Dataset Overview | National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)

National Coral Reef Monitoring Program: Methodological Case Study for 'Downscaling Ecological Trends from the Spatially Randomized Datasets' in the Main Hawaiian Islands, 2005-07-14 to 2016-08-24 (NCEI Accession 0211127)

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The data described here result from the application of a down-scaling method to NOAA National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP) benthic cover data, in an attempt by the Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC) Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD) to make NCRMP data maximally useful to reef managers.

ESD scientists took benthic cover data from the Main Hawaiian Islands from 2005-2016 and applied a statistical technique based on contiguous clustering and mixed model analysis to discover an optimal reporting sector for NCRMP data (Oliver et al. 2020). Specifically, clusters were identified based on NCRMP benthic cover data collected by ESD from 4 survey methods (towed diver, line point intercept, and photoquadrat surveys in which benthic images were analyzed either using CoralNet or CPCe) and then the optimal size and number of spatial sectors was assessed to generate reporting sector assignments that balanced minimal size against maximal ecological homogeneity and statistical power. These assignments are recorded in the dataset along with the source benthic cover observations, including live hard coral cover, soft coral cover, crustose coralline algae cover, macroalgal and turf algae cover, sediment cover, and all other categories are binned into "other".

Dataset Citation

Cite as: Ecosystem Sciences Division, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (2020). National Coral Reef Monitoring Program: Methodological Case Study for 'Downscaling Ecological Trends from the Spatially Randomized Datasets' in the Main Hawaiian Islands, 2005-07-14 to 2016-08-24 (NCEI Accession 0211127). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0211127. Accessed [date].

Dataset Identifiers

ISO 19115-2 Metadata

gov.noaa.nodc:0211127

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Download Data	HTTPS (download) Navigate directly to the URL for data access and direct download. FTP (download) 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).
Distribution Formats	CSV SHP PDF
Ordering Instructions	Contact NCEI for other distribution options and instructions.
Distributor	NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information +1-301-713-3277 NCEI.Info@noaa.gov
Dataset Point of Contact	NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information ncei.info@noaa.gov

Time Period	2005-07-14 to 2016-08-24
Spatial Bounding Box Coordinates	West: -160.2520966 East: -154.8065752 South: 18.90837018 North: 22.24684434
Spatial Coverage Map

General Documentation

NCEI Dataset Landing Page
Navigate directly to the URL for a descriptive web page with download links.
Descriptive Information
Navigate directly to the URL for a descriptive web page with download links.

Associated Resources

Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, 2020: National Coral Reef Monitoring Program: Methodological Case Study for 'Downscaling Ecological Trends from the Spatially Randomized Datasets' in the Main Hawaiian Islands, 2005-2016, https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/59928.
- https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/59928
  InPort Metadata Record
Oliver, Thomas A.; Barkley, Hannah; Couch, Courtney S.; Kindinger, Tye; Williams, Ivor D. Downscaling Ecological Trends from the Spatially Randomized Datasets of the National Coral Reef Monitoring Program. NOAA technical memorandum NMFS-PIFSC; 106. 2020. https://doi.org/10.25923/2fef-8r42
- https://doi.org/10.25923/2fef-8r42
  NOAA Central Library: Technical Memorandum

Publication Dates	publication: 2020-07-20
Data Presentation Form	Digital table - digital representation of facts or figures systematically displayed, especially in columns
Dataset Progress Status	Complete - production of the data has been completed Historical archive - data has been stored in an offline storage facility
Data Update Frequency	As needed
Supplemental Information	Submission Package ID: K15BKL
Purpose	To make NOAA National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP) data maximally useful to managers, we explore the application of contiguous clustering and mixed model analysis to reduce the size of statistically robust reporting sectors. 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 Coral Reef Conservation Coral Reef 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. NCRMP is a framework for conducting sustained observations of biological, climate, and socioeconomic indicators at 10 priority coral reefs areas 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 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.
Use Limitations	accessLevel: Public Distribution liability: NOAA and NCEI make no warranty, expressed or implied, regarding these data, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty. NOAA and NCEI cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in these data. If appropriate, NCEI can only certify that the data it distributes are an authentic copy of the records that were accepted for inclusion in the NCEI archives.

