http://lod.bco-dmo.org/id/dataset/918134
eng; USA
utf8
dataset
Highest level of data collection, from a common set of sensors or instrumentation, usually within the same research project
Biological and Chemical Oceanography Data Management Office (BCO-DMO)
Unavailable
508-289-2009
WHOI MS#36
Woods Hole
MA
02543
USA
info@bco-dmo.org
http://www.bco-dmo.org
Monday - Friday 8:00am - 5:00pm
For questions regarding this resource, please contact BCO-DMO via the email address provided.
pointOfContact
2024-01-18
ISO 19115-2 Geographic Information - Metadata - Part 2: Extensions for Imagery and Gridded Data
ISO 19115-2:2009(E)
Benthic community composition from Heron Island, southern Great Barrier Reef determined from 2015 to 2020
2024-01-23
publication
2024-01-23
revision
Marine Biological Laboratory/Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Library (MBLWHOI DLA)
2024-01-23
publication
https://doi.org/10.26008/1912/bco-dmo.918134.1
Katie Barott
University of Pennsylvania
principalInvestigator
Kristen Brown
University of Pennsylvania
principalInvestigator
Biological and Chemical Oceanography Data Management Office (BCO-DMO)
Unavailable
508-289-2009
WHOI MS#36
Woods Hole
MA
02543
USA
info@bco-dmo.org
http://www.bco-dmo.org
Monday - Friday 8:00am - 5:00pm
For questions regarding this resource, please contact BCO-DMO via the email address provided.
publisher
Cite this dataset as: Brown, K., Barott, K. (2024) Benthic community composition from Heron Island, southern Great Barrier Reef determined from 2015 to 2020. Biological and Chemical Oceanography Data Management Office (BCO-DMO). (Version 1) Version Date 2024-01-23 [if applicable, indicate subset used]. doi:10.26008/1912/bco-dmo.918134.1 [access date]
Benthic community composition from Heron Island (2015-2020) Dataset Description: Methods and Sampling: <p><strong>Study location:</strong><br />
This study was conducted across eight sites at Heron Island, southern Great Barrier Reef (23°27’ S 151°55’ E), previously characterized in detail (Brown et al. 2018, 2020). Briefly, sites included each geomorphological habitat of Heron Reef: reef slope, reef crest, reef flat, shallow lagoon, and deep lagoon (Phinn et al. 2012) (Fig. 1 of Brown et al. 2023). The geomorphological habitats of Heron Reef are distinguished by diverse benthic communities, with hard coral cover higher within the reef slope and macroalgae cover greater within the lagoonal habitats (Brown et al. 2018; Roelfsema et al. 2021). Reef-wide coral cover in 2015 and 2016 was amongst the highest observations in the past 60 years (Connell et al. 1997; Brown et al. 2018; Roelfsema et al. 2021) (e.g., ~75% within the south-west reef slope and ~20% within lagoon), making these years optimal as a recent baseline record.</p>
<p>Within the reef slope habitat, four sites were established: two within the north-east section of the reef (Fourth Point, 4.2 meters (m) and 8 m) and two within the south-west (Harry’s Bommie, 6.1 m and 8.2 m) (Fig. 1 of Brown et al. 2023). The northeast of Heron Reef is the exposed side, subject to extreme wave forces during cyclones, whereas the south-west is sheltered from waves generated by both the south-east trade winds and extreme wave action of cyclones (Connell et al. 1997). One site was established in each other geomorphological habitat, with each site sharing its name: Reef Crest (RC; 0.9 m), Reef Flat (RF; 0.7 m), Shallow Lagoon (SL; 1.3 m) and Deep Lagoon (DL; 2.6 m) (Fig. 1 of Brown et al. 2023). Inside the lagoon, semidiurnal tidal fluctuations result in higher variability in temperature and pH than reef slope sites (Brown et al. 2018; Cyronak et al. 2020) (Fig. 2, Fig. S1 of Brown et al. 2023). Photosynthetically active radiation (PAR; µmol quanta m⁻²s⁻¹) is lower within reef slope habitats (HB5: 75.9, HB8: 72.8, FP5: 179.4, FP8: 58.9) than within the lagoon habitats (RC: 199.2, RF: 371.7, SL: 201.8, DL: 198.8), due to differences in depth (Brown et al. 2018; Cyronak et al. 2020). Mean depth and PAR were determined by use of Conductivity Temperature Depth (CTD) units that continuously recorded between July 2015 and November 2016 (SBE 16plus V2 SEACAT fitted with an auxiliary PAR sensor, Satlantic/ECO-PAR sensor) (see Brown et al. 2018 for more detailed methodology).</p>
