Benthic data for corals, macroalgae, invertebrates, and non-living bottom types from Fagatele Bay, Pago Pago, and Fagasa, American Samoa, 2004-2008. (NODC Accession 0066319)

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What does this data set describe?

Title:
Benthic data for corals, macroalgae, invertebrates, and non-living bottom types from Fagatele Bay, Pago Pago, and Fagasa, American Samoa, 2004-2008. (NODC Accession 0066319)
Abstract:
This data set was derived from surveys in Fagatele Bay National Marine Sanctuary, Pago Pago (Rainmaker and Aua), and Fagasa (Sita Bay and Cape Larsen) conducted in 2004 and 2007-2008. Parameters include coral, algal, or invertebrate species, coral colony diameter size, and non-living bottom type. Summaries of species identification from sites above and Ofu-Olosega Islands, Ta'u Island, Aunu'u, Manu'a, and Rose Atoll, based on historic surveys back to 1917 are also given in spreadsheets. This is a working list put together by Dr. Charles Birkeland. Fish data were collected by Dr. Alison Green on the same dates and transects and are available in a separate NODC accession.
Supplemental_Information:
NOAASupplemental:Entry_ID: UnknownSensor_Name: SCUBA Project_Campaign: American Samoa Coral Surveys Originating_Center: Dept. of Commerce, Am. Samoa and NOAAStorage_Medium: MS Excel, MS Word, PDF Reference: None Online_size: 7,544 kbytes

Resource Description: NODC Accession Number 0066319

  1. How might this data set be cited?
    Douglas Fenner, Dept Marine & Wildlife Resources American Samoa, and Charles Birkeland, Hawaii Cooperative Fishery Research Unit, Unknown, Benthic data for corals, macroalgae, invertebrates, and non-living bottom types from Fagatele Bay, Pago Pago, and Fagasa, American Samoa, 2004-2008. (NODC Accession 0066319).

    Online Links:

