Assessment of mangrove associated marine habitats in the American Memorial Park, Saipan, CNMI
Starmer J (ed). 2007. Assessment of mangrove associated marine habitats in the American Memorial Park, Saipan, CNMI. 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
One of the first and only attempts to characterize the environment in the area of the current American Memorial Park (AMP) was P.E. Cloud’s 1959 assessment of shoal water habitats in the Saipan Lagoon. While much has changed since Cloud’s time, the habitats he delimited remain essentially the same. Development has, however likely altered the overall water quality of this area and the present study provides a more detailed discussion of current conditions. Nine benthic marine habitats were manually delimited with 2006 Quickbird satellite imagery. These nine habitats were reduced to four for survey assessment: Midlagoon Raised Reef, Staghorn Acropora, and Deep Coral became Coral Habitat, Coastal Sand and Macroalgae only became Sand, Halodule Macroalgal Mix and Halimeda Macro-Enhalus Halodule Patch became Patchy Seagrass and Thick Enhalus and Mid Lagoon Sand Dominated were kept separate. The near shore marine habitats adjacent to the AMP are similar to those found elsewhere in Saipan Lagoon and unremarkable with the possible exception of higher than expected abundances of macroalgae, especially Caulerpa species. This is likely related to nutrient input associated with frequent water quality standard violations reported for this area. Metal and plastic debris is slightly more common as well. Despite debris, and nutrient, organic and metal pollution, humans on the whole quite actively exploit the nearshore environment.
- Type
- Published Report
- Date of Issue
- 2007-06
- Publisher
- Pacific Marine Resources Institute, Inc.
- Units
- AMME , PACN
- Keywords
- benthic marine habitats, Coastal-Marine Systems, Macroalgae, Mangrove, Observations, Presence (Biodiversity)