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Dataset Overview | National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)

Benthic Surveys in Nu’uuli Pala Lagoon and Backreef in American Samoa: comprehensive assessment of coral demography (adult and juvenile corals) from belt transect surveys from 2024-11-11 to 2024-11-21 (NCEI Accession 0307838)

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This dataset includes coral demographic data of Nu'uuli Pala Lagoon and Backreef, American Samoa. Surveys were conducted by snorkelers from the Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD) of the NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC), in collaboration American Samoa's Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources and the Coral Reef Advisory Group. Benthic coral demographic surveys were conducted within belt transects of specified length and width for two life stages (juveniles and adults) in Nu'uuli Pala Lagoon and Backreef, American Samoa in November 2024. Surveys were conducted at 20 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 Nu'uuli Pala Lagoon and Backreef 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.
  • Cite as: Ecosystem Sciences Division, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (2025). Benthic Surveys in Nu’uuli Pala Lagoon and Backreef in American Samoa: comprehensive assessment of coral demography (adult and juvenile corals) from belt transect surveys from 2024-11-11 to 2024-11-21 (NCEI Accession 0307838). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.25921/b3t7-5a64. Accessed [date].
gov.noaa.nodc:0307838
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Distributor NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
+1-301-713-3277
ncei.info@noaa.gov
Dataset Point of Contact NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
ncei.info@noaa.gov
Time Period 2024-11-11 to 2024-11-21
Spatial Bounding Box Coordinates
West: -170.7107
East: -170.6999
South: -14.32444
North: -14.31784
Spatial Coverage Map
General Documentation
Associated Resources
  • Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, 2025: Benthic Surveys in Nu'uuli Pala Lagoon and Backreef in American Samoa: comprehensive assessment of coral demography (adult and juvenile corals) from belt transects from 2024-11-11 to 2024-11-21
  • Winston, M., Couch, C., Huntington, B., & Vargas-Ángel, B. (2020). Ecosystem Sciences Division Standard Operating Procedures: Data Collection for Rapid Ecological Assessment Benthic Surveys: 2019 update. National Marine Fisheries Service, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center. https://doi.org/10.25923/ws5s-km69
  • Vargas-Ángel, B. (2020). Status and Trends Assessment of Benthic Coral Reef Communities in Vatia Bay, American Samoa, 2015–2020. Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (U.S.). https://doi.org/10.25923/r7dd-wg50
Publication Dates
  • publication: 2025-09-26
  • creation: 2025-09-11
Data Presentation Form Digital table - digital representation of facts or figures systematically displayed, especially in columns
Dataset Progress Status Complete - production of the data has been completed
Historical archive - data has been stored in an offline storage facility
Data Update Frequency As needed
Purpose The focal point of this project was to establish a comprehensive ecological and water quality baseline for Nu'uuli Pala Lagoon and Backreef. This work aims at identifying measurable spatial differences in the structure and composition of the benthic and coral community at Nu'uuli that can be explained by measurable spatial patterns of water quality (nutrients and sediments) and environmental conditions (pH, temperature, salinity). This work is of fundamental importance for the development of future watershed management plans in Nu'uuli 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.
Use Limitations
  • accessLevel: public
  • 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.
Dataset Citation
  • Cite as: Ecosystem Sciences Division, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (2025). Benthic Surveys in Nu’uuli Pala Lagoon and Backreef in American Samoa: comprehensive assessment of coral demography (adult and juvenile corals) from belt transect surveys from 2024-11-11 to 2024-11-21 (NCEI Accession 0307838). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.25921/b3t7-5a64. Accessed [date].
