Description
The data described here are benthic habitat imagery (color-corrected photographs) from benthic photo-quadrat surveys conducted along transects at stratified random sites by the Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC) Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD)--formerly the Coral Reef Ecosystem Division--as part of the NOAA National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP). The photo-quadrat surveys are part of Rapid Ecological Assessment (REA) surveys for corals and fish conducted during ESD-led NCRMP missions across the Hawaiian Archipelago in 2013, 2016, 2015, and 2019, and 2024. In 2015, there was also a NCRMP (formerly known as RAMP) mission led by the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument (PMNM) (HA1505) to the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI).
A stratified random sampling (StRS) design was employed to survey the coral reef ecosystems across the Hawaiian Archipelago. 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 in all regions, as well as habitat structure type in the Main Hawaiian Islands. Allocation of sampling effort was proportional to strata area and variance in coral density. Sites were surveyed using photo-quadrats along transects to collect benthic imagery to ultimately produce estimates of relative abundance (percent 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.
Resources
| Name | Format | Description | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Site Info HAWAII 2013.csv | Unknown | Metadata (site, date, and location) for photoquadrat benthic images collected at stratified random sites across the Hawaiian archipelago in 2013 by the NOAA Coral Reef Ecosystem Program (CREP) | Open resource |
| StR Images HAWAII 2013 | Unknown | Photoquadrat benthic images collected at stratified random sites across the Hawaiian archipelago in 2013 by the NOAA Coral Reef Ecosystem Program (CREP) | Open resource |
| Site Info HAWAII 2013.csv | Unknown | Metadata (site, date, and location) for photoquadrat benthic images collected at stratified random sites across the Hawaiian archipelago in 2013 by the NOAA Coral Reef Ecosystem Program (CREP) | Open resource |
| StR Images HAWAII 2013 | Unknown | Photoquadrat benthic images collected at stratified random sites across the Hawaiian archipelago in 2013 by the NOAA Coral Reef Ecosystem Program (CREP) | Open resource |
| Site Info HAWAII 2016.csv | Unknown | Metadata (site, date, and location) for photoquadrat benthic images collected at stratified random sites across the Hawaiian archipelago in 2016 by the NOAA Coral Reef Ecosystem Program (CREP) | Open resource |
| Site Info HAWAII 2016.csv | Unknown | Metadata (site, date, and location) for photoquadrat benthic images collected at stratified random sites across the Hawaiian archipelago in 2016 by the NOAA Coral Reef Ecosystem Program (CREP) | Open resource |
| StR Images HAWAII 2016 | Unknown | Photoquadrat benthic images collected at stratified random sites across the Hawaiian archipelago in 2016 by the NOAA Coral Reef Ecosystem Program (CREP) | Open resource |
| StR Images HAWAII 2016 | Unknown | Photoquadrat benthic images collected at stratified random sites across the Hawaiian archipelago in 2016 by the NOAA Coral Reef Ecosystem Program (CREP) | Open resource |
| StR Images HAWAII 2019 | Unknown | Photoquadrat benthic images collected at stratified random sites across the main Hawaiian Islands in 2019 by the NOAA Fisheries Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD). | Open resource |
| StR Images HAWAII 2019 | Unknown | Photoquadrat benthic images collected at stratified random sites across the main Hawaiian Islands in 2019 by the NOAA Fisheries Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD). | Open resource |
| Site Info HAWAII 2019.csv | Unknown | Metadata (site, date, and location) for photoquadrat benthic images collected at stratified random sites across the main Hawaiian Islands in 2019 by the NOAA Fisheries, Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD). | Open resource |
| Site Info HAWAII 2019.csv | Unknown | Metadata (site, date, and location) for photoquadrat benthic images collected at stratified random sites across the main Hawaiian Islands in 2019 by the NOAA Fisheries, Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD). | Open resource |
| ESD_NCRMP_BENTHIC_IMAGES_STRS_2024_HAWAII | Unknown | Benthic photoquadrat images collected at stratified random sites across the Hawaiian Archipelago during National Coral Reef Monitoring Program surveys in 2024 | Open resource |
| MHI_RFS_PQ_siteinfo_2015 | Unknown | MHI site metadata (including site name, date, and location) for the photoquads conducted during 2015 during the MHI Reef Fish Cruise (HA1503) by the ESD. | Open resource |
| MHI_RFS_PQ_siteinfo_2015 | Unknown | MHI site metadata (including site name, date, and location) for the photoquads conducted during 2015 during the MHI Reef Fish Cruise (HA1503) by the ESD. | Open resource |
