Inter-disciplinary study of flow dynamics and sedimentation stress effects on coral colonies using a Modified Belt Survey in Faga'alu Bay, American Samoa in August 2012

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Metadata:

Identification_Information:
Citation:
Citation_Information:
Originator:
Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED), Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Publication_Date: 20130118
Title:
Inter-disciplinary study of flow dynamics and sedimentation stress effects on coral colonies using a Modified Belt Survey in Faga'alu Bay, American Samoa in August 2012
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: spreadsheet
Online_Linkage: <http://www.pifsc.noaa.gov/cred/coral.php>
Description:
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. Quantitative belt transect surveys for coral generic abundance and diseases condition were conducted, from 20120813 to 20120816, at 17 survey sites by the Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED) of the NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC). As a part of REA surveys, the coral belt surveys were focused on quantifying the diversity, abundance, and density, of the anthozoan and hydrozoan corals as well as the condition and health state of the coral reef populations. The surveys were conducted along two consecutively-placed, 25 m transect lines. The belt width was 1 m wide, 0.5 m on each side of the transect line. Within each 25 m transect, five 2.5 m segments were surveyed (beginning at points: 0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 meters), whereby in each segment, all coral colonies whose center fell within 0.5 m of either side of the transect line were identified to the lowest taxonomic level possible (genus or species) and two planar size metrics were collected: maximum diameter and diameter perpendicular to the maximum diameter. In addition, the extent of mortality, both recent and old, was estimated for each colony. Observers paid special attention to identifying as best as possible the extent of the former live colony. When a coral colony exhibited signs of disease or compromised health, additional information was recorded including type of affliction (bleaching, skeletal growth anomaly, white syndrome, tissue loss other than white syndrome, trematodiasis, necrosis, other, pigmentation responses, algal overgrowth, and predation), severity of the affliction (mild, moderate, marked, severe, acute), as well as photographic documentation and occasional tissue samples. Tissue samples were cataloged and fixed in buffered zinc-formalin solution for further histopathological analyses. Raw survey data included species presence and relative abundance, colony counts per taxon, size (width and length), mortality, predation, and health status. A surveyed area was ranging from 10 m^2 to 25 m^2 per site.
Purpose:
The field data described herein are part of the CRCP-funded project aimed at establishing baseline Rapid Ecological Assessment (REA) survyes for coral reef benthic cover and composition at Faga'alu Bay, Tutuila, American Samoa.
Supplemental_Information:
Maximum depth was 10 feet. Coral genera observed: August, Acropora, Cyphastrea, Fungia, Goniopora, Leptastrea, Millepora, Montipora, Pavona, Pocillopora, Porites, Psammocora
Time_Period_of_Content:
Time_Period_Information:
Range_of_Dates/Times:
Beginning_Date: 20120814
Ending_Date: 20120816
Currentness_Reference: Ground Condition
Status:
Progress: Complete
Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: asNeeded
Spatial_Domain:
Bounding_Coordinates:
West_Bounding_Coordinate: -170.6808019
East_Bounding_Coordinate: -170.67263173
North_Bounding_Coordinate: -14.28706602
South_Bounding_Coordinate: -14.29516353
Keywords:
Theme:
Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: None
Theme_Keyword: Marine Ecosystem
Theme_Keyword: Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program (RAMP)
Theme_Keyword: Rapid Ecological Assessments (REA)
Theme_Keyword: Coral Reef
Theme_Keyword: Coral
Theme_Keyword: American Samoa
Theme_Keyword: Tutuila
Theme:
Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: CoRIS Discovery Thesaurus
Theme_Keyword: Numeric Data Sets > Biology
Theme:
Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: CoRIS Theme Thesaurus
Theme_Keyword: EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs
Theme_Keyword:
EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs > Coral reef ecology
Theme_Keyword:
EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs > Coral reef ecology > Coral cover
Theme_Keyword:
EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs > Coral Reef Ecology > BioDiversity
Theme_Keyword:
EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef monitoring and assessment
Theme_Keyword:
EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef monitoring and assessment > Rapid assessment studies
Theme:
Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: ISO 19115 Topic Category
Theme_Keyword: biota
Theme_Keyword: 002
Place:
Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: None
Place_Keyword: American Samoa
Place_Keyword: Tutuila
Place:
Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: CoRIS Place Thesaurus
Place_Keyword:
OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > American Samoa > Tutuila Island (14S170W0016)
Place_Keyword:
COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > American Samoa > American Samoa > Tutuila Island (14S170W0016)
Place_Keyword:
COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > American Samoa > Tutuila Island > Faga'alu (14S170W0005)
Place_Keyword:
OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Pago Pago Harbor > Faga'alu (14S170W0005)
Place:
Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: CoRIS Region
Place_Keyword: AmSam
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)
Point_of_Contact:
Contact_Information:
Contact_Organization_Primary:
Contact_Organization:
Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED), Pacific Islands
Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC), National Marine
Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA)
Contact_Address:
Address_Type: mailing and physical address
Address: 1125B Ala Moana Blvd.
