gov.noaa.nodc:0240417 eng utf8 dataset NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information ncei.info@noaa.gov https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/contact HTTPS NOAA Contact Information Information for contacts at NCEI. information custodian 2025-12-14T19:41:02Z ISO 19115-2 Geographic Information - Metadata - Part 2: Extensions for Imagery and Gridded Data ISO 19115-2:2009(E) Benthic Surveys in Vatia, American Samoa: comprehensive assessment of coral demography (adult and juvenile corals) from belt transect surveys from 2020-01-23 to 2020-01-29 (NCEI Accession 0240417) 2021-09-02 publication 2021-08-20 creation NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information gov.noaa.nodc:0240417 NCEI Archive Management System 0240417 NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information ncei.info@noaa.gov https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/contact HTTPS NCEI Contact Information Information for contacts at NCEI. information publisher Kevin Trick University of Hawaii Joint Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research (JIMAR) Kevin.Trick@noaa.gov https://www.soest.hawaii.edu/cimar/ HTTPS University of Hawaii Joint Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research (JIMAR) website Institution web page information resourceProvider NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, Ecosystem Sciences Division https://www.pifsc.noaa.gov/ecosystem_sciences/ HTTPS NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, Ecosystem Sciences Division website Institution web page information resourceProvider Bernardo Vargas-Ángel US DOC/NOAA/NMFS/Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center/Honolulu Laboratory bernardo.vargas-angel@noaa.gov https://coast.noaa.gov/ HTTPS US DOC/NOAA/NMFS/Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center/Honolulu Laboratory website Institution web page information principalInvestigator Brooke Olenski US DOC/NOAA/NMFS/Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center/Honolulu Laboratory brooke.olenski@noaa.gov https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/ HTTPS US DOC/NOAA/NMFS/Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center/Honolulu Laboratory website Institution web page information pointOfContact NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, Ecosystem Sciences Division https://www.pifsc.noaa.gov/ecosystem_sciences/ HTTPS NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, Ecosystem Sciences Division website Institution web page information author NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (NMFS/PIFSC) contributor tableDigital Jurisdictional managers have expressed concerns that nutrients from the village of Vatia, Tutuila, American Samoa, are having an adverse effect on the adjacent coral reef ecosystem. Excess nutrient loads promote increases in algal growth that can have deleterious effects on corals, such as benthic algae outcompeting and overgrowing corals. Nitrogen and phosphorus can also directly impact corals by lowering fertilization success, and reducing both photosynthesis and calcification rates. Land-based contributions of nutrients come from a variety of sources; in Vatia the most likely sources are poor wastewater management from piggeries and septic systems. NOAA scientists conducted benthic surveys to establish a baseline against which to compare changes in the algal and coral assemblages in response to land-based sources of pollution, including nutrient fluxes. The data described here result from benthic coral demographic surveys within belt transects of specified length and width for two life stages (juveniles and adults) in Vatia Bay American Samoa in 2020. The data provide information on adult coral colony counts, morphology, size, partial mortality (old and recent dead), presence and causation of disease and other compromised health conditions, including bleaching. Juvenile colony surveys include morphology and size. Taxonomic identification of adult colonies is to the species level and genus level for juveniles. In 2020, the survey implemented was a one-stage stratified random sampling (StRS) design to assess the Vatia coral reef community. The survey domain encompassed the majority of the mapped area of reef and hard bottom habitats in the 0–30 m depth range. The stratification scheme included cardinal position (i.e., north and south) and depth (i.e., shallow: >0–6 m and mid-depth: >6–18 m). Sampling effort allocation was determined based on strata area and sites randomly located within strata. The StRS design effectively reduces estimate variance through stratification using environmental covariates and by sampling more sites rather than more transects per site. Therefore, site-to-site comparisons should proceed with caution. These data were generated from benthic surveys undertaken in Vatia Bay to establish a comprehensive baseline, status, and trends for benthic composition and coral demographics; and are part of a broader NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP) funded