gov.noaa.nodc:0259709 eng utf8 dataset NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information ncei.info@noaa.gov https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/contact HTTPS NOAA Contact Information Information for contacts at NCEI. information custodian 2025-12-15T19:35:32Z 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 from 2020-01-15 to 2020-01-24 (NCEI Accession 0259709) 2022-11-15 publication 2022-09-16 creation NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information gov.noaa.nodc:0259709 NCEI Archive Management System 0259709 NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information ncei.info@noaa.gov https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/contact HTTPS NCEI Contact Information Information for contacts at NCEI. information publisher Lori Luers NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, Ecosystem Sciences Division nmfs.pic.credinfo@noaa.gov https://www.pifsc.noaa.gov/ecosystem_sciences/ HTTPS NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, Ecosystem Sciences Division website Institution web page information resourceProvider NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (NMFS/PIFSC) resourceProvider Bernardo Vargas-Ángel Coral Reef Ecosystem Program (CREP) bernardo.vargas-angel@noaa.gov http://www.pifsc.noaa.gov/cred HTTP Coral Reef Ecosystem Program (CREP) website Institution web page information principalInvestigator Lori Luers NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (NMFS/PIFSC) lori.luers@noaa.gov pointOfContact Ecosystem Sciences Division, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center https://www.pifsc.noaa.gov/ecosystem_sciences/ HTTPS NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, Ecosystem Sciences Division website Institution web page information author Coral Reef Ecosystem Program (CREP) http://www.pifsc.noaa.gov/cred HTTP Coral Reef Ecosystem Program (CREP) website Institution web page information contributor NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (NMFS/PIFSC) contributor tableDigital 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 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 source imagery for this dataset are archived separately and accessible on NCEI. 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. Funding Agency: NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center Funding Agency: NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program completed historicalArchive NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information ncei.info@noaa.gov https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/contact HTTPS NCEI Contact Information Information for contacts at NCEI. information pointOfContact asNeeded https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/metadata/landing-page/bin/gfx?id=gov.noaa.nodc:0259709 Preview graphic PNG 0259709 NCEI ACCESSION NUMBER 2022-08-25 publication BENTHIC COMMUNITIES biological data CORAL CORAL - SPECIES IDENTIFICATION MACROALGAE theme NODC DATA TYPES THESAURUS photograph instrument NODC INSTRUMENT TYPES THESAURUS biological visual estimate theme NODC OBSERVATION TYPES THESAURUS Coral Reef Ecosystem Program NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center dataCentre NODC COLLECTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center dataCentre NODC SUBMITTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP) CORAL REEF STUDIES project NODC PROJECT NAMES THESAURUS South Pacific Ocean place NODC SEA AREA NAMES THESAURUS oceanography theme WMO_CategoryCode 2012-09-15 publication CRED CREP Coral Reef Ecosystem Division Coral Reef Ecosystem Program ESD Ecosystem Sciences Division PIFSC Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center dataCentre Contributing Organizations DOC/NOAA/NMFS > National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce dataCentre Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Data Center Keywords 2026 revision 24 Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Greenbelt MD https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords HTTPS GCMD Keyword Forum Page Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2025. GCMD Keywords, Version 21. 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 31259 917 Comprehensive baseline assessment and pilot test of outcome performance measures in Faga'alu Bay, American Samoa Status and trends assessment for LBSP impacts on reef communities in Faga’alu Bay and Vatia Bay project 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 > 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 EARTH SCIENCE > BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION EARTH SCIENCE > BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION > PLANTS > MACROALGAE (SEAWEEDS) EARTH SCIENCE > BIOSPHERE > ECOSYSTEMS > MARINE ECOSYSTEMS > BENTHIC EARTH SCIENCE > SOLID EARTH > GEOMORPHIC LANDFORMS/PROCESSES > COASTAL LANDFORMS > CORAL REEFS theme Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords 2026 revision 24 Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Greenbelt MD https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords HTTPS GCMD Keyword Forum Page Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2025. GCMD Keywords, Version 21. 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 Coral Belt Survey belt transect theme Provider Keywords 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 OCEAN > PACIFIC OCEAN > SOUTH PACIFIC OCEAN place Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords 2026 revision 24 Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Greenbelt MD https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords HTTPS GCMD Keyword Forum Page Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2025. GCMD Keywords, Version 21. 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 RT1AW4 Send2NCEI Submission Package ID accessLevel: public otherRestrictions Cite as: Ecosystem Sciences Division, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (2022). Benthic Surveys in Faga'alu, American Samoa: benthic cover derived from analysis of benthic images collected during belt transect surveys of coral demography from 2020-01-15 to 2020-01-24 (NCEI Accession 0259709). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0259709. Accessed [date]. Distribution liability: NOAA and NCEI make no warranty, expressed or implied, regarding these data, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty. NOAA and NCEI cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in these data. If appropriate, NCEI can only certify that the data it distributes are an authentic copy of the records that were accepted for inclusion in the NCEI archives. otherRestrictions 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. Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, 2022: 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, https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/32707. 2022 publication gov.noaa.nmfs.inport:32707 https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/32707 HTTPS https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/32707 Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, 2022: 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 from 2010-06-15 to 2010-08-15. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/32707. information NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (NMFS/PIFSC) publisher tableDigital crossReference Holst Rice, S., Messina, A. T., Biggs, T., Vargas-Ángel, Bernardo, 1965-, & Whitall, D. R. (2 C.E.). Baseline assessment of Fagaʻalu Watershed : a ridge to reef assessment in support of sediment reduction activities and future evaluation of their success. U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Ocean Service, Office for Coastal Management, Coral Reef Conservation Program. https://doi.org/10.7289/v5bk19c3 1965 publication International DOI Foundation (IDF) https://doi.org/10.7289/v5bk19c3 https://doi.org/10.7289/v5bk19c3 HTTPS https://doi.org/10.7289/v5bk19c3 related journal article information Holst Rice, S. author Messina, Alex T. author Biggs, T. author Vargas-Ángel, Bernardo, 1965- author Whitall, David R. author U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Ocean Service, Office for Coastal Management, Coral Reef Conservation Program. publisher documentDigital U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Ocean Service, Office for Coastal Management, Coral Reef Conservation Program. crossReference Lozada-Misa, P., Schumacher, B., & Vargas-Ángel, Bernardo, 1965-. (20 C.E.). Analysis of benthic survey images via CoralNet : a summary of standard operating procedures and guidelines. U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center. https://doi.org/10.7289/v5/ar-pifsc-h-17-02 1965 publication International DOI Foundation (IDF) https://doi.org/10.7289/v5/ar-pifsc-h-17-02 https://doi.org/10.7289/v5/ar-pifsc-h-17-02 HTTPS https://doi.org/10.7289/v5/ar-pifsc-h-17-02 related journal article information Lozada-Misa, Paula author Schumacher, Brett author Vargas-Ángel, Bernardo, 1965- author U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center publisher documentDigital U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center crossReference eng; USA utf8 environment oceans biota -170.681125 -170.672613 -14.293791 -14.28678 2020-01-15 2020-01-24 NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information +1-301-713-3277 ncei.info@noaa.gov pointOfContact In most cases, electronic downloads of the data are free. However, fees may apply for custom orders, data certifications, copies of analog materials, and data distribution on physical media. Contact NCEI for other distribution options and instructions. CSV 4.224 https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0259709 HTTPS Web browser NCEI Dataset Landing Page Navigate directly to the URL for a descriptive web page with download links. information https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/oas/259709 HTTPS Web browser Descriptive Information Navigate directly to the URL for a descriptive web page with download links. information https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/download/259709 HTTPS Web browser HTTPS Navigate directly to the URL for data access and direct download. download ftp://ftp-oceans.ncei.noaa.gov/nodc/archive/arc0209/0259709/ FTP Any FTP client FTP These data are available through the File Transfer Protocol (FTP). FTP is no longer supported by most internet browsers. You may copy and paste the FTP link to the data into an FTP client (e.g., FileZilla or WinSCP). download dataset NCEI Accession 0259709 v1.1 was published. 2022-11-15T19:54:27Z NCEI Accession 0259709 v1.1 publication https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0259709/1.1 HTTPS NCEI Accession 0259709 v1.1 published 2022-11-15T19:54:27Z download dataset Parameter or Variable: BENTHIC COMMUNITIES (calculated); Units: unitless; Observation Category: visual estimate; Sampling Instrument: photograph; Sampling and Analyzing Method: Benthic habitat images collected during photoquadrat surveys are quantitatively analyzed visually with the assistance of a web-based, machine-learning, image annotation tool, CoralNet. The robot tool annotates ten random points on each image for a total of 300 points per site, which are then reviewed by human analysts. The human annotations are then used to train the robot. This data is the final form of the robot-assisted human annotations. Taxa identification occurs at three functional group levels of benthic cover. Tier 1 (e.g., hard coral, soft coral, macroalgae, turf algae, etc.), Tier 2 (e.g., Hard Coral = massive, branching, foliose, encrusting, etc.; Macroalgae = upright macroalgae, encrusting macroalgae, bluegreen macroalgae, and Halimeda, etc.), and Tier 3 (e.g., Hard Coral = Astreopora sp, Favia sp, Pocillopora, etc.; Macroalgae = Caulerpa sp, Dictyosphaeria sp, Padina sp, etc.); Data Quality Method: ACCURACY: 1) Each analyst is required to complete training and a calibration exercise prior to image analysis (classification/annotation), and follows the Benthic Image Analysis Standard Operating Procedure (Lozada-Misa et al. 2017). For a calibration exercise, a subset of photos (~100-150) are selected from the production series and CoralNet assigns 10 random fixed points per photo. Each analyst classifies the same set of points for each of the photos used in the calibration exercise. The goal of the calibration exercise is to assess inter-observer variability. 2) Handheld GPS units were used to locate random sites and mark site locations. 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, benthic estimates for some sites may derive from differing numbers of 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. asNeeded Metadata are developed, maintained and distributed by NCEI. Updates are performed as needed to maintain currentness. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information custodian photograph photograph still images used as the basis for making parameter determinations