NCCOS Mapping: Characterizing Submerged Lands Around Naval Base Guam, Mariana Islands, 2016-01-11 to 2022-05-13 (NCEI Accession 0292018)

This data package contains information and maps showing the geology and biology of select submerged lands (0 to 50 meters deep) around Navy Base Guam (NBG) and Haputo Ecological Reserve Area (ERA) Guam, Mariana Islands. This information and maps were developed using benthic information from underwater photographs, environmental predictor variables derived from satellite imagery and bathymetry, and machine learning modeling approaches. From this process, two types of map products were created. The first type describes the spatial distribution of 7 substrate and 12 biological cover types, where each grid cell denotes the probability that a given habitat is present (0 to 100%). The second product was a classified map depicting the 7 most common combinations of substrate and cover types. The performance and accuracy of these products were evaluated by local experts and by using an independent of underwater photographs. The overall accuracy of the classified map was 86.6%. The substrate and cover predictions had little bias (𝑥𝑥Ì error = â2% Â±1% SE), good to excellent ability to discriminate between presences and absences (𝑥𝑥Ì area under the curve = 0.86 Â±0.02 SE) and explained over a quarter of the variation in the data (𝑥𝑥Ì percent deviance explained = 26.9% Â±5.1 SE).

In Haputo ERA, âPavement, Mixed Algaeâ was the most abundant habitat type, comprising 54.5% (1.1 km2) of the area. The largest, continuous patches were located on the forereef along the coastline. Live coral was distributed throughout the ERA, with encrusting corals being most prevalent. No seagrass or mangroves were present. Around NBG, âSand, Bareâ was the most abundant habitat type, comprising 42.3% (8.2 km2) of the area. The largest, continuous patches were in the eastern portion of Outer Apra Harbor, including Sasa Bay and south of Cabras Island. Live coral was common and most prevalent from San Luis Point around Point Udall to Acapa Point. Halodule uninervis seagrass was only documented outside Apra Harbor at 2 sites approximately 500 m north of Acapa Point. Mangroves were found only in nearshore areas in Sasa Bay and Inner Apra Harbor. No Endangered Species Act (ESA) protected corals or nuisance species (i.e., C. vieillardi) were photographed in either project areas. One crown of thorns sea star was photographed in Haputo ERA. The prevalence of coral bleaching, COTS scarring and marine debris were low (<1%, 0% and <4%, respectively). Theses maps mark the first time that these locations have been mapped since 2010, providing an updated inventory of marine resources and new baseline for future monitoring and management decisions in the region.

Tags: 2018-11-05 to 2022-04-29, 2019-07-11 to 2019-07-31, 9py6m8, algae, algal cover, apra harbour (13n144e0051), aquatic habitat, backscatter, base map, bathymetry, bathymetry/seafloor topography, benthic, benthic biology, benthic habitat, benthic habitat maps, biology, biosphere, bureau of statistics and plans, calcareous macroalgae, cnmi, coastal processes, commonwealth of the northern mariana islands (cnmi), coral, coral mapping, coral predation, coral reef ecology, coral reefs, coralline algae, corals, cots, country/territory, crown-of-thorns starfish, crustose coralline algae, derived data product, division of aquatic and wildlife resources, earth science, ecological dynamics, encrusting macroalgae, esa listed species, feeding scars on hard coral, field observation, geographic information, geology, geomorphology mapping, geospatial, gis, global positioning system (trimble geo 7x gps), guam, guam (13n144e0000), guam territorial government, habitat mapping, habitats, haputo (13n144e0006), haputo ecological reserve area, hard seafloor substrate, imagery, lidar, light detection and ranging, mangrove, mangroves, map images, mapping, mariana islands, marine biology, marine debris, marine management areas, marine plants, marine spatial ecology, multibeam echosounder, multispectral sensor, national marine fisheries service, naval facilities engineering command marina, nccos mapping: bathymetric lidar waveform metrics for saipan, nccos mapping: characterizing benthic habitats west of saipan, noaa, nos, numeric data sets, ocean basin, oceanography, oceans, office for coastal management, orote ecological reserve area, pacific ocean, photographic analysis, predation, reef locations, reef monitoring and assessment, remotely sensed, rugosity, sasa bay reserve, satellite imagery, seagrass, slope, soft seafloor substrate, sponges, training and validation data, turf algae, u.s. states and territories, ultra-short baseline acoustic positions system (seatrac blueprint x010 usbl), underwater multispectral camera (sony alpha 7 dslr), united states of america, university of guam, us doc, us dod, us navy, vegetation, visual images, water depth, waterbodies, western pacific ocean, zoology
Organization: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce