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Sheets
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SiteMetadataList of TCRMP sites with identifying information
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BenthicCodesList of codes used in the TCRMP benthic dataset and what they mean
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DataValidationList of codes used for validation purposed in the benthic data tabs - do not alter
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BenthicData2017-PresRAW
Data in this tab are RAW POINT COUNTS taken directly from benthic analysis. This data is not for benthic cover analysis purposes
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BenthicDataData in this tab are calculated benthic cover for individual transects
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BenthicSummaryData in this tab are calculated benthic cover of major groups (i.e. coral, macroalgae, sponges, etc) by individual transects
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Columns
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SampleYearMonitoring period in which data was collected; Note - Sample year may not always match the year from the FilmDate if a location was surveyed late in the annual monitoring period (i.e. data collected in January 2018 could be included in the 2017 annual monitoring period)
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SampleMonthMonth in which data was collected; Note - when a location was not surveyed fully in the same month, the month in which sampling began is used as the sample month
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PeriodRefers to the sample period in which the data falls; Periods are as follows: Annual (normal annual TCRMP sampling), PeakBL (secondary TCRMP sampling to capture peak bleaching due to thermal stress), PostBL (secondary sampling as a follow up to thermal stress), SCTLD (extra sampling points taken at a subsample of TCRMP locations to monitor the progression of Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease), and WS (samples taken at a subset of TCRMP locations [Black Point, Buck Island STT, Coculus Rock, Magens Bay, Botany Bay, Savana, Flat Cay, Seahorse Cottage Shoal] during research cruises aboard the R/V Walton Smith)
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LocationMonitoring location at which data was collected
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FilmDateDate on which transects were filmed
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NoPtsTotal number of random assignment points analyzed for the transect
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AnalysisByIndividual who performed the benthic cover analysis
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AnalysisDateDate on which benthic cover analysis was done
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TransectTransect number; Note - there are typically 6 transects per site, but additional transects may have been filmed
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BenthicCoverAll remaining columns refer to individual benthic cover categories. Note - values reported in "BenthicData2017-PresRAW" are point totals, while values reported in "BenthicData" are calculated benthic cover
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NotesAdditional notes pertaining to benthic cover
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Other Notes
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1Benthic transects are the same ones on which coral health metrics are recorded. Each is 10m in length and there are typically 6 per site though additional transects may have been recorded. All transects are filmed on the left side and videos are clipped into consecutive non-overlapping still images for analysis
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2Coral Point Count with Excel Extensions (CPCe) software (see Kohler and Gill 2006) was used for analysis through 2018 after which random point assignment was done using R Studio
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3The number of points per image has varied throughout the course of the monitoring program dependent on the camera system used: 10 (2001 - 2011), 15 (2012 - 2013), and 20 (2014 - pres)
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4Rhodolith (RO) was added as a benthic cover category in 2011
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5Peyssonnelia sp (PEY) was added as a benthic cover category in 2014
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6Ramicrusta sp (RAMI) was added as a benthic cover category in 2017
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7Data in red indicates that values were unable to be verified during QAQC because the original analysis file was missing or had been corrupted
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8Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD) was added as a coral condition category after its arrival in the US Virgin Islands in 2019
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9Cells containing "ND" indicate that there is no data recorded for that benthic category
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