32707
Benthic Surveys in Faga'alu, American Samoa: benthic cover derived from analysis of benthic images collected during belt transect surveys of coral demography in 2015 and 2020
Faga'alu: benthic cover 2015 and 2020
Data Set
Published / External
58564
Benthic Missions
Project
On Going
2022
The benthic cover data described herein were generated by the NOAA Ecosystem Sciences Division (former Coral Reef Ecosystem Program, CREP) from the quantitative analysis of photoquadrat benthic images using the image analysis software CoralNet, whereby random points are projected on each image and the benthic elements falling directly underneath each point are identified. The images were collected at sites in Faga'alu Bay in 2015 and 2020 during belt transect surveys of coral demography. The data can be accessed online via the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) Ocean Archive. The benthic images and coral demography data are described and archived separately.
These data are part of a NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP) funded project aimed at establishing baseline data for benthic cover and composition via Rapid Ecological Assessment (REA) surveys conducted by the NOAA Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD) (formerly Coral Reef Ecosystem Program -CREP) at Faga'alu Bay, Tutuila, American Samoa between 2012 and 2020.
In August 2012 Faga'alu watershed in American Samoa was adopted by the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force Watershed Partnership Initiative as a priority site, with the objective to reduce inputs of land-based sources of pollution to nearby coastal areas and coral reefs within the watershed. The Samoa Maritime rock quarry was found to be a major contributor to the periodic flux of excessive sediments onto the adjacent reef in Faga'alu. In September of December 2014, mitigation actions were implemented at the Samoa Maritime Quarry, including the installation of drainage systems, alternative ground cover, and retention ponds.
Data were collected to assess the effectiveness of management actions to reduce land-based sources of pollution impacts undertaken at the Samoa Maritime rock quarry. Pre-intervention baseline data were collected in 2013 and subsequent post-intervention monitoring in 2015 and 2020. Funding provided by the NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP) through two internal projects entitled. 1) Comprehensive Baseline Assessment and Pilot Test of Outcome Performance Measures in Faga'alu Bay, American Samoa, awarded to Suzie Holst. 2) Status and Trends Assessment for Land-based Sources of Pollution Impacts on Benthic Reef Communities in Faga'alu Bay and Vatia Bay, American Samoa, awarded to the NOAA Ecosystem Sciences Division.
Vargas-Angel B, Schumacher BD. 2018. Baseline surveys for coral reef community structure and demographics in Vatia Bay and Faga'alu Bay, American Samoa. Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, PIFSC Special Publication, SP-18-002, 38 p. https://doi.org/10.7289/V5/SP-PIFSC-18-002.
and
Vargas-Angel B, Huntington B. 2020. Status and trends assessments for land-based sources of pollution impacts on benthic reef communities in Faga'alu Bay, American Samoa. U.S. Dept. of Commerce, NOAA Technical Memorandum NOAA-TM-NMFS-PIFSC-109, 38 p. doi:10.25923/0gvj-zm69.
An Erosion and Sediment Control Plan was implemented at Samoa Maritime quarry to reduce excess sedimentation from quarry operations, and mitigation actions from the Plan took place in 2014 to install retention basins designed to stem the input of excess sediments into Faga'alu Stream below the quarry. REA surveys conducted by ESD in 2012 and 2013 serve as the pre-mitigation baseline, and surveys conducted in 2015 and 2020 document the downstream effects (e.g., changes to the coral community) in Faga'alu Bay from the mitigation efforts to reduce the sediment loads upstream.
