The National Park of American Samoa is a dramatic palette of deep greens and blues. Forested ridges rise sharply from the sea with seabirds and large fruit bats called flying foxes coasting above. Among the most impressive in the world, Samoa's coral reefs teem with over 975 species of colorful fish and more than 250 coral species.
The national park preserves and protects tropical rain forests, coral reefs, fruit bats, and Samoan culture.
What's Monitored Here
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Benthic Marine Communities
Four parks within the Pacific Island Network contain rich benthic marine communities that are home to algae, corals, and other invertebrates
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Climate
Climate is widely recognized as a major driver for both terrestrial and marine ecosystems
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Early Detection of Invasive Plants
Early detection of invasive plant species is a key component in helping to curtail the spread of noxious weeds into surrounding areas
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Focal Terrestrial Plant Communities
Long-term vegetation monitoring helps us determine plant community health, ecosystem stability, and the effectiveness of management
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Landbirds
On Pacific islands, birds pollinate the majority of woody plant species and disperse their seeds
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Landscape Dynamics
Landscape dynamics monitoring in parks provides information on land use and land cover change
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Marine Fish Communities
Marine fish are a major component of coral reef ecosystems and serve many ecological functions
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Stream Communities
Freshwater ecosystems are considered to be among the world's most vulnerable
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Water Quality - Fresh & Brackish
Fresh and brackish water quality monitoring occurs in places like streams and anchialine pools
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Water Quality - Marine
The quality of surface waters, marine waters, and groundwater is fundamental to the ecosystems across the Pacific islands
PACN I&M Inventory and Monitoring Reports, Protocols, and Articles from National Park of American Samoa
Discovering species in our parks
Last updated: November 6, 2024