Benthic Surveys in Aua, American Samoa: comprehensive assessment of coral demography (adult and juvenile corals) from belt transect surveys from 2022-09-12 to 2022-09-22 (NCEI Accession 0277490)
This dataset includes coral demographic data of Aua Reef, American Samoa, generated from observations by divers of the Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD) of the NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC). Benthic coral demographic surveys were conducted within belt transects of specified length and width for two life stages (juveniles and adults) in Aua, American Samoa in September 2022. Surveys were conducted at 18 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 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.
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.
Dataset Citation
- Cite as: Ecosystem Sciences Division, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (2023). Benthic Surveys in Aua, American Samoa: comprehensive assessment of coral demography (adult and juvenile corals) from belt transect surveys from 2022-09-12 to 2022-09-22 (NCEI Accession 0277490). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0277490. Accessed [date].
Dataset Identifiers
ISO 19115-2 Metadata
gov.noaa.nodc:0277490
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Ordering Instructions | Contact NCEI for other distribution options and instructions. |
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 | 2022-09-12 to 2022-09-22 |
Spatial Bounding Box Coordinates |
West: -170.669
East: -170.665
South: -14.2881
North: -14.2717
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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 |
Supplemental Information | Submission Package ID: GBGBUL |
Purpose | The focal point of this project was to establish a comprehensive 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. This project builds on 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. This baseline assessment for land-based sources of pollution on Aua reef is part of a larger CRCP-funded project ID 31303: "Linking watershed management activities to reef health in American Samoa". CTD profiles and water samples also were 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. |
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Last Modified: 2024-02-21T13:44:27Z
For questions about the information on this page, please email: ncei.info@noaa.gov
For questions about the information on this page, please email: ncei.info@noaa.gov