Theme
ISO 19115 Topic Category
biota
Theme
CRCP Project
31090
Theme
CRCP Project
31259
Theme
CRCP Project
Comprehensive baseline assessment and pilot test of outcome performance measures in Faga'alu Bay
Theme
CRCP Project
Status and trends assessment for LBSP impacts on reef communities in Faga'alu Bay and Vatia Bay
Theme
CoRIS Discovery Thesaurus
Numeric Data Sets > Benthic
Theme
CoRIS Theme Thesaurus
EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Aquatic Habitat > Benthic Habitat
Theme
CoRIS Theme Thesaurus
EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Aquatic Habitat > Reef Habitat
Theme
CoRIS Theme Thesaurus
EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Aquatic Habitat > Reef Habitat > Coral cover
Theme
CoRIS Theme Thesaurus
EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Vegetation > Algae > Algal Cover
Theme
CoRIS Theme Thesaurus
EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Vegetation > Algae > Crustose Coralline Algae
Theme
CoRIS Theme Thesaurus
EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Vegetation > Algae > Encrusting Macroalgae
Theme
CoRIS Theme Thesaurus
EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Vegetation > Algae > Fleshy Macroalgae
Theme
CoRIS Theme Thesaurus
EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Vegetation > Algae > Turf Algae
Theme
CoRIS Theme Thesaurus
EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment
Theme
CoRIS Theme Thesaurus
EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment > Baseline studies
Theme
CoRIS Theme Thesaurus
EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment > Benthos Analysis
Theme
CoRIS Theme Thesaurus
EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment > Benthos Analysis > Transect Monitoring
Theme
CoRIS Theme Thesaurus
EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment > Benthos Analysis > Transect Monitoring > Belt Transect
Theme
CoRIS Theme Thesaurus
EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment > Photographic Analysis
Theme
CoRIS Theme Thesaurus
EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs
Theme
CoRIS Theme Thesaurus
EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs > Coral Reef Ecology
Theme
CoRIS Theme Thesaurus
EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs > Coral Reef Ecology > Benthic biology
Theme
CoRIS Theme Thesaurus
EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs > Coral Reef Ecology > Coral Cover
Theme
CoRIS Theme Thesaurus
EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs > Coral Reef Ecology > Hard Coral Cover
Theme
CoRIS Theme Thesaurus
EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs > Coral Reef Ecology > Octocoral Cover
Theme
NODC DATA TYPES THESAURUS
REEF AND/OR BOTTOM REGIME - PERCENT COVER
Theme
NODC OBSERVATION TYPES THESAURUS
survey - biological
Theme
NODC OBSERVATION TYPES THESAURUS
survey - coral reef
Theme
NODC OBSERVATION TYPES THESAURUS
survey - diver
Theme
NODC OBSERVATION TYPES THESAURUS
survey - photographs
Theme
NODC PROJECT NAMES THESAURUS
CORAL REEF STUDIES
Theme
NODC PROJECT NAMES THESAURUS
Coral Reef Conservation Program
Theme
NODC SUBMITTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS
US DOC; NOAA; NMFS; Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center; Ecosystem Sciences Division; Coral Reef Ecosystem Program
Theme
CRED
Theme
CREP
Theme
Coral Reef Ecosystem Division
Theme
Coral Reef Ecosystem Program
Theme
ESD
Theme
Ecosystem Sciences Division
Theme
PIFSC
Theme
Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center
Spatial
CoRIS Place Thesaurus
COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > American Samoa > Tutuila Island > Faga'alu (14S170W0005)
Spatial
CoRIS Place Thesaurus
OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Pago Pago Harbor > Faga'alu (14S170W0005)
Spatial
NODC SEA AREA NAMES THESAURUS
South Pacific Ocean
Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center
Honolulu
HI
USA
Data Set
CSV Files
None Planned
Table (digital)
Raw survey data includes metadata for each survey; site characteristics; unique image name and individual point observations identified at three functional group levels of benthic cover: Tier 1 (e.g., hard coral, macroalgae, etc.), Tier 2 (e.g., massive, branching, foliose, encrusting, etc.), and Tier 3 (e.g., Astreopora sp, Favia sp, etc.).
https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/51072
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.
PIFSC Coral Reef Ecosystem Program and funded by the NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program
Not applicable
Not applicable
Not applicable
51072
Benthic_Cover_DataDictionary_Fagaalu_2020
BIA CNET Data Dictionary
Published / External
Completed
Data Table
Yes
GISDAT
A definition of the columns present in the benthic cover dataset
1
ROUNDID
NUMERIC
22
Yes
No
28
0
Active
Unique Identifier for ROUND record.
