1995 Quantitative Survey of the Corals of American Samoa (NODC Accession 0001972)

Frequently-anticipated questions:

• What does this data set describe?
  1. How should this data set be cited?
  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?
  3. What does it look like?
  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?
  5. What is the general form of this data set?
  6. How does the data set represent geographic features?
  7. How does the data set describe geographic features?
• Who produced the data set?
  1. Who are the originators of the data set?
  2. Who also contributed to the data set?
  3. To whom should users address questions about the data?
• Why was the data set created?
• How was the data set created?
  1. From what previous works were the data drawn?
  2. How were the data generated, processed, and modified?
  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?
  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?
  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?
  4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?
  5. How consistent are the relationships among the data, including topology?
• How can someone get a copy of the data set?
  1. Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?
  2. Who distributes the data?
  3. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set?
  4. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?
  5. How can I download or order the data?
• Who wrote the metadata?

What does this data set describe?

1. How should this data set be cited?

   Mundy, Dr. Craig , Unpublished material, 1995 Quantitative Survey of the Corals of American Samoa (NODC Accession 0001972).

   Online Links:

   • <http://www.nodc.noaa.gov>

2. What geographic area does the data set cover?

   West_Bounding_Coordinate: -170.7896

   East_Bounding_Coordinate: -169.4449

   North_Bounding_Coordinate: -14.1618

   South_Bounding_Coordinate: -14.3662

3. What does it look like?

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

   Beginning_Date: Oct-1995

   Ending_Date: Nov-1995

   Currentness_Reference: ground condition

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

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?

7. How does the data set describe geographic features?

   Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:

   files are found in directory ../../dataFILENAME FORMAT HISTORY CONTENT App_raw1.wb1 Quattro Pro Original Raw Data App_raw1.xls MS Excel Copy sameApp_raw1.csv ASCII CSV Copy sameSamoa201995.pdf PDF Original ReportSamoa201995.doc MS DOC Copy sameSamoa201995.txt ASCII Text Copy sameSite_Locations.xls MS Excel Original LocationsSite_Locations.csv ASCII CSV Copy sameNote, the Site_Locations.xls was acquired from the dataset(A.Green, 1996).

   Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation: none

Who produced the data set?

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

2. Who also contributed to the data set?

   Dept Marine & Wildlife Resources, American Samoa

3. To whom should users address questions about the data?
   Dr. Craig Mundy
   University of Tasmania
   Biologist
   Private Bag 49
   Hobart, Tasmania 0000
   Australia
   

   (03)6227-7232 (voice)
   Craig.Mundy@utas.edu.au
   

Why was the data set created?

Provide a status of the reefs for scientific and managerial purposes.

How was the data set created?

1. From what previous works were the data drawn?

   Green, 2002 (source 1 of 4)

   Green, A. L. , 2002, Status of the coral reefs of the Samoan Archipelago: Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources, PO Box 3730, Pago Pago, American Samoa. 96799.

   Type_of_Source_Media: paper

   Source_Contribution: Status of the coral reefs of the Samoan Archipelago

   Green, 1996 (source 2 of 4)

   Green, A. L. , 1996, Status of the coral reefs of the Samoan Archipelago: Report to the Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources: Report to the Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources, PO Box 3730, Pago Pago, American Samoa. 96799, Pago Pago, American Samoa.

   Type_of_Source_Media: paper

   Source_Contribution: Status of the coral reefs

   Mundy, 1991 (source 3 of 4)

   Mundy, C. N. , 1991, A critical evaluation of the Line Intercept Transect methodology for surveying sessile coral reef benthos.

   Other_Citation_Details: Msc Thesis. James Cook University of North Queensland. 127pp.

   Type_of_Source_Media: paper

   Source_Contribution: critical evaluation

   Mundy, 1996 (source 4 of 4)

   Mundy, C. N. , 1996, A Quantitative Survey of the Corals of American Samoa: Report to the Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources: Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources, PO Box 3730, Pago Pago, American Samoa. 96799, Pago Pago, American Samoa.

   Other_Citation_Details: 33pp

   Type_of_Source_Media: paper

   Source_Contribution: Quantitative Survey

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

   Date: Unknown (process 1 of 1)

