Surveys of 4 coral reefs (Balaclava, Blue Bay, Point du Diable, Trou aux Biches) were carried out as part of a UNESCO/COMARAF training workshop on coral taxonomy and management of coral reefs, held 18-28 October 1988.Specimens were collected from Trou aux Biches for taxonomy determinations.Surveys to define coral associations were carried out at Balaclava, Point du Diable and Trou aux Biches. Each species seen during a 20 min swim was recorded and given a score based on its relative contribution to total (hard and soft) coral cover (1 = 1-5%; 2 = 6-10%; 3 = 11-30%; 4 = 31-80%; 5 = >80%). In addition, the following site characteristics were recorded: maximum and minimum depth; slope; % hard substrate; % hard coral; % dead standing hard coral; % soft coral; % macroalgae; % sponge; % cover substate (continuous limestone platform; large blocks > 1 m; small blocks 0.1-1 m; mud; rubble; sand).Line transect (30 m) surveys to estimate percent coral cover and size frequency distribution were conducted at Blue Bay (8) and Trou aux Biches (3). Coral (identified to species where possible), substrate or other benthic organims were recorded (l = live; d = dead; a = algae; n = non-colonisable substrate; c = colonisable substrate; s =sponge).Quadrat stereophotographs were taken at Trou aux Biches to demonstrate this monitoring technique. To train participants in basic survey methods and analyses on local reefs. Coral species: Acropora; Acropora 'bottlebrush'; Acropora 'nobilis'; Acropora aculeus; Acropora clathrata; Acropora elseyi; Acropora florida; Acropora gemmifera; Acropora hemprichi; Acropora hyacinthus; Acropora hyacinthus; Acropora pharonis; Acropora robusta; Acropora tenuis; Acropora variabilis; Alveopora sp.; Echinopora gemmacea; Echinopora lamellosa; Favia stelligera; Favites sp.; Fungia sp.; Galaxea fascicularis; Goniastrea retiformis; Goniopora sp.; Hydnophora exesa; Leptroia phrygia; Millepora platyphylla; Millepora tenera; Montipora circumvallata; Montipora sp.; Pavona cactus; Pavona varians; Pocillopora; Porites massive.Algae identified: Turbinaria ornata.

Coral communities were surveyed at 15 sites across northern Arnhem Land in 2003.Assessments were made using the following methods:1. making collections and records using SCUBA2. underwater still photography3. video photographyOnly corals requiring taxonomic study were collected. Corals were labelled, cleaned in chlorine bleach, and studied aboard ship. Specimens of continuing interest were sent to the Australian Institute of Marine Science. These specimens were intended to indicate what further study is required; they were not adequate for comprehensive species descriptions.Where opportunity permitted, a list of species for each site was compiled by scuba diving. This work was restricted as follows:1. coral collecting was not undertaken at some sites in accordance with the wishes of local aboriginal communities2. scuba diving was not undertaken at some sites due to the proximity of crocodilesSite descriptions included observations relating to substrate type, turbidity, exposure to wave action, coral cover (%), bleaching, crown-of-thorns starfish, coral disease and general condition of the site. The objectives of this survey were:1. to prepare site descriptions including estimates of coral cover and indications of general benthos diversity2. to prepare a table of species by site for corals for all sites studied3. to provide a description of site conditions, including indication of damage by human or natural events, disease and/or predation4. to provide a general interpretation of data collected and to place Arnhem Land corals into context with coral distributions elsewhere in Australia This research was supported by the National Oceans Office.

Transects of the coral colonies at 21 sites in American Samoa were surveyed by Dr. Charles Birkeland during an underwater swim in March 2002. Data for each coral species include abundance and size distribution of the colonies. The living coral cover can be estimated from the size distribution data.

Species richness, cover and community structure of reef-building corals were assessed at 599 sites on 135 reefs along the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) between 1994 and 2001, with a focus on the nearshore area. Reefs were surveyed using a standard method of Rapid Ecological Assessment. On each reef, from 1 to 31 habitats were surveyed in up to 3 depth zones (sites), comprising (a) the shallow reef flat and crest; (b) the shallow reef slope (between 3 and 7m depth); and (c) the deeper reef slope (maximum depth of 16m) respectively. At each site, an inventory of reef-building corals was compiled. Approximately 600 of the ~2,400 reefs of the GBR are located nearshore. The biological structure and ecological status of many nearshore reefs remain relatively poorly understood. This gap in knowledge was addressed by undertaking the first broad-scale assessment of nearshore reefs along >75% of the length of the GBR focusing on patterns in the species composition, richness and community structure of reef-building corals. Haphazardly-chosen starting positions were recorded with a portable Global Positioning System. The swims took an average of 45 min and covered varying distances along the slope; generally areas were surveyed until no new taxa had been encountered for some time. Corals were identified to species level wherever possible, otherwise to genus and growth form (e.g. massive Porites). At the end of each site survey, the abundance of each taxon was recorded in six broad abundance categories - absent, rare, uncommon, common, abundant, or dominant. A visual estimate of average cover of live hard coral was also made, recorded in 6 categories: 0=0%, 1=1-10%, 2=11-30%, 3=31-50%, 4=51-75%, 5=76-100%. Data have been used for the e-Atlas: http://e-atlas.org.au/content/hard-coral-biodiversity-surveys-gbr A subset of the data has been provided to the Ocean Biogeographic Information System: Australian Institute of Marine Science - Great Barrier Reef nearshore coral diversity (https://obis.org/dataset/eee81b0b-6b72-4963-9f43-ff1631bbfea3)