2
MISSIONID
TEXT
30
Yes
No
Active
Mission Identifier
3
REGION_NAME
TEXT
30
No
No
Active
One of the five Pacific Island regions CRED surveys (American Samoa)
4
ISLAND
TEXT
150
No
No
Active
Island or Atoll surveyed (Tutuila)
5
SITE
TEXT
150
No
No
Active
The character code for the site surveyed. Combines a 3-letter island code with a site number
5
SITEVISITID
NUMERIC
No
No
Active
The unique numeric identifier/code for the site surveyed.
6
LATITUDE
NUMERIC
22
No
No
38
8
Active
Site latitude
7
LONGITUDE
NUMERIC
22
No
No
28
8
Active
Site longitude
8
REEF_ZONE
TEXT
150
No
No
Active
The reef zone for the given site (Forereef, Backreef or Lagoon)
9
DEPTH_BIN
TEXT
60
No
No
Active
Classification of depth (shallow, mid, deep) based on midpoint between minimum and maximum depths of replicates at this site
10
PERM_SITE
NUMERIC
22
No
No
5
0
Active
Permanent site flag
11
CLIMATE_STATION_YN
NUMERIC
22
No
No
Active
Climate station flag
12
MIN_DEPTH
NUMERIC
22
No
No
38
8
Active
Minimum depth (measured in feet)
13
MAX_DEPTH
NUMERIC
22
No
No
28
8
Active
Maximum depth (measured in feet)
14
DATE_
DATE
7
Yes
No
Active
Date the survey was conducted
15
IMAGE_NAME
TEXT
4000
No
No
Active
Image name (SITE_YEAR_REP_PHOTOID)
16
OBS_YEAR
TEXT
16
No
No
Active
Year the survey was conducted
17
REP
TEXT
4
No
No
Active
Letter associated to replicate (A, B, C, or D)
17
REPLICATE
TEXT
No
No
Active
Letter associated to replicate (A, B) starting in 2018 (REP column in previous years).
18
PHOTOID
TEXT
4000
No
No
Active
Image number along transect
19
ANALYST
TEXT
20
No
No
Active
Initials of the image analyst
20
TIER_1
TEXT
5
No
No
Active
Category classification code of the point on the analyzed image
21
CATEGORY_NAME
TEXT
20
No
No
Active
Category classification name of the point on the analyzed image
22
TIER_2
TEXT
5
No
No
Active
Subcategory classification code of the point on the analyzed image
23
SUBCATEGORY_NAME
TEXT
50
No
No
Active
Subcategory classification name of the point on the analyzed image
24
TIER_3
TEXT
5
No
No
Active
Genera classification code of the point on the analyzed image
25
GENERA_NAME
TEXT
50
No
No
Active
Genera classification name of the point on the analyzed image
26
X_POS
NUMERIC
22
No
No
38
Active
X position of the analyzed point
27
Y_POS
NUMERIC
22
No
No
Active
Y position of the analyzed point
51073
Benthic Image analysis classification scheme
Published / External
Completed
Classification tiers, categories, and definitions
Data File
Yes
GISDAT
Classification tiers, categories, and definitions.
Coralline Alga (CCA)
VARCHAR2
No
No
Active
For the purpose of these image analyses, CCA is defined as any calcified, hard, non-segmented, encrusting or branched, red (or pink) alga
Hard Coral
VARCHAR2
No
No
Active
For the purposes of this image analysis, hard corals are defined as those that are responsible for the persistent, hard, three-dimensional structure of a coral reef. In general, this classification will include all members of Order Scleractinia, as well as some other small groups of non-scleractinian corals with hard skeletons, including fire corals (Family Milleporidea), blue coral (Order Helioporacea), and Stylasterid hydrocorals (Family Stylasteridae)
Massive (MASS), Tabulate (TAB), Encrusting (ENC), Branching (BR), Columnar (COL), Free-living (FREE), Foliose (FOL), Non-scleractinian hard coral (NS)
Macroalga
VARCHAR2
No
No
Active
Any alga whose structure can be seen in the photograph should be labeled as a macroalga rather than turf. Macroalgae possess numerous different types of morphologies that resemble leaves, blades, umbrellas, ferns, grapes, balls, feathers, branched shrubs, etc. Some macroalgae do possess calcification; however, for the purpose of image analyses here, calcified and fleshy representatives (with the exception of Halimeda sp., below) will be lumped together.
