See also:     Rose Atoll Underwater    Rose Atoll Seabirds

I was photographer of record for a United States Fish and Wildlife Service damage assessment study at Rose Atoll National Wildlife Sanctuary. The study was carried out to assess damage caused by the wreck of the Taiwanese fishing vessel Jin Shiang Fa. Please contact me for more information.
Rose islet and Pisonia trees, Rose Atoll National Wildlife Sanctuary, copyright Phillip Colla Natural History Photography, www.oceanlight.com, image #00830, all rights reserved worldwide. Rose Islet, Rose Atoll National Wildlife Sanctuary, copyright Phillip Colla Natural History Photography, www.oceanlight.com, image #00829, all rights reserved worldwide.
Rose Island, Rose Atoll National Wildlife Refuge, Rose islet and Pisonia trees, Rose Atoll National Wildlife Sanctuary, Image 00830 Rose Island, Rose Atoll National Wildlife Refuge, Rose Islet, Rose Atoll National Wildlife Sanctuary, Image 00829
Rose Island is an important seabird colony for the Samoan archipelago. The vegetation seen in these photographs consists primarily of a small forest of Pisonia grandis trees and the sand strand plants Boerhavia and Portulacea. The atoll is about 2km in diameter and 7 sq km in area including lagoon and reef, but the tiny islet itself is only 0.1 sq km and tops out at 3m high. Rose is quite remote, about 3000km from land, 700km from the nearest island group and 150km from the nearest island (Tutuila in American Samoa). The atoll and sandy shore are host to a major seabird rookery and nesting activities of green turtles (Chelonia mydas ). Hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) are also seen here. Noone lives on the island and landing is prohibited without a permit although some evidence of poaching is occasionally seen by visiting scientists.
Wreck of F/V Jin Shiang Fa, Rose Atoll National Wildlife Sanctuary, copyright Phillip Colla Natural History Photography, www.oceanlight.com, image #00716, all rights reserved worldwide. Wreck of F/V Jin Shiang Fa, Rose Atoll National Wildlife Sanctuary, copyright Phillip Colla Natural History Photography, www.oceanlight.com, image #00709, all rights reserved worldwide.
Debris from the Wreck of Jin Shiang Fa, tossed onto reef by a hurricane , Wreck of F/V Jin Shiang Fa, Rose Atoll National Wildlife Sanctuary, Image 00716 Debris from the Wreck of Jin Shiang Fa, tossed onto reef by a hurricane , Wreck of F/V Jin Shiang Fa, Rose Atoll National Wildlife Sanctuary, Image 00709
Pink coralline algae, Porolithon sp., Rose Atoll National Wildlife Sanctuary, copyright Phillip Colla Natural History Photography, www.oceanlight.com, image #00760, all rights reserved worldwide. coralline algae reef, Porolithon sp., Rose Atoll National Wildlife Sanctuary, copyright Phillip Colla Natural History Photography, www.oceanlight.com, image #00729, all rights reserved worldwide.
Rose Atoll is made up primarily of Porolithon coralline algae, seen below. Porolithon is pink in color, and causes the entire atoll to appear pink when seen from a distance. [Image 760] [Image 729]