A Benthic Terrain Classification Scheme for American Samoa

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Future studies include the work of NOAA CRED in interpreting additional extensive towed video footage around Tutuila, as well as Saipan, to further validate our classification scheme and assess its utility to other islands beyond Samoa, and the analysis of Pisces V submersible dive videography just collected in July 2005 on Hawaii Undersea Reserch Lab cruise KOK0510. As the results become available, they will provide a tool for statistical analysis along video transects and for areas interpolated between them. The statistical results may help to define a more automated process for using bathymetric derivatives (e.g. BPI zones, structures, rugosity, texture) to create habitat classifications. The classifications resulting from the methods in this study, when combined with associated marine life information, are tools for designing management programs for the Fagatele Bay National Marine Sanctuary, the National Park of American Samoa, and other marine reserves in the territory. They are a baseline of information for policy makers and managers to establish a wider and more effective network of marine protection throughout the Pacific contributing also to a national and global investigation of the world’s marine and coastal environment. 36
Acknowledgements This research was supported by NOAA Coastal Services Center (CSC) Special Projects for the Pacific Islands Initiative, Grant #NA03NOS4730033 to D. Wright and additional NOAA support to D. Naar. We acknowledge the logistical and financial support from Marine Sanctuary Director, Nancy Daschbach, as well as the warm hospitality provided by the local villages adjacent to Fagatele Bay and Vatia Bay. Others instrumental in this project were Will White (formerly of Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources), John Rooney (CRED), Peter Craig (National Park of American Samoa (NPAS)), Allison Graves (formerly of NPAS), Curt Whitmire (NOAA Northwest Fisheries Science Center), Anita Grunder (Oregon State University), Joshua Murphy and Lori Cary-Kothera (CSC), Jeff Jenness (Jenness Enterprises), Pat Iampietro (California State University, Monterey Bay), and Will Smith (Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology). The comments of two anonymous reviewers significantly improved the manuscript. 37
Page 1 and 2: A Benthic Terrain Classification Sc
Page 3 and 4: Introduction The high productivity
Page 5 and 6: classification may lead to more eff
Page 7 and 8: slopes; upper slopes, mesas; local
Page 9 and 10: or framework, used for a habitat st
Page 11 and 12: well as user and producer accuracy
Page 13 and 14: spear fishing, poison and dynamite
Page 15 and 16: Data Analysis and Processing Bathym
Page 17 and 18: BPI was calculated in the ArcGIS ra
Page 19 and 20: would represent patterns of depress
Page 21 and 22: Rugosity Analysis The rugosity anal
Page 23 and 24: Figure 7 The amount of overlap that
Page 25 and 26: The unique numbers assigned to clas
Page 27 and 28: Multiple schemes were reviewed to a
Page 29 and 30: Classification Scheme for Structure
Page 31 and 32: classifications advantageously use
Page 33 and 34: transitional areas (e.g. narrow cre
Page 35: Conclusion The study was a success
Page 39 and 40: Culliton, T. J. 1998. Population: D
Page 41 and 42: NOAA National Centers for Coastal O

A Benthic Terrain Classification Scheme for American Samoa

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