gov.noaa.nmfs.inport:32707 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 Faga'alu, American Samoa: benthic cover derived from analysis of benthic images collected during belt transect surveys of coral demography in 2015 and 2020 Faga'alu: benthic cover 2015 and 2020 2022 publication NOAA/NMFS/EDM 32707 https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/32707 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 https://repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/27088 WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link Status and Trends Assessment for Land-based Sources of Pollution Impacts on Benthic Reef Communities in Faga'alu Bay, American Samoa. NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-PIFSC-109, 38 p 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-Angel B, Huntington B. 2020. Status and trends assessments for land-based sources of pollution impacts on benthic reef communities in Faga'alu Bay, American Samoa. U.S. Dept. of Commerce, NOAA Technical Memorandum NOAA-TM-NMFS-PIFSC-109, 38 p. doi:10.25923/0gvj-zm69. The benthic cover data described herein were generated by the NOAA Ecosystem Sciences Division (former Coral Reef Ecosystem Program, CREP) from the quantitative analysis of photoquadrat benthic images using the image analysis software CoralNet, whereby random points are projected on each image and the benthic elements falling directly underneath each point are identified. The images were collected at sites in Faga'alu Bay in 2015 and 2020 during belt transect surveys of coral demography. The 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 are part of a NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP) funded project aimed at establishing baseline data for benthic cover and composition via Rapid Ecological Assessment (REA) surveys conducted by the NOAA Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD) (formerly Coral Reef Ecosystem Program -CREP) at Faga'alu Bay, Tutuila, American Samoa between 2012 and 2020. In August 2012 Faga'alu watershed in American Samoa was adopted by the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force Watershed Partnership Initiative as a priority site, with the objective to reduce inputs of land-based sources of pollution to nearby coastal areas and coral reefs within the watershed. The Samoa Maritime rock quarry was found to be a major contributor to the periodic flux of excessive sediments onto the adjacent reef in Faga'alu. In September of December 2014, mitigation actions were implemented at the Samoa Maritime Quarry, including the installation of drainage systems, alternative ground cover, and retention ponds. Data were collected to assess the effectiveness of management actions to reduce land-based sources of pollution impacts undertaken at the Samoa Maritime rock quarry. Pre-intervention baseline data were collected in 2013 and subsequent post-intervention monitoring in 2015 and 2020. Funding provided by the NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP) through two internal projects entitled. 1) Comprehensive Baseline Assessment and Pilot Test of Outcome Performance Measures in Faga'alu Bay, American Samoa, awarded to Suzie Holst. 2) Status and Trends Assessment for Land-based Sources of Pollution Impacts on Benthic Reef Communities in Faga'alu Bay and Vatia Bay, American Samoa, awarded to the NOAA Ecosystem Sciences Division. 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 https://data.nodc.noaa.gov/coris/library/NOAA/CRCP/project/917/Fagaalu_TM_CRCP_23_DOI_Cover_200.jpg NOAA Technical Memorandum CRCP 23 JPG https://www.coris.noaa.gov/activities/fagaaluWatershed/ NOAA Technical Memorandum CRCP 23 https://doi.org/10.7289/V5/SP-PIFSC-18-002 PIFSC Special Publication, SP-18-002, 38 p. PDF http://coralnet.ucsd.edu/ The online tool used to analyze the benthic images for benthic cover. 31090 31259 Comprehensive baseline assessment and pilot test of outcome performance measures in Faga'alu Bay 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 > Faga'alu (14S170W0005) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Pago Pago Harbor > Faga'alu (14S170W0005) 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 Faga'alu, 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/32707. 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; Ecosystem Sciences Division; Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (2022). Benthic Surveys in Faga'alu, 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/32707 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 since 2012: benthic images collected during belt transect surveys in 2012, 2015, 2020 NOAA/NMFS/EDM 25371 crossReference Benthic Surveys in Faga'alu, American Samoa: belt transect surveys of corals in March and August of 2012 NOAA/NMFS/EDM 25283 crossReference Benthic Surveys in Faga'alu, American Samoa: benthic cover derived from line-point intercept (LPI) surveys in August 2012 NOAA/NMFS/EDM 25370 crossReference 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 NOAA Data Management Plan (DMP) NOAA/NMFS/EDM 32707 https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inportserve/waf/noaa/nmfs/pifsc/dmp/pdf/32707.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 for benthic cover as calculated by annotations using CoralNet: MV_BIA_CNET_ANALYSIS_DATA Faga'alu Bay, Tutuila, American Samoa -170.68277777778 -170.67413972 -14.295 -14.28695194 Location of Rapid Ecological Assessment (REA) surveys in Faga'alu Bay in 2015 and 2020 Location of Rapid Ecological Assessment (REA) surveys in Faga'alu Bay in 2015 | Currentness: Ground Condition 2015-10-29 2015-11-11 Location of Rapid Ecological Assessment (REA) surveys in Faga'alu Bay in 2020 during fly-in mission. | Currentness: Ground Condition 2020-01-15 2020-01-24 An Erosion and Sediment Control Plan was implemented at Samoa Maritime quarry to reduce excess sedimentation from quarry operations, and mitigation actions from the Plan took place in 2014 to install retention basins designed to stem the input of excess sediments into Faga'alu Stream below the quarry. REA surveys conducted by ESD in 2012 and 2013 serve as the pre-mitigation baseline, and surveys conducted in 2015 and 2020 document the downstream effects (e.g., changes to the coral community) in Faga'alu Bay from the mitigation efforts to reduce the sediment loads upstream. false eng false Data Table Data File Benthic_Cover_DataDictionary_Fagaalu_2020 2022-09-19 publication Benthic Image analysis classification scheme 2022-09-19 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/0169725 WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link MV_BIA_CNET_ANALYSIS_DATA_FAGAALU_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 Faga'alu, Tutuila, American Samoa in 2015. download https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0259709 WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link BENTHIC_COVER_FAGAALU_MP2006_2020.csv Benthic cover from benthic image analysis with CoralNet for fly-in Mission to Faga'alu, 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 images (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 3). Benthic images were collected during coral demographic surveys in 2012, 2015, and 2020 in Faga'alu; however, only the images collected during the most recent surveys in 2015 and 2020 were analyzed. Conceptual Consistency The same method of image analysis was used at each surveyed site. 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. 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 OAA 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 Source Citation URL information Status and trends assessments for land-based sources of pollution impacts on benthic reef communities in Faga'alu Bay, American Samoa (2020) Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center https://repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/27088 WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link NOAA technical memorandum NMFS-PIFSC ; 109 Vargas-Angel B, Huntington B. 2020. Status and trends assessments for land-based sources of pollution impacts on benthic reef communities in Faga'alu Bay, American Samoa. U.S. Dept. of Commerce, NOAA Technical Memorandum NOAA-TM-NMFS-PIFSC-109, 38 p. doi:10.25923/0gvj-zm69. information originator otherRestrictions otherRestrictions Access Constraints: None | Use Constraints: None