Dataset Citation	Cite as: Ecosystem Sciences Division, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (2020). National Coral Reef Monitoring Program: Methodological Case Study for 'Downscaling Ecological Trends from the Spatially Randomized Datasets' in the Main Hawaiian Islands, 2005-07-14 to 2016-08-24 (NCEI Accession 0211127). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0211127. Accessed [date].
Cited Authors	Ecosystem Sciences Division, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center
Principal Investigators	Thomas A. Oliver US DOC; NOAA; NMFS; Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center; Ecosystem Sciences Division
Contributors	US DOC; NOAA; NMFS; Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center; Ecosystem Sciences Division
Resource Providers	Kevin Trick US DOC; NOAA; NMFS; Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center; Ecosystem Sciences Division US DOC; NOAA; NMFS; Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (NMFS/PIFSC)
Publishers	NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
Acknowledgments	Related Funding Agency: NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program

Theme keywords	NODC DATA TYPES THESAURUS HABITAT - BENTHIC REEF AND/OR BOTTOM REGIME - PERCENT COVER NODC OBSERVATION TYPES THESAURUS benthic biological derived products in situ survey - biological survey - coral reef WMO_CategoryCode oceanography CoRIS Discovery Thesaurus Numeric Data Sets > Benthic CoRIS Theme Thesaurus EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Aquatic Habitat > Benthic Habitat EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Aquatic Habitat > Reef Habitat EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Vegetation > Algae > Algal Cover EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Vegetation > Algae > Crustose Coralline Algae EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Vegetation > Algae > Turf Algae EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Anthozoans/Octocorals 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 > Benthos Analysis > Transect Monitoring EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment > In Situ Biological EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment > Photographic Analysis EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Scleractinia (stony corals) 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 > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs > Coral Reef Ecology > Coral Cover EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs > Coral Reef Ecology > Hard Coral Cover Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords EARTH SCIENCE > BIOSPHERE > ECOSYSTEMS > MARINE ECOSYSTEMS > BENTHIC
Data Center keywords	NODC COLLECTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS US DOC; NOAA; NMFS; Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center; Ecosystem Sciences Division NODC SUBMITTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS US DOC; NOAA; NMFS; Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Data Center Keywords DOC/NOAA/NMFS > National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce DOC/NOAA/NMFS/PIFSC/ESD > Ecosystem Sciences Division, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Instrument keywords	NODC INSTRUMENT TYPES THESAURUS photograph swimmer/diver
Place keywords	NODC SEA AREA NAMES THESAURUS Coastal Waters of Hawaii North Pacific Ocean CoRIS Place Thesaurus COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Hawaii > Hawaii (21N160W0000) 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 > Oahu (21N157W0003) 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) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Hawaiian Islands (21N157W0027) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Hawaiian Islands > Hawaii > Hawaii (21N160W0000) 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 > Niihau Island (21N160W0001) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Hawaiian Islands > Oahu Island > Oahu (21N157W0003) Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords OCEAN > PACIFIC OCEAN > CENTRAL PACIFIC OCEAN > HAWAIIAN ISLANDS OCEAN > PACIFIC OCEAN > NORTH PACIFIC OCEAN
Project keywords	NODC PROJECT NAMES THESAURUS Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP) CORAL REEF STUDIES National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP) Pacific Reef and Assessment Monitoring Program (Pacific RAMP) CRCP Project 31249 743 Downscaling Reef Resilience National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP)
Keywords	NCEI ACCESSION NUMBER 0211127

Use Constraints	Cite as: Ecosystem Sciences Division, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (2020). National Coral Reef Monitoring Program: Methodological Case Study for 'Downscaling Ecological Trends from the Spatially Randomized Datasets' in the Main Hawaiian Islands, 2005-07-14 to 2016-08-24 (NCEI Accession 0211127). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0211127. Accessed [date].
Access Constraints	Use liability: NOAA and NCEI cannot provide any warranty as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of furnished data. Users assume responsibility to determine the usability of these data. The user is responsible for the results of any application of this data for other than its intended purpose.
Fees	In most cases, electronic downloads of the data are free. However, fees may apply for custom orders, data certifications, copies of analog materials, and data distribution on physical media.

Lineage information for: dataset
Processing Steps	2020-07-20T19:28:16Z - NCEI Accession 0211127 v1.1 was published.
Output Datasets	NCEI Accession 0211127 v1.1 NCEI Accession 0211127 v1.1 (download) published 2020-07-20T19:28:16Z

