Benthic surveys along a water quality gradient in Aua, American Samoa: comprehensive assessment of coral demography (adult and juvenile corals) from belt transect surveys in 2022

Description

This metadata record describes the coral demographic data of Aua Reef, American Samoa, generated from observations by divers of the Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD) of the NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC). Benthic coral demographic surveys were conducted within belt transects of specified length and width for two life stages (juveniles and adults) in Aua, American Samoa in September 2022. Surveys were conducted at 18 randomly-selected sites and provide information on adult coral colony counts, morphology, size, partial mortality (old and recent dead), presence of disease and other compromised health conditions, including bleaching. Juvenile colony surveys include morphology and size. Taxonomic identification of adult colonies is to the species level (where possible) and genus level for juveniles. The survey design and site selection of stratified-random sites (StRS) follows protocols established by the National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP).

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
NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program Website Unknown Link to the NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program website Open resource
NOAA CRCP Land-based Sources of Pollution HTML NOAA CRCP page 'Reduce Land-Based Sources of Pollution'; includes other related links Open resource
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Keywords Unknown The information provided on this page seeks to define how the GCMD Keywords are structured, used and accessed. It also provides information on how users can participate in the further development of the keywords. Open resource
Full Metadata Record Unknown View the complete metadata record on InPort for more information about this dataset. Open resource
NOAA Data Management Plan (DMP) PDF NOAA Data Management Plan for this record on InPort. Open resource
Citation URL Unknown Overview of NOAA Ecosystem Sciences Division, Archipelagic Research Program's methods to assess corals. Open resource
PIFSC website Unknown Overview of research and programs at the Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC) Open resource
ESD_CORAL_OBS_ADU_Aua_2022.csv Unknown Coral demographic data of adult corals from belt transect surveys conducted by the NOAA PIFSC Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD) of Aua Reef, American Samoa in September 2022 Open resource
ESD_CORAL_OBS_JUV_Aua_2022.csv Unknown Coral demographic data of juvenile corals from belt transect surveys conducted by the NOAA PIFSC Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD) of Aua Reef, American Samoa in September 2022. Open resource
Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center Website Unknown Pacific Island Fisheries Science Center homepage Open resource

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