project led by NCCOS and ESD to assess eutrophication impacts on coral ecosystem health in the bay. These efforts feed into the higher-level CRCP objectives by establishing an in-situ tracking system to assess the effects of management and mitigation strategies and activities in the target watersheds to reduce land-based sources of pollution. Funding Agency: NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program completed historicalArchive NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information ncei.info@noaa.gov https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/contact HTTPS NCEI Contact Information Information for contacts at NCEI. information pointOfContact asNeeded https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/metadata/landing-page/bin/gfx?id=gov.noaa.nodc:0240417 Preview graphic PNG 0240417 NCEI ACCESSION NUMBER 2021-08-02 publication biological data CORAL CORAL - BLEACHING CORAL - CENSUS CORAL - COLONY SIZE CORAL - SPECIES IDENTIFICATION HABITAT - BENTHIC theme NODC DATA TYPES THESAURUS swimmer/diver visual observation instrument NODC INSTRUMENT TYPES THESAURUS biological in situ survey - biological survey - coral reef survey - swimmer/diver theme NODC OBSERVATION TYPES THESAURUS NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center dataCentre NODC COLLECTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, Ecosystem Sciences Division dataCentre NODC SUBMITTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP) CORAL REEF STUDIES project NODC PROJECT NAMES THESAURUS South Pacific Ocean place NODC SEA AREA NAMES THESAURUS oceanography theme WMO_CategoryCode 2012-09-15 publication DOC/NOAA/NMFS > National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce DOC/NOAA/NMFS/PIFSC/ESD > Ecosystem Sciences Division, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce dataCentre Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Data Center Keywords 2026 revision 23 Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Greenbelt MD https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords HTTPS GCMD Keyword Forum Page Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2025. GCMD Keywords, Version 21. Greenbelt, MD: Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). URL (GCMD Keyword Forum Page): https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD+Keywords information custodian 31259 Status and trends assessment for LBSP impacts on reef communities in Faga'alu Bay and Vatia Bay project CRCP Project Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP) project Provider Project Names Numeric Data Sets > Biology theme CoRIS Discovery Thesaurus EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Coral Diseases EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Coral Diseases > Bleaching EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Coral Mortality EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Damage Assessment > Pollution EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment > Baseline studies EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment > Benthos Analysis > Transect Monitoring > Belt Transect EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment > Coral Colony Size and Condition EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment > In Situ Biological EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment > Rapid Assessment Studies EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs > Coral Reef Ecology EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs > Coral Reef Ecology > Benthic biology EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Marine Biology > Coral EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Marine Biology > Coral Communities theme CoRIS Theme Thesaurus EARTH SCIENCE > BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION EARTH SCIENCE > BIOSPHERE > ECOSYSTEMS > MARINE ECOSYSTEMS > BENTHIC EARTH SCIENCE > BIOSPHERE > ECOSYSTEMS > MARINE ECOSYSTEMS > REEF > CORAL REEF EARTH SCIENCE > OCEANS > COASTAL PROCESSES > CORAL REEFS > CORAL BLEACHING EARTH SCIENCE > SOLID EARTH > GEOMORPHIC LANDFORMS/PROCESSES > COASTAL LANDFORMS > CORAL REEFS theme Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords 2026 revision 23 Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Greenbelt MD https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords HTTPS GCMD Keyword Forum Page Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2025. GCMD Keywords, Version 21. Greenbelt, MD: Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). URL (GCMD Keyword Forum Page): https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD+Keywords information custodian COLONY - RECENT MORTALITY CAUSE CORAL - BLEACHING SEVERITY CORAL - CONDITION EXTENT CORAL - HEALTH CONDITION CORAL - MORPHOLOGY CORAL - MORTALITY theme Provider Keywords VISUAL OBSERVATIONS > VISUAL OBSERVATIONS instrument Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Instrument Keywords 2026 revision 23 Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Greenbelt MD