Samoan Archipelago
Size in Square Kilometres
12,548
Qualifying Species and Criteria
Humpback Whale – Megaptera novaeangliae
Criterion A; B (2); C (1)
Spinner dolphin – Stenella longirostris
Criterion B (1, 2); C (1); D (1)
Rough-toothed dolphin – Steno bredanensis
Criterion B (1, 2); C (1); D (1)
Criterion D (2) – Marine Mammal Diversity
Globicephala macrorhynchus, Kogia sima, Megaptera novaeangliae, Mesoplodon densirostris, Physeter macrocephalus, Pseudorca crassidens, Stenella attenuata, Stenella longirostris, Steno bredanensis, Tursiops truncatus, Ziphius cavirostris
Other Marine Mammal Species Documented
Summary
The Samoan Archipelago IMMA includes the productive shelf and slope waters of the Islands of the Samoan Archipelago (including the Rose Atoll). Recent marine mammal surveys have identified unique, resident (island-associated) populations of spinner dolphins (Stenella longirostris) and rough-toothed dolphins (Steno bredanensis) throughout the larger Islands. Short-finned pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus), sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus), beaked whales (Ziphiidae sp.) and dwarf sperm whale (Kogia sima) have also been sighted regularly. Other species of cetaceans are spotted periodically in the area. Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) from the Oceania population inhabit the shelf waters around the islands in the Austral winter, primarily July – October (Munger et al. 2012), with all breeding classes and behaviors found around the island of Tutuila in particular (Robbins and Mattila, 2006).
Description of Qualifying Criteria
Criterion A – Species or Population Vulnerability
The Oceania stock of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) which seasonally use the waters of the Samoan Archipelago, are considered endangered on the IUCN Red List. Sperm whales also occur around Samoa and are considered vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
Criterion B – Distribution and Abundance
Sub-criterion B1 – Small and Resident Populations
The spinner dolphins (Stenella longirostris) around Tutuila, Savaii and Upolu have been documented, through photo-ID, to be resident year-round and from year to year (Johnston et al. 2008, Ward, 2011). Similarly, rough toothed dolphins (Steno bredanensis) around Tutuila have also been documented to be long-term residents (Johnston et al. 2008). The numbers of identified individuals range from approximately one hundred (rough toothed) to several hundred (spinners).
Sub-criterion B2 – Aggregations
The productive slope waters of the Samoan Archipelago provide foraging opportunities that allow the populations of (at least) spinner and rough-toothed dolphins to remain resident in the defined waters throughout the year and from year to year (Johnston et al. 2008, Ward, 2011). The shelf waters of Tutuila in particular, provide suitable habitat that attracts aggregations of breeding humpback whales during the Austral winter. Based on the frequency and span of within-season re-sightings, lack of clear directional travel and evidence for calving and nursing, it is apparent that American Samoa is a migratory aggregation area for some of Oceania’s humpback whales (Robbins and Mattila, 2006).
Criterion C: Key Life Cycle Activities
Sub-criterion C1 – Reproductive Areas
Given the high level of residency of some species (e.g. spinner and rough-toothed dolphins), both within and between years, this habitat is very likely used for breeding by these species. In addition, very young (e.g. nursing) sperm whales, pilot whales and Cuvier’s beaked whales have been documented, suggesting that some aspects of breeding (e.g. nursing) occur. Robbins and Mattila (2006) have observed all known breeding behaviors of humpback whales (e.g. singing, nursing, male-male competition) in the waters surrounding Tutuila. This, combined with the frequency and span of within-season re-sightings, lack of clear directional travel and evidence for calving in the area, indicate that the waters surrounding (at least) Tutuila are important for humpback whale reproduction.
Sub-criterion C2: Feeding Areas
Sub-criterion C3: Migration Routes
Criterion D – Special Attributes
Sub-criterion D1 – Distinctiveness
Genetic analyses of rough-toothed dolphins indicate that they, are distinct from two other comparable island-associated populations found in the Marquesas and Hawaiian island groups (Albertson et al. 2016, Baker 2015). Genetic analyses of spinner dolphins suggest weak differentiation between samples collected from the main islands of Samoa but highly significant differences between the pooled Samoan samples and other island-associated populations in the Pacific. Genetic analyses for other species that are suspected to be resident, have not yet been conducted. The data used here is very recent (2003-2016), and reliable.
