A Biogeographic Assessment of the Samoan Archipelago

This assessment represents the continuation of ongoing partnerships between NOAA’s National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS), Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment (CCMA), Biogeography Branch and the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS) and Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP). The Biogeography Branch has applied a biogeographical approach to inform the management of marine resources within both coral reefs and National Marine Sanctuaries since 1998. To date, nine ONMS sites and most of the coral reef ecosystems in US states and territories have had some level of biogeographic characterization or mapping completed through these partnerships. This particular work was jointly funded by ONMS, CRCP, and CCMA and was conducted in consultation with local scientists and managers. The assessment would not have been possible were it not for the joint funding commitment and generous in-kind contributions from regional partners including suggestions during project inception, sharing of key datasets, contributions of co-authors, and review of draft analyses and documents. Jamie Higgins formatted and organized the figures, tables, images, and text into this document. The results of this ecological characterization are available via website. For more information on this project and those in other ONMS and reef ecosystem locations please visit the Biogeography Branch webpage at http://ccma.nos.noaa.gov/about/biogeography/ or direct questions and comments to: Chris Caldow, Biogeography Branch Chief National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 1305 East West Highway SSMC 4, N/SCI-1 Silver Spring, MD 20910 Phone: (301) 713-3028 Email: Chris.Caldow@noaa.gov

A Biogeographic Assessment of the Samoan Archipelago

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