CRED REA Belt Surveys of Coral Population and Disease Assessments at Ofu and Olosega Island, American Samoa in 2010

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Title:
CRED REA Belt Surveys of Coral Population and Disease Assessments at Ofu and Olosega Island, American Samoa in 2010
Abstract:
To support a long-term NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP) for sustainable management and conservation of coral reef ecosystems, from 10-11, 14, 19 March 2010, belt transect surveys of coral population and diseases quantitative assessments were conducted, as a part of Rapid Ecological Assessments (REA), during the Pacific Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program (RAMP) Cruise HI1001 in American Samoa at biennial intervals by the Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED) at the NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC). During the cruise, there were 11 surveys in total conducted at REA sites around Ofu and Olosega Island in American Samoa. At the specific REA sites, coral biologists along with algal biologists and marine invertebrate zoologist entered the water and conducted a fine-scale (~300 m2) and high degree of taxonomic resolution REA survey to assess and monitor species composition, abundance, percent cover, size distribution, diversity, and general health of corals, macro-invertebrates, and algae in shallow-water (< 35 m) habitats. As a part of REA surveys, the coral belt surveys were focused on quantifying the diversity, abundance, density, and size-class distribution of the anthozoan and hydrozoan corals as well as the condition and health state of the coral reef populations. The surveys were conducted along two consecutively-placed, 25m transect lines. The belt width was 1-m wide, 0.5-m on each side of the transect line. Within each 25m transect, five 2.5-meter segments were surveyed (beginning at points: 0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 meters), whereby in each segment, all coral colonies whose center fell within 0.5m of either side of the transect line were identified to the lowest taxonomic level possible (genus or species) and two planar size metrics were collected: maximum diameter and diameter perpendicular to the maximum diameter. In addition, the extent of mortality, both recent and old, was estimated for each colony. Observers paid special attention to identifying as best as possible the extent of the former live colony. When a coral colony exhibited signs of disease or compromised health, additional information was recorded including type of affliction (bleaching, skeletal growth anomaly, white syndrome, tissue loss other than white syndrome, trematodiasis, necrosis, other, pigmentation responses, algal overgrowth, and predation), severity of the affliction (mild, moderate, marked, severe, acute), as well as photographic documentation and sometimes tissue samples. Tissue samples were catalogued and fixed in buffered zinc-formalin solution for further histopathological analyses. Raw survey data included species presence and relative abundance, colony counts per taxon, size (width and length), mortality, predation, and health status. A surveyed area was ranging from 10m2 to 25m2 per site.
Supplemental_Information:
