Identification_Information: Citation: Citation_Information: Originator: Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED), Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Publication_Date: 20100320 Title: CRED REA Line Point Intercept Surveys of Benthic Parameter Assessments at Ta'u Island, American Samoa in 2010 Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: spreadsheet Online_Linkage: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/pacific-islands/ecosystems/coral-reefs-pacific Description: Abstract: To support a long-term NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP) for sustainable management and conservation of coral reef ecosystems, from 12-13, 20 March 2010, line point intercept (LPI) surveys of benthic parameter 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, 9 REA sites were surveyed at Ta'u Island in American Samoa. Benthic biologists from NOAA's Coral Reef Ecosystem Division conducted Line Point Intercept surveys to quantitatively document the benthic cover at pre-determined long-term monitoring REA sites. Two linear 25M transects were surveyed with a 5M inter-transect region between the end of Transect 1 and the start of Transect 2. The LPI diver determines the benthic composition at 20cm intervals for a total of 125 data points per transect. All living benthic elements (e.g., coral, algae, and other invertebrates) were identified to the lowest taxonomic level possible, often substituting functional group categories for turf algae and crustose coralline algae when identification in the field was extremely difficult. In cases where the substrate is bare or covered with turf algae, the substrate composition is also noted as either sand, rock, rubble, carbonate pavement, or dead coral. These data allow for the assessment and monitoring of species composition and abundance and provide the basis for computing quantitative estimates of percent cover at higher taxonomic levels like functional group (live Coral, macroalgae, turf algae) or on a finer taxonomic resolution such as genus level. Purpose: Part of a long-term monitoring program at biennial intervals which documents the state of the reefs. Supplemental_Information: Maximum depth was 18 meters. Benthic cover parameters observed: Year Region_List Island BenthicName 2010 SAMOA Tau Pavement/Turf 2010 SAMOA Tau Montipora sp 2010 SAMOA Tau Pavement/Coralline algae 2010 SAMOA Tau Astreopora sp 2010 SAMOA Tau Tunicate 2010 SAMOA Tau Sponge 2010 SAMOA Tau Porites sp 2010 SAMOA Tau Porites rus 2010 SAMOA Tau Sand 2010 SAMOA Tau Acropora sp 2010 SAMOA Tau Peyssonnelia sp 2010 SAMOA Tau Goniastrea sp 2010 SAMOA Tau Dictyosphaeria versluysii 2010 SAMOA Tau Diploastrea heliopora 2010 SAMOA Tau Montipora caliculata 2010 SAMOA Tau Halimeda sp 2010 SAMOA Tau Pocillopora eydouxi 2010 SAMOA Tau Montastrea sp 2010 SAMOA Tau Galaxea sp 2010 SAMOA Tau Pocillopora meandrina 2010 SAMOA Tau Leptastrea sp 2010 SAMOA Tau Leptastrea purpurea 2010 SAMOA Tau Dead/coralline algae 2010 SAMOA Tau Platygyra sp 2010 SAMOA Tau Favia stelligera 2010 SAMOA Tau Favites sp 2010 SAMOA Tau Pavona varians 2010 SAMOA Tau Dead/Turf algae 2010 SAMOA Tau Fungia sp 2010 SAMOA Tau Acanthastrea sp 2010 SAMOA Tau Oulophyllia sp 2010 SAMOA Tau Favia sp 2010 SAMOA Tau Montastrea curta 2010 SAMOA Tau Rubble/turfalgae 2010 SAMOA Tau Isopora sp 2010 SAMOA Tau Cyanobacteria 2010 SAMOA Tau Sinularia sp 2010 SAMOA Tau Hydnophora exesa 2010 SAMOA Tau Chlorodesmis sp 2010 SAMOA Tau Pavement/cyanobacteria 2010 SAMOA Tau Cyphastrea sp 2010 SAMOA Tau Palythoa sp 2010 SAMOA Tau Scapophyllia cylindrica 2010 SAMOA Tau Halimeda distorta 2010 SAMOA Tau Halimeda fragilis 2010 SAMOA Tau Echinophyllia sp 2010 SAMOA Tau Cladiella sp 2010 SAMOA Tau Invertebrate 2010 SAMOA Tau Pavona sp 2010 SAMOA Tau Pavona maldivensis 2010 SAMOA Tau Jania sp 2010 SAMOA Tau Rubble/coralline algae 2010 SAMOA Tau Millepora sp 2010 SAMOA Tau Hydnophora sp 2010 SAMOA Tau Asparagopsis sp 2010 SAMOA Tau Leptoria sp Time_Period_of_Content: Time_Period_Information: Range_of_Dates/Times: Beginning_Date: 20100312 Ending_Date: 20100320 Currentness_Reference: Ground condition Status: Progress: In Work Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: asNeeded Spatial_Domain: Bounding_Coordinates: West_Bounding_Coordinate: -169.5237152 East_Bounding_Coordinate: -169.4077949 North_Bounding_Coordinate: -14.20247804 South_Bounding_Coordinate: -14.28884564 Keywords: Theme: Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: NCEI Geoportal Filter Theme_Keyword: CoRIS_Metadata Theme: Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: