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Benthic surveys along a water quality gradient in Aua, American Samoa: benthic cover derived from analysis of benthic images collected in 2022

Published by Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce | Catalog Last Checked: August 02, 2026 at 11:25 PM | Dataset Last Updated: October 01, 2022 at 12:00 AM
This metadata record describes the benthic cover data of Aua Reef, American Samoa, produced from the benthic imagery analysis performed by the Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD) of the Pacific Island Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC) and funded by the Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP). Benthic imagery was collected at 18 randomly-selected sites during coral demographic surveys by the NOAA ESD during the 2022 fly-in mission to American Samoa (MP2206). After processing and sorting site photos, imagery was qualitatively analyzed using the web-based CoralNet image annotation tool. CoralNet projects random points on each image, and the benthic elements falling directly underneath each point are identified by trained scientists. The source imagery analyzed to produce benthic cover estimates as well as coral demography data are described and archived separately, see 'Related Items' below. 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.

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