Coral and reef-fish assessment of the Fagatele Bay National Marine Sanctuary

Birkeland, C; Randall, R; Amesbury, SS

A quantitative survey of the coral communities of Fagatele Bay National Marine Sanctuary, American Samoa was made using the point-quarter method of assess size distribution, abundance, and surface cover by each of the scleractinian species. The 22 transects in this survey of 1988 were at the same sites as the transects of 1985. It was found that there has been a general increase in abundance of coral colonies (number per m2) and surface cover by living coral, but the coral community in the bay was still occupied to a large extent by benthic algae. The corals were recovering most rapidly in deep water at the central region of the bay. The coral communities were initially damaged to a lesser extent by Acanthaster planci in the shallow regions and outer margins of the bay because of protection by stronger wave action in these regions. Therefore, we found more coral in shallow water, but a greater recovery rate in deeper water. The colonies were still generally small, but there were becoming numerous, probably as a result of frequent recruitment. Colony size and surface cover have not been increasing as rapidly as has the abundance. Quantitatively surveys of coral communities around Tutuila were also taken at 12 sites in 1982 and 1985. The areas with the heaviest initial damage from Acanthaster planci outbreak showed the greatest rates of recovery. The association of severe initial reduction in cover with rapidity of recovery may partly result from the favored prey of Acanthaster planci being the faster-growing corals.