  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?
    West_Bounding_Coordinate: -170.769
    East_Bounding_Coordinate: -170.630
    North_Bounding_Coordinate: -14.282
    South_Bounding_Coordinate: -14.366
  3. What does it look like?
  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?
    Beginning_Date: 2004
    Ending_Date: 2008
    Currentness_Reference: ground condition
  5. What is the general form of this data set?
  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?
  7. How does the data set describe geographic features?
    Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:
    FILE FORMATS: ../data/0-data Files as received by NODC from the originator All *.xls files are MS Office Excel 97-2003 Worksheet format and the*.doc file is MS Office Word 97-2003 Document file: Fagatele_Squair_Edit_Aug_06.doccontent: technical data report (Fenner et. al., 2008)(redundant copy in NODC archive format (pdf) in ../data/1-data)2007/8 Benthic Survey Data Files================================file: FBMS Benthic Data.xls content: Benthic data 2004-2007mulitple sheets, see 1-data (below) for description of each sheet Historic Comparison Files=========================file: Birkeland lists.xls content: Working list of species based on historical literature from various principle investigators for Rose Atoll, Tutuila, Ofu-Olosega, and Ta'u *this is not considered part of this data set, it was provided with this data set for historical context file: Corals Manua Rose.xls content: Working list of species based on historical literature from various principle investigators for Rose Atoll, Tutuila, Ofu-Olosega, Ta'u, Manu'a *this is not considered part of this data set, it was provided with this data set for historical context file: Corals Tutuila Aunu'u.xls content: Working list of species based on historical literature from various principle investigators for Tutuila and Aunu'u *this is not considered part of this data set, it was provided with this data set for historical context 2007/8 Coral Survey Files=========================file: aua2007_CS.xls content: Aua Village Survey (historic transect)multiple sheets described below under ../data/1-datafile: Coral Totals Fagatele 2007.xlscontent: 1)Composite of all August 2007 surveys for all transects (species and coral colony diameter size and data analysis (percent cover) 2) includes summaries from Rainmaker and Auafile: Doug 2nd trans of day 12 m.xls content: species, number of species, colony diameter size (cm) for Transect T5, 12 m depth, August 2007 file: Doug 2nd trans of day 9m.xls content: species, number of species, colony diameter size (cm) for Transect T5, 9 m depth, August 2007 file: Doug Aua 3 m.xls content: species, number of species, colony diameter size (cm) for Aua Transect, 3 m depth, August 2007 file: Doug Aua 6 m.xls content: species, number of species, colony diameter size (cm) for Aua Transect, 6 m depth, August 2007 file: Doug Rainmaker 3 m deep.xls content: species, number of species, colony diameter size (cm) for Rainmaker Transect, 3 m depth, August 2007 file: Doug Rainmaker 6 m deep.xls content: species, number of species, colony diameter size (cm) for Rainmaker Transect, 6 m depth, August 2007 file: Doug Site 2 3m deep.xls content: species, number of species, colony diameter size (cm) for Site 2 (T2) Transect, 3 m depth, August 2007 file: Doug site 2 6m deep.xls content: species, number of species, colony diameter size (cm) for Site 2 (T2) Transect, 6 m depth, August 2007 file: Doug Site 2 9m deep.xls content: species, number of species, colony diameter size (cm) for Site 2 (T2) Transect, 9 m depth, August 2007 file: Doug Site 2 12m deep.xls content: species, number of species, colony diameter size (cm) for Site 2 (T2) Transect, 12 m depth, August 2007 file: Doug T2 3m second.xls content: species, number of species, colony diameter size (cm) for Site 2 (T2) Transect, 3 m depth, May 2008 file: Doug T3 9m deep.xls content: species, number of species, colony diameter size (cm) for Transect T3, 9 m depth, August 2007 file: Doug T3 12m deep.xls content: species, number of species, colony diameter size (cm) for Transect T3, 12 m depth, August 2007 file: Doug T4 9m deep.xls content: species, number of species, colony diameter size (cm) for Transect T4, 9 m depth, August 2007 file: Doug T4 12m deep.xls content: species, number of species, colony diameter size (cm) for Transect T4, 12 m depth, August 2007 file: Fagatele T3 6 m.xls content: species, number of