City: Honolulu
State_or_Province: HI
Postal_Code: 96814
Country: USA
Contact_Voice_Telephone: 808-983-5300
Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 808-983-3730
Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: nmfs.pic.credinfo@noaa.gov
Contact_Instructions: e-mail preferred
Data_Set_Credit:
Erin Looney, Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED); Bernardo Vargas-Angel, Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED)
Security_Information:
Security_Classification_System: Not applicable
Security_Classification: Unclassified
Security_Handling_Description: Not applicable
Native_Data_Set_Environment: Oracle
Data_Quality_Information:
Attribute_Accuracy:
Attribute_Accuracy_Report:
Observations were made by two divers who are experts in coral biology. The population parameter survey is conducted one time per site per survey year; it is not replicated.
Logical_Consistency_Report:
With the exception of the non-quantitative survey along the backreef, the same methods of data collection were used at each of the sites surveyed at this location and were conducted by the same scientists.
Completeness_Report:
The survey sites were selected to be representative of the dominant habitats at this reef system. Efforts were made to include broad spatial coverage of the reef area, but weather conditions or other environmental constraints may have precluded the team from surveying windward or exposed sites.
Positional_Accuracy:
Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy:
Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Report: GPS Unit
Quantitative_Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Assessment:
Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Value: 1
Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Explanation: Instrument parameters
Vertical_Positional_Accuracy:
Vertical_Positional_Accuracy_Report: Dive computer and SCUBA depth gauge
Quantitative_Vertical_Positional_Accuracy_Assessment:
Vertical_Positional_Accuracy_Value: 0.3
Vertical_Positional_Accuracy_Explanation: Instrument parameters
Lineage:
Process_Step:
Process_Description:
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.
Process_Date: Unknown
Spatial_Reference_Information:
Horizontal_Coordinate_System_Definition:
Geographic:
Latitude_Resolution: 0.0001
Longitude_Resolution: 0.0001
Geographic_Coordinate_Units: Decimal degrees
Geodetic_Model:
Horizontal_Datum_Name: World Geodetic System 1984 (WGS84)
Ellipsoid_Name: Geodetic Reference System 80 (GRS80)
Semi-major_Axis: 6378137
Denominator_of_Flattening_Ratio: 298.2572236
Distribution_Information:
Distributor:
Contact_Information:
Contact_Organization_Primary:
Contact_Organization:
Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED), Pacific Islands
Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC), National Marine
Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA)
Contact_Position: Data Manager
Contact_Address:
Address_Type: mailing and physical address
Address: 1125B Ala Moana Blvd.
City: Honolulu
State_or_Province: HI
Postal_Code: 96814
Country: USA
Contact_Voice_Telephone: 808-983-5300
Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 808-983-3730
Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: nmfs.pic.credinfo@noaa.gov
Contact_Instructions: e-mail preferred
Resource_Description: Offline Data
Distribution_Liability:
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.
Standard_Order_Process:
Digital_Form:
Digital_Transfer_Information:
Format_Name:
xls (Microsoft Excel worksheet) or csv (comma-separated values)
Digital_Transfer_Option:
Offline_Option:
Offline_Media: CD-ROM or email
Recording_Format: ISO 9660
Fees: None if receiving the data online
Custom_Order_Process: Contact CRED data management team for information
Technical_Prerequisites: Contact CRED data management team for information
Metadata_Reference_Information:
Metadata_Date: 20130118
Metadata_Contact:
Contact_Information:
Contact_Organization_Primary:
Contact_Organization:
Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED), Pacific Islands
Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC), National Marine
Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA)
Contact_Address:
Address_Type: mailing and physical address
Address: 1125B Ala Moana Blvd
City: Honolulu
State_or_Province: HI
Postal_Code: 96814
Country: USA
Contact_Voice_Telephone: 808-983-5300
Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 808-983-3730
Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: nmfs.pic.credinfo@noaa.gov
Contact_Instructions: e-mail preferred
Metadata_Standard_Name: FGDC Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata
Metadata_Standard_Version: FGDC-STD-001-1998
CoRIS:
CoRIS_Metadata_Link:
<http://www.coris.noaa.gov/metadata/records/html/cred_metadata_benthic_rea_blt_tut_aug2012.html>
CoRIS_Tracking_ID: 6624
Generated by mp version 2.9.13 on Tue Jun 18 06:50:22 2013