Benthic habitat map of U.S. Coral Reef Task Force Faga‘alu Bay priority study area, Tutuila, American Samoa
Links
- Document: Report (16.8 MB pdf)
- Metadata: Metadata (65 KB html)
- Spatial Data: Polygon shapefile of benthic habitats and associated files (256 KB zip)
- Download citation as: RIS | Dublin Core
Abstract
The coral reef in Faga‘alu Bay, Tutuila, American Samoa, has suffered numerous natural and anthropogenic stresses. Areas once dominated by live coral are now mostly rubble surfaces covered with turf or macroalgae. In an effort to improve the health and resilience of the coral reef system, the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force selected Faga‘alu Bay as a priority study area. To support these efforts, the U.S. Geological Survey mapped nearly 1 km2 of seafloor to depths of about 60 m. Unconsolidated sediment (predominantly sand) constitutes slightly greater than 50 percent of the seafloor in the mapped area; reef and other hardbottom potentially available for coral recruitment constitute nearly 50 percent of the mapped area. Of this potentially available hardbottom, only slightly greater than 37 percent is covered with at least 10 percent coral, which is fairly evenly distributed between the reef flat, fore reef, and offshore bank/shelf.
Suggested Citation
Cochran, S.A., Gibbs, A.E., D’Antonio, N.L., and Storlazzi, C.D., 2016, Benthic habitat map of U.S. Coral Reef Task Force Faga‘alu Bay priority study area, Tutuila, American Samoa: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2016–1077, 32 p., http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/ofr20161077.
ISSN: 2331-1258 (online)
Study Area
Table of Contents
- Abstract
- Introduction
- Data and Methods
- Results
- Discussion
- Acknowledgments
- References Cited
- Appendix
| Publication type | Report |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | USGS Numbered Series |
| Title | Benthic habitat map of U.S. Coral Reef Task Force Faga‘alu Bay priority study area, Tutuila, American Samoa |
| Series title | Open-File Report |
| Series number | 2016-1077 |
| DOI | 10.3133/ofr20161077 |
| Year Published | 2016 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | U.S. Geological Survey |
| Publisher location | Reston, VA |
| Contributing office(s) | Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center |
| Description | Report: v, 32 p.; Metadata; Spatial Data |
| Country | United States |
| State | American Samoa |
| Other Geospatial | Faga'alu Bay, Tutuila |
| Online Only (Y/N) | Y |
| Additional Online Files (Y/N) | Y |
| Google Analytic Metrics | Metrics page |