Benthic surveys along a water quality gradient in Aua, American Samoa: benthic cover derived from analysis of benthic images collected in 2022

Description

This metadata record describes the benthic cover data of Aua Reef, American Samoa, produced from the benthic imagery analysis performed by the Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD) of the Pacific Island Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC) and funded by the Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP). Benthic imagery was collected at 18 randomly-selected sites during coral demographic surveys by the NOAA ESD during the 2022 fly-in mission to American Samoa (MP2206). After processing and sorting site photos, imagery was qualitatively analyzed using the web-based CoralNet image annotation tool. CoralNet projects random points on each image, and the benthic elements falling directly underneath each point are identified by trained scientists. The source imagery analyzed to produce benthic cover estimates as well as coral demography data are described and archived separately, see 'Related Items' below. Data from benthic surveys of Aua Reef establishes a comprehensive biological baseline for land-based sources of pollution impacts on benthic composition and coral demography. These efforts feed into the higher-level CRCP objectives by establishing an in-situ tracking system to assess the effects of management and mitigation strategies and activities in the target watersheds to reduce land-based sources of pollution impacts on coral reefs.

Resources

Name Format Description Link
0 Benthic cover data derived from analysis of benthic images collected during belt transect surveys conducted by the NOAA Ecosystem Sciences Division, (ESD) in Aua, Tutuila, American Samoa in 2022. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0275987
0 Pacific Island Fisheries Science Center homepage https://www.pifsc.noaa.gov
0 CoralNet home page. The online tool used to analyze the benthic images for benthic cover. http://coralnet.ucsd.edu/
21 NOAA CRCP page 'Reduce Land-Based Sources of Pollution'; includes other related links https://coralreef.noaa.gov/issues/lbsp.html
0 Overview of research and programs at the Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC) https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/region/pacific-islands#science
0 View the complete metadata record on InPort for more information about this dataset. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/67996
33 NOAA Data Management Plan for this record on InPort. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inportserve/waf/noaa/nmfs/pifsc/dmp/pdf/67996.pdf
0 Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2024. GCMD Keywords, Version 19. Greenbelt, MD: Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). URL (GCMD Keyword Forum Page): https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD+Keywords https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords
0 Benthic cover data derived from analysis of benthic images collected during belt transect surveys conducted by the NOAA Ecosystem Sciences Division, (ESD) in Aua, Tutuila, American Samoa in 2022. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0275987
0 View the complete metadata record on InPort for more information about this dataset. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/67996
0 Pacific Island Fisheries Science Center homepage https://www.pifsc.noaa.gov
0 CoralNet home page. The online tool used to analyze the benthic images for benthic cover. http://coralnet.ucsd.edu/
21 NOAA CRCP page 'Reduce Land-Based Sources of Pollution'; includes other related links https://coralreef.noaa.gov/issues/lbsp.html
0 Overview of research and programs at the Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC) https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/region/pacific-islands#science
0 Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2025. GCMD Keywords, Version 22. Greenbelt, MD: Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). URL (GCMD Keyword Forum Page): https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD+Keywords https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords
33 NOAA Data Management Plan for this record on InPort. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inportserve/waf/noaa/nmfs/pifsc/dmp/pdf/67996.pdf

Tags

  • benthic missions
  • coral cover
  • doc/noaa/nmfs/pifsc
  • united states of america
  • reef monitoring and assessment
  • aquatic habitat
  • corals
  • benthic habitat
  • benthic
  • pifsc
  • biosphere
  • photographic analysis
  • oceans
  • algae
  • coral reef conservation program
  • benthic cover
  • american samoa
  • hard coral cover
  • macroalgal cover
  • aua (14s170w0028)
  • noaa
  • numeric data sets
  • algal cover
  • nmfs
  • baseline studies
  • imagery
  • coralnet
  • us doc
  • archipelagic research program
  • pacific islands fisheries science center
  • u.s. department of commerce
  • earth science
  • benthic biology
  • national marine fisheries service
  • vegetation
  • fleshy macroalgae
  • crustose coralline algae
  • 31303
  • land-based source pollution
  • chartered vessel
  • encrusting macroalgae
  • linking watershed management actions to reef health in american samoa
  • benthos analysis
  • transect monitoring
  • reef habitat
  • image analyses
  • coral reef ecology
  • ocean basin
  • ecosystem sciences division
  • esd
  • coastal processes
  • lbsp
  • benthic communitiies
  • tutuila island
  • benthic species
  • zoology
  • coral reefs
  • pacific ocean
  • country/territory
  • belt transect
  • turf algae
  • south pacific ocean
  • coral reef studies

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Categories