Mobile Fauna
VARCHAR2
No
No
Active
Photographs capture a solitary instant in time. As a result, creatures that are not permanently affixed to a single location on the sea floor (e.g. sea cucumbers, sea stars, sea urchins, fish) sometimes also appear in photographs intended for benthic analysis. While every effort should be made to discern what the benthic classification is underneath the mobile fauna, if that is not possible, this classification category should be used. This is both a Tier 1 and Tier 2 classification category.
Mobile fauna (MOBF)
Sediment
VARCHAR2
No
No
Active
Sediment describes a "soft" benthos smaller than rubble (i.e., < 5 mm) which due to it's unsettled nature generally, but not always, is devoid of organisms growing on the individual gains comprising the sediment. However, sea grasses, macroalgae including Halimeda spp., and blue-green algae (a.k.a. cyanobacteria) can be found in soft sediment areas. If a classification point falls on an identifiable organism growing in sediment, that's what should be used for the point classification. The sediment classification should only be used if point falls on the sediment itself.
Sand (SAND), Fine sediment (FINE)
Sessile Invertebrate
VARCHAR2
No
No
Active
Many organisms besides corals and algae are found in coral reef ecosystems. This Tier 1 classification is to be used for animals that are permanently affixed to the substrate. Animals with ability to move about the substrate or swim are classified as Mobile Fauna.
Giant clam (GC), Bivalve (BI), Sponge (SP), Tunicate (TUN), Bryozoan (BRY), Corallimorph (CMOR), Anemone (AMNE), Zoanthid (ZO), Unclassified (UI)
Soft Coral
VARCHAR2
No
No
Active
For the purposes of this image analysis, this category groups a collection of fairly related organisms that do not produce a substantial, rigid calcium carbonate skeleton and therefore are neither reef-builders nor do they lay new foundations for future corals. This classification will include members of Subclass Alcyonaria (octocorals), except blue coral and the organ pipe coral, which includes true soft corals, sea fans, sea whips, sea pens, and also members of the Order Antipatheria (black corals).
Octocoral (OCT), Unclassified (USC)
Turf Alga
VARCHAR2
No
No
Active
Turf algae is a category that includes numerous species from multiple evolutionary groups (red algae, green algae, brown algae, and cyanobacteria). These types of mixed algal assemblages are typically short in stature (< 2 cm in height), and often contain filamentous algae (hair-like morphologies) as opposed to fleshy algae (thick branched or sheet-like morphologies).
Visible turf on rubble substrate (TURFR), Visible turf on hard[bottom] substrate (TURFH), [Invisible turf on] Rubble substrate (RUB), [Invisible turf on] Hard[bottom] substrate (HARD)
Unclassified
VARCHAR2
No
No
Active
A particular analysis point may be unclassified because image quality was poor, because not enough of the surrounding area is visible to definitively classify the organism underneath the point, because the benthos is obstructed by something other than mobile fauna, tape, wand, or shadow (e.g. bubble or smear on the camera lens, high turbidity in the water column).
Tape, Wand, or Shadow (TAPE, WAND, SHAD), Unclassified (UNK)
Data Set Credit
2015
Organization
NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program
CRCP
1305 East West Highway 10th Floor
Silver Spring
MD
20910-3281
(301) 713-3155
https://coralreef.noaa.gov
Link to the NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program website
