CRED Rapid Ecological Assessment Belt Surveys of Coral Population and Disease Assessment at Ofu & Olosega, American Samoa in 2012
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Metadata:
- Identification_Information:
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- Citation:
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- Citation_Information:
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- Originator:
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Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED), Pacific Islands
Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC), National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA)
- Publication_Date: 20120720
- Title:
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CRED Rapid Ecological Assessment Belt Surveys of Coral
Population and Disease Assessment at Ofu & Olosega,
American Samoa in 2012
- Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: spreadsheet
- Online_Linkage:
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https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/pacific-islands/ecosystems/coral-reefs-pacific
- Description:
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- Abstract:
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To support a long-term NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program
(CRCP) for sustainable management and conservation of coral
reef ecosystems, from 20120401 to 20120426, 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 HA1201 in American Samoa at
periodic intervals between one and three years by the Coral
Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED) at the NOAA Pacific Islands
Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC). During the cruise, there
were 9 surveys in total conducted at REA sites around Ofu &
Olosega. At the specific REA sites, coral biologists along
with algal biologists and marine invertebrate zoologist
entered the water and conducted a fine-scale (approximately
300 m^2) 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 (less than 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, 25 m transect lines. The belt width
was 1 m wide, 0.5 m on each side of the transect line.
Within each 25 m transect, five 2.5 m segments were surveyed
(beginning at points: 0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 meters), whereby
in each segment, all coral colonies whose center fell within
0.5 m 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 occasional tissue samples.
Tissue samples were cataloged 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 10 m^2 to 25 m^2 per site.
- Purpose:
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Part of a long-term monitoring program which documents the
state of the reefs.
- Supplemental_Information:
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Maximum depth was 60 feet. Coral genera observed:
Acanthastrea, Acropora, Alveopora, Astreopora, Cladiella,
Coscinaraea, Cycloseris, Cyphastrea, Diploastrea,
Echinophyllia, Echinopora, Favia, Favites, Fungia, Galaxea,
Goniastrea, Goniopora, Hydnophora, Leptastrea, Leptoria,
Leptoseris, Lobophyllia, Lobophytum, Merulina, Millepora,
Montastraea, Montipora, Mycedium, Oulophyllia, Oxypora,
Pavona, Platygyra, Pocillopora, Porites, Psammocora,
Scapophyllia, Sinularia, Stylocoeniella, Stylophora,
Symphyllia, Turbinaria
- Time_Period_of_Content:
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- Time_Period_Information:
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- Range_of_Dates/Times:
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- Beginning_Date: 20120424
- Ending_Date: 20120426
- Currentness_Reference: Ground Condition
- Status:
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- Progress: Complete
- Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: asNeeded
- Spatial_Domain:
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- Bounding_Coordinates:
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- West_Bounding_Coordinate: -169.68735569
- East_Bounding_Coordinate: -169.60390655
- North_Bounding_Coordinate: -14.1484
- South_Bounding_Coordinate: -14.19292
- Keywords:
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- Theme:
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- Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: NCEI Geoportal Filter
- Theme_Keyword: CoRIS_Metadata
- Theme:
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- Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: CRCP Project
- Theme_Keyword:
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Pacific Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program: Monitoring coral reef ecosystems of the US Pacific Islands and Atolls
- Theme_Keyword: 587
- Theme:
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- Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: None
- Theme_Keyword: Marine Ecosystem
- Theme_Keyword: Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program (RAMP)
- Theme_Keyword: Rapid Ecological Assessments (REA)
- Theme_Keyword: Coral Reef
- Theme_Keyword: Coral
- Theme_Keyword: American Samoa
- Theme_Keyword: Ofu & Olosega
- Theme_Keyword: HA1201
- Theme:
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- Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: CoRIS Discovery Thesaurus
- Theme_Keyword: Numeric Data Sets > Biology
- Theme:
-
- Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: CoRIS Theme Thesaurus
- Theme_Keyword: EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs
- Theme_Keyword:
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EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs > Coral reef ecology
- Theme_Keyword:
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EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs > Coral reef ecology > Coral cover
- Theme_Keyword:
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EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs > Coral Reef Ecology > BioDiversity
- Theme_Keyword:
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EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef monitoring and assessment
- Theme_Keyword:
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EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef monitoring and assessment > Rapid assessment studies
- Theme:
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- Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: ISO 19115 Topic Category
- Theme_Keyword: biota
- Theme_Keyword: 002
- Place:
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- Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: None
- Place_Keyword: American Samoa
- Place_Keyword: Ofu & Olosega
- Place:
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- Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: CoRIS Place Thesaurus
- Place_Keyword:
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OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Manu'a Group > Ofu Island (14S169W0013)
- Place_Keyword:
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OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Manu'a Group > Olosega Island (14S169W0014)
- Place_Keyword:
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COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > American Samoa > American Samoa > Ofu Island (14S169W0013)
- Place_Keyword:
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COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > American Samoa > American Samoa > Olosega Island (14S169W0014)
- Place:
-
- Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: CoRIS Region
- Place_Keyword: AmSam
- Access_Constraints: None
- Use_Constraints:
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Please cite CRED when using data. Coral Reef Ecosystem
Division (CRED), Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center
(PIFSC), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
- Point_of_Contact:
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- Contact_Information:
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- Contact_Organization_Primary:
-
- Contact_Organization:
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Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED), Pacific Islands
Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC), National Marine
Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA)
- Contact_Address:
-
- Address_Type: mailing and physical address
- Address: NOAA IRC
- Address: NMFS/PIFSC/CRED
- Address: 1845 WASP Blvd., Building 176
- City: Honolulu
- State_or_Province: HI
- Postal_Code: 96818
- Country: USA
- Contact_Voice_Telephone: 808 725-5360
- Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 808 725-5429
- Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: nmfs.pic.credinfo@noaa.gov
- Contact_Instructions: e-mail preferred
- Data_Set_Credit:
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Erin Looney, Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED); Bernardo
Vargas-Angel, Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED)
- Security_Information:
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- Security_Classification_System: Not applicable
- Security_Classification: Unclassified
- Security_Handling_Description: Not applicable
- Native_Data_Set_Environment: Oracle
- Data_Quality_Information:
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- Attribute_Accuracy:
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- Attribute_Accuracy_Report:
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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.
