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    • Benthic Surveys in Vatia, American Samoa: comprehensive assessment of coral demography (adult and juvenile corals) from belt transect surveys between 2015-11-02 and 2015-11-12 (NCEI Accession 0165016)

    Metadata Updated: November 1, 2023

    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 data described here were collected via belt transect surveys of coral demography (adult and juvenile corals) by the NOAA Coral Reef Ecosystem Program (CREP) according to protocols established by the NOAA National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP). In 2015 data were collected at 18 stratified randomly selected sites in Vatia Bay. These data include:

    1) an assessment of coral colony density and size-class distribution for the selected monitoring sites;

    2) an assessment of coral recruitment at the monitoring sites; and

    3) an evaluation of coral colony condition, including mortality, disease, bleaching, and evidence of sediment stress.

    These data can be accessed online via the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) Ocean Archive. Additionally, photoquadrat benthic images were collected and analyzed for benthic cover composition (documented and archived separately).

    A brief report documenting the 2015 surveys conducted in Vatia and Fagaʻalu in Tutuila, American Samoa by the NOAA Coral Reef Ecosystem Program is in progress: Baseline Assessment of Coral Reef Community Structure and Demographics in Vatia and Fagaʻalu Bays, American Samoa.

    Access & Use Information

    License: No license information was provided. If this work was prepared by an officer or employee of the United States government as part of that person's official duties it is considered a U.S. Government Work.

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    Dates

    Metadata Date 2023-04-30T14:20:53Z
    Metadata Created Date December 4, 2020
    Metadata Updated Date November 1, 2023
    Reference Date(s) September 8, 2017 (publication), October 21, 2017 (revision)
    Frequency Of Update asNeeded

    Metadata Source

    Harvested from NOAA/NESDIS/ncei/accessions

    Other Data Resources

    Graphic Preview

    Preview graphic

    Additional Metadata

    Resource Type Dataset
    Metadata Date 2023-04-30T14:20:53Z
    Metadata Created Date December 4, 2020
    Metadata Updated Date November 1, 2023
    Reference Date(s) September 8, 2017 (publication), October 21, 2017 (revision)
    Responsible Party (Point of Contact)
    Contact Email
    Guid gov.noaa.nodc:0165016
    Access Constraints Cite as: Coral Reef Ecosystem Program; 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 between 2015-11-02 and 2015-11-12 (NCEI Accession 0165016). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0165016. Accessed [date]., 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.
    Bbox East Long -170.667
    Bbox North Lat -14.2432
    Bbox South Lat -14.2501
    Bbox West Long -170.674
    Coupled Resource
    Frequency Of Update asNeeded
    Graphic Preview Description Preview graphic
    Graphic Preview File https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/metadata/landing-page/bin/gfx?id=gov.noaa.nodc:0165016
    Graphic Preview Type PNG
    Harvest Object Id b3e293c7-a5b1-49c8-9faf-ab1eaa1a21cd
    Harvest Source Id c084a438-6f6b-470d-93e0-16aeddb9f513
    Harvest Source Title NOAA/NESDIS/ncei/accessions
    Licence accessLevel: Public
    Lineage
    Metadata Language eng
    Metadata Type geospatial
    Old Spatial {"type": "Polygon", "coordinates": [[[-170.674, -14.2501], [-170.667, -14.2501], [-170.667, -14.2432], [-170.674, -14.2432], [-170.674, -14.2501]]]}
    Progress completed
    Spatial Data Service Type
    Spatial Reference System
    Spatial Harvester True
    Temporal Extent Begin 2015-11-02
    Temporal Extent End 2015-11-12

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