Coral species and size data by transect, West Hawaii, 2011

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Frequently anticipated questions:

What does this data set describe?

Title: Coral species and size data by transect, West Hawaii, 2011
Abstract:
Observations of coral species and size were documented by scuba divers along pre-determined transects and are presented here in comma-separated format.
Supplemental_Information:
Additional information about the field activities from which these data were derived is available online at:
https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/fan_info.php?fan=B0611BI
Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.
  1. How might this data set be cited?
    Grossman, Eric E, Marrack, Elizabeth C, Kramer, Lindsey K, and Most, Rebecca, 2019, Coral species and size data by transect, West Hawaii, 2011: data release DOI:10.5066/F74X569K, U.S. Geological Survey, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, Santa Cruz, California.

    Online Links:

    This is part of the following larger work.

    Grossman, Eric E, Marrack, Elizabeth C, Kramer, Lindsey K, and Most, Rebecca, 2019, Coral cover and health determined from seafloor photographs and diver observations, West Hawaii, 2010-2011: data release DOI:10.5066/F74X569K, U.S. Geological Survey, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, Santa Cruz, CA.

    Online Links:

  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?
    West_Bounding_Coordinate: -156.03821
    East_Bounding_Coordinate: -155.90594
    North_Bounding_Coordinate: 19.88925
    South_Bounding_Coordinate: 19.41493
  3. What does it look like?
    https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/file/get/59b1954ce4b020cdf7d957d6?name=WestHawaiiCoralTransectsMap.jpg&allowOpen=true (JPG)
    map of transect locations
  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?
    Beginning_Date: 02-Oct-2011
    Ending_Date: 09-Nov-2011
    Currentness_Reference:
    ground condition at time data were collected
  5. What is the general form of this data set?
    Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: comma-delimited text
  6. How does the data set represent geographic features?
    1. How are geographic features stored in the data set?
      This is a Point data set. It contains the following vector data types (SDTS terminology):
      • Point (282)
    2. What coordinate system is used to represent geographic features?
      Horizontal positions are specified in geographic coordinates, that is, latitude and longitude. Latitudes are given to the nearest 1.0E-6. Longitudes are given to the nearest 1.0E-6. Latitude and longitude values are specified in decimal degrees. The horizontal datum used is D_WGS_1984.
      The ellipsoid used is WGS_1984.
      The semi-major axis of the ellipsoid used is 6378137.0.
      The flattening of the ellipsoid used is 1/298.257223563.
  7. How does the data set describe geographic features?
    CoralSpeciesSize_Oct2011.csv
    Table of data in CSV format (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)
    Transect
    Alphanumeric code in XX# format, where the characters designate the location and the number (1, 2, or 3) denotes the randomly placed transect at that location. (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)
    ValueDefinition
    AGAlula (near the mouth of Honaunau Harbor)
    FFFreeze Face
    HBHonaunau Bay
    HOHonaunau Outer
    KBKailua Bay
    KCKaloko Cut
    KOKaloko Outer
    KPKailua Pier
    KWKeawaiki
    KWNKeawaiki North
    KWSKeawaiki South
    Date
    Date in MM/DD/YY format (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)
    Range of values
    Minimum:10/2/11
    Maximum:11/9/11
    Units:MM/YY/DD
    Latitude
    Latitude in decimal degrees (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)
    Range of values
    Minimum:19.41493
    Maximum:19.88925
    Units:decimal degrees
    Longitude
    Longitude in decimal degrees (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)
    Range of values
    Minimum:-156.03821
    Maximum:-155.90594
    Units:decimal degrees
    Start_Depth_ft
    Depth at beginning of transect in feet below water surface at time of survey (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)
    Range of values
    Minimum:3
    Maximum:20
    Units:feet
    Bearing
    Direction that the transect headed from the starting point in degrees, where 0 is due North (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:340
    Units:degrees
    Coral_Species
    Coral species observed along transect (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)
    ValueDefinition
    CagafsiziCyphastrea agafsizi
    CocellinaCyphastrea ocellina
    LbewickensisLeptastrea bewickensis
    LpurpureaLeptastrea purpurea
    LtransversaLeptastrea transversa
    McapitataMontipora capitata
    MflabellataMontipora flabellata
    MpatulaMontipora patula
    PbernardiPorites bernardi
    PbrighamiPorites brighami
    PcompressaPorites compressa
    PduerdeniPavona duerdeni
    PeydouxiPocillopora eydouxi
    PhaimeanaPsammacora haimeana
    PlobataPorites lobata
    PluteaPorites lutea
    PmeandrinaPocillopora meandrina
    PnierstrasziPsammacora nierstraszi
    PrusPorites rus
    PstellataPsammacora stellata
    PvariansPavona varians
    <5cm
    the number of coral colonies along the transect less than 5 centimeters in size (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:69
    Units:each
    5-10cm
    the number of coral colonies along the transect between 5 and 10 centimeters in size (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:106
    Units:each
    11-20cm
    the number of coral colonies along the transect between 11 and 20 centimeters in size (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:87
    Units:each
    21-40cm
    the number of coral colonies along the transect between 21 and 40 centimeters in size (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:96
    Units:each
    41-80cm
    the number of coral colonies along the transect between 41 and 80 centimeters in size (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:62
    Units:each
    81-160cm
    the number of coral colonies along the transect between 81 and 160 centimeters in size (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:9
    Units:each
    >160cm
    the number of coral colonies along the transect greater than 160 centimeters in size (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:7
    Units:each
    Entity_and_Attribute_Overview: The first line of the csv file is a header line.
    Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation: U.S. Geological Survey

Who produced the data set?

