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Structure from Motion (SfM) Coral (Adult and Juvenile) Annotations derived from Stratified Random Site (StRS) Imagery across American Samoa in 2023 for methods comparison (NCEI Accession 0308012)

Published by NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce | Metadata Last Checked: January 26, 2026 | Last Modified: 2025-09-30T00:00:00.000+00:00
Coral adult and juvenile coral colony demographic data described in this dataset are derived from the GIS analysis of benthic photomosaic imagery collected across American Samoa in 2023 for a methods comparison with in situ diver data. Official National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP) coral demographic data is archived separately under NCEI Accession 0298217. The source imagery was collected using a Structure from Motion (SfM) approach during in-water surveys conducted by divers. The SfM imagery is archived separately, and can be accessed via InPort record 63095. Data was collected during the NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC) and Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD) led NCRMP mission across the American Samoa from 2023-03-30 to 2023-04-18. This adds to previously archived data from 2019 and 2022 for methods comparison, described on Inport metadata record. The SfM surveys are part of the Rapid Ecological Assessment (REA) surveys for corals and fish conducted during ESD-led NCRMP missions. Surveys were conducted at sites randomly stratified across sub-island sectors and three depth strata (shallow: 0-6m, mid: 6-18m and deep: >18m). These sites represent a broad range of depths (1-25 m), habitat types (aggregate reef, patch reef, pavement, rock and boulder and rubble), coral cover, and diving conditions. Allocation of sampling effort was proportional to strata area and variance in coral density. The StRS design effectively reduces estimate variance through stratification using environmental covariates and by sampling more sites rather than sampling more transects at a site. Therefore, site-level estimates and site to site comparisons should be used with caution. During each survey, an 18m transect line was deployed along the isobath and photographed using underwater cameras while swimming in a back and forth swim pattern for later processing using an SfM approach. At depths of 1-20 m, SfM surveys were conducted over a 3 x 20m area and at depths > 20m, a 3 x 13m area was surveyed, both with the transect running down the middle of the survey area. The photographs were processed using Agisoft Metashape software to generate orthomosaic images that were analyzed in ArcGIS for juvenile and adult coral colony demographic metrics. Data was collected for each site within four 2.5m2 segments, each 1m wide, along the transect (at 0-2.5m, 5-7.5m, 10-12.5m, and 15-17.5m). At deeper sites where a 3 x 13m area was surveyed, only the first three segments were analyzed in ArcGIS. For each adult coral colony (> 5cm in diameter), maximum diameter, ID (to lowest taxonomic level), and estimated percent old mortality were recorded. Bleaching extent (% of living tissue with reduced pigmentation) and severity were also recorded. Juvenile coral colonies (0.7 to 5cm maximum diameter) were recorded within the first 1 m2 of the first 3 segments. For juvenile colonies, only ID and maximum diameter were recorded.

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0308012 CORAL CORAL - CENSUS CORAL - COLONY SIZE CORAL - SPECIES IDENTIFICATION photograph visual observation biological derived products GIS product in situ laboratory analyses survey - coral reef NOAA Ship Rainier NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, Ecosystem Sciences Division NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP) CORAL REEF STUDIES National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP) Pacific Reef and Assessment Monitoring Program (Pacific RAMP) National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa Rose Atoll Marine National Monument South Pacific Ocean oceanography CRED CREP Coral Reef Ecosystem Division Coral Reef Ecosystem Program ESD Ecosystem Sciences Division PIFSC Pacific Island Fisheries Science Center RAMP Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program DOC/NOAA/NMFS > National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce DOC/NOAA/NMFS/PIFSC/ESD > Ecosystem Sciences Division, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce 743 National Coral Reef Monitoring Program Numeric Data Sets > Benthic EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Ecological Dynamics > Species Richness EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Coral Condition EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Coral Diseases > Bleaching EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment > Coral Colony Size and Condition EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment > In Situ Biological EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment > Photographic Analysis EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment > Rapid assessment studies EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Scleractinia (stony corals) EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs > Coral Reef Ecology EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs > Coral Reef Ecology > Benthic Biology EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Marine Biology > Coral EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Marine Biology > Coral Communities EARTH SCIENCE > BIOSPHERE > ECOSYSTEMS > MARINE ECOSYSTEMS > REEF > CORAL REEF EARTH SCIENCE > SOLID EARTH > GEOMORPHIC LANDFORMS/PROCESSES > COASTAL LANDFORMS > CORAL REEFS SfM Structure from Motion VISUAL OBSERVATIONS > VISUAL OBSERVATIONS GIS Ships RAINIER (call sign: WTEF, ICES code: 315R, 1968-) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > American Samoa > American Samoa > American Samoa (14S170W0000) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > American Samoa > American Samoa > Ofu Island (14S169W0013) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > American Samoa > American Samoa > Olosega Island (14S169W0014) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > American Samoa > American Samoa > Rose Atoll (14S168W0001) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > American Samoa > American Samoa > Swains Atoll (11S171W0001) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > American Samoa > American Samoa > Ta'u Island (14S169W0012) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > American Samoa > American Samoa > Tutuila Island (14S170W0016) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > American Samoa > American Samoa (14S170W0000) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > American Samoa > Rose Atoll (14S168W0001) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > American Samoa > Swains Atoll (11S171W0001) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > American Samoa > Tutuila Island (14S170W0016) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Manu'a Group > Ofu Island (14S169W0013) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Manu'a Group > Olosega Island (14S169W0014) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Manu'a Group > Ta'u Island (14S169W0012) OCEAN > PACIFIC OCEAN > CENTRAL PACIFIC OCEAN > AMERICAN SAMOA OCEAN > PACIFIC OCEAN > SOUTH PACIFIC OCEAN T4JLR1

Complete Metadata
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description Coral adult and juvenile coral colony demographic data described in this dataset are derived from the GIS analysis of benthic photomosaic imagery collected across American Samoa in 2023 for a methods comparison with in situ diver data. Official National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP) coral demographic data is archived separately under NCEI Accession 0298217. The source imagery was collected using a Structure from Motion (SfM) approach during in-water surveys conducted by divers. The SfM imagery is archived separately, and can be accessed via InPort record 63095. Data was collected during the NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC) and Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD) led NCRMP mission across the American Samoa from 2023-03-30 to 2023-04-18. This adds to previously archived data from 2019 and 2022 for methods comparison, described on Inport metadata record. The SfM surveys are part of the Rapid Ecological Assessment (REA) surveys for corals and fish conducted during ESD-led NCRMP missions. Surveys were conducted at sites randomly stratified across sub-island sectors and three depth strata (shallow: 0-6m, mid: 6-18m and deep: >18m). These sites represent a broad range of depths (1-25 m), habitat types (aggregate reef, patch reef, pavement, rock and boulder and rubble), coral cover, and diving conditions. Allocation of sampling effort was proportional to strata area and variance in coral density. The StRS design effectively reduces estimate variance through stratification using environmental covariates and by sampling more sites rather than sampling more transects at a site. Therefore, site-level estimates and site to site comparisons should be used with caution. During each survey, an 18m transect line was deployed along the isobath and photographed using underwater cameras while swimming in a back and forth swim pattern for later processing using an SfM approach. At depths of 1-20 m, SfM surveys were conducted over a 3 x 20m area and at depths > 20m, a 3 x 13m area was surveyed, both with the transect running down the middle of the survey area. The photographs were processed using Agisoft Metashape software to generate orthomosaic images that were analyzed in ArcGIS for juvenile and adult coral colony demographic metrics. Data was collected for each site within four 2.5m2 segments, each 1m wide, along the transect (at 0-2.5m, 5-7.5m, 10-12.5m, and 15-17.5m). At deeper sites where a 3 x 13m area was surveyed, only the first three segments were analyzed in ArcGIS. For each adult coral colony (> 5cm in diameter), maximum diameter, ID (to lowest taxonomic level), and estimated percent old mortality were recorded. Bleaching extent (% of living tissue with reduced pigmentation) and severity were also recorded. Juvenile coral colonies (0.7 to 5cm maximum diameter) were recorded within the first 1 m2 of the first 3 segments. For juvenile colonies, only ID and maximum diameter were recorded.
