Surveys were conducted using snorkel on the reef crest and the reef table, in shallow sites at depths between 1.5 and 3 meters. Benthic community structure was evaluated using 0.25m\u00a0quadrats placed randomly on the reef crest area at each site. Quadrat locations were selected by using a random number generator to set the distance between quadrats and direction of swim within the reef crest corridor. Percent cover of key organisms was determined within each quadrat (counts were used for larger mobile invertebrates and giant clams). Each quadrat was documented photographically. A total of 10 functional group categories were used to assess benthic cover: stony coral, octocorals,\u00a0hydrocorals, macroalgae, algal turfs, encrusting algae, cyanobacteria, bare substrate and non-coral sessile and mobile invertebrates. Stony corals and\u00a0hydrocorals\u00a0were categorized into one of 12 morphological groups and identiLied to genus when possible. Instances of disease, paling, and bleaching within each quadrat were noted. Stony coral colony sizes were measured by recording maximum length, width, height, nearest live coral neighbor and coral functional group for each coral that intercepted the 50 m Lish transect lines.
Benthic cover data for 2012, 2013 and 2014.
\nData associated with publication:\u00a0Crane\u00a0NL, Nelson\u00a0P, Abelson\u00a0A, Precoda\u00a0K, Rulmal\u00a0J\u00a0Jr, et al. (2017)\u00a0PLOS ONE.
BCO-DMO Data Processing Notes:
\n-nd was added to all blank cells
\n-site, date, researcher, and quad columns were added to incorporate the information contained in the header of the file
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