gov.noaa.nmfs.inport:67995 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 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 along a water quality gradient in Aua, American Samoa: comprehensive assessment of coral demography (adult and juvenile corals) from belt transect surveys in 2022 Coral Demography: Aua 2022-10 creation 2023 publication NOAA/NMFS/EDM 67995 https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/67995 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 https://coralreef.noaa.gov/issues/lbsp.html WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link NOAA CRCP Land-based Sources of Pollution NOAA CRCP page 'Reduce Land-Based Sources of Pollution'; includes other related links download https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/pacific-islands/ecosystems/coral-reefs-pacific WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link Citation URL Overview of NOAA Ecosystem Sciences Division, Archipelagic Research Program's methods to assess corals. download https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/region/pacific-islands#science WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link PIFSC website Overview of research and programs at the Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC) download tableDigital This metadata record describes the coral demographic data of Aua Reef, American Samoa, generated from observations by divers of the Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD) of the NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC). Benthic coral demographic surveys were conducted within belt transects of specified length and width for two life stages (juveniles and adults) in Aua, American Samoa in September 2022. Surveys were conducted at 18 randomly-selected sites and provide information on adult coral colony counts, morphology, size, partial mortality (old and recent dead), presence 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 (where possible) and genus level for juveniles. The survey design and site selection of stratified-random sites (StRS) follows protocols established by the National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP). Data from benthic surveys of Aua Reef establishes a comprehensive biological baseline for land-based sources of pollution impacts on benthic composition and coral demography. 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 impacts on coral reefs. The focal point of this project was to establish a comprehensive biological, water quality, and carbonate chemistry baseline for Aua reef. This work aims at identifying measurable spatial differences in the structure and composition of the benthic and coral community at Aua that can be explained by measurable spatial patterns of water quality (nutrients and sediments) and water carbonate chemistry (pH and Alkalinity). This work is of fundamental importance for the development of the Aua Watershed Management Plan, and will enable Federal and jurisdictional resource managers to more effectively assess the effectiveness of watershed management actions reducing land-based pollution and impacts to the adjacent coral reef ecosystems. PIFSC, Ecosystem Sciences Division, Archipelagic Research Program and funded by the NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program completed Smith, Joy 1845 Wasp Blvd. Bldg 176 Honolulu HI 96818 USA joy.smith@noaa.gov pointOfContact Vargas-Angel, Bernardo (808)725-5423 1845 Wasp Blvd. Honolulu HI 96818 USA bernardo.vargasangel@noaa.gov Email preferred custodian notPlanned 31303 Linking watershed management actions to reef health in 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 in situ survey - biological survey - coral reef survey - swimmer/diver theme NODC OBSERVATION TYPES THESAURUS chartered vessel theme NODC PLATFORM NAMES THESAURUS Coral Reef Conservation Program theme NODC PROJECT NAMES THESAURUS US DOC; NOAA; NMFS; Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center; Ecosystem Sciences Division theme NODC SUBMITTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > American Samoa > Tutuila Island > Aua (14S170W0028) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Tutuila Island > Aua (14S170W0028) place CoRIS Place Thesaurus South Pacific Ocean place NODC SEA AREA NAMES THESAURUS ARP Archipelagic Research Program CRCP ESD Ecosystem Sciences Division LBSP PIFSC Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center land-based source pollution 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 along a water quality gradient in Aua, American Samoa: comprehensive assessment of coral demography (adult and juvenile corals) from belt transect surveys in 2022 [Data Date Range], https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/67995. 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; Coral Reef Ecosystem Program; Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (2023). Benthic Surveys in Aua, American Samoa: comprehensive assessment of coral demography (adult and juvenile corals) from belt transect surveys in 2022. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. 