CRED REA Coral Health and Disease Assessment at Tutuila Island, American Samoa in 2008

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What does this data set describe?

Title:
CRED REA Coral Health and Disease Assessment at Tutuila Island, American Samoa in 2008
Abstract:
Coral health and disease assessments were conducted along 2 consecutively placed 25-m transects, as part of Rapid Ecological Assessments conducted at 23 sites at Tutuila Island in the American Samoa during 18 February - 19 March 2008, aboard the NOAA Hi'ialakai Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program (RAMP) Cruise HI0802. Within an area of 1-3m on each side of both transect lines, each colony was inspected and every diseased/afflicted coral enumerated and identified to the lowest taxonomic level. For each affected coral the following information was recorded: colony size, type of affliction, area affected, percent live/dead, and severity of the affliction (mild = 1-10%, moderate = 11-25%, marked = 26-50%, severe = 51-75%, acute = 76-100%). Coral afflictions were classified into one of six general categories (following Willis et al., 2004) including: bleaching, tissue loss, black band disease, skeletal growth anomaly, predation, and other lesions. This latter category included algal overgrowth, as well as unidentified syndromes causing deterioration of scleractinian corals. Tissue samples of selected cases were procured for histopathological analyses. These data provide the basis for computing quantitative estimates of disease incidence and prevalence. Samples and photographs provide aid in further disease characterization and description. Histological tissue samples are traditionally fixed in a formaldehyde solution prior to preparation for processing and analysis.
Supplemental_Information:
Maximum depth was 16 meters. Coral disease parameters observed: Island TaxonName DZClass TUT Acropora clathrata Skeletal growth anomalies TUT Acropora cytherea Skeletal growth anomalies TUT Acropora humilis Predation TUT Acropora sp Bleaching TUT Acropora sp Sub-acute tissue loss TUT Astreopora sp Bleaching TUT Coscinaraea sp Discolorations other than bleaching TUT Coscinaraea sp Sub-acute tissue loss TUT Cyphastrea sp Bleaching TUT Favia stelligera Barnacle infestation TUT Fungia sp Bleaching TUT Fungia sp Discolorations other than bleaching TUT Fungia sp Skeletal growth anomalies TUT Goniastrea sp Barnacle infestation TUT Goniastrea sp Bleaching TUT Halomitra sp Skeletal growth anomalies TUT Hydnophora exesa Sub-acute tissue loss TUT Merulina ampliata Bleaching TUT Montastrea sp Bleaching TUT Montipora sp Acute tissue loss - White syndrome TUT Montipora sp Bleaching TUT Montipora sp Predation TUT Montipora sp Skeletal growth anomalies TUT Montipora sp Sub-acute tissue loss TUT Pavona varians Discolorations other than bleaching TUT Platygyra daedalea Bleaching TUT Platygyra daedalea Sub-acute tissue loss TUT Pocillopora eydouxi Bleaching TUT Pocillopora eydouxi Predation TUT Pocillopora eydouxi Sub-acute tissue loss TUT Pocillopora meandrina Bleaching TUT Pocillopora meandrina Predation TUT Pocillopora meandrina Skeletal growth anomalies TUT Pocillopora sp Predation TUT Pocillopora verrucosa Bleaching TUT Porites sp Bleaching TUT Porites sp Discolorations other than bleaching TUT Porites sp Hyperpigmented responses TUT Porites sp Predation TUT Porites sp Skeletal growth anomalies TUT Porites sp Sub-acute tissue loss TUT Psammocora sp Discolorations other than bleaching TUT Psammocora sp Sub-acute tissue loss TUT Turbinaria Sub-acute tissue loss
  1. How might this data set be cited?
    Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED), Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 20100320, CRED REA Coral Health and Disease Assessment at Tutuila Island, American Samoa in 2008.

