### Benthic habitat map of U.S. Coral Reef Task Force Faga‘alu Bay priority study area, Tutuila, American Samoa

By: Susan A. CochranAnn E. Gibbs**Nicole L. D'AntonioCurt D. Storlazzi

                            https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20161077

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-                                                                                                                             Document:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  **Report**                                                                                                     (16.8 MB pdf)                                                                                                                                     
- Metadata:  **Metadata**                            (65 KB html)                        
- Spatial Data:  **Polygon shapefile of benthic habitats and associated files**                            (256 KB zip)                        
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#### Abstract

First posted May 18, 2016

**For additional information, contact:**
Contact Information, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center U.S. Geological Survey Pacific Science Center2885 Mission St.Santa Cruz, CA 95060http://walrus.wr.usgs.gov/

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

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