Online Resource
Funders
Data Steward
2015
Person
Vargas-Angel, Bernardo
bernardo.vargasangel@noaa.gov
1845 Wasp Blvd.
Honolulu
HI
96818
USA
(808)725-5423
Email preferred
Distributor
2018
Organization
National Centers for Environmental Information - Silver Spring, Maryland
NCEI-MD
NOAA/NESDIS E/OC SSMC3, 4th Floor, 1351 East-West Highway
Silver Spring
MD
20910-3282
(301) 713-3277
Distributor
2015
2017
Person
Kanemura, Troy T
troy.kanemura@noaa.gov
1845 Wasp Blvd.
Honolulu
HI
96818
USA
(808)725-5422
Email preferred
Metadata Contact
2021
Person
Luers, Lori H
lori.luers@noaa.gov
1845 Wasp Blvd.
Honolulu
HI
96818
USA
Email preferred
Metadata Contact
2015
2020
Person
DesRochers, Annette M
annette.desrochers@noaa.gov
1845 Wasp Blvd.
Honolulu
HI
96818
USA
(808)725-5461
8 am - 5 pm
Email preferred
Originator
2015
Organization
Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center
PIFSC
pifsc.info@noaa.gov
1845 Wasp Blvd.
Honolulu
HI
96818
USA
808-725-5360
https://www.pifsc.noaa.gov
Pacific Island Fisheries Science Center homepage
Online Resource
8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Point of Contact
2015
Person
Vargas-Angel, Bernardo
bernardo.vargasangel@noaa.gov
1845 Wasp Blvd.
Honolulu
HI
96818
USA
(808)725-5423
Email preferred
Ground Condition
Faga'alu Bay, Tutuila, American Samoa
-170.68277777778
-170.67413972
-14.28695194
-14.295
Location of Rapid Ecological Assessment (REA) surveys in Faga'alu Bay in 2015 and 2020
Range
2015-10-29
2015-11-11
Location of Rapid Ecological Assessment (REA) surveys in Faga'alu Bay in 2015
Range
2020-01-15
2020-01-24
Location of Rapid Ecological Assessment (REA) surveys in Faga'alu Bay in 2020 during fly-in mission.
Unclassified
Not applicable
Not applicable
NOAA Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD; Former Coral Reef Ecosystem Program -CREP) Data Sharing Recommendations, version 9.0 updated August 12, 2015:
CREP welcomes the opportunity to collaborate on research issues contributing to the scientific basis for better management of marine ecosystems. CREP has a very diverse set of field activities that generates large volumes of data using an array of data collection protocols.
The following recommendations are for your consideration as you use this data:
1) Data analyses should take all field exigencies into account. The most effective way to do this would be active collaboration with CREP principal investigators.
2) In all presentations, product releases, or publications using data generated by CREP, proper acknowledgement of both CREP and the individuals responsible for data collection is expected. Citing the DOI (if available) is preferred, a non-DOI example is listed below.
3) If you collect or generate data for the same study areas, CREP requests that you share relevant information on complimentary data collections.
4) Those receiving data are strongly urged to inform the CREP Data Management Team of any errors and discrepancies that are discovered during the course of using these data. They are further urged to bring to the attention of the Team all problems and difficulties encountered in using these data. This information is necessary in order to improve the collections and to facilitate more efficient and economical data processing and retrieval. The users are asked to supply copies of any missing data that may be located, and to provide information as to significant subsets and special aggregations of data that are developed in using the material provided.
Example citation:
"This publication makes use of data products provided by the Coral Reef Ecosystem Program (CREP), Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), with funding support from the NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP). The analysis and interpretations presented here are solely that of the current authors.
Data can be accessed online via the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) Ocean Archive.
None
Please cite NOAA Coral Reef Ecosystem Program (CREP) when using the data.
Example
Cite as: Vargas-Angel, Bernardo; Ecosystem Sciences Division; Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (2022). Benthic Surveys in Faga'alu, American Samoa: benthic percent cover derived from analysis of benthic images collected during belt transect surveys of coral demography in 2015 and 2020. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/32707
None
None
http://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0169725
2018
Organization
National Centers for Environmental Information - Silver Spring, Maryland
MV_BIA_CNET_ANALYSIS_DATA_FAGAALU_2015.csv
Benthic cover data derived from analysis of benthic images collected during belt transect surveys conducted by the NOAA Coral Reef Ecosystem Program (CREP) in Faga'alu, Tutuila, American Samoa in 2015.
