Key Biodiversity Areas

Rose Atoll Marine (31344)
American Samoa, Oceania

Site overview


KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: D1a
Year of last assessment: 2012
National site name: Rose Atoll Marine
Central coordinates: Latitude: -14.5421, Longitude: -168.1475
System: marine
Area of KBA (km2): 15639.57378
Protected area coverage (%): 100.00
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes

Site details


Site description: The site boundary is based upon a seaward extension of 70 km around Rose Atoll to encompass the foraging range of IBA threshold numbers of waterbirds based upon a 1974 population estimate of 404,050 individuals from Amerson, A. B., Whistler, A. and T. D. Schawaner (1982) Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat of American Samoa. II. Accounts of Flora and Fauna. Washington, D.C. US Fish and Wildlife Service.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for at least one criterion described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs.
Additional biodiversity: The site boundary is based upon a seaward extension of 70 km around Rose Atoll to encompass the foraging range of IBA threshold numbers of waterbirds based upon a 1974 population estimate of 404,050 individuals from Amerson, A. B., Whistler, A. and T. D. Schawaner (1982) Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat of American Samoa. II. Accounts of Flora and Fauna. Washington, D.C. US Fish and Wildlife Service.
Delineation rationale: The site boundary is based upon a seaward extension of 70 km around Rose Atoll to encompass the foraging range of IBA threshold numbers of waterbirds based upon a 1974 population estimate of 404,050 individuals from Amerson, A. B., Whistler, A. and T. D. Schawaner (1982) Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat of American Samoa. II. Accounts of Flora and Fauna. Washington, D.C. US Fish and Wildlife Service.

Habitats


IUCN HabitatCoverage %Habitat detail
Marine Neritic100

Threats


Threat level 1Threat level 2Threat level 3Timing
PollutionIndustrial & military effluentsOil spillsOngoing
Climate change & severe weatherHabitat shifting & alterationOnly in the future