CRCP Project Theme_Keyword: Pacific Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program (Pacific RAMP): Biennial monitoring for the U.S. Pacific Islands and Atolls Theme_Keyword: 1221 Theme: 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 Ecosystem Theme_Keyword: Benthic Cover Theme_Keyword: American Samoa Theme_Keyword: Ta'u Island Theme_Keyword: HI1001 Theme: Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: CoRIS Theme Thesaurus Theme_Keyword: EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs Theme_Keyword: EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs > Coral reef ecology Theme_Keyword: EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef monitoring and assessment Theme_Keyword: EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef monitoring and assessment > Rapid assessment studies Theme: Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: CoRIS Discovery Thesaurus Theme_Keyword: Numeric Data Sets > Biology Theme: Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: ISO 19115 Topic Category Theme_Keyword: biota Theme_Keyword: 002 Place: Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: None Place_Keyword: South Pacific Place_Keyword: Ta'u Island Place: Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: CoRIS Place Thesaurus Place_Keyword: OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Manu'a Group > Ta'u Island (14S169W0012) Place_Keyword: COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > American Samoa > American Samoa > Ta'u Island (14S169W0012) Place: Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: CoRIS Region Place_Keyword: AmSam 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 Point_of_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 Data_Set_Credit: Rodney Withall, Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED), Pacific Islands Fisheries Sciences Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA Security_Information: Security_Classification_System: Not applicable Security_Classification: Unclassified Security_Handling_Description: Not applicable Native_Data_Set_Environment: Oracle Data_Quality_Information: Attribute_Accuracy: Attribute_Accuracy_Report: The benthic cover parameter observations were made by a single diver who is a benthic ecologist. The benthic cover assessment surveys are conducted one time per site per survey year; it is not replicated. Logical_Consistency_Report: The same methods of data collection were used at each of the sites surveyed at this location, and were conducted by the same scientist. Completeness_Report: The survey sites were selected to be representative of the dominant habitats at this reef system. Positional_Accuracy: Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy: Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Report: GPS unit Quantitative_Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Assessment: Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Value: 1 Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Explanation: Instrument parameters Vertical_Positional_Accuracy: Vertical_Positional_Accuracy_Report: Dive computer and SCUBA depth gauge Quantitative_Vertical_Positional_Accuracy_Assessment: Vertical_Positional_Accuracy_Value: 0.3 Vertical_Positional_Accuracy_Explanation: Instrument parameters Lineage: Process_Step: Process_Description: 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 25M 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 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. Process_Date: Unknown Spatial_Reference_Information: Horizontal_Coordinate_System_Definition: Geographic: Latitude_Resolution: 0.0001 Longitude_Resolution: 0.0001 Geographic_Coordinate_Units: Decimal Degrees Geodetic_Model: 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 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 Distribution_Information: Distributor: 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 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: Format_Name: XLS (Microsoft Excel worksheet) Digital_Transfer_Option: Offline_Option: Offline_Media: CDROM, 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: 20190526 Metadata_Review_Date: 20100916 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: Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata Metadata_Standard_Version: FGDC-STD-001-1998 CoRIS: CoRIS_ID: 20100916020227 CoRIS_Children: None CoRIS_Beginning_Date: 20100312 CoRIS_Ending_Date: 20100320 CoRIS_Metadata_Link: https://www.coris.noaa.gov/metadata/records/html/cred_rea_benthiclpi_tau_2010.html CoRIS_Tracking_ID: 4972