<p><strong>Benthic community composition:</strong><br />
Benthic community composition was recorded in August 2020 using the method described by Brown et al. 2018. During each survey, three replicate 15-meter (m) transects were laid north, east, and west from a permanent reference point. Quadrats (0.25 square meters (m²)) were alternated right and left every 0.5 m along the transect line, totaling 30 quadrats per transect. Percent cover of each quadrat was recorded in situ from 22 specific categories. The four main categories were hard coral, other invertebrates (including soft corals and sponges), algae, and substrate. Hard corals were differentiated into family and growth form: Acroporidae- tabular/corymbose/digitate (ARC-TCD), Acroporidae- branching (ACR-BRA), Acroporidae- plating/encrusting (ACR-PE), Pocilloporidae (POCI); Poritidae-massive (POR-M); Poritidae-encrusting/plating varieties (POR-PE); Poritidae-branching (POR-BRA); Faviidae-Lobophyllidae (FAV-LOB); and other hard corals (including non-scleractinian corals). Bleaching status was recorded to family and growth form for all live corals and due to low bleaching prevalence across sites (Fig. S2 of Brown et al. 2023), combined as 'bleached hard coral' for analyses. Macroalgae were separated as: fleshy macroalgae, calcifying algae of the genus Halimeda, articulate/crustose coralline algae (ACA/CCA), and turf algae/cyanobacteria. Substrate was divided into sand/sediment, coral rubble, and recently dead hard coral (i.e., coral skeletons with epithetic algal community with turf height &lt;3 millimeters (mm)). Recently dead hard coral was also recorded to family and growth form where possible (Fig. S2 of Brown et al. 2023).</p>
<p>Benthic community composition in 2020 was compared to data collected in July 2015 and August 2016 along the same transects (Brown et al. 2018). All surveys were conducted within the same season (austral winter) because macroalgae display significant shifts in composition and abundance across seasons (Brown et al. 2018). The relative changes in hard coral (including bleached coral), algae, and hard substrate (including coral rubble and recently dead coral) were determined by subtracting the mean between years and dividing by the initial cover.</p>
<p><strong>For more detailed information, please see:</strong><br />
Brown, K.T., Eyal, G., Dove, S.G. et al. (2023) Fine-scale heterogeneity reveals disproportionate thermal stress and coral mortality in thermally variable reef habitats during a marine heatwave. Coral Reefs 42, 131-142. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-022-02328-6" target="_blank">https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-022-02328-6</a></p>
Funding provided by NSF Division of Ocean Sciences (NSF OCE) Award Number: OCE-1923743 Award URL: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/show-award?AWD_ID=1923743
completed
Katie Barott
University of Pennsylvania
215-746-6911
433 South University Avenue Leidy Laboratories 326
Philadelphia
PA
19104
USA
kbarott@sas.upenn.edu
pointOfContact
Kristen Brown
University of Pennsylvania
433 S University Ave
Philadelphia
PA
19104-4544
USA
ktbrown@sas.upenn.edu
pointOfContact
asNeeded
Dataset Version: 1
Unknown
Year
Depth
Transect
Site
Latitude
Longitude
ACR_TCD
ACR_BRA
ACR_PE
POCI
POR_MASS
POR_ENC
POR_BRA
FAV_LOB
Other_hard
Soft_coral
Giant_Clam
Sea_Cuke
OTH_INV
Macroalgae
Halimeda
Turf_Cyano
CCA_ACA
Sand_Sed
Coral_Rubble
Bleached_coral
Bare_Rock
Temperature_mean
Temperature_max
Temperature_min
Amplitude
DHW
quadrat
theme
None, User defined
year
depth
transect
site
latitude
longitude
percent coverage
water temperature at measurement depth
featureType
BCO-DMO Standard Parameters
quadrat
instrument
BCO-DMO Standard Instruments
otherRestrictions
otherRestrictions
Access Constraints: none. Use Constraints: Please follow guidelines at: http://www.bco-dmo.org/terms-use Distribution liability: Under no circumstances shall BCO-DMO be liable for any direct, incidental, special, consequential, indirect, or punitive damages that result from the use of, or the inability to use, the materials in this data submission. If you are dissatisfied with any materials in this data submission your sole and exclusive remedy is to discontinue use.