species, colony diameter size (cm) for Transect T3, 6 m depth, 20 August 2008 file: Fagatele T3 9m.xls content: species, number of species, colony diameter size (cm) for Transect T3, 9 m depth, 20 August 2008 file: Fagatele T3 12m.xls content: species, number of species, colony diameter size (cm) for Transect T3, 12 m depth, 20 August 2008 file: Fagatele T4 3m.xls content: species, number of species, colony diameter size (cm) for Transect T4, 3 m depth, 21 August 2008 file: Fagatele T4 6m.xls content: species, number of species, colony diameter size (cm) for Transect T4, 6 m depth, 21 August 2008 file: Fagatele T4 9mT3 m.xls content: species, number of species, colony diameter size (cm) for Transect T4, 9 m depth, 20 August 2008 file: Fagatele T4 12 m.xls content: species, number of species, colony diameter size (cm) for Transect T4, 12 m depth, 20 August 2008 file: Fagatele T5 6m.xls content: species, number of species, colony diameter size (cm) for Transect T5, 6 m depth, 21 August 2008 file: Fagatele T5 9m.xls content: species, number of species, colony diameter size (cm) for Transect T5, 9 m depth, 20 August 2008 file: Fagatele T5 12 m.xls content: species, number of species, colony diameter size (cm) for Transect T5, 12 m depth, 20 August 2008 file: Rainmaker 3 m.xls content: species, number of species, colony diameter size (cm) for Rainmaker Transect, 3 m depth, 11 August 2008 file: Rainmaker 6 m.xls content: species, number of species, colony diameter size (cm) for Rainmaker Transect, 6 m depth, 11 August 2008../data/1-data These files were made by NODC based on the original files in ../data/0-data. The *.doc file was dumped into a PDF document for archival. The *.xls files were dumped into text Comma-Separated Version (CSV) format for archival. Filenames are same as the original files, except spaces and apostrophies replaced by underscores. If an *.xls file has multiple sheets, then one CSV file is created for each sheet. The filename is the same with the original name of the sheet appended with underscores added for spaces. Files with multiple sheets are described below: file: aua2007_CS_corals.csvcontent: Aua Village Survey, coral species fields: Distance along transect, Quadrat, Observer, Species, Size (cm)file: aua2007_CS_macroinverts.csvcontent: Aua Village Survey, macroinvertebrate species fields: Distance along transect, Quadrat, Observer, Species, Numberfile: FBMS_Benthic_Data_2004Raw_Benthic_Data.csv content: benthic data by category, species from 2004 Fagatele Survey fields: species name or type, species counts as a function of transect and depth file: FBMS_Benthic_Data_2007Raw_Benthic_Data.csv content: benthic data by species or type from August 7-21 2007 Surveys at Fagatele Bay, Fagasa (sita and Cape Larsen), and Pago Pago (Aua and Rainmaker) fields: species name or benthic type as a function of transect and depth file: FBMS_Benthic_Data_2007Fagatele_Data.csv content: benthic data by species or type from August 7-21 2007 Fagatele Surveys fields: species name or benthic type as a function of transect and depth file: FBMS_Benthic_Data_2007Fagatele_Summary.csv content: per cent coverage as function of species/benthic type, 2007 Fagatelefields: location, transect, depth, species name, per cent coveragefile: FBMS_Benthic_Data_2007Site_Summary.csvcontent: per cent coverage as function of species/benthic type, 2007 Surveys Fagatele, Fagasa, Pago Pagofields: location, transect, depth, species name, per cent coveragefile: FBMS_Benthic_Data_2007Depth_Summary.csvcontent: per cent coverage as function of species/benthic type, 2007 Surveys Fagatele, Fagasa, Pago Pagofields: location, transect, depth, species name, per cent coveragefile: FBMS_Benthic_Data_2004_2007_Comparison.csvcontent: sub-total benthic (by species/type) data Fagatele 2004 and 2007 Surveysfields: transect, depth, species/type, category, year, subtotalsfile: FBMS_Benthic_Data_2004_2007Summary.csvcontent: sub-total benthic (by category) data Fagatele 2004 and 2007 Surveysfields: transect, depth, category, year, subtotals file: FBMS_Benthic_Data_Benthic_Categories.csv content: describes benthic categories fields: super category, category, description file: FBMS_Benthic_Data_Tentative_Species_IDs.csv content: list of species for Fagatele, Aua, Rainmakerfields: transect, depth, species file: Fagatele_Squair_Edit_Aug_06.pdfcontent: PDF/A format copy of ../data/0-data/Fagatele_Squair_Edit_Aug_06.doc
    Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation: none