A survey of coral communities was carried out in the American Samoa Archipelago to assess the current status of coral reefs and provide a rigorous quantitative baseline dataset for future monitoring of these reefs. Five replicate belt transects were used to estimate the size structure, density and percent cover of corals at 29 locations around Tutuila and Manu'a Islands during October and November, 1995. Data are in .xls and .csv format with associated document files

This dataset includes coral demographic data of Nu'uuli Pala Lagoon and Backreef, American Samoa. Surveys were conducted by snorkelers from the Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD) of the NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC), in collaboration American Samoa's Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources and the Coral Reef Advisory Group. Benthic coral demographic surveys were conducted within belt transects of specified length and width for two life stages (juveniles and adults) in Nu'uuli Pala Lagoon and Backreef, American Samoa in November 2024. Surveys were conducted at 20 randomly-selected sites and provide information on adult coral colony counts, morphology, size, partial mortality (old and recent dead), presence of disease and other compromised health conditions, including bleaching. Juvenile colony surveys include morphology and size. Taxonomic identification of adult colonies is to the species level (where possible) and genus level for juveniles. The survey design and site selection of stratified-random sites (StRS) follows protocols established by the National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP). Data from benthic surveys of Nu'uuli Pala Lagoon and Backreef establishes a comprehensive biological baseline for land-based sources of pollution impacts on benthic composition and coral demography. These efforts feed into the higher-level CRCP objectives by establishing an in-situ tracking system to assess the effects of management and mitigation strategies and activities in the target watersheds to reduce land-based sources of pollution impacts on coral reefs.

Transects of the coral colonies at 21 sites in American Samoa were surveyed by Dr. Charles Birkeland during an underwater swim in March 2002. Data for each coral species include abundance and size distribution of the colonies. The living coral cover can be estimated from the size distribution data.

In 1989, field studies of reef corals were undertaken at sixteen stations around Cocos (Keeling) Atoll, Horsburgh Island and North Keeling Island. Stations were selected to encompass the widest possible range of habitats. Coral collections were made at these stations and the specimens were sent to the Australian Institute of Marine Science for further study. Comparisons were also made with corals from other geographic regions and Cocos (Keeling) Islands corals held in other museums. These specimens would later be lodged with the Western Australian Museum. The research undertaken had the following objectives:1. to compile an accumulative species inventory, with the aim of reaching a complete list for the atoll as a whole2. to use this information to determine biogeographic affinities with other regions 3. to assess the effects of geographic isolation and surface circulation patterns on coral diversity4. to assess the effects of previous events such as crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks in the 1960s, the ENSO event in 1983 and the cyclone in 1989, on coral abundance and diversity

Jurisdictional managers have expressed concerns that nutrients from the village of Vatia, Tutuila, American Samoa, are having an adverse effect on the adjacent coral reef ecosystem. Excess nutrient loads promote increases in algal growth that can have deleterious effects on corals, such as benthic algae outcompeting and overgrowing corals. Nitrogen and phosphorus can also directly impact corals by lowering fertilization success, and reducing both photosynthesis and calcification rates. Land-based contributions of nutrients come from a variety of sources; in Vatia the most likely sources are poor wastewater management from piggeries and septic systems. NOAA scientists conducted benthic surveys to establish a baseline against which to compare changes in the algal and coral assemblages in response to nutrient fluxes. The data described here were collected via belt transect surveys of coral demography (adult and juvenile corals) by the NOAA Coral Reef Ecosystem Program (CREP) according to protocols established by the NOAA National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP). In 2015 data were collected at 18 stratified randomly selected sites in Vatia Bay. These data include: 1) an assessment of coral colony density and size-class distribution for the selected monitoring sites; 2) an assessment of coral recruitment at the monitoring sites; and 3) an evaluation of coral colony condition, including mortality, disease, bleaching, and evidence of sediment stress. These data can be accessed online via the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) Ocean Archive. Additionally, photoquadrat benthic images were collected and analyzed for benthic cover composition (documented and archived separately). A brief report documenting the 2015 surveys conducted in Vatia and Fagaʻalu in Tutuila, American Samoa by the NOAA Coral Reef Ecosystem Program is in progress: Baseline Assessment of Coral Reef Community Structure and Demographics in Vatia and Fagaʻalu Bays, American Samoa.

This dataset includes coral demographic data of Aua Reef, American Samoa, generated from observations by divers of the Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD) of the NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC). Benthic coral demographic surveys were conducted within belt transects of specified length and width for two life stages (juveniles and adults) in Aua, American Samoa in September 2022. Surveys were conducted at 18 randomly-selected sites and provide information on adult coral colony counts, morphology, size, partial mortality (old and recent dead), presence of disease and other compromised health conditions, including bleaching. Juvenile colony surveys include morphology and size. Taxonomic identification of adult colonies is to the species level (where possible) and genus level for juveniles. The survey design and site selection of stratified-random sites (StRS) follows protocols established by the National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP). Data from benthic surveys of Aua Reef establishes a comprehensive biological baseline for land-based sources of pollution impacts on benthic composition and coral demography. These efforts feed into the higher-level CRCP objectives by establishing an in-situ tracking system to assess the effects of management and mitigation strategies and activities in the target watersheds to reduce land-based sources of pollution impacts on coral reefs.