Status of coral reefs on the main volcanic islands of American Samoa: a resurvey of long term monitoring sites (benthic communities, fish communities, and key macroinvertebrates)

The coral reefs of American Samoa’s five main volcanic islands, particularly Tutuila and Aunu’u, have endured severe disturbances, including a Crown-of-Thorns starfish outbreak in the late 1970s and two major hurricanes in the early 1990s. Despite these challenges and a 1994 bleaching event, recent surveys show that the reefs are recovering rapidly, with many areas now supporting lush, healthy coral communities that are resilient to large-scale disturbances.