Hawaiian Islands Marine Algae, Invertebrate, and Fish Survey, 2007

NCEI Accession 0042684 documents a 2007 survey of marine algae, invertebrate, and fish communities at ten offshore islet sites in the Main Hawaiian Islands. The protocol included reconnaissance surveys for species identification and quantitative transect surveys measuring coral/algal coverage and fish size/biomass. Data are provided as Excel spreadsheets, GIS files, and associated reports and photographs.

Use Cases

• Assessing coral reef health based on quantitative estimates of coral and algal coverage.
• Analyzing fish community structure and biomass from size data collected along transects.
• Mapping species distributions and habitat types using the provided GPS coordinates and GIS files.
• Conducting taxonomic studies of marine algae and invertebrates using the collected specimens and photographic records.

Strengths

• Includes quantitative data from standardized 25-meter transects at ten distinct sites.
• Combines species lists, photographic evidence, and physical specimen collections for verification.
• Data is georeferenced with GPS coordinates, enabling spatial analysis.

Limitations

• Column names and exact row counts are unspecified across all sources, limiting understanding of data structure.
• Conflicting last-updated dates (2007 vs. 2026) suggest metadata may not reflect current data state.
• Original data formats (Excel, .doc) may require conversion for modern analytical workflows.

Provenance

Source

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce

Collection Method

Field surveys involving reconnaissance, specimen collection, and quantitative transect measurements.

Time Range

2007-04-02 to 2007-09-20

Freshness

Data collection occurred in 2007; metadata was last updated in 2026 on one platform.

Geography

Ten islet/offshore island sites near Lanai, Maui, Molokai, and Oahu in the Main Hawaiian Islands.