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?
    U.S. Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Ocean Service Office of National Marine Sanctuaries American Samoa Government Department of Commerce Environment Division
  3. To whom should users address questions about the data?
    Dr. Douglas Fenner
    Dept Marine & Wildlife Resources American Samoa
    Principal Investigator
    PO Box 3730
    Pago Pago, AS
    USA

    684-633-4456 (voice)
    douglasfenner@yahoo.com

Why was the data set created?

The purpose of the ongoing monitoring of coral reef communities is to document the recovery, or further decline, of coral and fish communities in Fagatele Bay, and elsewhere around Tutuila, and to determine if reef communities have changed substantially since the combined effects of A. planci outbreaks and hurricanes that devastated American Samoa reefs in the past 30years.

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)
    METHODOLOGY: Fagatele Surveys: Corals From 1985 to 2001, corals were surveyed using point-quarter method (Birkelandet al 1987). In 2004, the coral survey method was changed to belt transects because they produce a much larger sample in an equivalent time period than the point-quarter method (Green et al 2005). This method is also directly compatible with archipelago-wide surveys (Mundy, 1996; Fisk and Birkeland,2002). Belt transect methods were used to survey coral communities in 2007/2008.We recorded all corals whose center occurred in a 0.5 m wide belt transect laid perpendicular to four of the six permanent transect lines in FBNMS(Transects 2-5). Transect tapes were 20 m long, but on occasion dive time did not allow the completion of the full 20 m. When that happened, the length that was recorded was noted and the area adjusted accordingly. Each coral was identified to species, and the maximum diameter measured. Corals were then categorized into one of seven size classes based on the maximum diameter of the colony; <5cm, 5-10cm, 10-20cm, 20-40cm, 40-80cm,80-160cm, and >160cm. We collected data at Sites 2 to 5, at 3, 6, 9, and 12 mdepth. Weather and time did not allow collecting data on transects 1 and 6. Coral data were collected in November, 2007 by Charles Birkeland and Douglas Fenner, and May, 2005 by Douglas Fenner. Benthos Few benthic surveys have been conducted in Fagatele Bay and for those that have been undertaken, methods, sampling intensity and time of year have all varied. These differences make it very difficult to draw conclusions about changes over time, especially for the algae, which are typically seasonal and show changes in diversity and biomass throughout the year. Therefore the goal in this survey was to provide data that could be easily compared to previous studies and in particular, the study undertaken by Green et al in 2004, where benthic organisms were identified to functional form. Consequently, for the purposes of this study, benthic organisms were also identified to functional form. Additionally, macroalgae were identified to the lowest taxonomic level possible, with the exception of crustose coralline algae (CCA) and turf. Benthic surveys were undertaken for Fagatele Bay, Pago Pago Harbor (at Rainmaker and Aua) and for Fagasa (at Cape Larsen and Sita Bay). Following the method established by Green et al (2004), forty-eight points were sampled along the 30 m fish belt transects. The substrate under the tape was identified every two meters and the substrate at a point approximately 1 m on either side of, and perpendicular to the tape at 1m was also identified (NB: except at Fagasa, where three 30 m transects were laid end to end, for a total of 144 points per transect). The benthos was classified into one of the following 23 categories: Corals (branching, digitate, encrusting, foliaceous, massive, mushroom, plate) Macroalgae (encrusting, blue green, Halimeda, macroalgae, crustose coralline algae - CCA) Invertebrate (ascidian, clam, hydrozoan, soft coral, sponge, urchin,zooanthid); and Non-living (crevice/hole; reef matrix, rubble, sand)Additionally, macroalgae were identified to the lowest level possible. For species that could not be identified in the field, representative voucher samples were collected. Representative samples of CCA were collected in the vicinity of the transects, when the surveys were complete. Coralline algae require extensive laboratory analysis in order to make definitive identifications. Tentative identifications of specimens collected in this survey are included in the report and final identifications will be will besubmitted as an addendum when they are complete. Cheryl Squair collected the benthic data. Survey techniques: Pago Pago Harbor The two sites in Pago Pago Harbor (Rainmaker Hotel and Aua), whichprovide useful information for management (Birkeland et al 2004), were resurveyed in 2007 in conjunction with the Fagatele Bay surveys. At these two sites, corals were surveyed at 3 m and 6 m depths on the reef slope. Survey methods were as described above, with corals surveyed in a single 30 x 0.5 mbelt transect at each depth and with each colony identified to species and categorized into one of seven size classes. The Aua Transect The methods are described in detail in Green et al. (1997). The corals were counted in 0.25 m2 quadrats that were tossed haphazardly within about 10 m to either side of the transect, with an equal number of quadrats on each side, within a set of zones between the shore and the reef crest. The transect now began 91 m from shore because this was now the seaward extent of the burrowpit. Data analysis Coral data from Fagatele Bay and the two sites in Pago Pago Harbor were summarized to determine the abundance and percent coral cover at each depth. Percent cover was calculated according to Mundy (1996), based on using the maximum diameter as the diameter of a circle, and using the mid-point of each size class. Percent cover was calculated from benthic data by dividing the number of points of a given category, by the total number of points on the transect and multiplying by 100. To allow for comparison between years, data were grouped into the above categories, even where more detailed information was available. Birkeland, C., Randall, R., Wass, R., Smith, B., Wilkins, S. 1987. Biological resource assessment of the Fagatele Bay National Marine Sanctuary. NOAA Technical Memorandum NOS MEMD 3. 232pp.Birkeland, C., Green, A., Mundy, C., Miller, K. 2004. Long term monitoring of Fagatele Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Tutuila Island (American Samoa)1985 to 2001: summary of surveys conducted in 1998 and 2001. Report to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce.158 pp.Fenner, D., Green, A., Birkeland, C., Squair, C., and Carroll, B., 2008. Long term monitoring of Fagatele Bay National Marine Sanctuary, TutuilaIsland, American Samoa: results of surveys conducted in 2007/8, including are-survey of the historic Aua Transect. Prepared for NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries and the American Samoa Department of Commerce, Environmental Division. 58 pp.Fisk, D., and Birkeland, C. 2002. Status of coral communities in American Samoa. A re-survey of long-term monitoring sites. Report to the Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources, P.O. Box 3730, Pago Pago, American Samoa 96799. 134pp.Green, A.L., Birkeland, C., Randall, R.H., Smith, B.D., Wilkins, S. 1997. 78 years of coral reef degradation in Pago Pago Harbour: a quantitative record.P roc. 8th Int. Coral Reef Symp. 2: 1883-1888.Green, A., Miller, K., and C. Mundy. 2005. Long term monitoring of Fagatele Bay National Marine Sanctuary, Tutuila Island, American Samoa: results of surveys conducted in 2004, including a re-survey of the historic Aua Transect. Mundy, C. 1996. A quantitative survey of the corals of American Samoa.Report to the Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources, P.O. Box 3730, Pago Pago, American Samoa 96799. 24 pp. Person who carried out this activity:
    Dr. Douglas Fenner
    Dept Marine & Wildlife Resources American Samoa
    Principal Investigator
    PO Box 3730
    Pago Pago, AS
    USA

