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F i g u r e 52. V e g e t a t i o n and physiography of t h e 7 South Nake I s 1 e t s : Pandanus, Danger, Booby, Coral
,
and Lone Palm I s l e t s , Motu Kota ( " R e d - f o o t e d Booby I s l e t " ) , and Motu Mouakena ( "Masked Booby I s 1 e t " ).
way a c r o s s t h e i s l e t . A l t h o u g h t i d a l r e e f f l a t s a r e a b s e n t o n t h e l a g o o n edge, t h e y a v e r a g e 75 m w i d e on t h e seaward s i d e , p r o d u c i n g a f a i r l y h i g h p r o p o r t i o n o f r u b b l e compared t o t h e t o t a l l a n d s u r f a c e (32%)
.
V e g e t a t i o n : P l a n t s p e c i e s t o t a l 10 ( 3 t r e e s , 1 shrub, 6 h e r b s ) , 39% o f C a r o l i n e ' s f l o r a . Cocos i s a b s e n t , d e s p i t e t h e m o t u ' s c l o s e p r o x i m i t y t o Nake. Pandanus I s l e t has 4 b a s i c v e g e t a t i o n zones: n a t u r a l h e r b mats, T o u r n e f o r t i a S c r u b ( w i t h Pandanus), T o u r n e f o r t i a - P i s o n i a F o r e s t , and p u r e P i s o n i a . Woodlands c o v e r 62% o f i t s a r e a . The w i d e s t p i o n e e r mats (13 m) o f any l e e w a r d motu occupy i t s e a s t edge and t h o u g h s p a r s e l y v e g e t a t e d (20% H e l i o t r o p i u m , 5% L e p t u r u s , 5% P o r t u l a c a ) r e f l e c t a c t i v e g r o w t h t o w a r d t h e l a g o o n . P r o c e e d i n g w e s t a c r o s s t h e i s l a n d ,
T o u r n e f o r t i a s c r u b (2 m h i g h ) , w i t h p o c k e t s o f p u r e Pandanus ( 1 0 m h i g h ) , merges i n t o T o u r n e f o r t i a - P i s o n i a F o r e s t ( t o 14 m h i g h ) , whose bimodal d i s t r i b u t i o n s u g g e s t s t h a t t h e i s l e t was once d i v i d e d . The seaward c o a s t s u p p o r t s open T o u r n e f o r t i a ( 5 m h i g h ) , b e n e a t h w h i c h h e r b s e v e n t u a l l y t h i n o u t o n t o t h e e x t e n s i v e r e e f f l a t s .
B i r d s : F i v e s p e c i e s o f s e a b i r d s b r e e d : Masked Booby ( 2 p a i r s ) , Red- f o o t e d Booby (32 p a i r s ) , G r e a t F r i g a t e b i r d (26 p a i r s ) , Brown
p a i r s ) , and W h i t e T e r n ( 5 2 p a i r s ) .
Comments: S k i n k s and r a t s were observed, a l o n g w i t h t h e u b i q u i t o u s C o e n o b i t a and Cardisoma l a n d c r a b s .
18) DANGER ISLET ( 2 . 7 1 ha) F i g s . 29, 52; P I . 59
We named Danger I s l e t t o commemorate t h e deep, s h a r k - i n f e s t e d
channel t o i t s n o r t h , a b a r r i e r t h a t a b o r t e d o u r f i r s t a t t e m p t t o s u r v e y t h e S o u t h Nake I s l e t s .
