gov.noaa.nmfs.inport:30771 eng UTF8 dataset CSV Files Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center 808-725-5300 1845 Wasp Blvd. Honolulu HI 96818 USA https://www.pifsc.noaa.gov WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link Website Website for this organization information 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. resourceProvider Olenski, Brooke brooke.olenski@noaa.gov pointOfContact Luers, Lori H 1845 Wasp Blvd. Honolulu HI 96818 USA lori.luers@noaa.gov pointOfContact 2026-03-04T19:17:28 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 in 2015 and 2020 Vatia: BLT 2015 and 2020 2017 publication NOAA/NMFS/EDM 30771 https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/30771 WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link Full Metadata Record View the complete metadata record on InPort for more information about this dataset. information NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program (301) 713-3155 1305 East West Highway 10th Floor Silver Spring MD 20910-3281 https://coralreef.noaa.gov WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program Website Link to the NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program website information Funders originator Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center 808-725-5360 1845 Wasp Blvd. Honolulu HI 96818 USA pifsc.info@noaa.gov https://www.pifsc.noaa.gov WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center Website Pacific Island Fisheries Science Center homepage information 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. originator ftp://ftp.library.noaa.gov/noaa_documents.lib/NMFS/PIFSC/PIFSC_special_publication/SP-16-001.pdf WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link Citation URL A summary of the monitoring activities conducted in Vatia Bay by the NOAA Coral Reef Ecosystem Program. download https://coastalscience.noaa.gov/projects/detail?key=245 WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link Citation URL NCCOS Project Details: Nutrient Dynamics and Changes to Benthic Communities in Vatia, American Samoa download https://www.pifsc.noaa.gov/cred/corals.php WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link Citation URL Overview of NOAA Coral Reef Ecosystem Program's methods to assess corals. download tableDigital Vargas-Angel B, Schumacher BD. 2018. Baseline surveys for coral reef community structure and demographics in Vatia Bay and Faga'alu Bay, American Samoa. Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, PIFSC Special Publication, SP-18-002, 38 p. https://doi.org/10.7289/V5/SP-PIFSC-18-002. and Vargas-Ángel B, Huntington B. 2020. Status and Trends Assessment of Benthic Coral Reef Communities in Vatia Bay, American Samoa, 2015–2020. Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, PIFSC Data Report, DR-20-020, 34p. https://doi.org/10.25923/r7dd-wg50, https://repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/27437 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 2015, and 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 2015, the survey implemented a two-stage stratified random sampling (StRS) design to assess the Vatia coral reef community, and a one-stage StRS design in 2020. 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. PIFSC Coral Reef Ecosystem Program and funded by the NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program completed Vargas-Angel, Bernardo (808)725-5423 1845 Wasp Blvd. Honolulu HI 96818 USA bernardo.vargasangel@noaa.gov Email preferred pointOfContact Vargas-Angel, Bernardo (808)725-5423 1845 Wasp Blvd. Honolulu HI 96818 USA bernardo.vargasangel@noaa.gov Email preferred custodian notPlanned 31090 Eutrophication Impacts on Coral Ecosystem Health in Vatia, American Samoa theme CRCP Project 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 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 > 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 CORAL CORAL - CENSUS CORAL - COLONY SIZE CORAL - SPECIES IDENTIFICATION theme NODC DATA TYPES THESAURUS survey - biological survey - coral reef survey - swimmer/diver theme NODC OBSERVATION TYPES THESAURUS Coral Reef Conservation Program theme NODC PROJECT NAMES THESAURUS US DOC; NOAA; NMFS; Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center; Ecosystem Sciences Division; Coral Reef Ecosystem Program theme NODC SUBMITTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS 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 South Pacific Ocean place NODC SEA AREA NAMES THESAURUS CRED CREP Coral Reef Ecosystem Division Coral Reef Ecosystem Program ESD Ecosystem Sciences Division PIFSC Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center theme Vatia place DOC/NOAA/NMFS/PIFSC > Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce dataCentre Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Data Center Keywords 2017-04-24 publication 8.5 Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords GCMD Keyword Forum Page Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2025. GCMD Keywords, Version 22. 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 Benthic Missions project InPort otherRestrictions Cite As: Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, [Date of Access]: Benthic Surveys in Vatia, American Samoa: comprehensive assessment of coral demography (adult and juvenile corals) from belt transect surveys in 2015 and 2020 [Data Date Range], https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/30771. NOAA provides no warranty, nor accepts any liability occurring from any incomplete, incorrect, or misleading data, or from any incorrect, incomplete, or misleading use of the data. It is the responsibility of the user to determine whether or not the data is suitable for the intended purpose. otherRestrictions Access Constraints: None otherRestrictions Use Constraints: Please cite NOAA Coral Reef Ecosystem Program (CREP) when using the data. Example Cite as: Vargas-Angel, Bernardo; Coral Reef Ecosystem Program; Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (2017). Benthic Surveys in Vatia, American Samoa since 2015: comprehensive assessment of coral demography (adult and juvenile corals) from belt transect surveys in 2015. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/30771 otherRestrictions Distribution Liability: While every effort has been made to ensure that these data are accurate and reliable within the limits of the current state of the art, NOAA cannot assume liability for any damages caused by errors or omissions in the data, nor as a result of the failure of the data to function on a particular system. NOAA makes no warranty, expressed or implied, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty. unclassified Not applicable Not applicable Benthic Surveys in Faga'alu, American Samoa: comprehensive assessment of coral demography (adult and juvenile corals) from belt transect surveys in 2013, 2015, and 2020 NOAA/NMFS/EDM 25369 crossReference Benthic Surveys in Vatia, American Samoa since 2015: benthic images collected during belt transect surveys in 2015 and 2020 NOAA/NMFS/EDM 31196 crossReference Benthic Surveys in Vatia, American Samoa: benthic cover derived from analysis of benthic images collected during belt transect surveys of coral demography in 2015 and 2020 NOAA/NMFS/EDM 31611 crossReference NOAA Data Management Plan (DMP) NOAA/NMFS/EDM 30771 https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inportserve/waf/noaa/nmfs/pifsc/dmp/pdf/30771.pdf WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link NOAA Data Management Plan (DMP) NOAA Data Management Plan for this record on InPort. information crossReference eng; US biota PIFSC Oracle database views: v0_coral_obs_e and v0_coral_obs_f (date and location selection criteria required to subset the dataset) Vatia Bay, Tutuila, American Samoa -170.67555555556 -170.66666666667 -14.25138888889 -14.24305555556 Vatia Bay, Tutuila, American Samoa Coral demographic surveys in 2015 | Currentness: Ground Condition 2015-11-02 2015-11-12 Coral demographic surveys in 2020 | Currentness: Ground Condition 2020-01-15 2020-01-30 Monthly water quality sampling for nitrate/nitrite, ammonium, urea, total nitrogen, orthophosphorus, and total phosphorus data are also collected as part of this project to quantify the nutrient dynamics of the Bay. These additional data are described separately by the NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS); see citation below. Whitall, D, M Curtis, A Mason, B Vargas-Angel. 2019. Excess Nutrients in Vatia Bay, American Samoa: Spatiotemporal Variability, Source Identification and Impact on Coral Reef Ecosystems. NOAA Technical Memorandum NOS NCCOS 266. Silver Spring. 69 pages. doi:10.25923/j8cp-x570 false eng false Data View View: V0_CORAL_OBS_E 2021-09-01 publication View: V0_CORAL_OBS_F 2021-09-01 publication CSV - Comma Separated Values (Text) CSV - Comma Separated Values (Text) PDF - Adobe Portable Document Format CSV - Comma Separated Values (Text) CSV - Comma Separated Values (Text) NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information ncei.info@noaa.gov https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/contact WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link NCEI Contact Information Information for contacts at NCEI. information distributor https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0165016 WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link V0_CORAL_OBS_E VATIA.csv Coral demographic data of adult corals from belt transect surveys conducted by the NOAA Coral Reef Ecosystem Program (CREP) in Vatia Bay, Tutuila, American Samoa in 2015. download https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0165016 WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link V0_CORAL_OBS_F VATIA.csv Coral demographic data of juvenile corals from belt transect surveys conducted by the NOAA Coral Reef Ecosystem Program (CREP) in Vatia Bay, Tutuila, American Samoa in 2015. download https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0146680 WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link Draft_StRS_coralsurvey_2014.pdf Draft Coral Reef Ecosystem Program - Standard Operating Procedures: Rapid Ecological Assessment (REA) Benthic Survey Data Collection - latest draft as of March 21, 2016. Refer to the Methodology - Benthic Survey sections only for the survey methodology details, as the other components are not relevant to this particular set of non-RAMP surveys. download https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0240417 WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link V0_CORAL_OBS_E VATIA_2020.csv Coral demographic data of adult corals from belt transect surveys conducted by the NOAA PIFSC Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD) in Vatia Bay, Tutuila, American Samoa in 2020. download https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0240417 WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link V0_CORAL_OBS_F VATIA_2020.csv Coral demographic data of juvenile corals from belt transect surveys conducted by the NOAA PIFSC Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD) in Vatia Bay, Tutuila, American Samoa in 2020. download dataset Accuracy Observations were made by experienced benthic survey personnel who have been trained, undergone a series of calibration surveys and coral taxon identification testing, and have met a set of minimum standards for colony assessment and taxon identification in each region. The accuracy of species and genus level identification was high. The lowest taxonomic level of coral identification was genus except for a select number of species that were consistently identified to species by all divers conducting the surveys. Handheld GPS units were used to locate sites and mark site locations. Analytical Accuracy The taxon code AAAA is included where the segment was surveyed and no individual colonies were found in both the juvenile and adult colony records. These are true zeros. The value -9 is a placeholder or missing value for the fields: colony length, colony width (juveniles), extent, and severity. The value -1 is included where a coral colony is a fragment. Bias While colony lengths are derived from physical measurements, recent and old mortality are visual estimates; surveyors calibrate to reduce inter-observer bias Comparability Site GPS location and depth are appropriately collected to allow spatiotemporal comparisons. Completeness Measure Complete. All planned demographic data were collected. Completeness Report Only forereef, hard bottom habitats were surveyed. Conceptual Consistency Survey methods were consistent across all sites. The data described here were collected via belt transect surveys of coral demography (adult and juvenile corals) by the NOAA Coral Reef Ecosystem Program (CREP) following the same protocol to that established by the NOAA National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP). Biological surveys implemented a modified stratified random sampling design to assess the survey domain which encompassed the hard-bottom reef habitat from 0 to 18 m in depth within Vatia Bay. Based on the geomorphology of the reef, the stratification scheme combined two depth categories (shallow: 0–6 m and mid-depth: 6–18 m) and two cardinal positions (north and south) into four distinct strata: i.e., mid-depth north, mid-depth south, shallow north, and shallow south). A digital map of the survey domain was overlaid with a 30 m × 30 m grid designating potential survey sites in all four strata. Sampling effort was allocated relative to strata area and survey sites were randomly selected within each stratum Belt-transects were the focal point of the biological surveys. Coral community composition was assessed within a number of 1.0 m × 2.5 m segments located at the 0–2.5 m, 5.0–7.5 m, 10–12.5 m, 15–17.5 m mark along each transect; bottom-time permitting, covering a total area ranging 5–10 m2 per transect. Over time, protocols were adjusted to increase efficiency such that two, 18-m transects in 2015, and one 18-m transect in 2020. Within segments, all adult coral colonies (≥5 cm maximum diameter) whose center fell within 0.5 m on either side of the transect line were identified to the genus-level and measured for size (maximum diameter to nearest cm). Juvenile coral colonies (<5 cm), distinguished by the presence of a distinct tissue and skeletal boundary (not a remnant of a larger colony), were surveyed within three 1.0 m × 1.0 m segments at the 0–1.0 m, 5.0–6.0 m, and 10.0–11.0 m mark of each transect (covering 3 m2 per transect). Juvenile colonies were identified to genus and measured for size (maximum diameter to nearest 5 mm). For the estimation of benthic cover, still photographs were collected using the photoquadrat method at predetermined points along the transect line with a high-resolution digital camera mounted on a pole. In 2015, photographs were taken every meter from the 1-m to the 15-m mark on each of the two transects per site (n = 30) and in 2020, every meter from the 1-m to the 30-m mark along an extended belt-transect line (n = 30). Photoquadrats were analyzed implementing the computer software CoralNet. These data are documented separately. Survey protocols followed the National Coral Reef Monitoring Program methodologies historically implemented by NOAA's Ecosystem Sciences Division. Swanson, Dione W (808)725-5417 dione.swanson@noaa.gov processor Baseline surveys for coral reef community structure and demographics in Vatia and Faga'alu Bay, American Samoa NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center https://repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/17369 WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link PIFSC special publication ; SP-18-002 Vargas-Angel, B., B.D. Schumacher. (2018). Baseline Surveys for Coral Reef Community Structure and Demographics in Vatia and Faga'alu Bay, American Samoa NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, PIFSC Special Publication, SP-18-002, 38 p. 4 information originator Ecosystem Sciences Division Standard Operating Procedures: Data Collection for Rapid Ecological Assessment Benthic Surveys, 2019 Update NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center https://repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/23951 WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-PIFSC ; 96 Winston W, Couch C, Huntingon B, Vargas-Ángel B. 2020. Ecosystem Sciences Division standard operating procedures: data collection for rapid ecological assessment benthic surveys,2019 update. NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-PIFSC-96, 56 p information originator Ecosystem Sciences Division standard operating procedures: data collection for rapid ecological assessment benthic surveys NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center https://repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/18267 WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link NOAA technical memorandum NMFS-PIFSC ; 71 Swanson, D., Bailey, H., Schumacher, B., Ferguson, M., and B. Vargas-Ángel. 2018. Ecosystem Sciences Division Standard Operating Procedures: Data Collection for Rapid Ecological Assessment Benthic Surveys. NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-PIFSC-71, 63 p. https://doi.org/10.25923/39jh-8993 information originator Status and Trends Assessment of Benthic Coral Reef Communities in Vatia Bay, American Samoa, 2015–2020 NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center https://repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/27437 WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link PIFSC Data Report DR-20-020. Issued 25 November 2020. https://doi.org/10.25923/r7dd-wg50 Vargas-Ángel, B., and Huntington, B. 2010. Status and Trends Assessment of Benthic Coral Reef Communities in Vatia Bay, American Samoa, 2015–2020PIFSC Data Report DR-20-020. Issued 25 November 2020. https://doi.org/10.25923/r7dd-wg50 information originator otherRestrictions otherRestrictions Access Constraints: None | Use Constraints: None