Archipelago > Northern Mariana Islands ( CNMI ) (18N146E0000)",
"OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Maug Island > Maug Island (20N145E0001)",
"OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Pagan Island > Pagan Island (18N145E0001)",
"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)",
"Marianas Trench Marine National Monument",
"NW Pacific (limit-180)",
"CRED",
"CREP",
"Coral Reef Ecosystem Division",
"Coral Reef Ecosystem Program",
"ESD",
"Ecosystem Sciences Division",
"PIFSC",
"Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center",
"RAMP",
"Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program",
"CNMI",
"Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands",
"Mariana Archipelago",
"Marianas",
"DOC/NOAA/NMFS/PIFSC > Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce",
"Marianas Archipelago"
]
|
| landingPage | https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/36147 |
| language |
[]
|
| license | https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/ |
| modified | 2023-06-01T00:00:00.000+00:00 |
| publisher |
{
"name": "Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center",
"@type": "org:Organization"
}
|
| references |
[
"https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inportserve/waf/noaa/nmfs/pifsc/dmp/pdf/36147.pdf"
]
|
| rights | otherRestrictions, unclassified |
| spatial | 145.8166,13.240901,144.6259167,20.545128 |
| temporal | 2014-03-25T00:00:00+00:00/2014-05-05T00:00:00+00:00 |
| title | National Coral Reef Monitoring Program: Benthic Cover from Annotated Benthic Images Collected During Photoquadrat Surveys at Climate Stations across the Mariana Archipelago since 2014 |