h y s i o g r a p h y : Danger, o f rounded shape, i s a p p r o x i m a t e l y 150 m l o n g and 215 m w i d e . I t i s composed a l m o s t e n t i r e l y o f c o r a l r u b b l e ; i n t e r i o r humus i s s c a n t . I t s r e e f - c h a n n e l f l a t s a r e 21 m ( n o r t h ) and 14 m
( s o u t h ) w i d e . The e a s t and w e s t beaches, n a r r o w and w i d e r e s p e c t i v e l y , a r e t y p i c a l o f a l l t h e l e e w a r d motus,
V e g e t a t i o n : Danger has 10 p l a n t s p e c i e s ( 3 t r e e s , 1 s h r u b , 6 h e r b s ) , 39% o f t h e t o t a l f l o r a . T h e r e a r e no i n t r o d u c t i o n s . The v e g e t a t i o n i s c o n c e n t r i c a l l y zoned: h e r b mats, T o u r n e f o r t i a s c r u b and f o r e s t , c e n t r a l P i s o n i a , and C o r d i a i n t h e s o u t h w e s t . The h e r b mats a r e w i d e , e x t e n d i n g 22 m and 15 m on t h e n o r t h and s o u t h s h o r e s , r e s p e c t i v e l y .
B i r d s : F o u r s p e c i e s o f n e s t i n g s e a b i r d s were p r e s e n t i n 1988: Red- f o o t e d Booby (139 p a i r s ) , G r e a t F r i g a t e b i r d (26 p a i r s ) , Brown Noddy ( 2 6 p a i r s )
,
and W h i t e T e r n (52 p a i r s ) .19) BOOBY ISLET (0.84 ha) Figs. 29, 52; PI. 60 We named t h i s motu, t h i r d in t h e chain, f o r i t s 2 s p e c i e s of
boobies, t h e common Red-footed and r a r e r Masked Booby.
Physiography: Booby, shaped l i k e a t e a r d r o p , i s 70 m long and 125 m wide. I t s coral rubble f l a t s extend 10 m and 30 m on t h e north and
south s i d e s , r e s p e c t i v e l y .
Vegetation: Despite i t s small s i z e , t h e most notable f e a t u r e of Booby i s i t s P i s o n i a f o r e s t , 20 m t a l l and undoubtedly v i r g i n . I t occupies t h e exact c e n t e r of t h e i s l e t in a c i r c l e about 40 m in diameter.
Surrounding t h i s i s Tournefortia scrub ( t o 8 m t a l l ) , t h i n n i n g out t o peripheral bands of coral rubble. Although l e s s than one h e c t a r e in s i z e , Booby I s l e t ' s woodlands occupy t w o - t h i r d s of t h i s a r e a . Booby I s l e t has 9 s p e c i e s of p l a n t s ( 2 t r e e s , 1 shrub, 6 h e r b s ) , 35% of Caroline's f l o r a , and no i n t r o d u c t i o n s .
Birds: Five s p e c i e s of s e a b i r d s breed: Masked Booby (7 p a i r s ) , Red- footed Booby (52 p a i r s ) , Brown Noddy ( 2 p a i r s ) , Black Noddy ( 1 p a i r ) , and White Tern ( 6 p a i r s ) .
LET (1.70 ha) Figs. 29, 52; PI. 60
Fourth from t h e n o r t h , Coral I s l e t was named f o r i t s reef-derived c o r a l l i n e s u b s t r a t e .
Physiography: Arrowhead-shaped, Coral i s approximately 130 m long by 200 m wide, more than 3 times t h e s i z e mapped by Arundel (Fig. 4 ) . Most of i t s area i s barely higher than t h e surrounding i n t e r - i s l e t channels.
The shallow reef f l a t s between Coral and i t s 2 southern motus a r e only several centimeters deep at. low t i d e ; a l l 3 may be d e s t i n e d t o u n i t e . Unless c l o s e l y i n s p e c t e d , they appear t o have already merged, a f a c t which, t o g e t h e r with Bryan's i n c o r r e c t map ( F i g . 6 ) , helps account f o r t h e widely d i f f e r i n g number of motus a t t r i b u t e d t o Caroline.
e t a t i o n : There a r e 9 species of p l a n t s ( 2 t r e e s , 1 shrub, 6 h e r b s ) , 35% of Caroline's f l o r a , and no i n t r o d u c t i o n s a r e p r e s e n t . Plant
communities comprise a small surrounded by t h e predominan narrow band of n a t i v e herbs.