Cited Authors
Principal Investigators
Collaborators
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Publishers
Acknowledgments
  • Funding Agency: Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP)
Theme keywords NODC DATA TYPES THESAURUS NODC OBSERVATION TYPES THESAURUS WMO_CategoryCode
  • oceanography
CoRIS Discovery Thesaurus
  • Numeric Data Sets > Biology
CoRIS Theme 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
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords Provider Keywords
  • COLONY - RECENT MORTALITY CAUSE
  • CORAL - BLEACHING SEVERITY
  • CORAL - CONDITION EXTENT
  • CORAL - HEALTH CONDITION
  • CORAL - MORPHOLOGY
  • CORAL - MORTALITY
Data Center keywords NODC COLLECTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS NODC SUBMITTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS Contributing Data Centers
  • ARP
  • Archipelagic Research Program
  • ESD
  • Ecosystem Sciences Division
  • PIFSC
  • Pacific Island Fisheries Science Center
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Data Center Keywords
Instrument keywords NODC INSTRUMENT TYPES THESAURUS Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Instrument Keywords
Place keywords NODC SEA AREA NAMES THESAURUS CoRIS Place Thesaurus
  • COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > American Samoa > Tutuila Island > Nu'uuli (14S170W0037)
  • OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Tutuila Island > Nu'uuli (14S170W0037)
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords Provider Place Names
  • American Samoa
  • Nu'uuli Pala Lagoon
Project keywords NODC PROJECT NAMES THESAURUS CRCP Project
  • 31454
  • Develop monitoring capacity of American Samoan jurisdictional partners and observing LBSP impacts on coral reefs
Keywords NCEI ACCESSION NUMBER
Keywords Send2NCEI Submission Package ID
  • JRBG1J
Use Constraints
  • Cite as: Ecosystem Sciences Division, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (2025). Benthic Surveys in Nu’uuli Pala Lagoon and Backreef in American Samoa: comprehensive assessment of coral demography (adult and juvenile corals) from belt transect surveys from 2024-11-11 to 2024-11-21 (NCEI Accession 0307838). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.25921/b3t7-5a64. Accessed [date].
Data License
Access Constraints
  • 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.
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  • 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.
Lineage information for: dataset
Processing Steps
  • 2025-09-26T12:41:29Z - NCEI Accession 0307838 v1.1 was published.
Output Datasets
Lineage information for: dataset
Processing Steps
  • Parameter or Variable: CORAL - CENSUS (measured); Units: counts; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: survey - swimmer/diver; Sampling and Analyzing Method: Number of coral colonies of a specific taxon per survey area; Data Quality Method: Information
  • Parameter or Variable: CORAL - SPECIES IDENTIFICATION (measured); Units: unitless; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: survey - swimmer/diver; Sampling and Analyzing Method: Identification of all colonies per survey area to the lowest taxonomic level possible (species or genus); Data Quality Method: Information
  • Parameter or Variable: CORAL - MORPHOLOGY (measured); Units: unitless; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: survey - swimmer/diver; Sampling and Analyzing Method: Coral colony morphology -i.e. massive, branching, encrusting, etc. noted; Data Quality Method: information
  • Parameter or Variable: CORAL - COLONY SIZE (measured); Units: cm; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: survey - swimmer/diver; Sampling and Analyzing Method: Coral colony maximum diameter measured to the nearest centimeter for adults and 5 millimeter for juveniles; Data Quality Method: Information
  • Parameter or Variable: CORAL - MORTALITY (measured); Units: percent; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: survey - swimmer/diver; Sampling and Analyzing Method: Partial colony mortality visually estimated as percent of colony, in terms of old dead and recent dead; Data Quality Method: Information
  • Parameter or Variable: COLONY - RECENT MORTALITY CAUSE (measured); Units: unitless; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: survey - swimmer/diver; Sampling and Analyzing Method: Cause of recent mortality identified if possible; Data Quality Method: Information
  • Parameter or Variable: CORAL - HEALTH CONDITION (measured); Units: unitless; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: survey - swimmer/diver; Sampling and Analyzing Method: The condition of each colony in terms of disease (not attributed to recent tissue loss) and bleaching was noted; Data Quality Method: Information
  • Parameter or Variable: CORAL - CONDITION EXTENT (measured); Units: percent; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: survey - swimmer/diver; Sampling and Analyzing Method: The extent of condition visually estimated as percent of the colony affected by disease and/or bleaching; Data Quality Method: Information
  • Parameter or Variable: CORAL - BLEACHING SEVERITY (measured); Units: rank; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: survey -swimmer/diver; Sampling and Analyzing Method: Colony bleaching severity (scale of 1-5 from mild to acute); Data Quality Method: Information
  • Parameter or Variable: CORAL - CENSUS (measured); Units: unitless; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: survey - swimmer/diver; Sampling and Analyzing Method: Colony configuration as a fragment or not; Data Quality Method: Information
Acquisition Information (collection)
Instrument
  • swimmer/diver
  • visual observation
Last Modified: 2026-07-14T14:56:42Z
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