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

Metadata also available as - [Outline] - [Parseable text] - [XML]

Frequently anticipated questions:

What does this data set describe?

Title:
CRED REA Belt Surveys of Coral Population and Disease Assessments at Tutuila 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 17-28 February 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 23 surveys in total conducted at REA sites around Tutuila 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 22 meters. Corals genera and disease observed: Year Region Island SPC_Code Species 2010 SAMOA Tutuila PHAI Psammocora haimeana 2010 SAMOA Tutuila MOSP Montipora sp 2010 SAMOA Tutuila MANG Montipora angulata 2010 SAMOA Tutuila LEPT Leptastrea sp 2010 SAMOA Tutuila PAVS Pavona sp 2010 SAMOA Tutuila ACYT Acropora cytherea 2010 SAMOA Tutuila MCUR Montastrea curta 2010 SAMOA Tutuila PASP Palythoa sp 2010 SAMOA Tutuila PRUS Porites rus 2010 SAMOA Tutuila LPUR Leptastrea purpurea 2010 SAMOA Tutuila POSP Porites sp 2010 SAMOA Tutuila LEPS Leptoria sp 2010 SAMOA Tutuila LESP Leptoseris sp 2010 SAMOA Tutuila HEXE Hydnophora exesa 2010 SAMOA Tutuila PVAR Pavona varians 2010 SAMOA Tutuila CLSP Cladiella sp 2010 SAMOA Tutuila PMEA Pocillopora meandrina 2010 SAMOA Tutuila ASAM Acropora samoensis 2010 SAMOA Tutuila CYPS Cyphastrea sp 2010 SAMOA Tutuila PLSP Platygyra sp 2010 SAMOA Tutuila SISP Sinularia sp 2010 SAMOA Tutuila MONS Montastrea sp 2010 SAMOA Tutuila ACSP Acropora sp 2010 SAMOA Tutuila FASP Favia sp 2010 SAMOA Tutuila PEYD Pocillopora eydouxi 2010 SAMOA Tutuila MCAL Montipora caliculata 2010 SAMOA Tutuila FMAT Favia matthaii 2010 SAMOA Tutuila MFOV Montipora foveolata 2010 SAMOA Tutuila CEXE Coscinaraea exesa 2010 SAMOA Tutuila GFAS Galaxea fascicularis 2010 SAMOA Tutuila EGEM Echinopora gemmacea 2010 SAMOA Tutuila LPRU Leptastrea pruinosa 2010 SAMOA Tutuila COSP Coscinaraea sp 2010 SAMOA Tutuila PCHI Pavona chiriquensis 2010 SAMOA Tutuila PAUS Porites australiensis 2010 SAMOA Tutuila LMYC Leptoseris mycetoseroides 2010 SAMOA Tutuila PNIE Psammocora nierstraszi 2010 SAMOA Tutuila FPAL Favia pallida 2010 SAMOA Tutuila GOAS Goniastrea aspera 2010 SAMOA Tutuila PVER Pocillopora verrucosa 2010 SAMOA Tutuila PWOO Pocillopora woodjonesi 2010 SAMOA Tutuila PMIN Pavona minuta 2010 SAMOA Tutuila SCAS Stylophora sp 2010 SAMOA Tutuila FUSP Fungia sp 2010 SAMOA Tutuila SYSP Symphyllia sp 2010 SAMOA Tutuila FAVS Favites sp 2010 SAMOA Tutuila PPIN Platygyra pini 2010 SAMOA Tutuila ALSP Alveopora sp 2010 SAMOA Tutuila CYSP Cyphastrea sp 2010 SAMOA Tutuila GOSP Goniastrea sp 2010 SAMOA Tutuila ECHL Echinophyllia sp 2010 SAMOA Tutuila FGRA Fungia granulosa 2010 SAMOA Tutuila PLOB Porites lobata 2010 SAMOA Tutuila CCOL Coscinaraea columna 2010 SAMOA Tutuila PLUT Porites lutea 2010 SAMOA Tutuila ECHP Echinopora sp 2010 SAMOA Tutuila RHSP Rhodadactis sp 2010 SAMOA Tutuila ASSP Astreopora sp 2010 SAMOA Tutuila STSP Stylocoeniella sp 2010 SAMOA Tutuila FSTE Favia stelligera 2010 SAMOA Tutuila LOBP Lobophyllia sp 2010 SAMOA Tutuila STYS Stylocoeniella sp 2010 SAMOA Tutuila AHUM Acropora humilis 2010 SAMOA Tutuila AVAL Acropora valida 2010 SAMOA Tutuila AMYR Astreopora myriophthalma 2010 SAMOA Tutuila PVEN Pavona venosa 2010 SAMOA Tutuila ICRA Isopora crateriformis 2010 SAMOA Tutuila FDAN Favia danae 2010 SAMOA Tutuila MINC Montipora incrassata 2010 SAMOA Tutuila GEDW Goniastrea edwardsi 2010 SAMOA Tutuila MVEC Montipora verrucosa 2010 SAMOA Tutuila HMIC Hydnophora microconis 2010 SAMOA Tutuila LBEW Leptastrea bewickensis 2010 SAMOA Tutuila POCS Pocillopora sp 2010 SAMOA Tutuila FPEN Favites pentagonia 2010 SAMOA Tutuila LINC Leptoseris incrustans 2010 SAMOA Tutuila LSCA Leptoseris scabra 2010 SAMOA Tutuila EECH Echinophyllia echinata 2010 SAMOA Tutuila MPEL Montipora peltiformis 2010 SAMOA Tutuila GRET Goniastrea retiformis 2010 SAMOA Tutuila UNKW Unknown 2010 SAMOA Tutuila PACS Pachyseris sp 2010 SAMOA Tutuila PMAL Pavona maldivensis 2010 SAMOA Tutuila AHYA Acropora hyacinthus 2010 SAMOA Tutuila PMUR Porites murrayensis 2010 SAMOA Tutuila FSCU Fungia scutaria 2010 SAMOA Tutuila FFUN Fungia fungites 2010 SAMOA Tutuila SREC Symphyllia recta 2010 SAMOA Tutuila ACAS Acanthastrea sp 2010 SAMOA Tutuila ELAM Echinopora lamellosa 2010 SAMOA Tutuila PCYL Porites cylindrica 2010 SAMOA Tutuila PACH Pachyclavularia sp 2010 SAMOA Tutuila FABD Favites abdita 2010 SAMOA Tutuila ANOB Acropora nobilis 2010 SAMOA Tutuila AABR Acropora abrotanoides 2010 SAMOA Tutuila PLDA Platygyra daedalea 2010 SAMOA Tutuila ISOP Isopora sp 2010 SAMOA Tutuila LOBS Lobophyllia sp 2010 SAMOA Tutuila PSSP Pssamocora sp 2010 SAMOA Tutuila APAN Acropora paniculata 2010 SAMOA Tutuila GASP Goniastrea aspera 2010 SAMOA Tutuila MTUR Montipora turgescens 2010 SAMOA Tutuila PMON Porites monticulosa 2010 SAMOA Tutuila FFAV Favia favus 2010 SAMOA Tutuila DISP Diploastrea sp 2010 SAMOA Tutuila PRSP Protopalythoa sp 2010 SAMOA Tutuila MISP Millepora sp 2010 SAMOA Tutuila ARAN Astreopora randalli 2010 SAMOA Tutuila MVER Montipora verrilli 2010 SAMOA Tutuila TUBA Tubastrea sp 2010 SAMOA Tutuila MAMP Merulina ampliata 2010 SAMOA Tutuila MELE Mycedium elephantotus 2010 SAMOA Tutuila TURS Turbinaria sp 2010 SAMOA Tutuila PDAM Pocillopora damicornis 2010 SAMOA Tutuila SARM Stylocoeniella armata 2010 SAMOA Tutuila FREP Fungia repanda 2010 SAMOA Tutuila SARS Sarcophyton sp 2010 SAMOA Tutuila HLIM Herpolitha limax 2010 SAMOA Tutuila SPIS Stylophora pistillata 2010 SAMOA Tutuila HYSP Hydnophora sp