   Field Surveys: Quantitative surveys of hard corals were carried out at 29 sites around Tutuila and the Manu'a Islands during October and November 1995. These surveys were designed to complement reef fish surveys currently underway in the American Samoa Archipelago (Green, in prep). At each site five replicate 20m x 0.5m belt transects were surveyed on the reef slope at 10m depth, except at Fagaitua where only three transects were surveyed. All transects were located randomly within sites as it has been shown that random transects within fixed sites are as effective and more efficient for long-term monitoring of corals than fixed transects (Mundy 1991; see also Green 1989). In addition to reef slope surveys, coral communities were surveyed at two sites on the reef flat at Manu'a Islands (Olosega and Ofu) and at two sites on the reef flat at Tutuila (Fatumafuti and Nu'uuli). A single lagoon site was surveyed on Tutuila at Faga'alu at approximately 4m depth. Detailed descriptions of all sites and transect locations can be found in Green (in prep). Each transect was surveyed by laying a 20m fibre tape close to the substratum parallel to the reef edge. A coral was considered to be within the transect if the centre of the colony lay within 25cm of either side of the tape. All corals within the belt were identified to species where possible, and the maximum diameter of each colony was measured and placed in one of seven size classes as shown in Table 1. Table 1. Size categories and corresponding colony size used to record size of colonies in belt transects. Size class Colony size 1 <= 5cm2 > 5 cm and <= 10 cm3 > 10 cm and <= 20 cm4 > 20 cm and <= 40 cm5 > 40 cm and <= 80 cm6 > 80 cm and <= 160 cm7 > 160 cm. Data analysis: Transect data were used to estimate colony density, population size structure, and percent cover for each species at each site. The midpoint of each size class was used to calculate the approximate area of each colony. Percent cover was calculated by expressing the sum of the areas for each species as a proportion of total transect area (10m2). Multivariate analyses were used to identify patterns in coral community structure around the islands of American Samoa. Cluster analysis (flexible UPGMA) and Multi-dimensional scaling (non-metric) (MDS) were used to test for effects of habitat (reef flat vs. lagoon vs. reef slope) and exposure (NW, NE, SW, SE, Manu'a; on coral community structure. Cluster analyses and MDS were based on Bray-Curtis similarity matrices using species densities (mean number of colonies per site) and the average percent cover of each species at each site. Green, A.L. 2002 Status of the coral reefs of the Samoan Archipelago: Report to the Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources, PO Box 3730, Pago Pago, American Samoa. 96799, 85pp. Green, A.L. 1996 Status of the coral reefs of the Samoan Archipelago: Report to the Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources, PO Box 3730, Pago Pago, American Samoa. 96799, 120pp. Mundy, C.N. 1991. A critical evaluation of the Line Intercept Transect methodology for surveying sessile coral reef benthos. Msc Thesis. James Cook University of North Queensland. 127pp.Mundy, C.N. 1996. A Quantitative Survey of the Corals of American Samoa: Report to the Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources, PO Box 3730, Pago Pago, American Samoa. 96799, 33pp.

   Person who carried out this activity:
   

   Dr. Craig Mundy
   University of Tasmania
   Biologist
   Private Bag 49
   Hobart, Tasmania 0000
   Australia
   

   (03)6227-7232 (voice)
   Craig.Mundy@utas.edu.au
   

   Data sources used in this process:

   • Green, 2002
   • Green, 1996
   • Mundy, 1991
   • Mundy, 1996

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?

2. How accurate are the geographic locations?

3. How accurate are the heights or depths?

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

   none

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

   see lineage, process step

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:

NOAA and NODC would appreciate recognition as the resource from which these data were obtained in any publications and/or other representations of these data.

1. Who distributes the data set? (Distributor 1 of 1)
   NOAA/NESDIS/National Oceanographic Data Center
   c/o Data Access Group, User Services Team
   SSMC-3 Fourth Floor
   Silver Spring, MD 20910-3282
   USA
   

   301-713-3277 (voice)
   301-713-3302 (FAX)
   services@nodc.noaa.gov
   

   Hours_of_Service: 8am-5pm, Monday through Friday

2. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set?

   NODC Accession Number 0001972

3. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?

   NOAA makes no warranty regarding these data, expressed or implied, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty. NOAA and NODC cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in these data, nor as a result of the failure of these data to function on a particular system.

4. How can I download or order the data?
   • Availability in digital form:

     Data format:	PDF, Quattro Pro, MS Word and Excel Online
     Network links:	<http://www.nodc.noaa.gov/cgi-bin/search/prod/accessionsView.pl/details/1972>

   • Cost to order the data:

     Prices vary depending on data set, output medium and ordering mechanism. A standard handling charge, with additional costs for special handling, may be added to the basic cost of the data.

   • Special instructions:

     Prepayment by check, money order or bank card is required. Orders may be placed via fax, email, regular mail, telephone or via the NNDC Online Store.

Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:

Last modified: 17-Dec-2008
Last Reviewed: 15-Oct-2008
To be reviewed: 01-Aug-2006

Metadata author:

Mr. Patrick C. Caldwell
NOAA/NESDIS/NODC/NCDDC
Hawaii/US Pacific Liaison
1000 Pope Road, MSB 316
Honolulu, Hawaii 96822
USA

(808)-956-4105 (voice)
(808) 956-2352 (FAX)
caldwell@hawaii.edu

Hours_of_Service: 8 AM to 5 PM weekdays

Contact_Instructions: check services@nodc.noaa.gov if not available

Metadata standard:

FGDC Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata (FGDC-STD-001-1998)