Assessment of the ecological status and function of mangroves in American Memorial Park
Williams LL. 2007. Assessment of the ecological status and function of mangroves in American Memorial Park. Ecological assessment of the mangrove habitat in the American Memorial Park, Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands. PMRI Survey Report 2007-2. Pacific Marine Resources Institute, Inc.. Saipan, CNMI
American Memorial Park (AMME) is approximately 133 acres (54 ha) and is located on the island of Saipan in the village of Garapan in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. The natural undeveloped areas of the park encompassed by this study are comprised of an approximate 30-acre (12.14 ha) mosaic triangle of secondary forest, wetland, and mangrove forest that is bound by Pale Arnold Road on the southeast and the Smiling Cove Marina Road on the northwest. Additionally, the natural area includes the approximately 2 ha (4.9 acres) of mangrove patch and strand forest between the Smiling Cove Marina Office paralleling the beach on the north side Smiling Cove Marina Road to the former ‘Puerto Rico dump’ site. The park hosts a variety of bird species that have yet to be surveyed with the exception of the endangered endemic Nightingale Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus luscina) and one reported sighting of the endangered Mariana Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus guami). The purpose of this study was to conduct baseline forest and bird surveys, and to attempt to identify areas of unique mangrove forests within the AMP natural areas. The survey area consisted of six forest bird survey transects established in January 2005 in the 12.14 ha natural area and the 2 ha strand forest that parallels the shoreline. Bird surveys were point counts conducted using variable circular plot methodology from February 27 & 28, 2005 and March 5 & 6, 2005. Forest surveys were conducted along the same transects as the bird surveys from January 2005 through March 2005. Tree species were surveyed using the point center quarter method. There were a total of 330 birds detected in the survey area with six Nightingale Reed Warblers detected during the course of the study. A total of 20 tree species were detected in the combined 14.14 ha survey area. The species of invasive vines that were identified opportunistically were Coccinia grandis (Scarlet Gourd), Mikania scandens (mile-a-minute), Operculina ventricosa, Ipomea sp., and Mucuna gigantea.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Williams, Laura
- Date of Issue
- 2007-06-30
- Publisher
- Pacific Marine Resources Institute, Inc.
- Units
- AMME , PACN
- Keywords
- Absence (Biodiversity), Abundance (Biodiversity), Birds, Distribution (Biodiversity), Invertebrates, mangroves, Mariana Moorhen, nightingale reed-warbler, Observations, Partula gibba, Plant Studies, Presence (Biodiversity), Reptiles, Threatened-Endangered-Sensitive Animals, Wetland/Riparian