Birds: Five s p e c i e s of seab
Pisonia f o r e s t (0.13 h a ) , which i s T o u r n e f o r t i a , in t u r n fringed with a
"Soil s " a r e extremely coarse.
rds bred in 1988: Masked Booby ( I p a i r ) , Great F r i g a t e b i r d ( 2 p a i r s ) , Brown Noddy (6 Red-footed ~ o o b y (28 p a i r s )
,
p a i r s ) , and White Tern (15 p a i r s ) .
2 1 ) LONE PALM ISLET (1.99 ha) Figs. 29, 52; P l s . 60-61
i f t h in t h e chain, f o r i t s s i n g l e coconu palm which towers, f l a g - l i k e , above a dense mound of T o u r n e f o r t i a .
Physiography: S i m i l a r t o Kota ( t o i t s s o u t h ) , Lone Palm i s sausage- shaped, 97 m long and 240 m wide, and 4 times t h e s i z e mapped by
Arundel
.
A1 though composed almost e n t i r e l y of coral rubble, some sand borders t h e lagoon. Following a p a t t e r n prevalent on a l l leeward motus, i t s lagoon beach i s 2 m wide, while t h e seaward beach i s 17 meters.Vegetation: Eleven s p e c i e s of p l a n t s a r e present ( 3 t r e e s , 1 shrub, 7 h e r b s ) , 42% of Caroline's f l o r a . Plant communities a r e simple: a wide band of herb mats and open Tournefortia f l a n k s an oval of Tournefortia f o r e s t ( t o 10 m t a l l ) . A l i n e of Pisonia t r e e s , with a lone Cocos surmounting t h e scrub, i d e n t i f i e s t h i s i s l e t from lagoon o r ocean.
Birds: Three s p e c i e s of s e a b i r d s bred in 1988: Masked Booby ( 2 p a i r s ) , Red-footed Booby (48 p a i r s ) , and White Tern ( 9 p a i r s ) . In May 1990, we saw a l a r g e pre-breeding swarm of Sooty Terns.
22) MOTU KOTA "Red-footed Booby s l e t " (0.64 ha) Figs. 28, 52;
P l s . 60 We named t h i s motu f o r i t s high d e n s i t y of Red-footed Boobies (kota in G i l b e r t e s e ) .
Physiography: Sixth in l i n e south of Nake, sausage-shaped Motu Kota i s 50 m long and 175 rn wide. A t low t i d e i t i s almost connected t o Motu Mouakena. Both surveys i n d i c a t e t h a t coral r u b b l e , the i s l e t ' s
predominant s u b s t r a t e , had f u r t h e r accumulated on i t s south s i d e s i n c e t h e 1985 a e r i a l photos, and a l s o s i n c e 1988.
Vegetation: Though barely wooded, Kota has 11 s p e c i e s of p l a n t s ( 3 t r e e s , 1 shrub, 7 h e r b s ) , 42% of C a r o l i n e ' s f l o r a . One introduced species i s p r e s e n t , one t a t t e r e d Cocos. Plant communities include:
peripheral herb mats and a c e n t r a l Tournefortia scrub ( t o 10 m t a l l ) , with a few P i s o n i a s .
s : Three s p e c i e s of s e a b i r d s bred in 1988: Brown Booby ( 1 p a i r ) , Red-footed Booby (12 p a i r s ) , and White Tern ( 3 p a i r s ) . I n May 1990, a s i n g l e Masked Booby was on t e r r i t o r y , and Sooty Terns swirled overhead.
23) MOTU MOUAKENA
"
s l e t " (1.00 ha) Figs. 2 9 , 52;P l s . 15, 62 This i s l e t was named f o r i t s nesting Masked Boobies, a r e l a t i v e l y uncommon s e a b i r d on Caroline.
