Assessment of coral reef benthic communities and reef fish survey data from locations in the Commonwealth of Northern Marianas Islands from 2014-10-01 to 2018-09-30 (NCEI Accession 0225446)

Description

Overview Currently, the LTMMP has 52 long-term monitoring sites across Saipan, Tinian, and Rota that are surveyed on a rotating biennial basis. Three main habitat types are covered: Fore reef, reef flat (lagoon), and seagrass beds (lagoon). Most sites have been selected based on their association with management concerns (runoff, sewage outfalls, urban development, etc.) and/or management actions (watershed restorations efforts, marine protected areas, etc.) and include impacted sites and relatively non-impacted reference sites. In general, monitoring surveys are conducted using standard and proven ecological field survey methods. All surveys are conducted along 3-5, 50 m transect lines laid out along the depth contour (~9m depth) on the fore reef, or along consistent habitat in the lagoon (back reef and seagrass). While benthic cover analysis provides the foundation of the CNMI monitoring program, the current protocol uses several survey types per site to provide ecological depth beyond percent cover. Fore Reef Photos are taken every meter along each transect line using a 0.25m2 quadrat frame, for a total of 250 photos at each site. In the office, the computer program CPCe is used to place five random points on each photo and the biota or substrate type under each point is identified. Organisms are identified to the genus level. This analysis provides benthic percent cover and community diversity. Twelve, 3 minute, 5 m radius stationary point counts (SPC) are conducted at each site to evaluate fish assemblages. Each SPC is systematically positioned throughout the length of a site (250 m). The species and size (fork length) of all food fishes within the 5 meter radius are recorded. This provides relative diversity, abundances, species compositions, size class distribution, and biomass of the fish community. Sixteen 0.25m2 quadrats are haphazardly tossed along the length of the site and every coral colony within the quadrats is identified to the species level and measured. This method provides relative diversity, abundances, species composition, and size class of the coral community. Within these same quadrats, all algae species present are identified to the species level to provide a measure of algae community composition and species richness. Finally, non-coral macro-invertebrates including sea cucumbers, urchins, crown-of-thorns starfish, giant clams, among others, are identified and counted within 1 m of each side of the transect lines (i.e., 5, 2mx50m belt transects). This provides invertebrate abundances, species composition, and diversity. Saipan Lagoon Saipan Lagoon habitats that are monitored include Halodule uninervis beds, staghorn Acropora thickets, and mixed coral back reefs. At lagoon sites, benthic cover is quantified using a 0.25 m2 string quadrat with six intersections, placed every meter along the transect line. The biota or substrate under each intersection is recorded to the genus level, in situ. Additionally, 10, 1 m2 quads are haphazardly placed across the length of the site (250 m) and all seagrass, algae, coral, and macro-invertebrates are identified to the species level and recorded. This method captures the relative diversity, abundance, and species compositions of lagoon communities. Finally, non-coral macro-invertebrate abundances and diversity are quantified as described above for reef slope sites.

