Abstract
An exceptionally large, hermatypic colony of Porites sp. has been identified and measured at Ta’u, American Samoa. This coral was measured in November 2019 as part of an effort to catalogue all large (≥ 2 m diameter) Porites colonies around Ta’u. Colonies exceeding 10 m in diameter were recorded on three different sides of the island with seasonally different wave exposures. The largest colony measured 8 m tall, 69 m in circumference and had a diameter of 22.4 m. To date, this is the biggest colony recorded in American Samoa, and one of the largest documented worldwide. It is currently unknown why such large corals exist around this particular island. Possible explanations include mild wave or atmospheric climates and minimal anthropogenic impacts. Physiologically, these colonies may be resistant and/or resilient to disturbances. Large, intact corals can help build past (century-scale) climatic profiles, and better understand coral persistence, particularly as coral communities worldwide are declining at rapid rates.
Highlights
American Samoa is a small, unincorporated territory of the United States
Massive Porites colonies in American Samoa consist of a group of species (e.g., P. lobata, P. evermanni, P. australiensis, P. lutea), which are mound-shaped and difficult to distinguish in the field
Cores from long-lived and large corals, coupled with geochemical and isotopic analyses in coral skeletal cores can help understand century-scale changes in El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) patterns and other oceanographic events, and can be used to verify climate m odels[15]. Further study of these corals and the reefs that support them may improve our understanding of resilience factors and assist with informing future reef management strategies which can promote the long-term management and protection of these unique areas. This present study aims to expand on the existing evidence and anecdotal reports of exceptionally large Porites colonies around Ta’u, American Samoa and to comprehensively document their location and measurements
Summary
American Samoa is a small (total area 202 k m2), unincorporated territory of the United States. Large colonies have been reported from Ta’u, yet such large Porites corals are relatively rare elsewhere.
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