Influence of environmental pH variability and thermal sensitivity on the resilience of reef-building corals to acidification stress
https://osprey.bco-dmo.org/project/843347
Influence of environmental pH variability and thermal sensitivity on the resilience of reef-building corals to acidification stress
<p><strong>NSF Award Abstract:</strong><br />
Coral reefs are incredibly diverse ecosystems that provide food, tourism revenue, and shoreline protection for coastal communities. The ability of coral reefs to continue providing these services to society is currently threatened by climate change, which has led to increasing ocean temperatures and acidity that can lead to the death of corals, the animals that build the reef framework upon which so many species depend. This project examines how temperature and acidification stress work together to influence the future health and survival of corals. The scientists are carrying out the project in Hawaii where they have found individual corals with different sensitivities to temperature stress that are living on reefs with different environmental pH conditions. This project improves understanding of how an individual coral's history influences its response to multiple stressors and helps identify the conditions that are most likely to support resilient coral communities. The project will generate extensive biological and physicochemical data that will be made freely available. Furthermore, this project supports the education and training of undergraduate and high school students and one postdoctoral researcher in marine science and coral reef ecology. Hands-on activities for high school students are being developed into a free online educational resource.</p>
<p>This project compares coral responses to acidification stress in populations experiencing distinct pH dynamics (high diel variability vs. low diel variability) and with distinct thermal tolerances (historically bleaching sensitive vs. tolerant) to learn about how coral responses to these two factors differ between coral species and within populations. Experiments focus on the two dominant reef builders found at these stable and variable pH reefs: Montipora capitata and Porites compressa. Individuals of each species exhibiting different thermal sensitivities (i.e., bleached vs. pigmented) were tagged during the 2015 global coral bleaching event. This system tests the hypotheses that 1) corals living on reefs with larger diel pH fluctuations have greater resilience to acidification stress, 2) coral resilience to acidification is a plastic trait that can be promoted via acclimatization, and 3) thermally sensitive corals have reduced capacity to cope with pH stress, which is exacerbated at elevated temperatures. Coral cells isolated from colonies from each environmental and bleaching history are exposed to acute pH stress and examined for their ability to recover intracellular pH in vivo using confocal microscopy, and the expression level of proteins predicted to be involved in this recovery (e.g., proton transporters) is examined via Western blot and immunolocalization. Corals from each pH history are exposed to stable and variable seawater pH in a controlled aquarium setting to determine the level of plasticity of acidification resilience and to test for pH acclimatization in this system. Finally, corals with different levels of thermal sensitivity are exposed to thermal stress and recovery, and their ability to regulate pH is examined over time. The results of these experiments help identify reef conditions that promote coral resilience to ocean acidification against the background of increasingly common thermal stress events, while advancing mechanistic understanding of coral physiology and symbiosis.</p>
<p>This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.</p>
Coral Resilience
largerWorkCitation
project
eng; USA
oceans
151.929
151.98
-23.4598
-23.4395
2015-01-01
2020-09-01
Kaneohe Bay, Oahu, HI; Heron Island, Queensland, Australia
0
BCO-DMO catalogue of parameters from Benthic community composition from Heron Island, southern Great Barrier Reef determined from 2015 to 2020
Biological and Chemical Oceanography Data Management Office (BCO-DMO)
Unavailable
508-289-2009
WHOI MS#36
Woods Hole
MA
02543
USA
info@bco-dmo.org
http://www.bco-dmo.org
Monday - Friday 8:00am - 5:00pm
For questions regarding this resource, please contact BCO-DMO via the email address provided.