    684-633-4456 (voice)
    douglasfenner@yahoo.com
  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?
  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?
  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?
  4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?
    quality control completed
  5. How consistent are the relationships among the observations, including topology?
    see methodology

How can someone get a copy of the data set?

Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?
Access_Constraints: None
Use_Constraints: Dataset credit required
  1. Who distributes the data set? (Distributor 1 of 1)
    NOAA/NESDIS/National Oceanographic Data Center
    Attn: Data Access Group, User Services Team
    SSMC-3 Fourth Floor
    Silver Spring, MD
    USA

    301-713-3277 (voice)
    301-713-3302 (FAX)
    NODC.services@noaa.gov
    Hours_of_Service: 8am-5pm, Monday through Friday
  2. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set? Downloadable Data
  3. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?
    NOAA makes no warranty regarding these data, expressed or implied, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty. NOAA, NESDIS, NODC and NCDDC cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in these data, nor as a result of the failure of these data to function on a particular system.
  4. How can I download or order the data?

Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:
Last modified: 06-Jan-2021
Last Reviewed: 16-Aug-2010
Metadata author:
Mr. Patrick C. Caldwell
NOAA/NESDIS/NODC/NCDDC
Hawaii/US Pacific Liaison
1000 Pope Road, MSB 316
Honolulu, Hawaii
USA

(808)-956-4105 (voice)
(808) 956-2352 (FAX)
caldwell@hawaii.edu
Hours_of_Service: 8 AM to 5 PM weekdays
Contact_Instructions: check services@nodc.noaa.gov if not available
Metadata standard:
FGDC CSDGM (FGDC-STD-001-1998)
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