Slide Menu
Search Help Show/Hide Menu
Short Citation:
Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, 2024: Effects of water quality on non-coral communities: surveys of macroinvertebrates, benthic microalgae, and benthic foraminifera at sites along a water quality gradient in Aua, American Samoa in 2022, https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/68092.

Item Identification

Title: Effects of water quality on non-coral communities: surveys of macroinvertebrates, benthic microalgae, and benthic foraminifera at sites along a water quality gradient in Aua, American Samoa in 2022
Short Name: Aua: non-coral bioindicators for LBSP
Status: Completed
Creation Date: 2023-05-10
Publication Date: 2023
Abstract:

This metadata record describes the non-coral bioindicator datasets funded by the NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP) Project Number 31303 to study effects of land-based sources of pollution (LBSP) in Aua, American Samoa. In September 2022 Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD) scientists of the Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC) flew into American Samoa to survey 18 sites along a water quality gradient off of Aua. This specific metadata record refers to the quantitative analysis of benthic foraminifera, benthic microalgae, and macroinvertebrates from samples collected between 9-28 September 2022. Samples were preserved in the field, and brought back to the NOAA Inouye Regional Center (IRC) and analyzed via microscopy. Collection methods for each bioindicator were as follows:

(1) Benthic foraminifera: Sediment samples were collected (Sept 26, 2022) using a small sediment corer (60 ml syringe with the tip removed and a stopper placed there instead). Only the top 3 cm were retained. Under the microscope, benthic foraminifera were picked out of the sediment and identified.

(2) Benthic microalgae: Microscope slides were deployed (Sept 11-26, 2022) on the seafloor at each site for 2 to 3 weeks and the benthic microalgae that settled will be fixed and preserved in Lugol's solution and analyzed. Microalgae included diatoms (pennate and centric), dinoflagellates, chlorophyta, and cyanobacteria.

(3) Macroinvertebrates: Plastic scouring pads were deployed (Sept 11-26, 2022) and attached to the substratum via zip-ties for 2 to 3 weeks. The scouring pads were removed after the settlement period, all plastic zip-ties and additional waste were removed from the reef. Macroinvertebrates that settled on the scouring pad were placed into sampling jars and fixed and preserved with 4% formalin, and subsequently analyzed under the microscope.

Purpose:

Land-based sources of pollution negatively impact reef communities. Our goal here was to identify non-coral bioindicators for poor water quality. Benthic foraminifera, benthic microalgae, and macrinvertebrates are all know to respond to poor water quality. We set out to assess the impact of poor water quality on non-coral reef communities in Aua.

Supplemental Information:

NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP) funds research under the Land-Based Sources of Pollution. This mission (Project number 31303) sought out to examine the impacts of LBSP on reef communities (coral and non-coral) in Aua, a high priority watershed in American Samoa. This mission builds on prior assessment and monitoring surveys of benthic reef communities conducted in Faga'alu and Vatia bays in 2012, 2015, and 2022 to address National and Jurisdictional goals to reduce the impacts of LBSP in local priority watersheds. Together with periodic monitoring, this coral reef community baseline for Aua reef will allow scientists to quantify temporal changes in the condition and integrity and enable Jurisdictional and Federal resource managers to make informed decisions pertaining to the protection and preservation of critical habitats. The overall effort required to evaluate the effectiveness of management strategies is significant and requires close coordination between local and Federal efforts.

Samples were collected by NOAA divers Bernardo Angel-Vargas, Joy Smith, and Juliette Verstaen. Samples were processed via microscopy by Ro Lee, Candace Alagata, and Joy Smith.