pointOfContact
http://lod.bco-dmo.org/id/dataset-parameter/918146.rdf
Name: Year
Units: unitless
Description: <p>Year</p>
http://lod.bco-dmo.org/id/dataset-parameter/918147.rdf
Name: Depth
Units: meters (m)
Description: <p>Depth</p>
http://lod.bco-dmo.org/id/dataset-parameter/918148.rdf
Name: Transect
Units: unitless
Description: <p>Transect ID number. There were 3 replicate transects per site.</p>
http://lod.bco-dmo.org/id/dataset-parameter/918149.rdf
Name: Site
Units: unitless
Description: <p>Site name</p>
http://lod.bco-dmo.org/id/dataset-parameter/918150.rdf
Name: Latitude
Units: decimal degrees
Description: <p>Latitude of site; negative values = South</p>
http://lod.bco-dmo.org/id/dataset-parameter/918151.rdf
Name: Longitude
Units: decimal degrees
Description: <p>Longitude of site; positive values = East</p>
http://lod.bco-dmo.org/id/dataset-parameter/918152.rdf
Name: ACR_TCD
Units: percent cover (%)
Description: <p>Acroporidae- tabular/corymbose/digitate</p>
http://lod.bco-dmo.org/id/dataset-parameter/918153.rdf
Name: ACR_BRA
Units: percent cover (%)
Description: <p>Acroporidae- branching (ACR-BRA)</p>
http://lod.bco-dmo.org/id/dataset-parameter/918154.rdf
Name: ACR_PE
Units: percent cover (%)
Description: <p>Acroporidae- plating/encrusting (ACR-PE)</p>
http://lod.bco-dmo.org/id/dataset-parameter/918155.rdf
Name: POCI
Units: percent cover (%)
Description: <p>Pocilloporidae (POCI)</p>
http://lod.bco-dmo.org/id/dataset-parameter/918156.rdf
Name: POR_MASS
Units: percent cover (%)
Description: <p>Poritidae-massive (POR-M)</p>
http://lod.bco-dmo.org/id/dataset-parameter/918157.rdf
Name: POR_ENC
Units: percent cover (%)
Description: <p>Poritidae-encrusting/plating varieties (POR-PE)</p>
http://lod.bco-dmo.org/id/dataset-parameter/918158.rdf
Name: POR_BRA
Units: percent cover (%)
Description: <p>Poritidae-branching (POR-BRA)</p>
http://lod.bco-dmo.org/id/dataset-parameter/918159.rdf
Name: FAV_LOB
Units: percent cover (%)
Description: <p>Faviidae-Lobophyllidae (FAV-LOB)</p>
http://lod.bco-dmo.org/id/dataset-parameter/918160.rdf
Name: Other_hard
Units: percent cover (%)
Description: <p>other hard corals (including non-scleractinian corals)</p>
http://lod.bco-dmo.org/id/dataset-parameter/918161.rdf
Name: Soft_coral
Units: percent cover (%)
Description: <p>soft coral</p>
http://lod.bco-dmo.org/id/dataset-parameter/918162.rdf
Name: Giant_Clam
Units: percent cover (%)
Description: <p>giant clam</p>
http://lod.bco-dmo.org/id/dataset-parameter/918163.rdf
Name: Sea_Cuke
Units: percent cover (%)
Description: <p>sea cucumbers</p>
http://lod.bco-dmo.org/id/dataset-parameter/918164.rdf
Name: OTH_INV
Units: percent cover (%)
Description: <p>other invertebrates</p>
http://lod.bco-dmo.org/id/dataset-parameter/918165.rdf
Name: Macroalgae
Units: percent cover (%)
Description: <p>fleshy macroalgae</p>
http://lod.bco-dmo.org/id/dataset-parameter/918166.rdf
Name: Halimeda
Units: percent cover (%)
Description: <p>calcifying algae of the genus Halimeda</p>
http://lod.bco-dmo.org/id/dataset-parameter/918167.rdf
Name: Turf_Cyano
Units: percent cover (%)
Description: <p>turf algae/cyanobacteria</p>
http://lod.bco-dmo.org/id/dataset-parameter/918168.rdf
Name: CCA_ACA
Units: percent cover (%)
Description: <p>articulate/crustose coralline algae (ACA/CCA)</p>
http://lod.bco-dmo.org/id/dataset-parameter/918169.rdf
Name: Sand_Sed
Units: percent cover (%)
Description: <p>sand/sediment</p>
http://lod.bco-dmo.org/id/dataset-parameter/918170.rdf
Name: Coral_Rubble
Units: percent cover (%)
Description: <p>coral rubble</p>
http://lod.bco-dmo.org/id/dataset-parameter/918171.rdf
Name: Bleached_coral
Units: percent cover (%)
Description: <p>bleached coral</p>
http://lod.bco-dmo.org/id/dataset-parameter/918172.rdf
Name: Bare_Rock
Units: percent cover (%)
Description: <p>recently dead hard coral (i.e., coral skeletons with epithetic algal community with turf height <3 mm)</p>
http://lod.bco-dmo.org/id/dataset-parameter/918173.rdf
Name: Temperature_mean
Units: degrees Celsius
