To support a long-term NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP) for sustainable management and conservation of coral reef ecosystems, from 20120227 to 20120325, reef fish assessment surveys were conducted, as a part of Rapid Ecological Assessments (REA), during the Pacific Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program (RAMP) Cruise HA1201 in the American Samoa region by the Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED) at the NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC). During the cruise, 38 REA sites were surveyed at Swains in the American Samoa region. At each REA site, fish biologists entered the water and conducted a fine-scale (~700 m^2) and high degree of taxonomic resolution REA survey to assess and monitor species diversity, size distribution, and abundance of fish in shallow-water hard-bottom (less than 30 m) habitats. Reef fish assessment surveys were focused on cataloging the diversity (species richness), abundance (numeric density) and biomass (fish mass per unit area) of diurnally active reef fish assemblages. The stationary point count (SPC) method was used to quantify reef fish species. Two divers lay out a 30 m transect line, and position themselves at the 7.5 and 22.5 meter marks. The SPC biologist then records estimated size and abundance of all fish within a visually estimated 15-m diameter cylinder centered on the stationary diver (7.5-m radius, total area ~ 177m^2 per cylinder). The diver first spends 5 minutes identifying all fish species in the cylindrical area, then proceeds to count and estimate size (total length) for each in a series of "instantaneous" point counts or sweeps of the cylinder. Fish were identified at the species level, wherever possible. All reef-associated fish, including those in the water column, were surveyed. The survey time for each stationary point count survey was approximately 20 min and generally four stationary point count surveys (two per diver) were conducted at each fish REA site. After completing REA surveys, divers noted the presence, at the survey site, of any unusual fish species not counted during SPC counts, in order to facilitate species lists per location.
Part of a long-term monitoring program which documents status and trends of coral reef ecosystems within the United States Pacific Territories.
Maximum depth was 28 meters.
Ground Condition
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)
NOAA IRC
NMFS/PIFSC/CRED
1845 WASP Blvd., Building 176
e-mail preferred
Paula Ayotte, Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED); Marie Ferguson, Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED); Kevin Lino, Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED); Kaylyn McCoy, Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED); Marc Nadon, Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED); Jill Zamzow, Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED); Hailey Ramey, external partner; Ben Ruttenberg, external partner
Observations at each site were made by divers who have been trained, and met minimum standards in identifying species present at the survey locations and in estimating size of fishes in survey counts. However, all species identifications are made visually, sometimes in situations where a fish is only briefly seen. Observations, including species identification and sizing, were periodically checked during the expedition for consistency between divers, and little discrepancy was noted between divers. Data is checked after each cruise, but given the size of the data set, there remains some possibility of typographical or other errors.
The same methods of data collection were used at each of the sites surveyed at this location, and were conducted by the same scientists. Periodic examination of the data through the duration of the trip showed no clear indication of diver bias or other discrepancies.
The survey sites were randomly selected using a systematic process based on available habitat and bathymetric habitats. However, although efforts are made to include broad spatial coverage, weather conditions and other environmental constraints may have prevented the team from surveying exposed reef areas.
GPS unit
Instrument parameters
Dive computer and SCUBA depth gauge
REA surveys are investigations that provide a high degree of taxonomic resolution for reef fish communities. The surveys were conducted by teams of two fish divers following a random stratified design. Sites were randomly chosen within three depth strata for hard-bottom or unknown reef areas. These areas included forereef slopes of individual islands at depths up to 30 meters, lagoonal-type patch reefs and offshore oceanic banks. 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, if any.
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.
Contact CRED data management team for information
