Species composition, diversity, and biomass in marine habitats and sub-habitats around offshore islets in the main Hawaiian islands, 2007-04-02 to 2007-09-20 (NCEI Accession 0042684)

The marine algae, invertebrate and fish communities were surveyed at ten islet or offshore island sites in the Main Hawaiian Islands in the vicinity of Lanai, (Puu Pehe and Poo Poo Islets), Maui (Kaemi and Hulu Islets and the outer rim of Molokini), off Kaulapapa National Historic Park on Molokai (Mokapu, Okala and Namoku Islets) and Oahu (Kaohikaipu Islet and outside Kapapa Island) in 2007. Survey protocol at all sites consisted of an initial reconnaissance survey on which all algae, invertebrates and fishes that could be identified on site were listed and or photographed and collections of algae and invertebrates were collected for later laboratory identification.

Following the reconnaissance surveys, quantitative estimates of coral and algal coverage and size and biomass of fishes along 25 m transects were conducted at each site and their locations were recorded using GPS. The original data are primarily provided as MS Excel spreadsheets with associated reports as .doc and .pdf files. Supplementary data is provided as .dbf files to use in a GIS.