Dataset Overview | National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)

National Coral Reef Monitoring Program: Assessment of coral reef benthic communities in Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary

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Data provided in this collection were gathered within the FGBNMS as part of NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS)-led missions in collaboration with partners at NOAA National Ocean Service (NOS) Office of National Marine Sanctuaries FGBNMS, NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Southeast Fisheries Science Center and Texas A&M.

This benthic data collection for the ongoing National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP) consists of two survey types: the Line Point-Intercept (LPI) method and the Coral Demographic method. The LPI method provides a measure of percent cover of biotic and abiotic components of the benthos in a stratified random sampling design in hardbottom and coral reef habitats. LPI surveys are concurrent with and along the same transect as fish surveys. The coral demographics protocol provides more detailed and species-specific insight (‘signal magnitude’) for coral populations than is provided by percent cover.

Dataset Citation

Cite as: NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science; NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center (2016). National Coral Reef Monitoring Program: Assessment of coral reef benthic communities in Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.7289/v5vd6wts. Accessed [date].

Dataset Identifiers

ISO 19115-2 Metadata

gov.noaa.nodc:NCRMP-Benthic-FGB

Full Text · XML

Search Data	Granule Search (search) Search for data granules belonging to this collection (a granule is the smallest aggregation of data that can be independently described and retrieved).
Distribution Formats	CSV
Ordering Instructions	Contact NCEI for other distribution options and instructions.
Distributor	NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information +1-301-713-3277 ncei.info@noaa.gov
Dataset Point of Contact	NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information ncei.info@noaa.gov

Time Period	2013-09-02 to Present
Spatial Bounding Box Coordinates	West: -93.823 East: -93.5966 South: 27.87254 North: 27.92243
Spatial Coverage Map

General Documentation

NCEI Dataset Landing Page
Navigate directly to the URL for a descriptive web page with download links.

Associated Resources

National Coral Reef Monitoring Program Implementation: Biological and Socioeconomic Monitoring
- https://coastalscience.noaa.gov/project/national-coral-reef-monitoring-program-biological-socioeconomic/
  National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) project page
Coral Reef Conservation Program (2016). Documentation for NOAA's Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP) National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP) data archived at NCEI (NCEI Accession 0157633). NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0157633.
- https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0157633
  NCEI Documents only accession
OBIS USA: NCRMP Benthic Variables in Darwin Core Format
- OBIS USA: NCRMP Benthic Variables in Darwin Core Format
  Hard coral species percent cover and species abundance data are available in Darwin Core format for Atlantic/Caribbean sampling sites through OBIS USA.

Publication Dates	publication: 2016-06-09 revision: 2025-03-28
Data Presentation Form	Digital table - digital representation of facts or figures systematically displayed, especially in columns
Dataset Progress Status	Ongoing - data is continually being updated Historical archive - data has been stored in an offline storage facility
Data Update Frequency	As needed
Supplemental Information	Accessions that are part of the current collection: 0208241, 0224589, 0277838, 0302943. Accession 0151818 was originally part of this collection and may have been cited using the collection DOI; the data in this accession was superseded by accession 0224589 which represents the latest version of the data.
Purpose	The National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP) details a long-term approach to provide an ecosystem perspective via monitoring climate, fish, benthic, and socioeconomic variables in a consistent and integrated manner. The NCRMP is intended to coordinate various Coral Reef Conservation Coral Reef Program (CRCP) biological, physical, and human dimensions activities into a cohesive NOAA-wide effort. Through the implementation of the NCRMP, NOAA will be able to clearly and concisely communicate results of national-scale monitoring to national, state, and territorial policy makers, resource managers, and the public on a periodic basis.
Use Limitations	accessLevel: Public Distribution liability: NOAA and NCEI make no warranty, expressed or implied, regarding these data, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty. NOAA and NCEI cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in these data. If appropriate, NCEI can only certify that the data it distributes are an authentic copy of the records that were accepted for inclusion in the NCEI archives.

Dataset Citation	Cite as: NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science; NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center (2016). National Coral Reef Monitoring Program: Assessment of coral reef benthic communities in Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.7289/v5vd6wts. Accessed [date].
Cited Authors	NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center
Principal Investigators	Randy Clark US DOC; NOAA; NOS; National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science; Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment (NCCOS/CCMA)
Contributors	US DOC; NOAA; NMFS; Southeast Fisheries Science Center (NMFS/SEFSC) US DOC; NOAA; NOS; National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS)
Resource Providers	Sarah D. Hile US DOC; NOAA; NOS; National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science; Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment (NCCOS/CCMA) US DOC; NOAA; NOS; National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS)
Points of Contact	Sarah D. Hile US DOC; NOAA; NOS; National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science; Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment (NCCOS/CCMA)
Publishers	NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information

Theme keywords	NODC DATA TYPES THESAURUS BENTHIC SPECIES BENTHIC SPECIES - TAXA COUNTS biological data CORAL CORAL - CENSUS CORAL - COLONY SIZE CORAL - SPECIES IDENTIFICATION HABITAT - BENTHIC MACROINVERTEBRATE CENSUS REEF AND/OR BOTTOM REGIME - PERCENT COVER NODC OBSERVATION TYPES THESAURUS biological in situ survey survey - biological survey - coral reef survey - swimmer/diver visual observation WMO_CategoryCode oceanography CoRIS Discovery Thesaurus Numeric Data Sets > Benthic CoRIS Theme Thesaurus EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Aquatic Habitat > Reef Habitat > Description EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Ecological Dynamics > Species Richness EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > ESA Listed Species EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment > Benthos analysis > Transect monitoring > Linear transect (point) EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment > Coral Colony Size and Condition EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Marine Biology > Marine Invertebrates > Macroinvertebrates Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords EARTH SCIENCE > BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION EARTH SCIENCE > BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION > ANIMALS/INVERTEBRATES EARTH SCIENCE > BIOSPHERE > ECOSYSTEMS > MARINE ECOSYSTEMS > BENTHIC EARTH SCIENCE > BIOSPHERE > ECOSYSTEMS > MARINE ECOSYSTEMS > REEF > CORAL REEF EARTH SCIENCE > SOLID EARTH > GEOMORPHIC LANDFORMS/PROCESSES > COASTAL LANDFORMS > CORAL REEFS NCCOS Research Areas Marine Spatial Ecology > Ecological and Biogeographic Assessments NCCOS Research Data Types Field Observation Long-term Monitoring
Data Center keywords	NODC COLLECTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS US DOC; NOAA; NMFS; Southeast Fisheries Science Center US DOC; NOAA; NOS; National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science NODC SUBMITTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS US DOC; NOAA; NOS; National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science Contributing Organizations US DOC; NOAA; NFMS; Southeast Fisheries Science Center (NMFS/SEFSC) US DOC; NOAA; NOS; OFfice of National Marine Sanctuaries Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Data Center Keywords DOC/NOAA/NMFS/SEFSC > Southeast Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce DOC/NOAA/NOS/NCCOS > National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, National Ocean Service, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Platform keywords	NODC PLATFORM NAMES THESAURUS MV Fling Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Platform Keywords Ships ICES/SeaDataNet Ship Codes Fling (call sign: WDA7435, ICES code: 336N) Platforms R/V Manta Provider Platform Names R/V Manta
Instrument keywords	NODC INSTRUMENT TYPES THESAURUS swimmer/diver visual observation Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Instrument Keywords VISUAL OBSERVATIONS > VISUAL OBSERVATIONS Provider Instruments ruler
Place keywords	NODC SEA AREA NAMES THESAURUS Gulf of Mexico CoRIS Place Thesaurus COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Texas > East Flower Garden Banks (27N093W0001) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Texas > West Flower Garden Banks (27N093W0002) OCEAN BASIN > Atlantic Ocean > Gulf of Mexico > Flower Garden Banks > East Flower Garden Banks (27N093W0001) OCEAN BASIN > Atlantic Ocean > Gulf of Mexico > Flower Garden Banks > West Flower Garden Banks (27N093W0002) Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords OCEAN > ATLANTIC OCEAN > NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN > GULF OF AMERICA OCEAN > ATLANTIC OCEAN > NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN > GULF OF MEXICO NCCOS Regions of Study Waterbodies > Gulf of Mexico Provider Place Names Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary (FGBNMS) Gulf of Mexico
Project keywords	NODC PROJECT NAMES THESAURUS Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP) CORAL REEF STUDIES National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP) CRCP Project 743 National Coral Reef Monitoring Plan (NCRMP) National Coral Reef Monitoring Plan (NCRMP) Implementation National Coral Reef Monitoring Program Provider Project Names CRCP Project #743 National Coral Reef Monitoring Plan (NCRMP) Implementation NCCOS Project #180 National Coral Reef Monitoring Program Implementation: Biological and Socioeconomic Monitoring
Stratum keywords	Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Stratum Keywords VERTICAL LOCATION > SEA FLOOR
Keywords	NCEI ACCESSION NUMBER 0208241 0224589 0277838 0302943

Use Constraints	Cite as: NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science; NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center (2016). National Coral Reef Monitoring Program: Assessment of coral reef benthic communities in Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.7289/v5vd6wts. Accessed [date].
Access Constraints	Use liability: NOAA and NCEI cannot provide any warranty as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of furnished data. Users assume responsibility to determine the usability of these data. The user is responsible for the results of any application of this data for other than its intended purpose.
Fees	In most cases, electronic downloads of the data are free. However, fees may apply for custom orders, data certifications, copies of analog materials, and data distribution on physical media.

Lineage information for: series
Processing Steps	2020-01-14T21:44:26Z - NCEI Accession 0208241 v1.1 was published. 2020-12-17T22:50:10Z - NCEI Accession 0208241 was revised and v2.2 was published. 2021-01-19T21:48:56Z - NCEI Accession 0224589 v1.1 was published. 2023-05-03T20:03:37Z - NCEI Accession 0277838 v1.1 was published. 2023-11-05T12:46:53Z - NCEI Accession 0208241 was revised and v3.3 was published. 2023-11-05T12:48:54Z - NCEI Accession 0277838 was revised and v2.2 was published.

Lineage information for: series

Processing Steps

2020-01-14T21:44:26Z - NCEI Accession 0208241 v1.1 was published.
2020-12-17T22:50:10Z - NCEI Accession 0208241 was revised and v2.2 was published.
2021-01-19T21:48:56Z - NCEI Accession 0224589 v1.1 was published.
2023-05-03T20:03:37Z - NCEI Accession 0277838 v1.1 was published.
2023-11-05T12:46:53Z - NCEI Accession 0208241 was revised and v3.3 was published.
2023-11-05T12:48:54Z - NCEI Accession 0277838 was revised and v2.2 was published.

Acquisition Information (collection)
Instrument	swimmer/diver visual observation
Platform	MV Fling

Last Modified: 2025-03-31T20:46:05Z
For questions about the information on this page, please email: ncei.info@noaa.gov

National Coral Reef Monitoring Program: Assessment of coral reef benthic communities in Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary

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