Year Region Island DZ_Code Diseases Present 2010 SAMOA Tutuila ALG Algal Infection 2010 SAMOA Tutuila BLE Bleaching 2010 SAMOA Tutuila CFD Coralline Fungal Disease 2010 SAMOA Tutuila CLD Coralline Lethal Disease 2010 SAMOA Tutuila CLOD Coralline Lethal Orange Disease 2010 SAMOA Tutuila DIS Discoloration 2010 SAMOA Tutuila FUG Fungal Infection 2010 SAMOA Tutuila HYP Pigmentation Response 2010 SAMOA Tutuila PRE Predation 2010 SAMOA Tutuila SGA Skeletal Growth Anomalies 2010 SAMOA Tutuila TIN Tube worm infections 2010 SAMOA Tutuila TLS Tissue Loss

  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), 20120228, CRED REA Belt Surveys of Coral Population and Disease Assessments at Tutuila Island, American Samoa in 2010.

    Online Links:

  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?
    West_Bounding_Coordinate: -170.8612764
    East_Bounding_Coordinate: -170.5045149
    North_Bounding_Coordinate: -14.22005532
    South_Bounding_Coordinate: -14.38281981
  3. What does it look like?
  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?
    Beginning_Date: 17-Feb-2010
    Ending_Date: 28-Feb-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)
Generated by mp version 2.9.44 on Wed Jul 16 20:56:14 2025