Experimental coral-growth rate, reef survey, and time-series imagery data collected between 1998 and 2017 to investigate construction and erosion of Orbicella coral reefs in the Florida Keys, U.S.A.

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Frequently anticipated questions:

What does this data set describe?

Title:
Experimental coral-growth rate, reef survey, and time-series imagery data collected between 1998 and 2017 to investigate construction and erosion of Orbicella coral reefs in the Florida Keys, U.S.A.
Abstract:
The USGS Coral Reef Ecosystems Studies project (https://coastal.er.usgs.gov/crest/) provides science that helps resource managers tasked with the stewardship of coral reef resources. This data release contains data on coral-growth rates for Orbicella sp. coral colonies grown at five sites on the Florida Keys reef tract from 2013 to 2015, survey data for census-based carbonate budgeting at Hen and Chickens Reef (Islamorada, Florida) collected in 2017, and time-series photographs taken of permanent markers used to measure reef erosion at Hen and Chickens Reef in 1998 and 2015. The time-series photographs document a loss in coral-reef elevation over 17 years at this site. The data will be used to inform resource managers of the capacity for future growth (or loss) of reefs dominated by genus Orbicella in the Florida Keys so that the reef ecosystem might be better understood and managed. The datasets included here were interpreted in Kuffner and others (2019). Kuffner, I.B., Toth, L.T., Hudson, J.H., Goodwin, W.B., Stathakopoulos, A., Bartlett, L.A. and Whitcher, E.M. (2019), Improving estimates of coral reef construction and erosion with in situ measurements. Limnol Oceanogr. doi:10.1002/lno.11184
Supplemental_Information:
Scientific research permits: The data herein were collected with permission from the National Park Service and the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary under permit numbers BISC-2013-SCI-0011; BISC-2014-SCI-0020; BISC-2015-SCI-0003 (accession number BISC-22); DRTO-2013-SCI-0008; DRTO-2015-SCI-0010 (accession number DRTO-274), and FKNMS-2013-024-A2. To ensure that USGS-St. Petersburg data management protocols were followed, each survey when data were collected was assigned the following USGS field activity number (FAN): 1998-301-FA, 13CBC01, 13CBC02, 13CBC03, 13CBC04, 2014-308-FA, 2014-332-FA, 2015-313-FA, 2015-333-FA, 2015-337-FA, 2015-319-FA, and 2017-311-FA. Additional survey and data details are available from the U.S. Geological Survey Coastal and Marine Geoscience Data System (CMGDS) at, https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/. ExifTool (version 4.0) was used to add the following to the header of each photograph: time of collection, GPS latitude, GPS longitude, keywords, credit, artist (photographer), caption, copyright, and contact information.
  1. How might this data set be cited?
    Kuffner, Ilsa B., Toth, Lauren T., Hudson, J. Harold, Goodwin, William B., Stathakopoulos, Anastasios, Bartlett, Lucy A., and Whitcher, Elizabeth M., 20190415, Experimental coral-growth rate, reef survey, and time-series imagery data collected between 1998 and 2017 to investigate construction and erosion of Orbicella coral reefs in the Florida Keys, U.S.A.: U.S. Geological Survey Data Release doi:10.5066/P92NVINW, U.S. Geological Survey, St. Petersburg, FL.

    Online Links:

    This is part of the following larger work.

    Kuffner, I.B., Toth, L.T., Hudson, J.H., Goodwin, W.B., Stathakopoulos, A., Bartlett, L.A., and Whitcher, E.M., 20190425, Improving estimates of coral reef construction and erosion with in situ measurements: Limnology and Oceanography, St. Petersburg, FL.

    Online Links:

  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?
    West_Bounding_Coordinate: -82.77280
    East_Bounding_Coordinate: -80.09560
    North_Bounding_Coordinate: 25.59047
    South_Bounding_Coordinate: 24.56275
  3. What does it look like?
  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?
    Beginning_Date: 1998
    Ending_Date: 2017
    Currentness_Reference:
    ground condition
  5. What is the general form of this data set?
    Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: raster digital data; tabular data
  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.
    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 9.259259E-5. Longitudes are given to the nearest 9.259259E-5. Latitude and longitude values are specified in Decimal degrees. The horizontal datum used is World Geodetic System of 1984 (WGS84).
      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?
    Orbicella_growth_FL_USA.csv, Orbicella_growth_FL_USA.xlsx
    These files contain attribute information for data describing the growth of corals in the Orbicella annularis species complex, which were collected from five study sites in the Florida Keys. Data include coral identification numbers, site where they were grown, fate of each colony during the study, original surface area of live tissue, time interval, calcification rate per day per colony, ending surface area of live tissue, and accumulative percent-tissue loss since deployment. To view the data in a tab-delimited format arranged by column, please use the Excel spreadsheet. (Source: USGS)
    Coral_ID
    A numeric identifier for each coral colony in the study, assigned by USGS personnel. (Source: USGS) Non-sequential, increasing numerical identifiers ranging between 200 and 395.
    Site_ID
    A textual identifier of the site assigned by USGS personnel as follows: [PLS] indicates Pulaski Shoal in Dry Tortugas National Park (N 24 41.613 W 82 46.368) in 16 feet of seawater, [LOO] indicates the Mote Marine Laboratory's Looe Key coral nursery (N 24 33.765 W 81 24.008) in 30 feet of seawater, [SMK] indicates Sombrero Reef (N 24 37.612 W 81 06.536) Sanctuary Preservation Area in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS) in 14 feet of seawater, [CRK] indicates Crocker Reef (N 24 54.545 W 80 31.599) in the FKNMS in 13 feet of seawater, and [FWY] indicates Fowey Rocks in Biscayne National Park (N 25 35.425 W 80 05.736) in 13 feet of seawater. (Source: USGS) A textual description of the geographic site where data were collected.
    Fate
    A textual identifier assigned by USGS personnel as follows: [grew] indicates that the coral gained mass during every weighing interval during the study, [eroded] indicates the coral lost mass during at least one weighing interval during the study, [dieback] indicates the coral lost more than 50 percent of live-tissue surface area by the end of the study, and [stolen] indicates the coral was removed from the study by unknown person (one coral). (Source: USGS) A textual identifier assigned by USGS personnel describing the fate of the coral during the experiment.
    SA_original_cm2
    Planar surface area of the original colony at the start of the study on March 13, 2013 measured in the units of square centimeters (cm2). (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:30.5
    Maximum:94.9
    Units:square centimeters
    Time_interval
    A numerical identifier of the time interval during which the data were collected. Time [0] is March 13, 2013 to May/June 2013, Time [1] is May/June 2013 to Oct/Nov 2013, Time [2] is Oct/Nov 2013 to Apr/May 2014, Time [3] is Apr/May 2014 to Oct/Nov 2014, and Time [4] is Oct/Nov 2014 to Apr/May 2015. (Source: USGS) Time intervals are not exactly the same for each site, so data are normalized to the number of days between site visits to reflect this variability.
    Mass_gained_g_day
    Mass of calcium carbonate gained during the time interval specified in Column 5 in the units of mg per day. If the coral was no longer in the study during the specified time interval or if all tissue had died in an earlier time interval, there is no value reported (data cell left blank). There are no data for LOO during time intervals 3 and 4 because corals were removed from the study because of disease. (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:-0.253
    Maximum:0.357
    Units:milligrams per day
    Calcif_rate_mg_cm2_d
    Mean calcification rate per original coral-surface area specified in Column 4 in the units of mg per square centimeter (cm) per day during the time interval specified in Column 5. If the coral was no longer in the study during the specified time interval or if all tissue had died in an earlier time interval, there is no value reported (data cell left blank). There are no data for LOO during time intervals 3 and 4 because corals were removed from the study because of disease. (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:-2.84
    Maximum:7.68
    Units:milligrams per square centimeter per day.
    Tissue_end_cm2
    Live-tissue planar surface area at the end of the time interval specified in Column 5 in the units of square centimeters. If the coral was no longer in the study during the specified time interval or if all tissue had died in an earlier time interval, there is no value reported (data cell left blank). There are no data for LOO during time intervals 3 and 4 because corals were removed from the study because of disease. (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:2.4