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 along a water quality gradient in Aua, American Samoa: benthic cover derived from analysis of benthic images collected in 2022 NOAA/NMFS/EDM 67996 crossReference Benthic surveys along a water quality gradient in Aua, American Samoa: benthic images collected during belt transect surveys in 2022 NOAA/NMFS/EDM 67994 crossReference Nutrient and water chemistry data of Aua Reef in American Samoa from samples collected along a water quality gradient between 2022-09-13 to 2022-09-23 NOAA/NMFS/EDM 68095 crossReference Shallow Water Conductivity-Temperature-Depth (CTD) Profiles along a water quality gradient in Aua, American Samoa from 2022-09-13 to 2022-09-23 NOAA/NMFS/EDM 68094 crossReference NOAA Data Management Plan (DMP) NOAA/NMFS/EDM 67995 https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inportserve/waf/noaa/nmfs/pifsc/dmp/pdf/67995.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) Aua reef, Tutuila, American Samoa -170.669 -170.665 -14.2881 -14.2717 September 2022 fly-in mission to American Samoa (MP2206), location and date range of Rapid Ecological Assessment (REA) surveys at stratified-random Sites (StRS) on Aua reef. Time frame of coral demographic surveys of Aua Reef in 2022 during the NOAA PIFSC ESD fly-in mission to American Samoa (MP2206). | Currentness: Ground Condition 2022-09-12 2022-09-22 This project builds on prior baseline and status and trends assessments conducted in 2012, 2015, and 2020 in Faga'alu Bay (U.S. Task Force watershed priority site) and Vatia (Territorial priority watershed) to address National and Jurisdictional goals to reduce land-based sources of pollution impacts in coral reef ecosystems. This baseline assessment for land-based sources of pollution on Aua reef is part of a larger CRCP-funded project ID 31303: "Linking watershed management activities to reef health in American Samoa". CTD profiles and water samples also were collected as part of this baseline assessment for the analysis of particulate and dissolved nutrients, total suspended solids, chlorophyll-a, and seawater pH and Alkalinity. These data are documented and archived separately. false eng false Data Table Adult Coral Observations Data Dictionary Aua 2023-06-06 publication Juvenile Coral Observations Data Dictionary Aua 2023-06-06 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://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0277490 WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link ESD_CORAL_OBS_ADU_Aua_2022.csv Coral demographic data of adult corals from belt transect surveys conducted by the NOAA PIFSC Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD) of Aua Reef, American Samoa in September 2022 download https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0277490 WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link ESD_CORAL_OBS_JUV_Aua_2022.csv Coral demographic data of juvenile corals from belt transect surveys conducted by the NOAA PIFSC Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD) of Aua Reef, American Samoa in September 2022. 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. Handheld GPS units were used to locate random sites and mark site locations. 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 and disease extent 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 Hard bottom habitats including backreef and forereef were surveyed. Only shallow water (0 to 6 meter depth range) hard-bottom habitats are surveyed. The survey sites were randomly selected using a systematic process based on available habitat and bathymetric data. 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 of Aua from 0 to 6 m in depth, and between the Aua stream mouth to the Onesosopo Park. Based on the nature and scientific questions addressed in this study, the survey domain was divided into three categorical LBSP impact sectors (15-20 Ha each) based on their distance from the source of disturbance as follows: High Impact, Medium Impact, and Low impact. Subsequently a digital map of the survey domain was overlaid with a 50 m x 50 m (2500 m2 in area) GIS layer, and grid cells containing hard-bottom reef habitat were designated as the sampling units, hereafter referred to as survey sites. Depending on the number of 50 m x 50 m grid cells fitting within, four to eight randomly selected survey sites were allocated within each categorical impact sectors One, haphazardly laid, 30-m transect was the focal point of the coral demographic survey. Coral demographic surveys were conducted within four segments of specified length (2.5 m) and width (1 m) at four specified points on the transect line, for two life stages (juveniles and adults) in Aua, American Samoa in September 2022. Surveys were conducted at 18 randomly-selected sites and provide information on adult coral colony counts, morphology, size, partial mortality (old and recent dead), presence 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 (where possible) and genus level for juveniles. The survey design and site selection of stratified-random sites (StRS) follows protocols established by the National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP). Winston, Morgan S (808)725-5480 morgan.winston@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 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