2017-12-21T00:00:00
csv (comma-separated values)
CSV - Comma Separated Values (Text)
http://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0259709
2018
Organization
National Centers for Environmental Information - Silver Spring, Maryland
BENTHIC_COVER_FAGAALU_MP2006_2020.csv
Benthic cover from benthic image analysis with CoralNet for fly-in Mission to Faga'alu, American Samoa in 2020.
csv (comma-separated values)
CSV - Comma Separated Values (Text)
http://coralnet.ucsd.edu/
CoralNet
Browse Graphic
The online tool used to analyze the benthic images for benthic cover.
http://data.nodc.noaa.gov/coris/library/NOAA/CRCP/project/917/Fagaalu_TM_CRCP_23_DOI_Cover_200.jpg
Baseline Assessment of Faga'alu Watershed
Browse Graphic
JPG
NOAA Technical Memorandum CRCP 23
http://www.coris.noaa.gov/activities/fagaaluWatershed/
Baseline Assessment of Faga'alu Watershed: A Ridge to Reef Assessment in Support of Sediment Reduction Activities and Future Evaluation of their Success
Browse Graphic
NOAA Technical Memorandum CRCP 23
https://doi.org/10.7289/V5/SP-PIFSC-18-002
Baseline surveys for coral reef community structure and demographics in Vatia Bay and Faga'alu Bay, American Samoa
Browse Graphic
PDF
PIFSC Special Publication, SP-18-002, 38 p.
https://repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/27088
Status and Trends Assessment for Land-based Sources of Pollution Impacts on Benthic Reef Communities in Faga'alu Bay, American Samoa.
Online Resource
NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-PIFSC-109, 38 p
PIFSC Oracle database view for benthic cover as calculated by annotations using CoralNet: MV_BIA_CNET_ANALYSIS_DATA
Data sets derived from image analysis are highly reliable within the stipulated taxonomic context. Each time a production run is performed for a region a calibration exercise is conducted by all staff that will participate in that round of image analysis classification. Usually 100-150 photos are selected from the photos being processed as part of the production run series, or other region-relevant photo streams. Then, image analysis software assigns 10 random fixed points per photo. Each photo analyst is asked to classify the same set of points in each of the photos used as part of the calibration exercise. The goal of the calibration exercise is to assess inter-observer variability. Inter-observer variability rates are available upon request for each production run.
The data set derived from the image analysis is as good as the images themselves; poor images with low contrast, inappropriate white balance, or out of focus may have to be discarded. Therefore, percent cover estimates for some sites may derive from differing number of images (points) between sites. Although the analysis process is statistically robust to allow for differing n (points) between sites, users should be aware of this limitation.
Classification is completed to the functional group/genus level (Tier 3).
Benthic images were collected during coral demographic surveys in 2012, 2015, and 2020 in Faga'alu; however, only the images collected during the most recent surveys in 2015 and 2020 were analyzed.
The same method of image analysis was used at each surveyed site.
Quality control is enforced by means of point-to-point, inter-observer calibration exercises that are conducted before each image analysis production series. Training modules and standard operating procedures have also been developed and documented to ensure improved performance and consistent imagery analysis results produced by multiple analysts.
Yes
Unknown
Yes
No
Unknown
NCEI-MD
Unknown
NOAA IRC and NOAA Fisheries ITS resources and assets.
The data described here were derived from the analysis of benthic images collected along photo-quadrat surveys by the NOAA Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD):
In 2015 photo quadrat images were taken every meter from the 1-m to the 15-m mark along TWO, 18-m transects per site (n = 30 images).
In 2020 photo quadrat images were taken every meter from the 1-m to the 30-m mark along one 30-m transect line (n = 30 images).
Baseline surveys for coral reef community structure and demographics in Vatia Bay and Faga'alu Bay, American Samoa.
