A quantitative survey of the corals of American Samoa

Mundy, Craig

A survey of coral communities in American Samoa to assess the current status of coral reefs and provide a rigorous quantitative baseline dataset for future monitoring of these reefs. There were 29 survey sites around the Tutuila (a survey site in the National Park of American Samoa) and the Manu`a Islands during October and November 1995. Over 18,000 colonies from 150 species of scleractinian coral were recorded during the surveys including six new species records for American Samoa and 38 species not previously recorded in the Manu`a Islands. The results of this study indicate the reefs of American Samoa are currently in a recovery phase following a combination of natural and anthropogenic impacts. Not withstanding, many of the reef areas are diverse ecosystems with high coral complexity and remain a valuable resource of the people of American Samoa. It is recommended that monitoring of American Samoa reef corals be continued on a regular bases, specifically aimed at recording changes in coral communities and maintaining the integrity of the coral reef resource. Corals from Montipora and Porites were the most numerically abundant and represented the highest proportion of coral cover; majority of colonies were small with a diameter of less than 20cm; coral communities in the three different habitats were distinct being dominated by different suites of species with different densities and cover; communities around Manu'a islands were more diverse; harbor sites were depauperate but presence of small colonies suggests recruitment; suggest reefs in a recovery phase following a combination of natural and anthropogenic factors.