Physiography: Somewhat U-shaped, Motu Mouakena i s seventh, and
southernmost, in t h e South Nake chain of i s l e t s . Both s i d e s of t h e "U"
were, i n t h e r e c e n t p a s t , s e p a r a t e i s l e t s . By j o i n i n g on t h e west, a narrow, V-shaped i n l e t was c r e a t e d on t h e lagoon s i d e . Motu Mouakena, 100 m long and 160 m wide, i s extremely rubbly and i n f e r t i l e ; much
rubble was reorganized during t h e torm. Seventeen meters
t o i t s south l i e s a newly emerging shoal of sand and gravel ( P I . 1 5 ) ,
perhaps d e s t i n e d t o be Caroline's f o r t i e t h motu. Since t h e above storm, rubble has f u r t h e r accumulated on t h i s s h o a l , i t s adjacent r e e f f l a t s , and in t h e channel s e p a r a t i n g i t from Mouakena. I t a l r e a d y supports one Tournefortia shrub, 2 dozen Heliotropium p l a n t s , and s c a n t Lepturus and P o r t u l a c a .
Vegetation: Mouakena has 8 s p e c i e s ( 1 t r e e , 1 shrub, 6 h e r b s ) , 31% of Caroline's f l o r a , with no i n t r o d u c t i o n s . I t i s t h i n l y vegetated with open Tournefortia scrub ( t o 9 m t a l l , 26% c o v e r ) , a few small P i s o n i a , and s p a r s e herb mats.
Birds: This motu supports l e s s vegetation and fewer b i r d s than i t s o v e r a l l a r e a i m p l i e s , s i n c e 38% of t h e land c o n s i s t s of unshaded, coarse coral rubble ( F i g . 29b). Although unproductive b o t a n i c a l l y , t h i s
provides ideal n e s t i n g grounds f o r Masked Boobies, one of i t s 2 s p e c i e s of 1988 breeding s e a b i r d s : Masked Booby (3 p a i r s ) and Red-footed Booby (8 p a i r s ) . In May 1990, we a l s o saw one Great F r i g a t e b i r d n e s t with eggs and a swirl of Sooty Terns.
k LEEWARD ISLET
This chain of 11 motus occupies t h e c e n t r a l west s i d e of Caroline.
All a r e separated by channels, wadable only a t low t i d e but prowled by b e l l i g e r e n t s h a r k s . Approximately 1,600 m south of Motu Mouakena l i e s a sandy shoal ( 0 . 5 m high, 7 m wide, 4 m l o n g ) , c l o s e t o t h e lagoon edge of t h e r e e f f l a t s and connected only by a t h i n thread of rubble t o Motu Mannikiba t o i t s south.
The i s l e t s range in s i z e from Mannikiba (28.50 h a ) , t h e most
n o r t h e r l y , t o Fishball (0.46 h a ) , t h e most s o u t h e r l y . All support good seabird populations. Although most a r e well-wooded, they a r e
nonetheless t h e l e a s t lush motus on Caroline. H i s t o r i c a l records a r e meagre: much of Mannikiba's f o r e s t was f e l l e d t o make room f o r a Cocos
seedling "nursery" (Young c a . 1922). The bulk of " 4 0 t r e e s on o t h e r i s l e t s , " in Young's p l a n t a t i o n t o t a l s , were most l i k e l y from Shark and Emerald. The r e s t of t h i s group i s e v i d e n t l y p r i s t i n e ; Bird I s l e t i s p a r t i c u l a r l y n o t a b l e .
In common with a l l western motus on C a r o l i n e , t h e lagoonside beaches a r e narrow and leeward r e e f f l a t s wide. The l a t t e r e x h i b i t a g r e a t e r v a r i e t y of s u b s t r a t a than t h e former, including o l d e r r a i s e d r e e f s and beachrock. P e r i o d i c a l l y , thousands of n e s t i n g Sooty Terns occupy t h e i r open spaces (Clapp & Sibley 1971a; A K K , p e r s . obs. ; Anne Falconer, p e r s . comm.).
24) MOTU MANNIKIBA "Seabird I s l e t " (21.49 ha) Figs. 29, 53;
P l s . 63-65 rnotu f o r i t s teeming s e a b i r d s , mannikiba in
Gi 1 b e r t e s e .
RUBBLE
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Figure 53. Vegetation and physiography of Centrai Leeward I s l e t no. I : Motu Mannikiba
( " S e a b i r d I s l e t " ) .
