Eighteen distinct and non-overlapping biological cover types were identified that could be mapped through visual interpretation of the IKONOS imagery. Habitats or features that cover areas smaller than the MMU were not considered. For example, uncolonized sand halos surrounding coral patch reefs are too small to be mapped independently. Cover type refers only to predominate biological component colonizing the surface of the feature and does not address location (e.g., on the shelf or in the lagoon). The cover types are defined in a collapsible hierarchy ranging from eight major classes (coral, seagrass, macroalgae, coralline algae, turf algae, emergent vegetation, uncolonized, and unknown), combined with a density modifier representing the percentage of the predominate cover type (10%-<50% sparse, 50%-<90% patchy, 90%-100% continuous).
Substrates colonized by live reef building corals and other organisms. Habitats within this category have at least 10% live coral cover.
Continuous Coral: Live coral covering 90% or greater of the substrate. May include areas of less than 90% coral cover on 10% or less of the total area that are too small to be mapped independently (less than the MMU).
Patchy Coral: Discontinuous live coral with breaks in coverage that are too diffuse or irregular, or result in isolated patches of coral that are too small (smaller than the MMU) to be mapped as continuous coral. Overall live coral cover is estimated at 50%-<90% of the bottom.
Sparse Coral: Discontinuous live coral with breaks in coverage that are too diffuse or irregular, or result in isolated patches of coral that are too small (smaller than the MMU) to be mapped as continuous coral. Overall live coral cover is estimated at 10%-<50% of the bottom.
Habitat with 10 percent of more of seagrass.
Continuous Seagrass: Seagrass community covering 90 percent or greater of the substrate. May include blowouts of less than 10 percent of the total area that are too small to be mapped independently (less than the MMU).
Patchy Seagrass: Discontinuous seagrass community with breaks in coverage that are too diffuse or irregular, or result in isolated patches of seagrass that are too small (smaller than the MMU) to be mapped as continuous seagrass. Overall cover is estimated at 50%-<90% of the bottom.
Sparse Seagrass: Discontinuous seagrass community with breaks in coverage that are too diffuse or irregular, or result in isolated patches of seagrass that are too small (smaller than the MMU) to be mapped as continuous seagrass. Overall cover is estimated at 10%-<50% of the bottom.
Substrates with 10 percent or greater coverage of any combination of numerous species of red, green, or brown macroalgae. Usually occurs in shallow backreef and deeper waters on the bank/shelf zone.
Continuous Macroalgae: Macroalgae covering 90 percent or greater of the substrate. May include blowouts of less than 10 percent of the total area that are too small to be mapped independently (less than the MMU).
Patchy Macroalgae: Discontinuous macroalgae with breaks in coverage that are too diffuse or irregular, or result in isolated patches of macroalgae that are too small (smaller than the MMU) to be mapped as continuous macroalgae. Overall cover is estimated at 50%-<90% of the bottom.
Sparse Macroalgae: Discontinuous macroalgae with breaks in coverage that are too diffuse or irregular, or result in isolated patches of macroalgae that are too small (smaller than the MMU) to be mapped as continuous macroalgae. Overall cover is estimated at 10%-<50% of the bottom.
An area with 10 percent or greater coverage of any combination of numerous species of encrusting or coralline algae. May occur along reef crest, in shallow back reef, relatively shallow waters on the bank/shelf zone, and at depth.
Continuous Coralline Algae: Coralline algae covering 90 percent or greater of the substrate. May include blowouts of less than 10 percent of the total area that are too small to be mapped independently (less than the MMU).
Patchy Coralline: Discontinuous coralline algae with breaks in coverage that are too diffuse or irregular, or result in isolated patches of coralline algae that are too small (smaller than the MMU) to be mapped as continuous coralline algae. Overall cover is estimated at 50%-<90% of the bottom.
Sparse Coralline: Discontinuous coralline algae with breaks in coverage that are too diffuse or irregular, or result in isolated patches of coralline algae that are too small (smaller than the MMU) to be mapped as continuous coralline algae. Overall cover is estimated at 10%-<50% of the bottom.
A community of low lying species of marine algae composed of any or a combination of algal divisions dominated by filamentous species lacking upright fleshy macroalgal thali.
Continuous Turf: Turf algae covering 90 percent or greater of the substrate. May include blowouts of less than 10 percent of the total area that are too small to be mapped independently (less than the MMU).
Patchy Turf : Discontinuous Turf algae with breaks in coverage that are too diffuse or irregular, or result in isolated patches of Turf algae that are too small (smaller than the MMU) to be mapped as continuous Turf algae. Overall cover is estimated at 50%-<90% of the bottom.
Sparse Turf : Discontinuous Turf algae with breaks in coverage that are too diffuse or irregular, or result in isolated patches of Turf algae that are too small (smaller than the MMU) to be mapped as continuous Turf algae. Overall cover is estimated at 10%-<50% of the bottom.
Emergent habitat composed primarily of Rhizophora mangle (red mangrove) and Hibiscus sp (hau) trees. Generally found in areas sheltered from high-energy waves. This habitat type is usually found in the shoreline/intertidal or reef flat zone.
Continuous Vegetation: Emergent vegetation covering 90 percent or greater of the substrate. May include blowouts of less than 10 percent of the total area that are too small to be mapped independently (less than the MMU).
Patchy Vegetation: Discontinuous Emergent vegetation with breaks in coverage that are too diffuse or irregular, or result in isolated patches of Emergent vegetation that are too small (smaller than the MMU) to be mapped as continuous Emergent vegetation. Overall cover is estimated at 50%-<90% of the bottom.
Sparse Vegetation: Discontinuous Emergent vegetation with breaks in coverage that are too diffuse or irregular, or result in isolated patches of Emergent vegetation that are too small (smaller than the MMU) to be mapped as continuous Emergent vegetation. Overall cover is estimated at 10%-<50% of the bottom.
Substrates not covered with a minimum of 10% of any of the above biological cover types. This habitat is usually on sand or mud structures. Overall uncolonized cover is estimated at 90%-100% of the bottom.
Zone, Cover, and Structure uninterpretable due to turbidity, cloud cover, water depth, or other interference.