Resources

Name Format Description Link
0 Navigate directly to the URL for a descriptive web page with download links. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0225446
0 Navigate directly to the URL for a descriptive web page with download links. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/oas/225446
0 Navigate directly to the URL for data access and direct download. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/download/225446
0 Information for contacts at NCEI. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/contact
0 Information for contacts at NCEI. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/contact
0 Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2022. GCMD Keywords, Version 13. 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 https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords
0 Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2022. GCMD Keywords, Version 13. 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%2BKeywords https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords
0 Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2022. GCMD Keywords, Version 13. 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 https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords
0 These data are available through the File Transfer Protocol (FTP). FTP is no longer supported by most internet browsers. You may copy and paste the FTP link to the data into an FTP client (e.g., FileZilla or WinSCP). ftp://ftp-oceans.ncei.noaa.gov/nodc/archive/arc0171/0225446/
0 Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2022. GCMD Keywords, Version 13. 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 https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords
0 Navigate directly to the URL for a descriptive web page with download links. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0225446
0 Navigate directly to the URL for a descriptive web page with download links. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/oas/225446
0 Navigate directly to the URL for data access and direct download. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/download/225446
0 These data are available through the File Transfer Protocol (FTP). FTP is no longer supported by most internet browsers. You may copy and paste the FTP link to the data into an FTP client (e.g., FileZilla or WinSCP). ftp://ftp-oceans.ncei.noaa.gov/nodc/archive/arc0171/0225446/
0 Information for contacts at NCEI. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/contact
0 Institution web page https://dcrm.gov.mp/
0 Institution web page https://dcrm.gov.mp/
0 Institution web page https://dcrm.gov.mp/
0 Institution web page https://dcrm.gov.mp/
0 Institution web page https://dcrm.gov.mp/
0 Institution web page https://dcrm.gov.mp/
0 Institution web page https://dcrm.gov.mp/
0 Institution web page https://dcrm.gov.mp/
0 Institution web page https://dcrm.gov.mp/
0 Information for contacts at NCEI. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/contact
0 Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2025. GCMD Keywords, Version 21. 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 https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords
0 Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2025. GCMD Keywords, Version 21. 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 https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords
0 Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2025. GCMD Keywords, Version 21. 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 https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords
0 Navigate directly to the URL for a descriptive web page with download links. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0225446
0 Navigate directly to the URL for a descriptive web page with download links. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/oas/225446
0 Information for contacts at NCEI. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/contact
0 Institution web page https://dcrm.gov.mp/
0 Institution web page https://dcrm.gov.mp/
0 Institution web page https://dcrm.gov.mp/
0 Institution web page https://dcrm.gov.mp/
0 Institution web page https://dcrm.gov.mp/
0 Institution web page https://dcrm.gov.mp/
0 Institution web page https://dcrm.gov.mp/
0 Institution web page https://dcrm.gov.mp/
0 Institution web page https://dcrm.gov.mp/
0 Information for contacts at NCEI. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/contact
0 Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2025. GCMD Keywords, Version 21. 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 https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords
0 Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2025. GCMD Keywords, Version 21. 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 https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords
0 Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2025. GCMD Keywords, Version 21. 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 https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords
0 Navigate directly to the URL for data access and direct download. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/download/225446
0 These data are available through the File Transfer Protocol (FTP). FTP is no longer supported by most internet browsers. You may copy and paste the FTP link to the data into an FTP client (e.g., FileZilla or WinSCP). ftp://ftp-oceans.ncei.noaa.gov/nodc/archive/arc0171/0225446/
0 Navigate directly to the URL for a descriptive web page with download links. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0225446
0 Navigate directly to the URL for a descriptive web page with download links. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/oas/225446
0 Navigate directly to the URL for data access and direct download. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/download/225446
0 These data are available through the File Transfer Protocol (FTP). FTP is no longer supported by most internet browsers. You may copy and paste the FTP link to the data into an FTP client (e.g., FileZilla or WinSCP). ftp://ftp-oceans.ncei.noaa.gov/nodc/archive/arc0171/0225446/
0 Information for contacts at NCEI. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/contact
0 Institution web page https://dcrm.gov.mp/
0 Institution web page https://dcrm.gov.mp/
0 Institution web page https://dcrm.gov.mp/
0 Institution web page https://dcrm.gov.mp/
0 Institution web page https://dcrm.gov.mp/
0 Institution web page https://dcrm.gov.mp/
0 Institution web page https://dcrm.gov.mp/
0 Institution web page https://dcrm.gov.mp/
0 Institution web page https://dcrm.gov.mp/
0 Information for contacts at NCEI. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/contact
0 Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2025. GCMD Keywords, Version 21. 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 https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords
0 Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2025. GCMD Keywords, Version 21. 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 https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords
0 Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2025. GCMD Keywords, Version 21. 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 https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords
0 Navigate directly to the URL for a descriptive web page with download links. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0225446
0 Navigate directly to the URL for a descriptive web page with download links. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/oas/225446
0 Navigate directly to the URL for data access and direct download. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/download/225446
0 Information for contacts at NCEI. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/contact
0 Institution web page https://dcrm.gov.mp/
0 Institution web page https://dcrm.gov.mp/
0 Institution web page https://dcrm.gov.mp/
0 Institution web page https://dcrm.gov.mp/
0 Institution web page https://dcrm.gov.mp/
0 Institution web page https://dcrm.gov.mp/
0 Institution web page https://dcrm.gov.mp/
0 Institution web page https://dcrm.gov.mp/
0 Institution web page https://dcrm.gov.mp/
0 Information for contacts at NCEI. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/contact
0 Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2025. GCMD Keywords, Version 21. 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 https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords
0 Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2025. GCMD Keywords, Version 21. 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 https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords
0 These data are available through the File Transfer Protocol (FTP). FTP is no longer supported by most internet browsers. You may copy and paste the FTP link to the data into an FTP client (e.g., FileZilla or WinSCP). ftp://ftp-oceans.ncei.noaa.gov/nodc/archive/arc0171/0225446/
0 Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2025. GCMD Keywords, Version 21. 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 https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords

Tags

  • coral cover
  • lagoon_benthic
  • fore_reef_benthic
  • western pacific ocean
  • reef monitoring and assessment
  • corals
  • benthic
  • northern mariana islands
  • biosphere
  • national coral reef monitoring program
  • rota island
  • oceans
  • rota island ( luta ) (14n145e0007)
  • marine invertebrates
  • numeric data sets
  • macroinvertebrates
  • oceanography
  • tinian island reefs
  • fish
  • earth science
  • coral colony size and condition
  • photo-quadrat
  • 18y3yk
  • reef fish census
  • marine biology
  • coral communities
  • saipan island
  • fore_reef_invertebrates
  • rota
  • saipan
  • benthos analysis
  • 743
  • transect monitoring
  • coral reef ecology
  • ocean basin
  • fore_reef_coral_quad
  • coral
  • coastal processes
  • saipan island (15n145e0002)
  • zoology
  • coral reefs
  • commonwealth of the northern mariana islands division of environmental quality
  • fish census
  • lagoon_invertebrate
  • pacific ocean
  • fore_reef_fish
  • country/territory
  • commonwealth of the northern marianas islands long-term marine monitoring program
  • belt transect
  • tinian
  • tinian island (14n145e0005)

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