Ecological assessment of the mangrove habitat in the American Memorial Park, Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands
Williams LL, Jarzen D, Dilcher D. 2007. 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
Of the fifteen islands comprising the Marianas Archipelago, mangroves are only found on Guam and Saipan. Today, the mangal is found primarily within the confines of the American Memorial Park and at a small remnant at the mouth of the Sadog Tasi, a small stream just North of the park. The area where the mangrove exists currently contains dredged harbors, an inactive landfill, a commercial port, and a power plant. This project is the first step in understanding the current status of this interface ecosystem. The mangrove forest is highly fragmented, with a few distinguishable patches surrounded by secondary forest. The patches of mangrove forest are exclusively dominated by Bruguiera gymnorhiza. In the overall study area the tree density is 10.85 trees per 100 m2. Fourteen forest bird species were detected within the natural area. Of the birds detected twelve were native, four of those were endemic and one is a federally listed endangered species. Both the arthropod and mollusk fauna of the park are remarkably depauperate compared to intact native areas of forest. However, healthy populations of land crabs (Cardisoma carnifex and C. hirtipes) and the land hermit crab Coenobita brevimanus persist in the park.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Williams, Laura; Jarzen, David; Dilcher, David
- Date of Issue
- 2007-06
- Publisher
- Pacific Marine Resources Institute, Inc.
- Units
- AMME , PACN
- Keywords
- Aquatic Science, benthic marine habitats, Birds, Coastal-Marine Systems, Invertebrates, mangroves, Non-Vascular Plants, Plant Studies, Threatened-Endangered-Sensitive Animals, Vascular Plants, Wetland/Riparian