Inter-disciplinary study of flow dynamics and sedimentation stress effects on coral colonies using the Line Point Intercept Method in Faga'alu Bay, American Samoa in March 2012

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What does this data set describe?

Title:
Inter-disciplinary study of flow dynamics and sedimentation stress effects on coral colonies using the Line Point Intercept Method in Faga'alu Bay, American Samoa in March 2012
Abstract:
The field data described herein are part of the CRCP-funded project aimed at establishing baseline Rapid Ecological Assessment (REA) surveys for coral reef benthic cover and composition at Faga'alu Bay, Tutuila, American Samoa. Line point intercept (LPI) surveys and benthic composition assessments were conducted from 20120326 to 20120331 at 21 sites by the Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED) of the NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC).Benthic biologists from NOAA's Coral Reef Ecosystem Division conducted Line Point Intercept surveys to quantitatively document the benthic cover at pre-determined REA sites. Two linear 25 m transects were surveyed with a 5 m inter-transect region between the end of Transect 1 and the start of Transect 2. The LPI diver determines the benthic composition at 20 cm intervals for a total of 125 data points per transect. All living benthic elements (e.g., coral, algae, and other invertebrates) were identified to the lowest taxonomic level possible, often substituting functional group categories for turf algae and crustose coralline algae when identification in the field was extremely difficult. In cases where the substrate is bare or covered with turf algae, the substrate composition is also noted as either sand, rock, rubble, carbonate pavement, or dead coral. The data allows for the assessment and monitoring of species composition and abundance and provide the basis for computing quantitative estimates of percent cover at higher taxonomic levels like functional group (live coral, macroalgae, turf algae) or on a finer taxonomic resolution such as genus level.
Supplemental_Information:
Maximum depth was 18 meters. Benthic components observed: Acanthastrea, Acropora, Amansia, Astreopora, Bryopsis, Caulerpa, Cheilosporum, Chlorodesmis, Cladiella, Coralline algae, Coscinaraea, Crustose coralline algae, Cyanobacteria, Cyphastrea, Dictyota, Diploastrea, Echinophyllia, Echinopora, Favia, Favites, Fungia, Galaxea, Goniastrea, Halimeda, Haloplegma, Hydnophora, Isopora, Leptastrea, Lobophora, Lobophyllia, Lobophyton, Merulina, Mesophyllum, Millepora, Montastrea, Montipora, Oxypora, Palythoa, Pavona, Peyssonnelia, Platygyra, Pocillopora, Porifera, Porites, Psammocora, Rhodactis, Rhodymenia, Sand, Sarcophyton, Sinularia, Turf algae, Valonia
  1. How should this data set be cited?

    Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED), Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 20130118, Inter-disciplinary study of flow dynamics and sedimentation stress effects on coral colonies using the Line Point Intercept Method in Faga'alu Bay, American Samoa in March 2012.

    Online Links:

  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?

    West_Bounding_Coordinate: -170.6808019
    East_Bounding_Coordinate: -170.67263173
    North_Bounding_Coordinate: -14.28706602
    South_Bounding_Coordinate: -14.29516353

  3. What does it look like?

  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?

    Beginning_Date: 28-Mar-2012
    Ending_Date: 30-Mar-2012
    Currentness_Reference: Ground Condition

  5. What is the general form of this data set?

    Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: spreadsheet

  6. How does the data set represent geographic features?

    1. How are geographic features stored in the data set?

    2. What coordinate system is used to represent geographic features?

      Horizontal positions are specified in geographic coordinates, that is, latitude and longitude. Latitudes are given to the nearest 0.0001. Longitudes are given to the nearest 0.0001. Latitude and longitude values are specified in Decimal degrees.

      The horizontal datum used is World Geodetic System 1984 (WGS84).
      The ellipsoid used is Geodetic Reference System 80 (GRS80).
      The semi-major axis of the ellipsoid used is 6378137.
      The flattening of the ellipsoid used is 1/298.2572236.

