Grain Size and Coral Fate Data from Kawaihae Harbor Study

Eight experimental transplant stations with four sediment traps each were established to study sedimentation effects on corals at Kawaihae, Hawaii. Coral colony fate was recorded as percentages across four health classes: healthy, covered with filamentous overgrowth, bleached, or dead. These data originate from a NOAA NCEI-managed study conducted during 1996-1997 field work and were published in a PhD dissertation.

Use Cases

• Analyzing the relationship between sediment grain size/type and coral health outcomes (healthy, overgrown, bleached, dead).
• Assessing the survival rates and health status of transplanted coral colonies versus non-transplanted ones in a high-wave environment.
• Modeling the spatial gradient of sedimentation impact from harbor construction zones to distant reference sites.
• Evaluating the effectiveness of coral transplantation as a habitat offset for coastal development projects.

Strengths

• Data is structured around a clear experimental design with eight distinct transplant stations and an established offshore gradient.
• Health metrics are quantified as percentages across four specific, defined classes, allowing for comparative analysis.
• The dataset's cross-platform presence (NASA EarthData and Data.gov) indicates recognized importance and curation.

Limitations

• Specific column names, row counts, and dataset size are not provided by any source, limiting detailed assessment.
• Conflicting 'last updated' dates exist between sources (1997-08-13 and 2026-04-01), creating uncertainty about metadata freshness.
• The original data collection method for sediment traps and coral monitoring is not described in detail.

Provenance

Source

NOAA NCEI (National Centers for Environmental Information), from a PhD Dissertation (Te, 2000).

Collection Method

Field study involving sediment traps and visual monitoring of coral colonies at eight transplant stations.

Time Range

1996 - 1997

Freshness

2026-04-01 15:14:36.931699

Geography

Kawaihae Harbor, northwest shore of the Big Island of Hawaii, North Pacific Ocean.