    Maximum:92.8
    Units:square centimeters
    Tissue_loss_percent
    Percentage of tissue lost from the start of the deployed experiment (beginning of Time interval = 1) and the end of the time interval specified in Column 5. If the coral was no longer in the study during the specified time interval or if all tissue had died in an earlier time interval, there is no value reported (data cell left blank). There are no data for LOO during time intervals 3 and 4 because corals were removed from the study because of disease. (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:-100
    Maximum:39.6
    Units:Percentage
    Benthic_cover_HCreef.csv, Benthic_cover_HCreef.xlsx
    These files contain attribute information for data describing the biotic and abiotic entities that cover the seafloor at Hen and Chickens Reef Sanctuary Preservation Area in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. (Source: USGS)
    Latitude
    A numeric value of the angular distance of a place north (positive) or south (negative) of the earth's equator expressed in decimal degrees. (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:24.93363
    Maximum:24.93731
    Units:decimal degrees
    Longitude
    A numeric value of the angular distance of a place east (positive) or west (negative) of the earth's prime meridian expressed in decimal degrees. (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:-80.55121
    Maximum:-80.54772
    Units:decimal degrees
    Site_ID
    A textual identifier of the site assigned by USGS personnel as follows: All sites are within the Hen and Chickens ([HC]) Reef Sanctuary Preservation Area in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. [SW] indicates the southwest area, [MD] indicates the middle area, and [NE] indicates the northeast area of the reef. (Source: USGS) A textual description of the geographic site where data were collected.
    Transect_ID
    An alphanumeric identifier of the site assigned by USGS personnel as follows: [SW] indicates the southwest area, [MD] indicates the middle area, [NE] indicates the northeast area of the reef, and the numbers 1 through 6 are assigned to designate the transect number within the identified area of the reef. (Source: USGS) An alphanumeric description of the geographic site where data were collected.
    Taxon_substratum_type
    A textual identifier of the lowest taxonomic name given to the organism(s) identified in the sample (for example, genus and species, genus, family, order) as described in the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS, http://www.marinespecies.org) (in the case of Porifera, there are two categories based on sponge morphology: [Porifera_encrusting] and [Porifera_erect), or a generalized group of organisms not belonging to a certain taxon ([CCA]: includes all algae considered crustose coralline algae; [All Other] includes all organisms for which there was not a category established; [Macroalgae] that includes benthic algae or seaweeds over > 1 cm height; [Turf] includes all benthic-algae germlings and algae < 1 cm height), or a non-biotic, substratum-cover category ([Bare Substratum] indicating non-living reef surface; [Pavement] includes smooth, horizontally facing reef surface; [Rubble] describes loose pieces of carbonate reef or dead coral; [Sand] describes loose carbonate sediments; [Unknown_shadow] indicates that the photograph was underexposed and obscured what benthic category was present; [Unknown_tape] indicates the reef surface was obscured in the photograph by the fiberglass transect tape). (Source: USGS) A textual identifier of the genus and species, genus, family, order as described in the WoRMS catalogue, or a non-taxonomic textual identifier describing the substratum-cover category.
    Cover_percent
    Percentage of the sampling unit area covered by the specified taxon or substratum category identified in the attribute, [Taxon_substratum_type.] This value is a mean value calculated by averaging replicate observations (for example, quadrats and/or transect lines) within the transect area identified in attribute [Transect_ID.] (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:57.4
    Units:Percent
    Parrotfish_HCreef.csv, Parrotfish_HCreef.xlsx
    These files contain attribute information for data describing the species, life phase, size class, and abundance of parrotfish found at Hen and Chickens Reef Sanctuary Preservation Area in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. (Source: USGS)
    Latitude
    A numeric value of the angular distance of a place north (positive) or south (negative) of the earth's equator expressed in decimal degrees. (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:24.93363
    Maximum:24.93731
    Units:Decimal degrees
    Longitude
    A numeric value of the angular distance of a place east (positive) or west (negative) of the earth's prime meridian expressed in decimal degrees. (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:-80.55121
    Maximum:-80.54772
    Units:Decimal degrees
    Site_ID
    An alphanumeric identifier of the site assigned by USGS personnel as follows: All sites are within the Hen and Chickens ([HC]) Reef Sanctuary Preservation Area in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. [SW] indicates the southwest area, [MD] indicates the middle area, and [NE] indicates the northeast area of the reef. (Source: USGS) An alphanumeric description of the geographic site where data were collected.