  7. How does the data set describe geographic features?

Who produced the data set?

  1. Who are the originators of the data set? (may include formal authors, digital compilers, and editors)

  2. Who also contributed to the data set?

    Cristi Richards, Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED); Rodney Withall, Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED)

  3. To whom should users address questions about the data?

    Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED), Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
    1125B Ala Moana Blvd.
    Honolulu, HI 96814
    USA

    808-983-5300 (voice)
    808-983-3730 (FAX)
    nmfs.pic.credinfo@noaa.gov

    Contact_Instructions: e-mail preferred

Why was the data set created?

The field data described herein are part of the CRCP-funded project aimed at establishing baseline Rapid Ecological Assessment (REA) surveys for coral reef benthic cover and composition at Faga'alu Bay, Tutuila, American Samoa.

How was the data set created?

  1. From what previous works were the data drawn?

  2. How were the data generated, processed, and modified?

    Date: Unknown (process 1 of 1)
    REA surveys are investigations that provide a high degree of taxonomic resolution for coral, algae, and other macroinvertebrate communities. During REA surveys, biological assessment teams follow highly structured protocols that are repeated at each REA site. Upon arrival at an REA site, divers entered the water and deployed two 25 m transect lines which are shared with coral surveys that gather community structure, diversity, recruitment, and health status data. The sampling effort takes between 60 and 80 min to complete. The selection of REA sites was made implementing a randomization tool on a GIS habitat bathymetry map of Faga’alu Bay, and the spatial effort allocation was proportional to the percentage of target reef habitat within two main depth strata (shallow: ~ 6–30 ft, and medium: 30–60 ft). Factors considered during REA site selection included ensuring a range of sample sites representative of the benthic and reef fish habitats in the Bay. It is important to note that access to REA sites can be limited by wave exposure, weather conditions, and other environmental factors such as currents. Transect placement was guided by: (1) a focus on hard-bottom communities; (2) deploying lines along an isobath to the extent possible at each site, and (3) laying the transect lines into the prevailing current.

  3. What similar or related data should the user be aware of?

How reliable are the data; what problems remain in the data set?

  1. How well have the observations been checked?

    The benthic cover parameter observations were made by a single diver who is a benthic ecologist. The benthic cover assessment surveys are conducted one time per site per survey year; it is not replicated.

  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?

    GPS Unit

  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?

    Dive computer and SCUBA depth gauge

  4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?

    The survey sites were selected to be representative of the dominant habitats at this reef system.

  5. How consistent are the relationships among the observations, including topology?

    The same methods of data collection were used at each of the sites surveyed at this location, and were conducted by the same scientist.

How can someone get a copy of the data set?

Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?

Access_Constraints: None
Use_Constraints:
Please cite CRED when using data. Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED), Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

  1. Who distributes the data set? (Distributor 1 of 1)

    Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED), Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
    Data Manager
    1125B Ala Moana Blvd.
    Honolulu, HI 96814
    USA

    808-983-5300 (voice)
    808-983-3730 (FAX)
    nmfs.pic.credinfo@noaa.gov

    Contact_Instructions: e-mail preferred
  2. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set?

    Offline Data

  3. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?

    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.

  4. How can I download or order the data?

  5. Is there some other way to get the data?

    Contact CRED data management team for information

  6. What hardware or software do I need in order to use the data set?

    Contact CRED data management team for information

Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:
Last modified: 18-Jan-2013
Metadata author:
Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED), Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
1125B Ala Moana Blvd
Honolulu, HI 96814
USA

808-983-5300 (voice)
808-983-3730 (FAX)
nmfs.pic.credinfo@noaa.gov

Contact_Instructions: e-mail preferred
Metadata standard:
FGDC Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata (FGDC-STD-001-1998)

Generated by mp version 2.9.13 on Tue Jun 18 06:50:22 2013