Maximum depth was 20 meters. Corals genera and disease observed: Year Region Island SPC_Code Species 2010 SAMOA Ofu & Olosega PPIN Platygyra pini 2010 SAMOA Ofu & Olosega PHAI Psammocora haimeana 2010 SAMOA Ofu & Olosega GFAS Galaxea fascicularis 2010 SAMOA Ofu & Olosega TREN Turbinaria reniformis 2010 SAMOA Ofu & Olosega PVAR Pavona varians 2010 SAMOA Ofu & Olosega PCHI Pavona chiriquensis 2010 SAMOA Ofu & Olosega MOSP Montipora sp 2010 SAMOA Ofu & Olosega PMEA Pocillopora meandrina 2010 SAMOA Ofu & Olosega POSP Porites sp 2010 SAMOA Ofu & Olosega LMYC Leptoseris mycetoseroides 2010 SAMOA Ofu & Olosega FSTE Favia stelligera 2010 SAMOA Ofu & Olosega ACSP Acropora sp 2010 SAMOA Ofu & Olosega LEPS Leptoseris sp 2010 SAMOA Ofu & Olosega GEDW Goniastrea edwardsi 2010 SAMOA Ofu & Olosega AHUM Acropora humilis 2010 SAMOA Ofu & Olosega EGEM Echinopora gemmacea 2010 SAMOA Ofu & Olosega TURS Turbinaria sp 2010 SAMOA Ofu & Olosega FUSP Fungia sp 2010 SAMOA Ofu & Olosega FASP Favia sp 2010 SAMOA Ofu & Olosega SGUE Stylocoeniella guentheri 2010 SAMOA Ofu & Olosega MCUR Montastrea curta 2010 SAMOA Ofu & Olosega GOAS Goniastrea sp 2010 SAMOA Ofu & Olosega PRUS Porites rus 2010 SAMOA Ofu & Olosega CCOL Coscinaraea columna 2010 SAMOA Ofu & Olosega SISP Sinularia sp 2010 SAMOA Ofu & Olosega SARM Stylocoeniella armata 2010 SAMOA Ofu & Olosega PEYD Pocillopora eydouxi 2010 SAMOA Ofu & Olosega FGRA Fungia granulosa 2010 SAMOA Ofu & Olosega GOSP Goniopora sp 2010 SAMOA Ofu & Olosega CYPS Cyphastrea sp 2010 SAMOA Ofu & Olosega MONS Montastrea sp 2010 SAMOA Ofu & Olosega ECHL Echinophyllia sp 2010 SAMOA Ofu & Olosega MVAL Montastrea valenciennesi 2010 SAMOA Ofu & Olosega FPAL Favia pallida 2010 SAMOA Ofu & Olosega ICRA Isopora craterformis 2010 SAMOA Ofu & Olosega ISOP Isopora sp 2010 SAMOA Ofu & Olosega FAVS Favites sp 2010 SAMOA Ofu & Olosega HEXE Hydnopora exesa 2010 SAMOA Ofu & Olosega MCAL Montipora caliculata 2010 SAMOA Ofu & Olosega PLSP Platygyra sp 2010 SAMOA Ofu & Olosega MFOV Montipora foveolata 2010 SAMOA Ofu & Olosega PLIC Porites lichen 2010 SAMOA Ofu & Olosega FSCU Fungia scutaria 2010 SAMOA Ofu & Olosega LOBS Lobophyllia sp 2010 SAMOA Ofu & Olosega ELAM Echinopora lamellosa 2010 SAMOA Ofu & Olosega POCS Pocillopora sp 2010 SAMOA Ofu & Olosega PLOB Porites lobata 2010 SAMOA Ofu & Olosega LPUR Leptastrea purpurea 2010 SAMOA Ofu & Olosega PAVS Pavona sp 2010 SAMOA Ofu & Olosega LEPT Leptastrea sp 2010 SAMOA Ofu & Olosega FDAN Favia danae 2010 SAMOA Ofu & Olosega ACAS Acanthastrea sp 2010 SAMOA Ofu & Olosega LPRU Leptastrea pruinosa 2010 SAMOA Ofu & Olosega PLDA Platygyra daedalea 2010 SAMOA Ofu & Olosega GRET Goniastrea retiformis 2010 SAMOA Ofu & Olosega PCAC Pavona cactus 2010 SAMOA Ofu & Olosega FFAV Favia favus 2010 SAMOA Ofu & Olosega ASSP Astreopora sp 2010 SAMOA Ofu & Olosega MVEC Montipora verrucosa 2010 SAMOA Ofu & Olosega PVER Pocillopora verrucosa 2010 SAMOA Ofu & Olosega SREC Symphyllia recta 2010 SAMOA Ofu & Olosega SASP Sandalolitha sp 2010 SAMOA Ofu & Olosega PDUE Pavona duerdeni 2010 SAMOA Ofu & Olosega FREP Fungia repanda 2010 SAMOA Ofu & Olosega SYSP Symphyllia sp 2010 SAMOA Ofu & Olosega MAMP Merulina ampliata 2010 SAMOA Ofu & Olosega FCOM Favites complanata 2010 SAMOA Ofu & Olosega PEXP Pavona explanulata 2010 SAMOA Ofu & Olosega FMAT Favia matthaii 2010 SAMOA Ofu & Olosega PNIE Psammocora nierstraszi 2010 SAMOA Ofu & Olosega OXSP Oxypora sp 2010 SAMOA Ofu & Olosega ECHP Echinopora sp 2010 SAMOA Ofu & Olosega LOBP Lobophyllia sp 2010 SAMOA Ofu & Olosega COSP Coscinaraea sp 2010 SAMOA Ofu & Olosega CLSP Cladiella sp 2010 SAMOA Ofu & Olosega GASP Galaxea sp 2010 SAMOA Ofu & Olosega HMIC Hydnopora microconos 2010 SAMOA Ofu & Olosega ALSP Alveopora sp 2010 SAMOA Ofu & Olosega TSTE Turbinaria stellulata 2010 SAMOA Ofu & Olosega GOAL Goniopora albiconus 2010 SAMOA Ofu & Olosega PRSP Protopalythoa sp 2010 SAMOA Ofu & Olosega MISP Millepora sp