Description: <p>Mean temperature by year and site</p>
http://lod.bco-dmo.org/id/dataset-parameter/918174.rdf
Name: Temperature_max
Units: degrees Celsius
Description: <p>Maximum temperature by year and site</p>
http://lod.bco-dmo.org/id/dataset-parameter/918175.rdf
Name: Temperature_min
Units: degrees Celsius
Description: <p>Minimum temperature by year and site</p>
http://lod.bco-dmo.org/id/dataset-parameter/918176.rdf
Name: Amplitude
Units: degrees Celsius per day
Description: <p>Mean diel temperature amplitude by year and site</p>
http://lod.bco-dmo.org/id/dataset-parameter/918177.rdf
Name: DHW
Units: degrees Celsius per week
Description: <p>Degree heating weeks</p>
GB/NERC/BODC > British Oceanographic Data Centre, Natural Environment Research Council, United Kingdom
Biological and Chemical Oceanography Data Management Office (BCO-DMO)
Unavailable
508-289-2009
WHOI MS#36
Woods Hole
MA
02543
USA
info@bco-dmo.org
http://www.bco-dmo.org
Monday - Friday 8:00am - 5:00pm
For questions regarding this resource, please contact BCO-DMO via the email address provided.
pointOfContact
11977
https://darchive.mblwhoilibrary.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/a9a26ef7-3eaa-496c-937d-830546d00bdc/content
download
https://doi.org/10.26008/1912/bco-dmo.918134.1
download
onLine
dataset
<p><strong>Study location:</strong><br />
This study was conducted across eight sites at Heron Island, southern Great Barrier Reef (23°27’ S 151°55’ E), previously characterized in detail (Brown et al. 2018, 2020). Briefly, sites included each geomorphological habitat of Heron Reef: reef slope, reef crest, reef flat, shallow lagoon, and deep lagoon (Phinn et al. 2012) (Fig. 1 of Brown et al. 2023). The geomorphological habitats of Heron Reef are distinguished by diverse benthic communities, with hard coral cover higher within the reef slope and macroalgae cover greater within the lagoonal habitats (Brown et al. 2018; Roelfsema et al. 2021). Reef-wide coral cover in 2015 and 2016 was amongst the highest observations in the past 60 years (Connell et al. 1997; Brown et al. 2018; Roelfsema et al. 2021) (e.g., ~75% within the south-west reef slope and ~20% within lagoon), making these years optimal as a recent baseline record.</p>
<p>Within the reef slope habitat, four sites were established: two within the north-east section of the reef (Fourth Point, 4.2 meters (m) and 8 m) and two within the south-west (Harry’s Bommie, 6.1 m and 8.2 m) (Fig. 1 of Brown et al. 2023). The northeast of Heron Reef is the exposed side, subject to extreme wave forces during cyclones, whereas the south-west is sheltered from waves generated by both the south-east trade winds and extreme wave action of cyclones (Connell et al. 1997). One site was established in each other geomorphological habitat, with each site sharing its name: Reef Crest (RC; 0.9 m), Reef Flat (RF; 0.7 m), Shallow Lagoon (SL; 1.3 m) and Deep Lagoon (DL; 2.6 m) (Fig. 1 of Brown et al. 2023). Inside the lagoon, semidiurnal tidal fluctuations result in higher variability in temperature and pH than reef slope sites (Brown et al. 2018; Cyronak et al. 2020) (Fig. 2, Fig. S1 of Brown et al. 2023). Photosynthetically active radiation (PAR; µmol quanta m⁻²s⁻¹) is lower within reef slope habitats (HB5: 75.9, HB8: 72.8, FP5: 179.4, FP8: 58.9) than within the lagoon habitats (RC: 199.2, RF: 371.7, SL: 201.8, DL: 198.8), due to differences in depth (Brown et al. 2018; Cyronak et al. 2020). Mean depth and PAR were determined by use of Conductivity Temperature Depth (CTD) units that continuously recorded between July 2015 and November 2016 (SBE 16plus V2 SEACAT fitted with an auxiliary PAR sensor, Satlantic/ECO-PAR sensor) (see Brown et al. 2018 for more detailed methodology).</p>
<p><strong>Benthic community composition:</strong><br />