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identifier gov.noaa.nodc:0308012
issued 2025-09-16T00:00:00.000+00:00
keyword 
                                            [
  "0308012",
  "CORAL",
  "CORAL - CENSUS",
  "CORAL - COLONY SIZE",
  "CORAL - SPECIES IDENTIFICATION",
  "photograph",
  "visual observation",
  "biological",
  "derived products",
  "GIS product",
  "in situ",
  "laboratory analyses",
  "survey - coral reef",
  "NOAA Ship Rainier",
  "NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, Ecosystem Sciences Division",
  "NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center",
  "Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP)",
  "CORAL REEF STUDIES",
  "National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP)",
  "Pacific Reef and Assessment Monitoring Program (Pacific RAMP)",
  "National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa",
  "Rose Atoll Marine National Monument",
  "South Pacific Ocean",
  "oceanography",
  "CRED",
  "CREP",
  "Coral Reef Ecosystem Division",
  "Coral Reef Ecosystem Program",
  "ESD",
  "Ecosystem Sciences Division",
  "PIFSC",
  "Pacific Island Fisheries Science Center",
  "RAMP",
  "Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program",
  "DOC/NOAA/NMFS > National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce",
  "DOC/NOAA/NMFS/PIFSC/ESD > Ecosystem Sciences Division, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce",
  "743",
  "National Coral Reef Monitoring Program",
  "Numeric Data Sets > Benthic",
  "EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Ecological Dynamics > Species Richness",
  "EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Coral Condition",
  "EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Coral Diseases > Bleaching",
  "EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment > Coral Colony Size and Condition",
  "EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment > In Situ Biological",
  "EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment > Photographic Analysis",
  "EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment > Rapid assessment studies",
  "EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Scleractinia (stony corals)",
  "EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs",
  "EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs > Coral Reef Ecology",
  "EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs > Coral Reef Ecology > Benthic Biology",
  "EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Marine Biology > Coral",
  "EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Marine Biology > Coral Communities",
  "EARTH SCIENCE > BIOSPHERE > ECOSYSTEMS > MARINE ECOSYSTEMS > REEF > CORAL REEF",
  "EARTH SCIENCE > SOLID EARTH > GEOMORPHIC LANDFORMS/PROCESSES > COASTAL LANDFORMS > CORAL REEFS",
  "SfM",
  "Structure from Motion",
  "VISUAL OBSERVATIONS > VISUAL OBSERVATIONS",
  "GIS",
  "Ships",
  "RAINIER (call sign: WTEF, ICES code: 315R, 1968-)",
  "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > American Samoa > American Samoa > American Samoa (14S170W0000)",
  "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > American Samoa > American Samoa > Ofu Island (14S169W0013)",
  "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > American Samoa > American Samoa > Olosega Island (14S169W0014)",
  "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > American Samoa > American Samoa > Rose Atoll (14S168W0001)",
  "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > American Samoa > American Samoa > Swains Atoll (11S171W0001)",
  "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > American Samoa > American Samoa > Ta'u Island (14S169W0012)",
  "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > American Samoa > American Samoa > Tutuila Island (14S170W0016)",
  "OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > American Samoa > American Samoa (14S170W0000)",
  "OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > American Samoa > Rose Atoll (14S168W0001)",
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  "OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > American Samoa > Tutuila Island (14S170W0016)",
  "OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Manu'a Group > Ofu Island (14S169W0013)",
  "OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Manu'a Group > Olosega Island (14S169W0014)",
  "OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Manu'a Group > Ta'u Island (14S169W0012)",
  "OCEAN > PACIFIC OCEAN > CENTRAL PACIFIC OCEAN > AMERICAN SAMOA",
  "OCEAN > PACIFIC OCEAN > SOUTH PACIFIC OCEAN",
  "T4JLR1"
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landingPage https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/contact
language 
                                            []
license https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/
modified 2025-09-30T00:00:00.000+00:00
publisher 
                                            {
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references 
                                            [
  "https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/63097",
  "https://doi.org/10.25923/8r7f-t404",
  "https://doi.org/10.25923/w1k2-0y84",
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  "https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2021.647943",
  "https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0253468",
  "https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0280938",
  "https://doi.org/10.25921/5qsa-z057",
  "https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/63095"
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rights otherRestrictions
spatial -168.13826,-14.55976,-171.091441,-11.04628
temporal 2023-03-30T00:00:00+00:00/2023-04-18T00:00:00+00:00
title Structure from Motion (SfM) Coral (Adult and Juvenile) Annotations derived from Stratified Random Site (StRS) Imagery across American Samoa in 2023 for methods comparison (NCEI Accession 0308012)

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