    Transect_ID
    An alphanumeric identifier of the site assigned by USGS personnel as follows: [SW] indicates the southwest area, [MD] indicates the middle area, [NE] indicates the northeast area of the reef, and the numbers 1 through 6 are assigned to designate the transect number within the identified area of the reef. (Source: USGS) An alphanumeric description of the geographic site where data were collected.
    Transect_area_m2
    Planar surface area of the reef where parrotfish were surveyed in square meters. (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:30
    Maximum:120
    Units:square meters
    Parrotfish_taxon
    An alphanumeric identifier of the lowest taxonomic name given to the organism(s) identified in the sample (for example, genus and species, or genus) as described in the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS, http://www.marinespecies.org). (Source: World Register of Marine Species) An alphanumeric identifier of the genus and species, or genus, as described in the WoRMS catalogue.
    Phase
    A textual identifier of the life phase of the organism(s) identified in the sample, either initial phase, or terminal phase. (Source: USGS) A textual identifier of the life phase.
    Size_class
    A textual identifier of the range of size values of the organism(s) identified in the sample. Attribute values provide a range, in cm, of the fish's total fork length (measured from the tip of the snout to the end of the middle caudal fin rays). (Source: USGS) An alphanumeric description of the size class.
    Count
    Number of fish recorded on the transect. (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:9
    Units:count
    Density_per_100m2
    Density of fish recorded on the transect normalized to an area of 100 square meters. (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:26.7
    Units:Number per 100 square meters
    Eroding_Sponges_HCreef.csv, Eroding_Sponges_HCreef.xlsx
    These files contain attribute information for data describing the eroding-sponge species, area of reef covered, and percentage of substratum covered by the species found at Hen and Chickens Reef Sanctuary Preservation Area in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. (Source: USGS)
    Latitude
    A numeric value of the angular distance of a place north (positive) or south (negative) of the earth's equator expressed in decimal degrees. (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:24.93363
    Maximum:24.93731
    Units:Decimal degrees
    Longitude
    A numeric value of the angular distance of a place east (positive) or west (negative) of the earth's prime meridian expressed in decimal degrees. (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:-80.55121
    Maximum:-80.54772
    Units:Decimal degrees
    Site_ID
    A textual identifier of the site assigned by USGS personnel as follows: All sites are within the Hen and Chickens ([HC]) Reef Sanctuary Preservation Area in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. [SW] indicates the southwest area, [MD] indicates the middle area, and [NE] indicates the northeast area of the reef. (Source: USGS) A textual description of the geographic site where data were collected.
    Transect_ID
    An alphanumeric identifier of the site assigned by USGS personnel as follows: [SW] indicates the southwest area, [MD] indicates the middle area, [NE] indicates the northeast area of the reef, and the numbers 1 through 6 are assigned to designate the transect number within the identified area of the reef. (Source: USGS) An alphanumeric description of the geographic site where data were collected.
    Taxon
    A textual identifier of the lowest taxonomic name given to the bioeroding sponge (only those known to erode coral skeleton were included in the survey) identified in the sample (for example, genus and species, or genus) as described in the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS, http://www.marinespecies.org). (Source: World Register of Marine Species) A textual identifier of the genus and species, or genus, as described in the WoRMS catalogue.
    Area_cm2
    The approximate area in square centimeters covered by the bioeroding sponges Cliona aprica, C. caribbaea, C. tenuis, C. varians, C. delitrix, and Siphonodictyon coralliphagum. (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:1548
    Units:square centimeters
    Cover_percent
    Percentage of the sampling unit area covered by the specified taxon or substratum category identified in attribute [Taxon.] (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:6.19
    Units:percent
    Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:
    FL_erosion-photo-record.zip - This file contains photographic images (JPEG) of the seafloor collected with underwater cameras at 28 reef-erosion markers located at Hen and Chickens Reef, approximately five miles off the coast of Islamorada, Florida. The file names include the initials HC for Hen and Chickens, the identifying numeric and/or alphabetic characters stamped or welded on the marker, and the calendar year when the photograph was taken.
    Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:
    The entity and attribute information were generated by the individual and/or agency identified as the originator of the dataset. Please review the rest of the metadata record for additional details and information.

