Description
The data described herein are part of a NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP) funded project aimed establishing a baseline and assessing the status and trends for coral demographics and benthic cover and composition via Rapid Ecological Assessment (REA) surveys conducted by the NOAA Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD) -former Coral Reef Ecosystem Program (CREP), at Faga'alu Bay, Tutuila, American Samoa in 2012, 2015, and 2020.
Photoquadrat benthic images were collected in 2012, 2015, and 2020 only, via belt transect surveys of coral demography according to protocols established by ESD in 2012 and by the NOAA National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP) in 2015.
In 2012 through 2015, the survey implemented a two-stage stratified random sampling (StRS) design to assess the Faga'alu benthic coral reef community, and a one-stage StRS design in 2020. The survey domain encompassed the majority of the mapped area of reef and hard bottom habitats in the 0âÃÂÃÂ30 m depth range. The stratification scheme included cardinal position (i.e., north and south), reef zone (i.e., backreef and forereef), and depth (i.e., shallow: >0âÃÂÃÂ6 m and mid-depth: >6âÃÂÃÂ18 m). Sampling effort allocation was determined based on strata area and sites randomly located within strata. 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.
Data can be accessed online via the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) Ocean Archive, accession #0146682. The 2015 and 2020 photos have been analyzed for benthic cover (documented separately).
Data from coral demographic surveys in 2012, 2013, 2015, and 2020, in addition benthic cover data from line-point intercept surveys in 2012 were also collected ESD and are documented separately.
Resources
| Name | Format | Description | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Site Information (Fagaalu 2015).csv | Unknown | List of survey sites, including site id, location (latitude/longitude), and survey date, where photoquads were collected. | Open resource |
| http://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0146682 | Unknown | Photoquadrat benthic images collected in 2012 and 2015 at monitoring sites (30 photos per site) in Faga'alu Bay via belt transect surveys of coral demography by the NOAA Coral Reef Ecosystem Program (CREP). | Open resource |
| Site Information (Fagaalu 2012).csv | Unknown | List of survey sites, including site id, location (latitude/longitude), and survey date, where photoquads were collected. | Open resource |
| http://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0259389 | Unknown | Photoquadrat benthic images collected in 2020 at stratified randomly selected sites (30 photos per site) in Faga'alu Bay, Tutuila, American Samoa. | Open resource |
| Site_Information_Fagaalu_2020.csv | Unknown | List of survey sites, including site id, location (latitude/longitude), and survey date, where photoquadrat benthic images collected in 2020 | Open resource |
| Site Information (Fagaalu 2015).csv | Unknown | List of survey sites, including site id, location (latitude/longitude), and survey date, where photoquads were collected. | Open resource |
| https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0146682 | Unknown | Photoquadrat benthic images collected in 2012 and 2015 at monitoring sites (30 photos per site) in Faga'alu Bay via belt transect surveys of coral demography by the NOAA Coral Reef Ecosystem Program (CREP). | Open resource |
| Site Information (Fagaalu 2012).csv | Unknown | List of survey sites, including site id, location (latitude/longitude), and survey date, where photoquads were collected. | Open resource |
| Site Information (Fagaalu 2015).csv | Unknown | List of survey sites, including site id, location (latitude/longitude), and survey date, where photoquads were collected. | Open resource |
| Site Information (Fagaalu 2012).csv | Unknown | List of survey sites, including site id, location (latitude/longitude), and survey date, where photoquads were collected. | Open resource |
| https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0146682 | Unknown | Photoquadrat benthic images collected in 2012 and 2015 at monitoring sites (30 photos per site) in Faga'alu Bay via belt transect surveys of coral demography by the NOAA Coral Reef Ecosystem Program (CREP). | Open resource |
| https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0146682 | Unknown | Photoquadrat benthic images collected in 2012 and 2015 at monitoring sites (30 photos per site) in Faga'alu Bay via belt transect surveys of coral demography by the NOAA Coral Reef Ecosystem Program (CREP). | Open resource |
| Site Information (Fagaalu 2015).csv | Unknown | List of survey sites, including site id, location (latitude/longitude), and survey date, where photoquads were collected. | Open resource |
| Site Information (Fagaalu 2012).csv | Unknown | List of survey sites, including site id, location (latitude/longitude), and survey date, where photoquads were collected. | Open resource |
| https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0259389 | Unknown | Photoquadrat benthic images collected in 2020 at stratified randomly selected sites (30 photos per site) in Faga'alu Bay, Tutuila, American Samoa. | Open resource |
| Site_Information_Fagaalu_2020.csv | Unknown | List of survey sites, including site id, location (latitude/longitude), and survey date, where photoquadrat benthic images collected in 2020 | Open resource |
| https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0259389 | Unknown | Photoquadrat benthic images collected in 2020 at stratified randomly selected sites (30 photos per site) in Faga'alu Bay, Tutuila, American Samoa. | Open resource |
| Site_Information_Fagaalu_2020.csv | Unknown | List of survey sites, including site id, location (latitude/longitude), and survey date, where photoquadrat benthic images collected in 2020 | Open resource |
| Site_Information_Fagaalu_2020.csv | Unknown | List of survey sites, including site id, location (latitude/longitude), and survey date, where photoquadrat benthic images collected in 2020 | Open resource |
| https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0259389 | Unknown | Photoquadrat benthic images collected in 2020 at stratified randomly selected sites (30 photos per site) in Faga'alu Bay, Tutuila, American Samoa. | Open resource |
| NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program Website | Unknown | Link to the NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program website | Open resource |
| NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program Website | Unknown | Link to the NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program website | Open resource |
| NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program Website | Unknown | Link to the NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program website | Open resource |
| NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program Website | Unknown | Link to the NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program website | Open resource |
| Baseline surveys for coral reef community structure and demographics in Vatia Bay and Faga'alu Bay, American Samoa | Unknown | PIFSC Special Publication, SP-18-002, 38 p. | Open resource |
| Baseline surveys for coral reef community structure and demographics in Vatia Bay and Faga'alu Bay, American Samoa | Unknown | PIFSC Special Publication, SP-18-002, 38 p. | Open resource |
| Baseline surveys for coral reef community structure and demographics in Vatia Bay and Faga'alu Bay, American Samoa | Unknown | PIFSC Special Publication, SP-18-002, 38 p. | Open resource |
| Baseline surveys for coral reef community structure and demographics in Vatia Bay and Faga'alu Bay, American Samoa | Unknown | PIFSC Special Publication, SP-18-002, 38 p. | Open resource |
| GCMD Keyword Forum Page | Unknown | 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 | Open resource |
| GCMD Keyword Forum Page | Unknown | 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 | Open resource |
| GCMD Keyword Forum Page | Unknown | 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 | Open resource |
| GCMD Keyword Forum Page | Unknown | 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 | Open resource |
| Status and trends assessments for land-based sources of pollution impacts on benthic reef communities in Fagaâalu Bay, American Samoa. | Unknown | NOAA Technical Memorandum, NMFS-PIFSC-109, 38 p. | Open resource |
| Status and trends assessments for land-based sources of pollution impacts on benthic reef communities in Fagaâalu Bay, American Samoa. | Unknown | NOAA Technical Memorandum, NMFS-PIFSC-109, 38 p. | Open resource |
| Status and trends assessments for land-based sources of pollution impacts on benthic reef communities in Fagaâalu Bay, American Samoa. | Unknown | NOAA Technical Memorandum, NMFS-PIFSC-109, 38 p. | Open resource |
| Status and trends assessments for land-based sources of pollution impacts on benthic reef communities in Fagaâalu Bay, American Samoa. | Unknown | NOAA Technical Memorandum, NMFS-PIFSC-109, 38 p. | Open resource |
| Baseline Assessment of Faga'alu Watershed: A Ridge to Reef Assessment in Support of Sediment Reduction Activities and Future Evaluation of their Success | Unknown | NOAA Technical Memorandum CRCP 23 | Open resource |
| Baseline Assessment of Faga'alu Watershed: A Ridge to Reef Assessment in Support of Sediment Reduction Activities and Future Evaluation of their Success | Unknown | NOAA Technical Memorandum CRCP 23 | Open resource |
| Baseline Assessment of Faga'alu Watershed: A Ridge to Reef Assessment in Support of Sediment Reduction Activities and Future Evaluation of their Success | Unknown | NOAA Technical Memorandum CRCP 23 | Open resource |
| Full Metadata Record | Unknown | View the complete metadata record on InPort for more information about this dataset. | Open resource |
| Full Metadata Record | Unknown | View the complete metadata record on InPort for more information about this dataset. | Open resource |
| Full Metadata Record | Unknown | View the complete metadata record on InPort for more information about this dataset. | 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) | NOAA Data Management Plan for this record on InPort. | Open resource | |
| NOAA Data Management Plan (DMP) | NOAA Data Management Plan for this record on InPort. | Open resource | |
| NOAA Data Management Plan (DMP) | NOAA Data Management Plan for this record on InPort. | Open resource | |
| NOAA Data Management Plan (DMP) | NOAA Data Management Plan for this record on InPort. | Open resource | |
| Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center Website | Unknown | Pacific Island Fisheries Science Center homepage | Open resource |
| Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center Website | Unknown | Pacific Island Fisheries Science Center homepage | Open resource |
| Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center Website | Unknown | Pacific Island Fisheries Science Center homepage | Open resource |
| Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center Website | Unknown | Pacific Island Fisheries Science Center homepage | Open resource |
| PIFSC Ecological Assessment of Corals | Unknown | Online Resource | Open resource |
| PIFSC Ecological Assessment of Corals | Unknown | Online Resource | Open resource |
| PIFSC Ecological Assessment of Corals | Unknown | Online Resource | Open resource |
| PIFSC Ecological Assessment of Corals | Unknown | Online Resource | Open resource |
| Baseline Assessment of Faga'alu Watershed: A Ridge to Reef Assessment in Support of Sediment Reduction Activities and Future Evaluation of their Success | Unknown | NOAA Technical Memorandum CRCP 23 | Open resource |
Tags
- 31259
- 917
- american samoa
- baseline studies
- benthic biology
- benthic missions
- biosphere
- coastal processes
- comprehensive baseline assessment and pilot test of outcome performance measures in faga'alu bay
- coral
- coral communities
- coral cover
- coral reef conservation program
- coral reef ecology
- coral reef ecosystem division
- coral reef ecosystem program
- coral reefs
- corals
- country/territory
- cred
- crep
- doc/noaa/nmfs/pifsc
- earth science
- ecosystem sciences division
- faga'alu
- faga'alu (14s170w0005)
- habitats
- imagery
- in situ biological
- marine biology
- national marine fisheries service
- nmfs
- noaa
- ocean basin
- oceans
- pacific islands fisheries science center
- pacific ocean
- pago pago harbor
- photoquadrat images
- pifsc
- rapid assessment studies
- rapid ecological assessments
- rea
- reef monitoring and assessment
- south pacific ocean
- status and trends assessment for lbsp impacts on reef communities in faga'alu bay and vatia bay
- tutuila island
- united states of america
- u.s. department of commerce
- us doc
- visual images
- zoology