Keywords

Theme Keywords

Thesaurus Keyword
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords
EARTH SCIENCE
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords
EARTH SCIENCE > BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION > ANIMALS/INVERTEBRATES
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords
EARTH SCIENCE > BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION > PLANTS > MICROALGAE
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords
EARTH SCIENCE > BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION > PROTISTS > AMOEBOIDS > FORAMINIFERS
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords
EARTH SCIENCE > BIOSPHERE > ECOSYSTEMS > MARINE ECOSYSTEMS > BENTHIC
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords
EARTH SCIENCE > BIOSPHERE > ECOSYSTEMS > MARINE ECOSYSTEMS > REEF > CORAL REEF
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords
EARTH SCIENCE > OCEANS > WATER QUALITY
ISO 19115 Topic Category
biota
UNCONTROLLED
CoRIS Discovery Thesaurus Biology
CoRIS Theme Thesaurus EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment > Baseline studies
CoRIS Theme Thesaurus EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs
CoRIS Theme Thesaurus EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Marine Biology > Marine Invertebrates > Macroinvertebrates
CRCP Project 31303
CRCP Project Linking watershed management activities to reef health in Aua, American Samoa
NODC DATA TYPES THESAURUS BENTHIC SPECIES - TAXA COUNTS
NODC DATA TYPES THESAURUS BENTHIC SPECIES - TAXA IDENTITIES
NODC DATA TYPES THESAURUS cyanobacteria
NODC DATA TYPES THESAURUS diatom
NODC DATA TYPES THESAURUS FORAMINIFERA
NODC DATA TYPES THESAURUS MACROINVERTEBRATE CENSUS
NODC INSTRUMENT TYPES THESAURUS microscope
NODC OBSERVATION TYPES THESAURUS laboratory analyses
NODC OBSERVATION TYPES THESAURUS survey - biological
NODC PROJECT NAMES THESAURUS Coral Reef Conservation Program
NODC PROJECT NAMES THESAURUS CORAL REEF STUDIES
NODC SUBMITTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS US DOC; NOAA; NMFS; Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center; Ecosystem Sciences Division
None bioindicator
None Coral Reef Ecosystem Division
None Coral Reef Ecosystem Program
None CRED
None CREP
None Ecosystem Sciences Division
None ESD
None foraminifera
None LBSP
None macroinvertebrates
None microalgae
None Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center
None PIFSC

Spatial Keywords

Thesaurus Keyword
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords
OCEAN > PACIFIC OCEAN > CENTRAL PACIFIC OCEAN > AMERICAN SAMOA
UNCONTROLLED
CoRIS Place Thesaurus COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > American Samoa > American Samoa > Tutuila Island (14S170W0016)
CoRIS Place Thesaurus OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > American Samoa > Tutuila Island (14S170W0016)
NODC SEA AREA NAMES THESAURUS: South Pacific Ocean

Instrument Keywords

Thesaurus Keyword
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Instrument Keywords
MICROSCOPES > MICROSCOPES

Platform Keywords

Thesaurus Keyword
UNCONTROLLED
NODC PLATFORM NAMES THESAURUS CHARTERED VESSEL

Physical Location

Organization: Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center
City: Honolulu
State/Province: HI
Country: USA

Data Set Information

Data Set Scope Code: Data Set
Data Set Type: CSV Files
Maintenance Frequency: None Planned
Data Presentation Form: Table (digital)
Entity Attribute Overview:

Data dictionary for datasets of counts of major taxonomic groups for benthic foraminifera, benthic microalgae, and macroinvertebrates.

Benthic foraminifera: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/68093

Benthic microalgae: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/69918

Macroinvertebrates: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/69917

Entity Attribute Detail URL: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/68093
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.

Data Set Credit: NOAA Fisheries, Ecosystem Sciences Division and funded by NOAA CRCP

Support Roles

Data Steward

CC ID: 1188217
Date Effective From: 2023
Date Effective To:
Contact (Person): Smith, Joy
Address: 1845 Wasp Blvd. Bldg 176
Honolulu, HI 96818
USA
Email Address: joy.smith@noaa.gov

Distributor

CC ID: 1188218
Date Effective From: 2023
Date Effective To:
Contact (Organization): NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)
Email Address: ncei.info@noaa.gov
URL: NCEI Contact Information

Metadata Contact

CC ID: 1188219
Date Effective From: 2023
Date Effective To:
Contact (Person): Luers, Lori H
Address: 1845 Wasp Blvd.
Honolulu, HI 96818
USA
Email Address: lori.luers@noaa.gov

Originator

CC ID: 1188214
Date Effective From: 2019
Date Effective To:
Contact (Organization): Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC)
Address: 1845 Wasp Blvd.
Honolulu, HI 96818
USA
Email Address: pifsc.info@noaa.gov
Phone: 808-725-5360
URL: https://www.pifsc.noaa.gov
Business Hours: 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Point of Contact

CC ID: 1188216
Date Effective From: 2023
Date Effective To:
Contact (Person): Smith, Joy
Address: 1845 Wasp Blvd. Bldg 176
Honolulu, HI 96818
USA
Email Address: joy.smith@noaa.gov
View Historical Support Roles

Extents

Currentness Reference: Ground Condition

Extent Group 1

Extent Description:

The extent of the 18 survey sites of non-coral communities in the bay off of Aua, Tutuila, American Samoa.

Extent Group 1 / Geographic Area 1

CC ID: 1232322
W° Bound: -170.669
E° Bound: -170.665
N° Bound: -14.2717
S° Bound: -14.2881
Description

The bounding coordinates of the 18 sites sampled in the bay off of Aua in Tutuila, American Samoa. The sites were established to span a locally known water quality gradient.

