23 cm x 23 cm PVC plates stacked in alternating layers mimic reef complexity to systematically sample colonizing marine invertebrates. The data originates from the NOAA Coral Reef Ecosystem Program's National Coral Reef Monitoring Program in American Samoa. Developed with the Census of Marine Life, the method ensures consistent sampling over precisely the same surface area.
Use Cases
- Analyze species recruitment patterns based on ARMS unit soak time and deployment location.
- Compare cryptic invertebrate diversity across different reef sites in American Samoa using standardized collection data.
- Monitor changes in marine cryptobiota communities over time by tracking species identified from recovered ARMS units.
Strengths
- Standardized sampling method using identical 23 cm x 23 cm plate structures ensures comparability.
- Data collection is part of the ongoing National Coral Reef Monitoring Program, indicating a sustained effort.
Limitations
- DNA sequencing data for collected organisms is not included, limiting genetic analysis.
- Specific row counts, column details, and temporal coverage are unknown.
Provenance
- Source
- NOAA Coral Reef Ecosystem Program (CREP) via NASA Earthdata.
- Collection Method
- Deployment and recovery of Autonomous Reef Monitoring Structures (ARMS) by divers, with subsequent photographic documentation and preservation of specimens.
- Time Range
- null
- Freshness
- null
- Geography
- Coral reef sites across American Samoa.