gov.noaa.nmfs.inport:67994 eng UTF8 dataset JPG 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 2025-05-15T19:16:00 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: benthic images collected during belt transect surveys in 2022 2022-10 creation publication NOAA/NMFS/EDM 67994 https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/67994 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 PIFSC ESD: Coral Reefs in the Pacific 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 imageDigital This metadata record describes the imagery collected in 2022 of Aua Reef, American Samoa by the Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD) of NOAA, funded by the Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP), to study effects of land-based source pollution by establishing biological, physical, and chemical baselines. In September 2022, NOAA scientists conducted benthic survey protocols at 18 study sites in Aua, American Samoa. The surveys implemented a one-stage stratified random sampling (StRS) design and the survey domain encompassed the majority of the mapped area of reef and hard bottom habitats in the 0 to 6 m depth range. Photoquadrat benthic images were collected along belt transect surveys of coral demography according to protocols established by NOAA National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP) in 2015. Thirty images were collected along one, haphazardly laid, 30-m transects. Still photographs were collected to record the benthic community composition at predetermined points along belt transect with a high-resolution digital camera mounted on a pole. Photographs were taken every 1 m from the 1 m to the 30 m mark. This work generates 30 photographs per site, which are later analyzed by ESD staff and partners using the computer program CoralNet. This analysis is the basis for estimating benthic cover and composition at each site, which is documented and archived separately. The StRS design effectively reduces estimate variance through stratification using environmental covariates and by sampling more sites rather than more transects per site. Therefore, site-to-site comparisons should proceed with caution. The focal point of this project was to establish a 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. The imagery described in this metadata record is the source imagery analyzed to produce benthic cover data, which is archived and documented separately (see 'Related Items' below) PIFSC, Ecosystem Sciences Division, Archipelagic Research 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 31303 Linking watershed management actions to reef health in American Samoa theme CRCP Project Visual Images > Habitats theme CoRIS Discovery Thesaurus EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals 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 > 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 PHOTOQUADRAT IMAGES theme NODC DATA TYPES THESAURUS camera theme NODC INSTRUMENT TYPES THESAURUS imagery theme NODC OBSERVATION TYPES THESAURUS chartered vessel theme NODC PLATFORM NAMES 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 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 Archipelagic Research Program CRCP ESD Ecosystem Sciences Division LBSP PIFSC Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center land-based source pollution theme Aua place 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). 2024. GCMD Keywords, Version 19. 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: benthic images collected during belt transect surveys in 2022 [Data Date Range], https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/67994. 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 Aua, American Samoa: benthic photoquadrat images collected during belt transect surveys 2022. [access date] 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 series Benthic Surveys in Vatia, American Samoa since 2015: benthic images collected during belt transect surveys in 2015 and 2020 NOAA/NMFS/EDM 31196 series 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: comprehensive assessment of coral demography (adult and juvenile corals) from belt transect surveys in 2022 NOAA/NMFS/EDM 67995 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 67994 https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inportserve/waf/noaa/nmfs/pifsc/dmp/pdf/67994.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 network/file system: T:\Cruise\CruiseData\MP2206\Optical\TUT\REA\BENTHIC 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 surveys in which benthic photoquadrat images were collected of Aua Reef in 2022 | Currentness: Ground Condition 2022-09-12 2022-09-22 This baseline assessment for land-based sources of pollution on Aua reef is part of a larger Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP) funded project ID 31303: "Linking watershed management activities to reef health in American Samoa", and builds upon 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. See 'Related Items' for links to metadata records imagery of those missions. Data was generated from benthic surveys of Aua reef to establish a comprehensive biological baseline, for land-based sources of pollution impacts on benthic composition and coral demographics. 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. Conductivity-Temperature-Depth (CTD) profiles as well as water samples were also 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 (see 'Related Items' below). false eng false Data Table ESD_SiteInfo_DataDictionary_Aua_2022 2023-01-03 publication JPEG 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/0270551 WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link MP2206_Aua_StRS_images Photoquadrat benthic images collected in 2022 at 18 randomly selected sites (30 photos per site) in Aua, Tutuila, American Samoa via belt transect surveys of coral demography by the NOAA Ecosystem Sciences Division , Archipelagic Research Program (ESD, ARP). download https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0270551 WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link ESD_SiteInfo_Aua_StRS_2022.csv List of survey sites, including site id, location (latitude/longitude), and survey date, where photoquads were collected. download dataset Accuracy Handheld GPS units were used to locate random sites and mark site locations. Images captured from the camera may not contain a clear depiction of the benthos due to a number of confounding factors, including the angle of the camera lens in relation to the benthos, the distance between the camera lens and the benthos, and water turbidity. Analytical Accuracy Image data include 30 benthic photographs per survey site. Appropriate site level image grouping should include all 30 images. Bias Not applicable Comparability Site GPS location and depth are appropriately collected to allow spatiotemporal comparisons. Completeness Measure Complete; photoquads were taken at all sites surveyed. On occasions instrument malfunction or sea conditions may preclude the collection of 30 benthic images per site. Completeness Report Hard bottom habitats including backreef, reef flat, and forereef were surveyed. Only shallow water (0 to 30 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. Although efforts are made to include broad spatial coverage of surveys at each island, weather conditions and other environmental constraints may have prevented the team from surveying exposed reef areas. Conceptual Consistency The same methods of data collection were used at each surveyed site. Benthic photographs were collected during belt transect surveys of corals by the NOAA Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD) following the same protocol to that established by the NOAA National Coral Reef Monitoring Plan (NCRMP). BV ADD / MENTION THE COMPLEMENTARY IMAGERY / SITES COLLECTED AND HOW THEY WERE SELECTED 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 belt-transect was the focal point of the photoquadrat survey. Still photographs were collected to record the benthic community composition with a high-resolution digital camera mounted on a pole. Thirty photographs were taken every meter from the 1 m to the 30 m mark. This work generates 30 photographs per site, which are later analyzed by ESD staff and partners using the computer program CoralNet. Survey protocols followed the National Coral Reef Monitoring Program methodologies historically implemented by NOAA's Ecosystem Sciences Division. Winston, Morgan S (808)725-5480 morgan.winston@noaa.gov processor 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 otherRestrictions otherRestrictions Access Constraints: None | Use Constraints: None