Extent Group 1 / Time Frame 1

CC ID: 1232323
Time Frame Type: Range
Start: 2022-09-11
End: 2022-09-26
Description:

2022 fly-in mission (MP2206) to Aua, American Samoa. Time frame of deployment and collection of samples from sites in Aua reef.

Access Information

Security Class: Unclassified
Security Classification System:

Not applicable

Security Handling Description:

Not applicable

Data Access Policy:

NOAA Ecosystem Science Division (ESD) Data Sharing Recommendations, version 9.0 updated August 12, 2015:

ESD welcomes the opportunity to collaborate on research issues contributing to the scientific basis for better management of marine ecosystems. ESD 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 ESD principal investigators.

2) In all presentations, product releases, or publications using data generated by ESD, proper acknowledgement of both ESD 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, ESD requests that you share relevant information on complimentary data collections.

4) Those receiving data are strongly urged to inform the ESD 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 Ecosystem Science Division (ESD), Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), with funding support from the NOAA Ocean Acidification Program (OAP). The analysis and interpretations presented here are solely that of the current authors.”

Data Access Procedure:

Data can be accessed online via the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) Ocean Archive.

Data Access Constraints:

None

Data Use Constraints:

Please cite NOAA Fisheries, Ecosystem Science Division (ESD) when using the data.

Example:

Ecosystem Science Division; Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, 2023: Effects of Water Quality on Non-coral Communities: surveys of macroinvertebrates, benthic microalgae, and benthic foraminifera at sites in Aua, American Samoa in 2022, https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/68092.

Metadata Access Constraints:

None

Metadata Use Constraints:

None

Distribution Information

Distribution 1

CC ID: 1232326
Start Date: 2023-10
End Date: Present
Download URL: http://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0284083
Distributor: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) (2023 - Present)
File Name: ESD_LBSP_BENTHIC_FORAMINIFERA_AUA_2022
Description:

Benthic foraminifera abundance (counts) at 18 sites along at water quality gradient in Aua, American Samoa

File Type (Deprecated): csv (comma-separated values)
Distribution Format: CSV - Comma Separated Values (Text)
Compression: Uncompressed

Distribution 2

CC ID: 1232325
Start Date: 2023-10
End Date: Present
Download URL: http://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0284083
Distributor: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) (2023 - Present)
File Name: ESD_LBSP_MACROINVERT_COUNTS_AUA_2022
Description:

Abundance (counts) of macroinvertebrates collected from 18 sites along a water quality gradient in Aua, American Samoa

File Type (Deprecated): csv (comma-separated values)
Distribution Format: CSV - Comma Separated Values (Text)
File Size: 7 KB
Compression: Uncompressed

Distribution 3

CC ID: 1188220
Start Date: 2023-10
End Date: Present
Download URL: http://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0284083
Distributor: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) (2023 - Present)
File Name: ESD_LBSP_MICROALGAE_COUNTS_AUA_2022
Description:

Benthic microalgae abundance (counts) from 18 sites across a water quality gradient in Aua, American Samoa

File Type (Deprecated): csv
Distribution Format: CSV - Comma Separated Values (Text)
File Size: 2 KB
Compression: Uncompressed

URLs

URL 1

CC ID: 1188221
URL: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/region/pacific-islands#science
Name: NOAA Fisheries Pacific Islands Region - Science Overview
URL Type:
Online Resource
Description:

Website for Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center

URL 2

CC ID: 1235409
URL: https://coralreef.noaa.gov/issues/lbsp.html
Name: NOAA CRCP Land-based Sources of Pollution
URL Type:
Online Resource
File Resource Format: HTML
Description:

NOAA CRCP page 'Reduce Land-Based Sources of Pollution'; includes other related links

Technical Environment

Description:

Settlement intruments were deployed at the beginning of the field trip, and retrieved at the end of the field trip. All samples were placed in sample jars, preserved, and returned to the laboratory for microscopy analysis.

Data Quality

Accuracy:

All microscopic organisms were identified and counted from the sample. The replicates samples were collected per site.

Completeness Report:

Obviously erroneous data have been removed from the final dataset. Missing values are indicated with a blank.

Conceptual Consistency:

The same methods of data collection were appliedto all replicate samples collected

Quality Control Procedures Employed:

The data is quality controlled by NOAA PIFSC Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD) personnel after the data is generated from laboratory results, prior to and after the data are migrated to the PIFSC enterprise Oracle database, and once again when the data are submitted to the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information.

Data Management

Have Resources for Management of these Data Been Identified?: Yes
Approximate Percentage of Budget for these Data Devoted to Data Management: Unknown
Do these Data Comply with the Data Access Directive?: Yes
Is Access to the Data Limited Based on an Approved Waiver?: No
Approximate Delay Between Data Collection and Dissemination: Unknown
Actual or Planned Long-Term Data Archive Location: NCEI-MD
Approximate Delay Between Data Collection and Archiving: Unknown
How Will the Data Be Protected from Accidental or Malicious Modification or Deletion Prior to Receipt by the Archive?:

NOAA IRC and NOAA Fisheries ITS resources and assets.