Sub-criterion D2 – Diversity
The IMMA is believed to provide essential and important habitat for at least the following species: Spinner, rough-toothed, sperm whale, short-finned pilot whale, Cuvier’s beaked whale, Mesoplodon densirostris, Kogia species and humpback whales. It is also used, perhaps more sporadically, by common bottlenose dolphins, pantropical spotted dolphins, false killer and minke whales.
Supporting Information
Albertson, G.R., Baird, R.W., Oremus, M., Poole, M.M., Martien, K.K. and Baker, C.S. 2016. Staying close to home? Genetic differentiation of rough-toothed dolphins near oceanic islands in the central Pacific Ocean. Conservation Genetics DOI 10.1007/s10592-016-0880-z
Baker, C.S., Ward, J., Albertson, R., Baker, D.N., Steel, D., Johnston, D., Andrews, K., Poole, M. and Oremus, M. 2013. A pattern of dolphins (aPOD) in Samoa, and beyond. Report (SC/65/SM19) to the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission.
Baker, C.S. 2015. A pattern of dolphins (aPOD) – the seascape genetics of island populations in protected and unprotected habitats of Oceania. Unpublished report to Pew Marine Conservation Fellowship.
Craig, P. 2005. Natural History Guide to American Samoa. National Park of American Samoa, Pago Pago, American Samoa. [Available from www.nps.gov].
Dolar, M.L.M. 2005. Cetaceans of American Samoa. Report submitted to the Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources, American Samoan Government, June 2005 (unpublished). 24pp.
Johnston, D.W., Robbins, J., Chapla, M.E., Mattila, D.K. and Andrews, K.R. 2008. Diversity, relative abundance and stock structure of odontocete cetaceans in the waters of American Samoa, 2003-2006. Journal of Cetacean Research and Management 10: 5966.
Lindsay, R.E., Constantine, R., Robbins, J., Mattila, D.K., Tagarino, A., Dennis, T.E. 2016. Characterising essential breeding habitat for whales informs the development of large-scale Marine Protected Areas in the South Pacific. Marine Ecology Progress Series 548: 263–275, 2016.
Munger, L.M., Lammers, M.O., Fisher-Pool, P. and Wong, k. 2012. Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) song occurrence at American Samoa in long-term passive acoustic recordings, 2008-2009. Journal of the Acoustical Society of America 132(4).
Noad, M.J., Paton, D.A., Gibbs, N.J. and Childerhouse, S.J. 2006. A combined visual and acoustic survey of humpback whales and other cetaceans of Samoa. Paper SC/A06/HW28 presented to the IWC Workshop on Comprehensive Assessment of Southern Hemisphere Humpback Whales, Hobart, Tasmania, 3-7 April 2006 (unpublished). 15pp. [Paper available from the office of the Journal of Cetacean Management].
Robbins, J. and Mattila, D.K. 2006. Summary of humpback whale research at American Samoa, 2003-2005. Paper SC/58/SH5 presented to the IWC Scientific Committee, May 2006, St. Kitts and Nevis, West Indies (unpublished). 4pp. [Paper available from the Office of The Journal of Cetacean Management].
Walsh, S.A. and Paton, D.A. 2003. Final Report on the Survey of Whales and Dolphins in Samoa. Report to the Australian Department of Environment and Heritage.
Ward, J. and Asotasi, I. 2007. Status of Whales and Dolphins of Samoa: Scientific and Watching Feasibility Surveys Report. Unpublished report by the Marine Conservation Section of the Division of Environment and Conservation, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE), Samoa.
Ward, J., Momoemausu, M., Asotasi, I. and Solomona, I. 2008a. Report on the whale and dolphin watching feasibility survey of the north-western coast of Savaii Island. MNRE Report. Unpublished.
Ward, J., Asotasi, I., Ifopo, P. and Solomona, I. 2008b. An assessment on the occurrence of cetaceans along the southern coast of Upolu Island, October 2008. MNRE Report. Unpublished.
Ward, J., Iese, C., Pesaleli, T. and Teofilo, M. 2009. Survey of whales and dolphins on the northern coast of Upolu Island, November 2009. MNRE Report. Unpublished.
Ward, J., Momoemausu, M., Ifopo, P., Simi, T. and Solomona, I. 2010. Building on the local knowledge of whales and dolphins along the Southern coast of Upolu and Northwestern coast of Savaii. MNRE Technical Report. Samoa. Unpublished.
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