| MHI_RFS_PQ_images_2015 | Unknown | Imagery collected during the 2015 MHI Reef Fish Cruise (HA1503) by the CRED, now known as Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD) of the NOAA PIFSC. | Open resource |
| MHI_RFS_PQ_images_2015 | Unknown | Imagery collected during the 2015 MHI Reef Fish Cruise (HA1503) by the CRED, now known as Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD) of the NOAA PIFSC. | Open resource |
| NWHI_PMNM_PQ_images_2015 | Unknown | Benthic imagery collected during the 2015 NWHI RAMP cruise (HA1505) conducted by PMNM. The file naming convention for each photo/image is [SITE]_[YEAR]_[TRANSECT]_[PHOTO_NUMBER].JPG (e.g., TUT-903_2012_A_01.JPG). | Open resource |
| NWHI_PMNM_PQ_siteinfo_2015 | Unknown | NWHI site metadata (including site name, date, and location) for the photoquads conducted during 2015 during the NWHI RAMP (HA1505) by PMNM. | Open resource |
| NWHI_PMNM_PQ_images_2015 | Unknown | Benthic imagery collected during the 2015 NWHI RAMP cruise (HA1505) conducted by PMNM. The file naming convention for each photo/image is [SITE]_[YEAR]_[TRANSECT]_[PHOTO_NUMBER].JPG (e.g., TUT-903_2012_A_01.JPG). | Open resource |
| NWHI_PMNM_PQ_siteinfo_2015 | Unknown | NWHI site metadata (including site name, date, and location) for the photoquads conducted during 2015 during the NWHI RAMP (HA1505) by PMNM. | Open resource |
| GCMD Keyword Forum Page | Unknown | 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 | Open resource |
| GCMD Keyword Forum Page | Unknown | Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2024. GCMD Keywords, Version 19. 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 | Open resource |
| National Coral Reef Monitoring Program | Unknown | NOAA National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP) website. | Open resource |
| National Coral Reef Monitoring Program | Unknown | NOAA National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP) website. | Open resource |
| Full Metadata Record | Unknown | View the complete metadata record on InPort for more information about this dataset. | Open resource |
| Full Metadata Record | Unknown | View the complete metadata record on InPort for more information about this dataset. | Open resource |
| NOAA Data Management Plan (DMP) | NOAA Data Management Plan for this record on InPort. | Open resource | |
| NOAA Data Management Plan (DMP) | NOAA Data Management Plan for this record on InPort. | Open resource | |
| Coral Reefs in the Pacific | Unknown | NOAA Fisheries website | Open resource |
| Coral Reefs in the Pacific | Unknown | NOAA Fisheries website | Open resource |
| Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center Website | Unknown | Pacific Island Fisheries Science Center homepage | Open resource |
| Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center Website | Unknown | Pacific Island Fisheries Science Center homepage | Open resource |
Tags
- 743
- aquatic habitat
- benthic
- benthic biology
- benthic habitat
- benthos analysis
- biosphere
- camera
- central pacific ocean
- coastal processes
- coastal waters of hawaii
- continent
- coral
- coral communities
- coral reef
- coral reef conservation program
- coral reef ecology
- coral reef ecosystem division
- coral reef ecosystem program
- coral reefs
- coral reef studies
- corals
- country/territory
- cred
- crep
- doc/noaa/nmfs/pifsc
- doc/noaa/nmfs/pifsc/esd
- earth science
- ecosystems
- ecosystem sciences division
- esd
- french frigate shoals (24n166w0001)
- habitats
- hawaii
- hawaii (21n160w0000)
- hawaiian archipelago
- hawaiian islands
- hawaiian islands (21n157w0027)
- hawaii island
- hawaii island (19n155w0003)
- hi'ialakai
- honolulu
- imagery
- in situ biological
- kahoolawe
- kahoolawe island
- kahoolawe island (20n156w0001)
- kalawao
- kauai
- kauai island
- kauai island (22n159w0001)
- kure atoll (28n178w0001)
- lanai
- lanai island
- lanai island (20n156w0002)
- lisianski island (25n173w0001)
- main hawaiian islands
- marine biology
- marine ecosystems
- maui
- maui island
- maui island (20n156w0004)
- mhi
- molokai
- molokai island
- molokai island (21n157w0001)
- national coral reef monitoring program
- national marine fisheries service
- niihau
- niihau island
- niihau island (21n160w0001)
- nmfs
- noaa
- north america
- north pacific ocean
- northwestern hawaiian islands
- northwestern hawaiian islands (28n178w0000)
- nwhi
- oahu
- oahu (21n157w0003)
- oahu island
- ocean
- ocean basin
- oceans
- oscar elton sette
- pacific islands fisheries science center
- pacific ocean
- papahanaumokuakea marine national monument
- pearl and hermes reef (27n176w0001)
- photoquadrat images
- pifsc
- pmnm
- ramp
- rapid assessment studies
- rapid ecological assessment
- rea
- reef
- reef assessment and monitoring program
- reef habitat
- reef monitoring and assessment
- transect monitoring
- triennial
- united states of america
- u.s. department of commerce
- us doc
- visual images
- zoology