Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED), Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) 20130118 spreadsheet http://www.pifsc.noaa.gov/cred/eco_assess.php 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. 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. 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 20120328 20120330 Ground Condition Complete asNeeded -170.6808019 -170.67263173 -14.28706602 -14.29516353 None Marine Ecosystem Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program (RAMP) Rapid Ecological Assessments (REA) Coral Reef Ecosystem Benthic Cover American Samoa Tutuila CoRIS Discovery Thesaurus Numeric Data Sets > Biology CoRIS Theme Thesaurus EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs > Coral reef ecology EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef monitoring and assessment EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef monitoring and assessment > Rapid assessment studies ISO 19115 Topic Category biota 002 None American Samoa Tutuila CoRIS Place Thesaurus OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > American Samoa > Tutuila Island (14S170W0016) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > American Samoa > American Samoa > Tutuila Island (14S170W0016) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > American Samoa > Tutuila Island > Faga'alu (14S170W0005) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Pago Pago Harbor > Faga'alu (14S170W0005) CoRIS Region AmSam None 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) Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED), Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) mailing and physical address

1125B Ala Moana Blvd.

Honolulu HI 96814 USA 808-983-5300 808-983-3730 nmfs.pic.credinfo@noaa.gov e-mail preferred Cristi Richards, Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED); Rodney Withall, Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED) Not applicable Unclassified Not applicable Oracle 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. The same methods of data collection were used at each of the sites surveyed at this location, and were conducted by the same scientist. The survey sites were selected to be representative of the dominant habitats at this reef system. GPS Unit 1 Instrument parameters Dive computer and SCUBA depth gauge 0.3 Instrument parameters 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. Unknown 0.0001 0.0001 Decimal degrees World Geodetic System 1984 (WGS84) Geodetic Reference System 80 (GRS80) 6378137 298.2572236 Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED), Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Data Manager mailing and physical address

1125B Ala Moana Blvd.

Honolulu HI 96814 USA 808-983-5300 808-983-3730 nmfs.pic.credinfo@noaa.gov e-mail preferred Offline Data 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. xls (Microsoft Excel worksheet) or csv (comma-separated values) CD-ROM or email ISO 9660 None if receiving the data online Contact CRED data management team for information Contact CRED data management team for information 20130118 Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED), Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) mailing and physical address

1125B Ala Moana Blvd

Honolulu HI 96814 USA 808-983-5300 808-983-3730 nmfs.pic.credinfo@noaa.gov e-mail preferred FGDC Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata FGDC-STD-001-1998 http://www.coris.noaa.gov/metadata/records/html/cred_metadata_benthic_rea_lpi_tut_mar2012.html 6627