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General Information

File Identifier:	gov.noaa.nodc:0270551
Metadata Date Stamp:	2023-02
Organization:	NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
Organization Role:	custodian

Identification Information

Title:

Benthic Surveys in Aua, American Samoa: benthic images collected during belt transect surveys from 09-12-2022 to 09-22-2022 (NCEI Accession 0270551)

Abstract:

This accession describes the imagery collected in 2022 of Aua Reef, American Samoa by the Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD) of NOAA, funded by the Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP), to study effects of land-based source pollution by establishing biological, physical, and chemical baselines. In September 2022, NOAA scientists conducted benthic survey protocols at 18 study sites in Aua, American Samoa. The surveys implemented a one-stage stratified random sampling (StRS) design and the survey domain encompassed the majority of the mapped area of reef and hard bottom habitats in the 0 to 6 m depth range. Photoquadrat benthic images were collected along belt transect surveys of coral demography according to protocols established by NOAA National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP) in 2015. Thirty images were collected along one, haphazardly laid, 30-m transects. Still photographs were collected to record the benthic community composition at predetermined points along belt transect with a high-resolution digital camera mounted on a pole. Photographs were taken every 1 m from the 1 m to the 30 m mark. This work generates 30 photographs per site, which are later analyzed by ESD staff and partners using the computer program CoralNet. This analysis is the basis for estimating benthic cover and composition at each site, which is documented and archived separately. The StRS design effectively reduces estimate variance through stratification using environmental covariates and by sampling more sites rather than more transects per site. Therefore, site-to-site comparisons should proceed with caution.

Browse Graphic

Browse Graphic URL:	https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/metadata/landing-page/bin/gfx?id=gov.noaa.nodc:0270551
Browse Graphic Caption:	Preview graphic
Browse Graphic Type:	JPEG

Data Theme

Theme Topics:

Environment and Conservation, Oceans and Estuaries, Imagery and Base Maps

Spatial Domain

West Bounding Longitude:	-170.669
South Bounding Latitude:	-14.2881
East Bounding Longitude:	-170.665
North Bounding Latitude:	-14.2717

Data Quality Information

Scope (quality information applies to):

Dataset

Contact Information

Email:	ncei.info@noaa.gov
Contact Website:	https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/contact

Metadata Reference Information

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