- Logical_Consistency_Report:
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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.
- Completeness_Report:
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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.
- Positional_Accuracy:
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- Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy:
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- Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Report: GPS Unit
- Quantitative_Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Assessment:
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- Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Value: 1
- Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Explanation: Instrument parameters
- Vertical_Positional_Accuracy:
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- Vertical_Positional_Accuracy_Report: Dive computer and SCUBA depth gauge
- Quantitative_Vertical_Positional_Accuracy_Assessment:
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- Vertical_Positional_Accuracy_Value: 0.3
- Vertical_Positional_Accuracy_Explanation: Instrument parameters
- Lineage:
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- Process_Step:
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- Process_Description:
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REA surveys are investigations that provide a high degree
of taxonomic resolution for coral, algae, and other
macroinvertebrate communities. The majority of REA surveys
were conducted along the forereef slopes of individual
islands at depths between 10 and 20 m. However, additional
habitats including lagoonal-type patch reef and offshore
oceanic banks were surveyed when they existed. During REA
surveys, biological assessment teams follow highly
structured protocols that are repeated at each REA site.
Upon arrival at an REA site, divers entered the water and
deployed two 25 m transect lines which are shared with
coral surveys that gather community structure, diversity,
recruitment, and health status data. 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 re-survey 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.
- Process_Date: Unknown
- Spatial_Reference_Information:
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- Horizontal_Coordinate_System_Definition:
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- Geographic:
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- Latitude_Resolution: 0.0001
- Longitude_Resolution: 0.0001
- Geographic_Coordinate_Units: Decimal Degrees
- Geodetic_Model:
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- Horizontal_Datum_Name: World Geodetic System 1984 (WGS84)
- Ellipsoid_Name: Geodetic Reference System 80 (GRS80)
- Semi-major_Axis: 6378137
- Denominator_of_Flattening_Ratio: 298.2572236
- Distribution_Information:
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- Distributor:
-
- Contact_Information:
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- Contact_Organization_Primary:
-
- Contact_Organization:
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Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED), Pacific Islands
Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC), National Marine
Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA)
- Contact_Position: Data Manager
- Contact_Address:
-
- Address_Type: mailing and physical address
- Address: NOAA IRC
- Address: NMFS/PIFSC/CRED
- Address: 1845 WASP Blvd., Building 176
- City: Honolulu
- State_or_Province: HI
- Postal_Code: 96818
- Country: USA
- Contact_Voice_Telephone: 808 725-5360
- Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 808 725-5429
- Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: nmfs.pic.credinfo@noaa.gov
- Contact_Instructions: e-mail preferred
- Resource_Description: Offline Data
- Distribution_Liability:
-
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.
- Standard_Order_Process:
-
- Digital_Form:
-
- Digital_Transfer_Information:
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- Format_Name:
-
xls (Microsoft Excel worksheet) or csv (comma-separated
values)
- Digital_Transfer_Option:
-
- Offline_Option:
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- Offline_Media: CD-ROM or email
- Recording_Format: ISO 9660
- Fees: None if receiving the data online
- Custom_Order_Process: Contact CRED data management team for information
- Technical_Prerequisites: Contact CRED data management team for information
- Metadata_Reference_Information:
-
- Metadata_Date: 20190605
- Metadata_Review_Date: 20120830
- Metadata_Contact:
-
- Contact_Information:
-
- Contact_Organization_Primary:
-
- Contact_Organization:
-
Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED), Pacific Islands
Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC), National Marine
Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA)
- Contact_Address:
-
- Address_Type: mailing and physical address
- Address: NOAA IRC
- Address: NMFS/PIFSC/CRED
- Address: 1845 WASP Blvd., Building 176
- City: Honolulu
- State_or_Province: HI
- Postal_Code: 96818
- Country: USA
- Contact_Voice_Telephone: 808 725-5360
- Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 808 725-5429
- Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: nmfs.pic.credinfo@noaa.gov
- Contact_Instructions: e-mail preferred
- Metadata_Standard_Name: FGDC Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata
- Metadata_Standard_Version: FGDC-STD-001-1998
- CoRIS:
-
- CoRIS_ID: 20120830112418
- CoRIS_Children: None
- CoRIS_Beginning_Date: 20120424
- CoRIS_Ending_Date: 20120426
- CoRIS_Metadata_Link:
-
https://www.coris.noaa.gov/metadata/records/html/cred_metadata_benthic_rea_blt_ofu_2012.html
- CoRIS_Tracking_ID: 6530
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