    Online Links:

  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?
    West_Bounding_Coordinate: -170.8612764
    East_Bounding_Coordinate: -170.5045149
    North_Bounding_Coordinate: -14.22005532
    South_Bounding_Coordinate: -14.38281981
  3. What does it look like?
  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?
    Beginning_Date: 18-Feb-2008
    Ending_Date: 25-Feb-2008
    Currentness_Reference: Ground condition
  5. What is the general form of this data set?
    Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: spreadsheet
  6. How does the data set represent geographic features?
    1. How are geographic features stored in the data set?
    2. What coordinate system is used to represent geographic features?
      Horizontal positions are specified in geographic coordinates, that is, latitude and longitude. Latitudes are given to the nearest 0.0001. Longitudes are given to the nearest 0.0001. Latitude and longitude values are specified in Decimal Degrees. The horizontal datum used is World Geodetic System 1984 (WGS84).
      The ellipsoid used is Geodetic Reference System 80 (GRS80).
      The semi-major axis of the ellipsoid used is 6378137.
      The flattening of the ellipsoid used is 1/298.2572236.
      Vertical_Coordinate_System_Definition:
      Depth_System_Definition:
      Depth_Datum_Name: Local surface
      Depth_Resolution: 1
      Depth_Distance_Units: meters
      Depth_Encoding_Method: Explicit Depth Coordinate Included with Horizontal Coordinates
  7. How does the data set describe geographic features?

Who produced the data set?

  1. Who are the originators of the data set? (may include formal authors, digital compilers, and editors)
  2. Who also contributed to the data set?
    Jean Kenyon , Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED), Pacific Island Fisheries Sciences Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA
  3. To whom should users address questions about the data?
    Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED), Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
    Attn: Dr. Bernardo Vargas-Angel
    NOAA IRC
    Honolulu, HI
    USA

    808 725-5360 (voice)
    808 725-5429 (FAX)
    nmfs.pic.credinfo@noaa.gov
    Contact_Instructions: e-mail preferred

Why was the data set created?

Part of a long-term monitoring program at biennial intervals in which corals, algae, fish, and other macroinvertebrates are co-sampled along the same set of transect lines.

How was the data set created?

  1. From what previous works were the data drawn?
  2. How were the data generated, processed, and modified?
    Date: Unknown (process 1 of 1)
    As a diver swam along the transect line, s/he inspected an area of 1-3m on each side of the transect lines along which each coral was inspected and every diseased colony identified to the lowest taxonomic and type of affliction recorded.
  3. What similar or related data should the user be aware of?

How reliable are the data; what problems remain in the data set?

  1. How well have the observations been checked?
    Observations were made by a single diver who is an expert in coral diseases. The disease assessment surveys are conducted one time per site per survey year; it is not replicated.
  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?
    GPS unit
  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?
    Dive computer and SCUBA depth gauge
  4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?
    The survey sites were selected to be representative of the dominant habitats at this reef system. The majority of surveys were conducted in the lagoon due to inclement sea conditions in other habitats.
  5. How consistent are the relationships among the observations, including topology?
    The same methods of data collection were used at each of the sites surveyed at this location, and were conducted by the same scientist.

How can someone get a copy of the data set?

Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?
Access_Constraints: Data are available two years following data collection date
Use_Constraints:
Please cite CRED when using the data. Coral Reef Ecosystem Division, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
  1. Who distributes the data set? (Distributor 1 of 1)
    Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED), Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
    Attn: CRED Data Management Team
    NOAA IRC
    Honolulu, HI
    USA

    808 725-5360 (voice)
    808 725-5429 (FAX)
    nmfs.pic.credinfo@noaa.gov
    Contact_Instructions: e-mail preferred
  2. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set? Offline Data
  3. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?
    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.
  4. How can I download or order the data?
  5. Is there some other way to get the data?
    Contact CRED data management team for information
  6. What hardware or software do I need in order to use the data set?
    Contact CRED data management team for information

Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:
Last modified: 08-Jul-2020
Last Reviewed: 11-Sep-2008
Metadata author:
Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED), Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
NOAA IRC
Honolulu, HI
USA

808 725-5360 (voice)
808 725-5429 (FAX)
nmfs.pic.credinfo@noaa.gov
Contact_Instructions: e-mail preferred
Metadata standard:
Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata (FGDC-STD-001-1998)

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