Lineage

Lineage Statement:

Collection methods for each bioindicator were as follows:

(1) Benthic foraminifera: Sediment samples were collected using a small sediment corer (60 ml syringe with the tip removed and a stopper placed there instead). Only the top 3 cm were retained. Under the microscope, benthic foraminifera were picked out of the sediment and identified.

(2) Benthic microalgae: Microscope slides were deployed on the seafloor at each site for 2 to 3 weeks and the benthic microalgae that settled will be fixed and preserved in Lugol's solution and analyzed. Microalgae included diatoms (pennate and centric), dinoflagellates, chlorophyta, and cyanobacteria, and were identified and counted under the microscope.

(3) Macroinvertebrates: Plastic scouring pads were deployed and attached to the substratum via zip-ties for 2 to 3 weeks. The scouring pads were removed after the settlement period, all plastic zip-ties and additional waste were removed from the reef. Macroinvertebrates that settled on the scouring pad were placed into sampling jars and fixed and preserved with 4% formalin, and subsequently identified to major taxonomic categories and counted under the microscope.

Sources

Benthic foraminifera as ecological indicators for water quality on the Great Barrier Reef

CC ID: 1233337
Contact Role Type: Originator
Contact Type: Person
Contact Name: Sven Uthicke
Publish Date: 2008-07-30
Citation URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0272771408000875
Citation URL Name: Science Direct
Citation URL Description:

Link to citation

Source Contribution:

Elsevier

Bioindicators of changes in water quality on coral reefs - review and recommendations for monitoring programmes

CC ID: 1233338
Publish Date: 2009-06-02
Citation URL: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00338-009-0512-x
Citation URL Name: Springer
Citation URL Description:

Link to citation

Process Steps

Process Step 1

CC ID: 1233334
Description:

For macroinvertebrates, deploy scouring pad into the seafloor, leave for a few weeks, then retrieve and place organisms into sample jar and preserve

Process Contact: Smith, Joy
Email Address: joy.smith@noaa.gov

Process Step 2

CC ID: 1233333
Description:

For benthic microalgae, deploy microscope slides onto the seafloor, leave for a few weeks, then retrieve and place organisms into sample jar and preserve

Process Contact: Smith, Joy
Email Address: joy.smith@noaa.gov

Process Step 3

CC ID: 1233335
Description:

For benthic foraminifera, using mini-corer to collect top 2 cm at each site, place sediment into Falcon tube, and store.

Process Contact: Smith, Joy
Email Address: joy.smith@noaa.gov

Process Step 4

CC ID: 1233336
Description:

All three sample types need to be placed under a microscope in the laboratory and organisms counted and identified to major taxonomic unit

Process Contact: Smith, Joy
Email Address: joy.smith@noaa.gov

Acquisition Information

Instruments

Instrument Unavailable Reason: Not Applicable

Platforms

Platform Unavailable Reason: Not Applicable

Related Items

Item Type Relationship Type Title
Data Set (DS) Cross Reference Benthic surveys along a water quality gradient in Aua, American Samoa: comprehensive assessment of coral demography (adult and juvenile corals) from belt transect surveys in 2022

Coral Demographic data collected during MP2206, the same fly-in mission to American Samoa to survey Aua

Data Set (DS) Cross Reference Nutrient and water chemistry data of Aua Reef in American Samoa from samples collected along a water quality gradient between 2022-09-13 to 2022-09-23

Water sample data collected during MP2206 fly-in mission to American Samoa to survey Aua reefs

Data Set (DS) Cross Reference Shallow Water Conductivity-Temperature-Depth (CTD) Profiles along a water quality gradient in Aua, American Samoa from 2022-09-13 to 2022-09-23

CTD profile data collected from the same MP2206 fly-in mission to American Samoa to survey Aua reefs

Catalog Details

Catalog Item ID: 68092
GUID: gov.noaa.nmfs.inport:68092
Metadata Record Created By: Lori H Luers
Metadata Record Created: 2022-10-25 18:49+0000
Metadata Record Last Modified By: SysAdmin InPortAdmin
Metadata Record Last Modified: 2024-10-03 18:16+0000
Metadata Record Published: 2023-10-20
Owner Org: PIFSC
Metadata Publication Status: Published Externally
Do Not Publish?: N
Metadata Last Review Date: 2023-10-20
Metadata Review Frequency: 1 Year
Metadata Next Review Date: 2024-10-20