Who produced the data set?

  1. Who are the originators of the data set? (may include formal authors, digital compilers, and editors)
    • Ilsa B. Kuffner
    • Lauren T. Toth
    • J. Harold Hudson
    • William B. Goodwin
    • Anastasios Stathakopoulos
    • Lucy A. Bartlett
    • Elizabeth M. Whitcher
  2. Who also contributed to the data set?
    Acknowledgment of Ilsa B. Kuffner and the U.S. Geological Survey as data sources would be appreciated in products developed from these data, and such acknowledgment as is standard for citation and legal practices for data source is expected.
  3. To whom should users address questions about the data?
    Ilsa B. Kuffner
    U.S. Geological Survey, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center
    Research Marine Biologist
    600 4th Street South
    St. Petersburg, FL
    U.S.A.

    727-502-8048 (voice)
    ikuffner@usgs.gov

Why was the data set created?

These data were obtained to directly quantify rates of coral growth (calcification and linear extension) and erosion (loss of live tissue and mass) for Orbicella corals on the Florida Keys reef tract; to calculate the net balance of carbonate production and erosion for Hen and Chickens Reef using a census survey approach; and to directly measure linear loss of reef elevation using permanent markers installed in 1998 at Hen and Chickens Reef. The data will be used to inform resource managers of the capacity for future growth (or loss) of reefs dominated by genus Orbicella in the Florida Keys so that the reef ecosystem might be better understood and managed.

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: 2017 (process 1 of 7)
    Underwater photography: The erosion-marker photographs from 1998 were taken by the third author (J. H. Hudson) using an underwater camera reflecting the technology available at the time. Film photographs were developed into Kodak Kodachrome slides, and later digitally scanned on a Nikon Super Coolscan 5000 ED at 4,000 dots per inch (dpi) resolution (114.25 pixels per millimeter). A slide is 1.375 inches (35 mm) by 0.891 inches (23 mm). The erosion-marker photographs from 2015 were taken by the first author (I. B. Kuffner) using an Olympus C-5050Z zoom camera enclosed in an Olympus underwater housing. The digital scans of the film photographs and the digital photographs taken in-situ were subsequently color corrected as needed using Adobe Photoshop CC version 17.0.1 (http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop.html) to adjust for the truncated underwater light regime and enhance contrast and brightness. The in-situ digital images of the erosion markers are included in the data release download file, FL_erosion-photo-record.zip. Person who carried out this activity:
    Ilsa B. Kuffner
    Southeast Region
    Research Marine Biologist
    600 4th Street South
    St. Petersburg, FL
    United States

    727-502-8048 (voice)
    ikuffner@usgs.gov
    Date: 16-Jul-2018 (process 2 of 7)
    The coral field photograph locations were collected using a Garmin GPSMAP 78SC handheld Global Positioning System (GPS) and written into field notebooks in 2015. EXchangeable Image File format (EXIF) headers were initially populated during data collection by the camera's imaging software but were subsequently updated by USGS staff to include additional survey-related details. A Python version 2.7.3 script (UpdatePhotoEXIFv2.py, WHCMSC script) was run to incorporate the GPS locations, along with additional information, into the appropriate locations in the EXIF header of each full-resolution JPEG image. The Python script used ExifTool (version 10.25) to write the information to the image headers. Person who carried out this activity:
    Arnell S. Forde
    Southeast Region
    Geologist
    600 4Th Street South
    St. Petersburg, FL
    United States

    727-502-8111 (voice)
    aforde@usgs.gov
    Date: 2017 (process 3 of 7)
    Orbicella growth: Orbicella spp. coral fragments of opportunity were obtained from the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary's Truman Pier Annex mitigation project. Corals could not be identified to species level because colonies were too small to discern colony macro-morphology. On March 13, 2013, fifty colonies of approximately 60 cm2 planar surface area were collected from holding baskets attached to the underside of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Eco-Discovery Center docks in Key West, FL. USGS researchers epoxied the corals to PVC disks fitted with stainless-steel bolts, photographed and weighed them using the buoyant-weight method, and held them under the docks until randomly selected groups of 10 corals were deployed to the experimental sites on May 15 (PLS), June 12 (CRK, LOO), or June 13 (SMK, FWY), 2013. There are no data for LOO in the third or fourth time interval because the corals were removed from the study because of disease (missing data are left blank). On the day of deployment, and again in April or May 2014, the corals were stained with alizarin Red-S to time-stamp the coral skeleton. The corals were attached to preexisting concrete blocks secured to the substratum and were subsequently weighed and photographed every six months through May 2015. At that time, two 4-mm-thick slabs were removed with a tile saw from the center-growth axis of each colony. One of the slabs was cleaned with hydrogen peroxide, dried, and scanned on a flatbed scanner for linear extension measurements, and the other was archived for future geochemical proxy sampling or other uses. Calcification rates were normalized to the planar, two-dimensional surface area of the colony (equivalent to canopy or [crown] area used in forestry) at the beginning of the study. Surface area was measured by tracing the colony on a digital photographic image calibrated with a ruler (placed in the horizontal plane where the colony has the greatest width) using iSolution Capture version 3.1 image analysis software (IMT i-Solution Inc., Vancouver, BC, Canada). Person who carried out this activity:
    Ilsa B. Kuffner
    Southeast Region
    Research Marine Biologist
    600 4th Street South
    St. Petersburg, FL
    United States