Lineage information for: dataset
Processing Steps	Parameter or Variable: REEF AND/OR BOTTOM REGIME - PERCENT COVER (calculated); Units: percent; Observation Category: derived products; Sampling Instrument: Not applicable; Sampling and Analyzing Method: In the tech memo linked to and associated with this dataset, we present a statistical technique based on contiguous clustering and mixed model analysis to downscale the NCRMP Pacific Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program benthic cover data and apply it to a case study in the main Hawaiian Islands. Data Compilation: First, we summarize relevant data across methodologies and metrics. Data selected include benthic cover data from line-point intercept, benthic towed diver, and stratifed-random photoquadrat surveys (analyzed either in CPCe or CoralNet). A key step in this process is to thoughtfully, with an understanding of the respective methods, compile data into an analyzable dataset. Benthic categories selected for the analysis include hard live coral, soft coral, crustose coralline algae (CCA), macro and turf algae, sediment, and other. Hierarchical Contiguous Clustering: To perform the clustering, we first convert points to polygons using Voronoi tessellation, define a neighbor-joining network and assign branch lengths based on ecological distance across a number of benthic cover categories, and then prune the network into a minimum-spanning tree to set up for evaluating the quality of defined clusters. Select the Appropriate Number of Clusters: With the generation of a minimum spanning tree, we have a data structure that represents a hierarchically nested set of clusters, but we do not yet know the appropriate number of clusters. To assess the appropriate number of clusters to generate, we primarily balance the number/size of sectors against the statistical performance of the cluster set, as our other goals are inherently dealt with in the methodological approach. Mixed Model Analysis of Trends: Given a chosen level of clustering and the spatial polygons, we can define spatial sectors with which to run our analysis and apply hierarchical mixed models to evaluate long-term trends.; Data Quality Method: Accuracy of the sector-level estimates depend on sample size within the sector, and detailed descriptions of model fit are included in the technical memo associated with this dataset. The sectors presented here are defined by all benthic cover data available from NCRMP for the main Hawaiian Islands, 2005-2015. In analysis of trends, we also added the post-bleaching, 2016, data. This analysis was designed to as closely represent the conceptual vision given available data. The NOAA National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP) runs thorough quality control procedures described in the original survey records. Our analysis was reviewed by all co-authors, their respective Division chiefs, and NOAA Fisheries technical and editorial review by the Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center..

Lineage information for: dataset

Processing Steps

Parameter or Variable: REEF AND/OR BOTTOM REGIME - PERCENT COVER (calculated); Units: percent; Observation Category: derived products; Sampling Instrument: Not applicable; Sampling and Analyzing Method: In the tech memo linked to and associated with this dataset, we present a statistical technique based on contiguous clustering and mixed model analysis to downscale the NCRMP Pacific Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program benthic cover data and apply it to a case study in the main Hawaiian Islands. Data Compilation: First, we summarize relevant data across methodologies and metrics. Data selected include benthic cover data from line-point intercept, benthic towed diver, and stratifed-random photoquadrat surveys (analyzed either in CPCe or CoralNet). A key step in this process is to thoughtfully, with an understanding of the respective methods, compile data into an analyzable dataset. Benthic categories selected for the analysis include hard live coral, soft coral, crustose coralline algae (CCA), macro and turf algae, sediment, and other. Hierarchical Contiguous Clustering: To perform the clustering, we first convert points to polygons using Voronoi tessellation, define a neighbor-joining network and assign branch lengths based on ecological distance across a number of benthic cover categories, and then prune the network into a minimum-spanning tree to set up for evaluating the quality of defined clusters. Select the Appropriate Number of Clusters: With the generation of a minimum spanning tree, we have a data structure that represents a hierarchically nested set of clusters, but we do not yet know the appropriate number of clusters. To assess the appropriate number of clusters to generate, we primarily balance the number/size of sectors against the statistical performance of the cluster set, as our other goals are inherently dealt with in the methodological approach. Mixed Model Analysis of Trends: Given a chosen level of clustering and the spatial polygons, we can define spatial sectors with which to run our analysis and apply hierarchical mixed models to evaluate long-term trends.; Data Quality Method: Accuracy of the sector-level estimates depend on sample size within the sector, and detailed descriptions of model fit are included in the technical memo associated with this dataset. The sectors presented here are defined by all benthic cover data available from NCRMP for the main Hawaiian Islands, 2005-2015. In analysis of trends, we also added the post-bleaching, 2016, data. This analysis was designed to as closely represent the conceptual vision given available data. The NOAA National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP) runs thorough quality control procedures described in the original survey records. Our analysis was reviewed by all co-authors, their respective Division chiefs, and NOAA Fisheries technical and editorial review by the Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center..

Acquisition Information (collection)
Instrument	photograph swimmer/diver

Last Modified: 2024-02-21T13:44:27Z
For questions about the information on this page, please email: ncei.info@noaa.gov

National Coral Reef Monitoring Program: Methodological Case Study for 'Downscaling Ecological Trends from the Spatially Randomized Datasets' in the Main Hawaiian Islands, 2005-07-14 to 2016-08-24 (NCEI Accession 0211127)

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