  1. Who are the originators of the data set? (may include formal authors, digital compilers, and editors)
    • Eric E Grossman
    • Elizabeth C Marrack
    • Lindsey K Kramer
    • Rebecca Most
  2. Who also contributed to the data set?
  3. To whom should users address questions about the data?
    U.S. Geological Survey, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center
    Attn: PCMSC Science Data Coordinator
    2885 Mission Street
    Santa Cruz, CA

    831-427-4747 (voice)
    pcmsc_data@usgs.gov

Why was the data set created?

As part of an integrated study to assess projected impacts of land-use and climate change on nearshore habitat conditions and coral health, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center (PCMSC) initiated an investigation of nearshore water properties and coral health indicators along the west Hawaii Island coast. The project and data generated provide fundamental baseline data to track change and important boundary condition data to interpret characteristics of coral health related to water quality along a gradient in exposure to urban impacts and submarine groundwater discharge.

How was the data set created?

  1. From what previous works were the data drawn?
  2. How were the data generated, processed, and modified?
    Date: 09-Nov-2011 (process 1 of 3)
    Data were collected by divers on scuba along three randomly selected swath transects at each site location. The location where divers descended at the beginning of each transect was noted using a portable GPS unit in a waterproof housing. Once at the seafloor, a bearing was noted for the direction the divers swam and distance from start to each station noted along a 10-m measuring tape. Data observed along the transects were noted on divers’ slates using underwater paper.
    Date: 19-Oct-2020 (process 2 of 3)
    Edited metadata to add keywords section with USGS persistent identifier as theme keyword. No data were changed. Person who carried out this activity:
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Attn: VeeAnn A. Cross
    Marine Geologist
    384 Woods Hole Road
    Woods Hole, MA

    508-548-8700 x2251 (voice)
    508-457-2310 (FAX)
    vatnipp@usgs.gov
    Date: 13-Oct-2021 (process 3 of 3)
    Performed minor edits to the metadata to correct typos. No data were changed Person who carried out this activity:
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Attn: Susan A. Cochran
    Geologist
    2885 Mission Street
    Santa Cruz, CA

    831-460-7545 (voice)
    scochran@usgs.gov
  3. What similar or related data should the user be aware of?

How reliable are the data; what problems remain in the data set?

  1. How well have the observations been checked?
    No formal attribute accuracy tests were conducted.
  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?
    Stated horizontal accuracy of the Garmin GPS is +/- 3.2 m.
  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?
    Stated vertical accuracy of the Suunto Dive Computer is+/- 0.3 m.
  4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?
    Data are complete as presented. Users are advised to read the rest of the metadata record carefully for additional details.
  5. How consistent are the relationships among the observations, including topology?
    No formal logical accuracy tests were conducted.

How can someone get a copy of the data set?

Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?
Access_Constraints: None
Use_Constraints:
USGS-authored or produced data and information are in the public domain from the U.S. Government and are freely redistributable with proper metadata and source attribution. Please recognize and acknowledge the U.S. Geological Survey as the originator(s) of the dataset and in products derived from these data.
  1. Who distributes the data set? (Distributor 1 of 1)
    U.S. Geological Survey - ScienceBase
    Denver Federal Center, Building 810, Mail Stop 302
    Denver, CO

    1-888-275-8747 (voice)
    sciencebase@usgs.gov
  2. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set? These data are available in comma-separated format (CoralSpeciesSize_Oct2011.csv), along with a map of transect locations (KAHO_DR_Transects.png) and CSDGM FGDC-compliant metadata (CoralSpeciesSize_metadata.xml).
  3. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?
    Unless otherwise stated, all data, metadata and related materials are considered to satisfy the quality standards relative to the purpose for which the data were collected. Although these data and associated metadata have been reviewed for accuracy and completeness and approved for release by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), no warranty expressed or implied is made regarding the display or utility of the data on any other system or for general or scientific purposes, nor shall the act of distribution constitute any such warranty.
  4. How can I download or order the data?
  5. What hardware or software do I need in order to use the data set?
    These data can be viewed with any text-reader software.

Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:
Last modified: 13-Oct-2021
Metadata author:
U.S. Geological Survey, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center
Attn: PCMSC Science Data Coordinator
2885 Mission Street
Santa Cruz, CA

831-427-4747 (voice)
pcmsc_data@usgs.gov
Metadata standard:
Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata (FGDC-STD-001-1998)
This page is <https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/catalog/pcmsc/DataReleases/ScienceBase/DR_F74X569K/CoralSpeciesSize_metadata.faq.html>
Generated by mp version 2.9.50 on Thu Oct 14 14:47:20 2021