    727-502-8048 (voice)
    ikuffner@usgs.gov
    Date: 2017 (process 4 of 7)
    Benthic cover: The benthic surveys at Hen and Chickens Reef, near Islamorada, Florida, were conducted May 7 to 9, 2017. Transect locations were selected haphazardly and shortened, if necessary, to only encompass reef habitat to the exclusion of sand-halo and seagrass habitat. Benthic data were collected along six, 10 x 1 m transects within three areas of the reef (NE, SW, and Middle). Along each 10 x 1 m benthic transect, photographs were collected of transects on the benthos to determine the coverage of the bottom by hard corals, algae, substratum type, and other benthic categories. The percent coverage of all coral species and other benthic constituents was determined by point-count analysis (25 points per image) in the online program CoralNet© freely available at https://coralnet.ucsd.edu/. Photographs were taken at intervals along the transect lines with a Canon PowerShot S120 camera (Canon, USA) in an underwater-camera housing. Person who carried out this activity:
    Lauren T. Toth
    Southeast Region
    Research Oceanographer
    600 4th Street South
    St. Petersburg, FL
    United States

    727-502-8029 (voice)
    ltoth@usgs.gov
    Date: 2017 (process 5 of 7)
    Parrotfish: The fish surveys at Hen and Chickens Reef, near Islamorada, Florida, were conducted May 7 to 9, 2017. Transect locations were selected haphazardly and shortened, if necessary, to only encompass reef habitat to the exclusion of sand-halo and seagrass habitat. Fish data were collected along six belt transects (of various dimensions dependent upon water clarity), within three areas of the reef (NE, SW, and Middle). The size of the fish transects ranged from 2 to 4 m in width and 10 to 30 m in length. Person who carried out this activity:
    Lauren T. Toth
    Southeast Region
    Research Oceanographer
    600 4th Street South
    St. Petersburg, FL
    United States

    727-502-8029 (voice)
    ltoth@usgs.gov
    Date: 2017 (process 6 of 7)
    Eroding sponges: The benthic surveys at Hen and Chickens Reef, near Islamorada, Florida, were conducted May 7 to 9, 2017. Transect locations were selected haphazardly and shortened, if necessary, to only encompass reef habitat to the exclusion of sand-halo and seagrass habitat. Eroding sponge data were collected along six, 10 x 1 m transects within three areas of the reef (NE, SW, and Middle). Person who carried out this activity:
    Lauren T. Toth
    Southeast Region
    Research Oceanographer
    600 4th Street South
    St. Petersburg, FL
    United States

    727-502-8029 (voice)
    ltoth@usgs.gov
    Date: 13-Oct-2020 (process 7 of 7)
    Added keywords section with USGS persistent identifier as theme keyword. 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
  3. What similar or related data should the user be aware of?
    Kuffner, I.B., 20180314, Underwater temperature on off-shore coral reefs of the Florida Keys, U.S.A. (ver. 3.0, March 2018): U.S. Geological Survey Data Release doi: 10.5066/F71C1TZK, U.S. Geological Survey, St. Petersburg, FL, U.S.A..

    Online Links:

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?
    No formal positional accuracy tests were conducted.
  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?
    No formal positional accuracy tests were conducted.
  4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?
    Dataset is considered complete for the information presented, as described in the abstract. 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:
Public domain data from the U.S. Government are freely redistributable with proper metadata and source attribution. The U.S. Geological Survey requests to be acknowledged as originator of these data in future products or derivative research.
  1. Who distributes the data set? (Distributor 1 of 1)
    Ilsa B. Kuffner
    U.S. Geological Survey
    600 4th Street South
    Saint Petersburg, FL
    U.S.A.

    727-502-8048 (voice)
    ikuffner@usgs.gov
  2. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set?
  3. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?
    This publication was prepared by an agency of the United States Government. Although these data have been processed successfully on a computer system at the U.S. Geological Survey, no warranty expressed or implied is made regarding the display or utility of the data on any other system, nor shall the act of distribution imply any such warranty. The U.S. Geological Survey shall not be held liable for improper or incorrect use of the data described and (or) contained herein. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof.
  4. How can I download or order the data?

Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:
Last modified: 13-Oct-2020
Metadata author:
Ilsa B. Kuffner
U.S. Geological Survey, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center
Research Marine Biologist
600 4th Street South
St. Petersburg, FL
U.S.A.

727-502-8048 (voice)
ikuffner@usgs.gov
Metadata standard:
Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata (FGDC-STD-001-1998)
This page is <https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/catalog/spcmsc/Orbicella_growth_FL_USA.faq.html>
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