Scleractinian Coral Cover Maps Derived from Classified in situ Seafloor Imagery for Select U.S. Locations in the Pacific from 2001 to 2015

Coral cover maps depict percentage of scleractinian (hard) coral cover along survey tracks, overlain on existing bathymetric grids and/or satellite images, for islands and banks across the U.S. Pacific Islands Region. The coral cover data is derived from the classification of in situ seafloor imagery collected from NOAA Coral Reef Ecosystem Program (CREP) optical validation surveys from 2001 to 2015. Each point on the map represents data from a single video frame or photo that has been analyzed using a point count method, and the imagery is classified by the type of substrate type (sand, rubble, etc.) and biological cover type (coral, macroalgae, etc.). All available cover data derived from geolocated seafloor imagery that has been collected and analyzed by CREP within the U.S. coral reef ecosystems of the Pacific is included in the maps; in some cases cover data derived from imagery collected by partners and analyzed by CREP may be included as well.

Coral cover maps for each location are available via the Pacific Islands Benthic Habitat Mapping Center (PIBHMC) website at www.soest.hawaii.edu/pibhmc. In addition, the associated data and information about the data sources and collection methods are included in a zip file with each of the maps.

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Organization: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce