gov.noaa.nmfs.inport:31611 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 Luers, Lori H 1845 Wasp Blvd. Honolulu HI 96818 USA lori.luers@noaa.gov Email preferred 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: benthic cover derived from analysis of benthic images collected during belt transect surveys of coral demography in 2015 and 2020 Vatia: Benthic Cover 2015 and 2020 2022 publication NOAA/NMFS/EDM 31611 https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/31611 WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link Full Metadata Record View the complete metadata record on InPort for more information about this dataset. information 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 http://coralnet.ucsd.edu/ WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link Citation URL CoralNet home page. The online tool used to analyze the benthic images for benthic cover. 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 tableDigital Lozada-Misa P, Schumacher BD, Vargas-Angel B. 2017. Analysis of benthic survey images via CoralNet : a summary of standard operating procedures and guidelines. Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, PIFSC Administrative Report, H-17-02, 169 p. https://doi.org/10.7289/V5/AR-PIFSC-H-17-02. 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-Angel 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 nutrient fluxes. The benthic cover data described here were generated from the quantitative analysis of photoquadrat benthic images using image analysis software, whereby random points are projected on each image and the benthic elements falling directly underneath each point are identified. The images were collected at 18 and 24 stratified randomly selected sites in 2015 and 2020 respectively, during belt transect surveys of coral demography by the NOAA Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD; former Coral Reef Ecosystem Program CREP). Five of the 18 sites surveyed in 2015 were resurveyed periodically in 2016 (January, March, June, September, and December) to assess any short-term temporal changes in the benthic composition. The benthic cover data can be accessed online via the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) Ocean Archive. The benthic images and coral demography data are described and archived separately. 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 projects 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 onGoing 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 31259 Eutrophication Impacts on Coral Ecosystem Health in Vatia Status and trends assessment for LBSP impacts on reef communities in Faga'alu Bay and Vatia Bay theme CRCP Project Numeric Data Sets > Benthic theme CoRIS Discovery Thesaurus EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Aquatic Habitat > Benthic Habitat EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Aquatic Habitat > Reef Habitat EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Aquatic Habitat > Reef Habitat > Coral cover EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Vegetation > Algae > Algal Cover EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Vegetation > Algae > Crustose Coralline Algae EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Vegetation > Algae > Encrusting Macroalgae EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Vegetation > Algae > Fleshy Macroalgae EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Vegetation > Algae > Turf Algae 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 EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment > Benthos Analysis > Transect Monitoring EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment > Benthos Analysis > Transect Monitoring > Belt Transect EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment > Photographic Analysis 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 > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs > Coral Reef Ecology > Coral Cover EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs > Coral Reef Ecology > Hard Coral Cover EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs > Coral Reef Ecology > Octocoral Cover theme CoRIS Theme Thesaurus REEF AND/OR BOTTOM REGIME - PERCENT COVER theme NODC DATA TYPES THESAURUS survey - biological survey - coral reef survey - diver survey - photographs theme NODC OBSERVATION TYPES THESAURUS CORAL REEF STUDIES 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 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: benthic cover derived from analysis of benthic images collected during belt transect surveys of coral demography in 2015 and 2020 [Data Date Range], https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/31611. 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 Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD) when using the data. Example Cite as: Vargas-Angel, Bernardo; Ecosystem Sciences Division; Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (2022). Benthic Surveys in Vatia, American Samoa: benthic percent cover derived from analysis of benthic images collected during belt transect surveys of coral demography in 2015 and 2020. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/31611 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 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: comprehensive assessment of coral demography (adult and juvenile corals) from belt transect surveys in 2015 and 2020 NOAA/NMFS/EDM 30771 crossReference NOAA Data Management Plan (DMP) NOAA/NMFS/EDM 31611 https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inportserve/waf/noaa/nmfs/pifsc/dmp/pdf/31611.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 view: MV_BIA_CNET_ANALYSIS_DATA SELECT * FROM MV_BIA_CNET_ANALYSIS_DATA WHERE OBS_YEAR = 2015, 2020 AND SITE IN (SELECT SITE FROM LIST_OF_SITES WHERE COMMENT_ = 'VATIA') Vatia Bay, Tutuila, American Samoa -170.67555555556 -170.66666666667 -14.25138888889 -14.24305555556 Location extent of Rapid Ecological Assessment (REA) surveys in Vatia Bay in 2015 and 2020 Time frame of benthic surveys | Currentness: Ground Condition 2015-11-02 2015-11-12 Location of Rapid Ecological Assessment (REA) surveys in Vatia Bay in 2020 | Currentness: Ground Condition 2020-01-23 2020-01-29 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 Table Data File Table: MV_BIA_PERC_COVER_PHOTO_STR 2022-10-10 publication Benthic Image analysis classification scheme 2022-10-10 publication 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/0169726 WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link MV_BIA_CNET_ANALYSIS_DATA_VATIA_2015.csv Benthic cover data derived from analysis of benthic images collected during belt transect surveys conducted by the NOAA Coral Reef Ecosystem Program (CREP) in Vatia, Tutuila, American Samoa in 2015. download https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0264809 WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link BENTHIC_COVER_VATIA_MP2006_2020.csv Benthic cover data derived from benthic image analysis with CoralNet. Imagery was collected during belt transect surveys conducted by the NOAA Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD) in Vatia, Tutuila, American Samoa in 2020. download dataset Accuracy Data sets derived from image analysis are highly reliable within the stipulated taxonomic context. Each time a production run is performed for a region a calibration exercise is conducted by all staff that will participate in that round of image analysis classification. Usually 100-150 photos are selected from the photos being processed as part of the production run series, or other region-relevant photo streams. Then, image analysis software assigns 10 random fixed points per photo. Each photo analyst is asked to classify the same set of points in each of the photos used as part of the calibration exercise. The goal of the calibration exercise is to assess inter-observer variability. Inter-observer variability rates are available upon request for each production run. Completeness Report The data set derived from the image analysis is as good as the images themselves; poor images with low contrast, inappropriate white balance, or out of focus may have to be discarded. Therefore, percent cover estimates for some sites may derive from differing number of points between sites. Although the analysis process is statistically robust to allow for differing n (points) between sites, users should be aware of this limitation. Classification is completed to the functional group/genus level (Tier 1-Tier 3). Conceptual Consistency The same method of image analysis was used at each surveyed site. The methodology to analyze benthic imagery using CoralNet to derive benthic cover values. The data described here were derived from the analysis of benthic images collected along photo-quadrat surveys by the NOAA Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD): In 2015 photo quadrat images were taken every meter from the 1-m to the 15-m mark along TWO, 18-m transects per site (n = 30 images). In 2020 photo quadrat images were taken every meter from the 1-m to the 30-m mark along one 30-m transect line (n = 30 images). Still photographs were collected during belt transect surveys of coral demography to record the benthic community composition at predetermined points along the transect lines with a high-resolution digital camera mounted on a pole. 30 photoquadrat images were collected at each site. In 2015 the photoquadrat surveys were conducted along two, independent 18 meter transects per site. Photos of the benthic substrate were taken at one meter intervals starting at meter 1, along the left hand side of each 18 meter transect (15 images/transect; 30 images total). In 2020 the photoquadrat surveys were conducted along one, 30 meter transect per site. Photos of the benthic substrate were taken at one meter intervals starting at meter 1, along the left hand side of the transect (30 images/transect; 30 images total). The benthic photoquadrat images were analyzed by using the web-based annotation tool CoralNet (Beijbom et al. 2016). CoralNet assigns 10 random points per photo and the benthic elements falling directly underneath each point is identified to three functional group levels: Tier 1 (e.g. hard coral, macroalgae, etc.), Tier 2 (e.g. Hard coral by morphology = massive, branching, etc.), and Tier 3 (e.g. Hard coral by genus and morphology). The detailed list of each functional group level or tier is included in the benthic image analysis classification scheme. See the published standard operating procedures for further details. Vargas-Angel, Bernardo (808)725-5423 bernardo.vargasangel@noaa.gov processor Baseline surveys for coral reef community structure and demographics in Vatia Bay and Faga'alu Bay, American Samoa. Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, PIFSC https://doi.org/10.7289/V5/SP-PIFSC-18-002 WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, PIFSC Special Publication, SP-18-002 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. information originator Source Contribution: The published benthic image analysis SOP using CoralNet. Lozada-Misa P, Schumacher BD, Vargas-Angel B. 2017. Analysis of benthic survey images via CoralNet : a summary of standard operating procedures and guidelines. Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, PIFSC Administrative Report, H-17-02, 169 p. https://doi.org/10.7289/V5/AR-PIFSC-H-17-02. Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, PIFSC https://repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/14205 WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link Source Citation URL The published benthic image analysis SOP using CoralNet. information publisher 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 NOAA PIFSC Data Report DR-20-020. Vargas-Angel, 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