Benthic community composition was recorded in August 2020 using the method described by Brown et al. 2018. During each survey, three replicate 15-meter (m) transects were laid north, east, and west from a permanent reference point. Quadrats (0.25 square meters (m²)) were alternated right and left every 0.5 m along the transect line, totaling 30 quadrats per transect. Percent cover of each quadrat was recorded in situ from 22 specific categories. The four main categories were hard coral, other invertebrates (including soft corals and sponges), algae, and substrate. Hard corals were differentiated into family and growth form: Acroporidae- tabular/corymbose/digitate (ARC-TCD), Acroporidae- branching (ACR-BRA), Acroporidae- plating/encrusting (ACR-PE), Pocilloporidae (POCI); Poritidae-massive (POR-M); Poritidae-encrusting/plating varieties (POR-PE); Poritidae-branching (POR-BRA); Faviidae-Lobophyllidae (FAV-LOB); and other hard corals (including non-scleractinian corals). Bleaching status was recorded to family and growth form for all live corals and due to low bleaching prevalence across sites (Fig. S2 of Brown et al. 2023), combined as 'bleached hard coral' for analyses. Macroalgae were separated as: fleshy macroalgae, calcifying algae of the genus Halimeda, articulate/crustose coralline algae (ACA/CCA), and turf algae/cyanobacteria. Substrate was divided into sand/sediment, coral rubble, and recently dead hard coral (i.e., coral skeletons with epithetic algal community with turf height &lt;3 millimeters (mm)). Recently dead hard coral was also recorded to family and growth form where possible (Fig. S2 of Brown et al. 2023).</p>
<p>Benthic community composition in 2020 was compared to data collected in July 2015 and August 2016 along the same transects (Brown et al. 2018). All surveys were conducted within the same season (austral winter) because macroalgae display significant shifts in composition and abundance across seasons (Brown et al. 2018). The relative changes in hard coral (including bleached coral), algae, and hard substrate (including coral rubble and recently dead coral) were determined by subtracting the mean between years and dividing by the initial cover.</p>
<p><strong>For more detailed information, please see:</strong><br />
Brown, K.T., Eyal, G., Dove, S.G. et al. (2023) Fine-scale heterogeneity reveals disproportionate thermal stress and coral mortality in thermally variable reef habitats during a marine heatwave. Coral Reefs 42, 131-142. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-022-02328-6" target="_blank">https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-022-02328-6</a></p>
Specified by the Principal Investigator(s)
<p>See Brown et al. (2023) for details of statistical analyses performed using this dataset.</p>
Specified by the Principal Investigator(s)
- Imported the original file "All benthic community composition at Heron Island 2015-2020.xlsx" into the BCO-DMO system.
- Renamed fields/columns to comply with BCO-DMO naming conventions (replaced hyphens, slashes, and spaces with underscores).
- Created columns for Latitude and Longitude using the site locations provided as part of the temperature dataset metadata.
- Rounded the percent cover columns to a maximum of 3 decimal places.
- Saved the final file as "918134_v1_benthic_comm_comp_heron_isl_2015-2020.csv".
Specified by BCO-DMO Data Managers
asNeeded
7.x-1.1
Biological and Chemical Oceanography Data Management Office (BCO-DMO)
Unavailable
508-289-2009
WHOI MS#36
Woods Hole
MA
02543
USA
info@bco-dmo.org
http://www.bco-dmo.org
Monday - Friday 8:00am - 5:00pm
For questions regarding this resource, please contact BCO-DMO via the email address provided.
pointOfContact
quadrat
quadrat
PI Supplied Instrument Name: quadrat PI Supplied Instrument Description:Quadrats (0.25 m²) were alternated right and left every 0.5 m along the transect line, totaling 30 quadrats per transect. Percent cover of each quadrat was recorded in situ from 22 specific categories. Instrument Name: quadrat Instrument Short Name: Instrument Description: A square or rectangular rigid frame of known area, often home-made, that is placed on the substrate to be sampled to mark a fixed area for sampling flora or fauna.