Year Region Island DZ_Code Diseases Present 2010 SAMOA Ofu-Olosega ALG Algal infection 2010 SAMOA Ofu-Olosega BFI Banded fungal infection 2010 SAMOA Ofu-Olosega BLE Bleaching 2010 SAMOA Ofu-Olosega CLD Coralline lethal disease 2010 SAMOA Ofu-Olosega CLOD Coralline lethal orange disease 2010 SAMOA Ofu-Olosega CYA Cyanobacterial 2010 SAMOA Ofu-Olosega DIS Discolorations 2010 SAMOA Ofu-Olosega HYP Pigmentatin Response 2010 SAMOA Ofu-Olosega OTH Other 2010 SAMOA Ofu-Olosega PRE Predation 2010 SAMOA Ofu-Olosega TLS Tissue Loss Syndrome

  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), 20120319, CRED REA Belt Surveys of Coral Population and Disease Assessments at Ofu and Olosega Island, American Samoa in 2010.

    Online Links:

  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?
    West_Bounding_Coordinate: -169.696867
    East_Bounding_Coordinate: -169.589923
    North_Bounding_Coordinate: -14.144999
    South_Bounding_Coordinate: -14.212963
  3. What does it look like?
  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?
    Beginning_Date: 10-Mar-2010
    Ending_Date: 19-Mar-2010Currentness_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?
    Erin Looney, Bernardo Vargas-Angel, Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED), Pacific Islands 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)
    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 which documents the state of the reefs.

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)
    REA surveys are investigations that provide a high degree of taxonomic resolution for coral, algae, and other macroinvertebrate communities. The surveys were conducted using a combination of dive teams which generally included a two person coral/coral disease team and a combined team of two algae biologists and one macroinvertebrate biologist. The majority of REA surveys were conducted along the forereef slopes of individual islands at depths between 10 and 20 m. However, additional surveyed habitats included a lagoonal-type patch reef and offshore oceanic banks. During REA surveys, biological assessment teams follow highly structured protocols that are repeated at each REA site. Upon arrival at an REA site, two teams of divers enter the water over spaced time intervals. The algal/invertebrate team firstly enters the water and deploys a 25-m transect line. After approximately 20 min, the coral team enters the water and begins to work along the first transect line. By this time the algal/invertebrate team has deployed and begun surveys along a second 25-m transect. The sampling effort takes between 60 and 80 min to complete. The selection of REA sites was made in close consultation with Coral Reef Advisory Group (CRAG) and local agencies. Factors considered during REA site selection included: (1) ensuring a range of sample sites representative of the benthic and reef fish habitats around each island; (2) selecting a mixture of sites within and outside of marine protected areas; (3) selecting a mixture of both 'impacted' and 'least impacted' sites; (4) selecting some sites adjacent to local villages, and (5) selecting a number of sites that could be compared to and complement previous assessment and monitoring work as well as future coral reef monitoring proposed by CRAG and local agencies. It is important to note that access to REA sites can be limited by wave exposure, weather conditions, and other environmental factors such as currents, which can affect the ability to resurvey sites between years. Transect placement was guided by: (1) a focus on hard-bottom communities; (2) deploying lines along an isobath to the extent possible at each site, and (3) laying the transect lines into the prevailing current.
  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 two divers who are experts in coral biology. The population parameter survey is 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. Efforts were made to include broad spatial coverage of the reef area, but weather conditions or other environmental constraints may have precluded the team from surveying windward or exposed sites.
  5. How consistent are the relationships among the observations, including topology?
    With the exception of the non-quantitative survey along the backreef, the same methods of data collection were used at each of the sites surveyed at this location, and were conducted by the same scientists.

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)
    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: 05-Jun-2019
Last Reviewed: 21-Oct-2010
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:
the Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata (FGDC-STD-001-1998)
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