https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords HTTPS GCMD Keyword Forum Page Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2025. GCMD Keywords, Version 21. Greenbelt, MD: Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). URL (GCMD Keyword Forum Page): https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD+Keywords information custodian survey - swimmer/diver instrument Provider Instruments Shore based platform Provider Platform Names COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > American Samoa > Tutuila Island > Vatia Bay (14S170W0028) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Tutuila Island > Vatia Bay (14S170W0028) place CoRIS Place Thesaurus OCEAN > PACIFIC OCEAN > SOUTH PACIFIC OCEAN place Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords 2026 revision 23 Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Greenbelt MD https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords HTTPS GCMD Keyword Forum Page Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2025. GCMD Keywords, Version 21. Greenbelt, MD: Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). URL (GCMD Keyword Forum Page): https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD+Keywords information custodian Vatia Bay, Tutuila, American Samoa place Provider Place Names 9619UN Send2NCEI Submission Package ID accessLevel: Public otherRestrictions Cite as: NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, Ecosystem Sciences Division (2021). Benthic Surveys in Vatia, American Samoa: comprehensive assessment of coral demography (adult and juvenile corals) from belt transect surveys from 2020-01-23 to 2020-01-29 (NCEI Accession 0240417). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0240417. Accessed [date]. Distribution liability: NOAA and NCEI make no warranty, expressed or implied, regarding these data, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty. NOAA and NCEI cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in these data. If appropriate, NCEI can only certify that the data it distributes are an authentic copy of the records that were accepted for inclusion in the NCEI archives. otherRestrictions Use liability: NOAA and NCEI cannot provide any warranty as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of furnished data. Users assume responsibility to determine the usability of these data. The user is responsible for the results of any application of this data for other than its intended purpose. Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, 2017: Benthic Surveys in Vatia, American Samoa: comprehensive assessment of coral demography (adult and juvenile corals) from belt transect surveys in 2015 and 2020, https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/30771. 2017 publication gov.noaa.nmfs.inport:30771 https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/30771 HTTPS https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/30771 InPort Metadata Record information NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (NMFS/PIFSC) publisher tableDigital crossReference Vargas-Ángel Bernardo, & Schumacher, B. (2018). Baseline surveys for coral reef community structure and demographics in Vatia and Faga'alu Bay, American Samoa. NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center. https://doi.org/10.7289/v5/sp-pifsc-18-002 2018 publication International DOI Foundation (IDF) https://doi.org/10.7289/v5/sp-pifsc-18-002 https://doi.org/10.7289/v5/sp-pifsc-18-002 HTTPS https://doi.org/10.7289/v5/sp-pifsc-18-002 related journal article information Vargas-Ángel, Bernardo author Schumacher, Brett author NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center publisher documentDigital NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center crossReference Whitall, D., Curtis, M., Mason, A., & Vargas-Angel, B. (2019). Excess Nutrients in Vatia Bay, American Samoa: Spatiotemporal Variability, Source Identification and Impact on Coral Reef Ecosystems. National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (U.S.). https://doi.org/10.25923/j8cp-x570 2019 publication International DOI Foundation (IDF) https://doi.org/10.25923/j8cp-x570 https://doi.org/10.25923/j8cp-x570 HTTPS https://doi.org/10.25923/j8cp-x570 related journal article information Whitall, David author Curtis, Meagan author Mason, Andrew author Vargas-Angel, Bernardo author National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (U.S.) publisher documentDigital National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (U.S.) crossReference Vargas-Ángel, B. (2020). Status and Trends Assessment of Benthic Coral Reef Communities in Vatia Bay, American Samoa, 2015–2020. Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (U.S.). https://doi.org/10.25923/r7dd-wg50 2020 publication International DOI Foundation (IDF) https://doi.org/10.25923/r7dd-wg50 https://doi.org/10.25923/r7dd-wg50 HTTPS https://doi.org/10.25923/r7dd-wg50 NOAA Central Library: Data Report information Vargas-Ángel, Bernardo author Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (U.S.) publisher documentDigital Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (U.S.) crossReference collection eng; USA utf8 environment oceans biota -170.67441 -170.66796 -14.24985 -14.24367 2020-01-23 2020-01-29 NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information +1-301-713-3277 ncei.info@noaa.gov pointOfContact In most cases, electronic downloads of the data are free. However, fees may apply for custom orders, data certifications, copies of analog materials, and data distribution on physical media. Contact NCEI for other distribution options and instructions. CSV 1.408 https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0240417 HTTPS Web browser NCEI Dataset Landing Page Navigate directly to the URL for a descriptive web page with download links. information https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/oas/240417 HTTPS Web browser Descriptive Information Navigate directly to the URL for a descriptive web page with download links. information https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/download/240417 HTTPS Web browser HTTPS Navigate directly to the URL for data access and direct download. download ftp://ftp-oceans.ncei.noaa.gov/nodc/archive/arc0186/0240417/ FTP Any FTP client FTP These data are available through the File Transfer Protocol (FTP). FTP is no longer supported by most internet browsers. You may copy and paste the FTP link to the data into an FTP client (e.g., FileZilla or WinSCP). download dataset NCEI Accession 0240417 v1.1 was published. 2021-09-02T23:37:11Z NCEI Accession 0240417 v1.1 publication https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0240417/1.1 HTTPS NCEI Accession 0240417 v1.1 published 2021-09-02T23:37:11Z download dataset Parameter or Variable: CORAL - CENSUS (measured); Units: counts; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: survey - swimmer/diver; Sampling and Analyzing Method: Number of coral colonies of a specific taxon per survey area; Data Quality Method: Information Parameter or Variable: CORAL - SPECIES IDENTIFICATION (measured); Units: unitless; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: survey - swimmer/diver; Sampling and Analyzing Method: Identification of all colonies per survey area to the lowest taxonomic level possible (species or genus); Data Quality Method: Information Parameter or Variable: CORAL - MORPHOLOGY (measured); Units: unitless; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: survey - swimmer/diver; Sampling and Analyzing Method: Coral colony morphology -i.e. massive, branching, encrusting, etc. noted; Data Quality Method: information Parameter or Variable: CORAL - COLONY SIZE (measured); Units: cm; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: survey - swimmer/diver; Sampling and Analyzing Method: Coral colony maximum diameter measured to the nearest centimeter for adults and 5 millimeter for juveniles; Data Quality Method: Information Parameter or Variable: CORAL - MORTALITY (measured); Units: percent; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: survey - swimmer/diver; Sampling and Analyzing Method: Partial colony mortality visually estimated as percent of colony, in terms of old dead and recent dead; Data Quality Method: Information Parameter or Variable: COLONY - RECENT MORTALITY CAUSE (measured); Units: unitless; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: survey - swimmer/diver; Sampling and Analyzing Method: Cause of recent mortality identified if possible; Data Quality Method: Information Parameter or Variable: CORAL - HEALTH CONDITION (measured); Units: unitless; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: survey - swimmer/diver; Sampling and Analyzing Method: The condition of each colony in terms of disease (not attributed to recent tissue loss) and bleaching was noted; Data Quality Method: Information Parameter or Variable: CORAL - CONDITION EXTENT (measured); Units: percent; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: survey - swimmer/diver; Sampling and Analyzing Method: The extent of condition visually estimated as percent of the colony affected by disease and/or bleaching; Data Quality Method: Information Parameter or Variable: CORAL - BLEACHING SEVERITY (measured); Units: rank; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: survey -swimmer/diver; Sampling and Analyzing Method: Colony bleaching severity ranked from mild to acute (1= dim, 2 = pale/mottled, 3= stark white); Data Quality Method: Information Parameter or Variable: CORAL - CENSUS (measured); Units: unitless; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: survey - swimmer/diver; Sampling and Analyzing Method: Colony configuration as a fragment or not; Data Quality Method: Information asNeeded Metadata are developed, maintained and distributed by NCEI. Updates are performed as needed to maintain currentness. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information custodian swimmer/diver swimmer/diver not an instrument - use as observation type visual observation visual observation not an instrument - maybe an observation type