Organization
Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, PIFSC
Originator
https://doi.org/10.7289/V5/SP-PIFSC-18-002
OAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, PIFSC Special Publication, SP-18-002
Vargas-Angel B, Schumacher BD. 2018. Baseline surveys for coral reef community structure and demographics in Vatia Bay and Faga'alu Bay, American Samoa. Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, PIFSC Special Publication, SP-18-002, 38 p.
Lozada-Misa P, Schumacher BD, Vargas-Angel B. 2017. Analysis of benthic survey images via CoralNet : a summary of standard operating procedures and guidelines. Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, PIFSC Administrative Report, H-17-02, 169 p. https://doi.org/10.7289/V5/AR-PIFSC-H-17-02.
Organization
Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, PIFSC
https://repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/14205
The published benthic image analysis SOP using CoralNet.
Status and trends assessments for land-based sources of pollution impacts on benthic reef communities in Faga'alu Bay, American Samoa (2020)
Organization
Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center
Originator
https://repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/27088
NOAA technical memorandum NMFS-PIFSC ; 109
Vargas-Angel B, Huntington B. 2020. Status and trends assessments for land-based sources of pollution impacts on benthic reef communities in Faga'alu Bay, American Samoa. U.S. Dept. of Commerce, NOAA Technical Memorandum NOAA-TM-NMFS-PIFSC-109, 38 p. doi:10.25923/0gvj-zm69.
1
Still photographs were collected during belt transect surveys of coral demography to record the benthic community composition at predetermined points along the transect lines with a high-resolution digital camera mounted on a pole. 30 photoquadrat images were collected at each site.
In 2015 the photoquadrat surveys were conducted along two, independent 18 meter transects per site. Photos of the benthic substrate were taken at one meter intervals starting at meter 1, along the left hand side of each 18 meter transect (15 images/transect; 30 images total)
In 2020 the photoquadrat surveys were conducted along one, 30 meter transect per site. Photos of the benthic substrate were taken at one meter intervals starting at meter 1, along the left hand side of the transect (30 images/transect; 30 images total)
The benthic photoquadrat images were analyzed by using the web-based annotation tool CoralNet (Beijbom et al. 2016). CoralNet assigns 10 random points per photo and the benthic elements falling directly underneath each point is identified to three functional group levels: Tier 1 (e.g. hard coral, macroalgae, etc.), Tier 2 (e.g. Hard coral by morphology = massive, branching, etc.), and Tier 3 (e.g. Hard coral by genus and morphology). The detailed list of each functional group level or tier is included in the benthic image analysis classification scheme. See the published standard operating procedures for further details.
Lozada-Misa P, Schumacher BD, Vargas-Angel B. 2017. Analysis of benthic survey images via CoralNet : a summary of standard operating procedures and guidelines. Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, PIFSC Administrative Report, H-17-02, 169 p. https://doi.org/10.7289/V5/AR-PIFSC-H-17-02.
51073
Entity
Benthic Image analysis classification scheme
51072
Entity
Benthic_Cover_DataDictionary_Fagaalu_2020
25371
Data Set
Benthic Surveys in Faga'alu, American Samoa since 2012: benthic images collected during belt transect surveys in 2012, 2015, 2020
Cross Reference
25283
Data Set
Benthic Surveys in Faga'alu, American Samoa: belt transect surveys of corals in March and August of 2012
Cross Reference
25370
Data Set
Benthic Surveys in Faga'alu, American Samoa: benthic cover derived from line-point intercept (LPI) surveys in August 2012
Cross Reference
25369
Data Set
Benthic Surveys in Faga'alu, American Samoa: comprehensive assessment of coral demography (adult and juvenile corals) from belt transect surveys in 2013, 2015, and 2020
Cross Reference
gov.noaa.nmfs.inport:32707
Annette DesRochers
2016-05-10T16:08:39
SysAdmin InPortAdmin
2023-10-17T16:12:08
2022-09-19
Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center
PIFSC
1845 Wasp Blvd.
Honolulu
HI
96818
USA
808-725-5300
http://www.pifsc.noaa.gov
8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
1001
Public
No
2022-08-30
1 Year
2023-08-30