P h y s i o g r a p h y : L a r g e s t and most n o r t h e r l y o f t h e C e n t r a l Leeward I s l e t s , Mannikiba i s somewhat r e c t a n g u l a r w i t h r o u n d e d c o r n e r s . I t s r e e f f l a t s ,
s u p p o r t i n g an i n c i p i e n t i s l e t , s t r e t c h 2 . 0 km n o r t h t o t h e S o u t h Nake I s l e t s .
M a n n i k i b a ' s maximum d i m e n s i o n s a r e 700 m l o n g and 3 7 5 m w i d e . On t h e l a g o o n s i d e , t h e s c r u b s k i r t s h i g h w a t e r , b u t when t h e t i d e d r o p s , a s t r i p o f b l i n d i n g w h i t e s a n d y c o r a l l i n e s t h e l a g o o n . To s e a w a r d ,
u p r a i s e d r e e f , b e a c h r o c k , and s u c c e s s i v e l a y e r s o f r u b b l e s t r e t c h i n a wide s w a t h ( 4 0 m) t o w a r d t h e o u t e r r e e f , 130 m d i s t a n t . The p r i m a r y
i n l a n d s u b s t r a t u m i s c o r a l r u b b l e w i t h h a r d p a n i n t h e n o r t h e a s t . V e g e t a t i o n : M a n n i k i b a , t h e f o u r t h l a r g e s t m o t u , h a r b o r s 1 3 p l a n t s p e c i e s : ( 4 t r e e s , 2 s h r u b s , 7 h e r b s ) , 50% o f C a r o l i n e ' s f l o r a . The o n l y i n t r o d u c t i o n i s Cocos, o c c u p y i n g 0 . 1 % o f t h e l a n d a r e a . The
s i n g l e , s t e r i l e Ximenia a m e r i c a n a i s i n d i g e n o u s , b u t may h a v e grown from a s e e d d e r i v e d f r o m t h e o t h e r p a t c h o f t h i s s p e c i e s on S o u t h .
M a n n i k i b a ' s v e g e t a t i o n , d e n s e r t o w a r d t h e n o r t h e n d , i s c l e a r l y z o n e d : h e r b matss, T o u m s f o r t i a s c r u b and f o r e s t , and s c a t t e r e d P i s o n i a g r o v e s , - Ihe Few c l u m p s o f p e r i p h e r a l Cocos a r e p r o b a b l y n o t d r i f t - d e r i v e d , b u t t h e r e m n a n t s o f 6 , 0 0 0 " s e e d s e t s " b r o u g h t from F l i n t I s l a n d
i n J u n e 1 9 2 0 , - l h e s e were s t o r e d on Mannikiba and " u s e d t o r e p l a n t m i s s e s on o t h e r i s l e t s " (Young c a . 1 9 2 2 ) .
P i s o n i a , t h o u g h p r e s e n t , o c c u p i e s o n l y 5% o f t h e l a n d a r e a , a
s m a l l p e r c e n t a g e f o r s u c h a l a r g e i s l e t . T h i s s u g g e s t s t h a t l a r g e a r e a s o f t h e i n t e r i o r f o r e s t s were f e l l e d t o accommodate t h e c o c o n u t " s e t s . "
T h i s i s a l s o c o n f i r m e d by t h e p r e s e n c e o f s e v e r a l o l d c u t s t u m p s ( C o r d i a ? ) i n t h e i n t e r i o r , u n d o u b t e d l y a l e g a c y o f S . R. Maxwell and C o . , L t d . , who e r e c t e d h u t s a r o u n d 1920 (Young c a . 1 9 2 2 ) . A l t h o u g h n o t h i n g more i s known o f M a n n i k i b a ' s h i s t o r y , c o l l e c t i o n o f g u a n o f r o m i t s numerous s e a b i r d s may a c c o u n t f o r f u r t h e r p a s t d i s t u r b a n c e .
- l r a n s e c t i ( n o r t h - c e n t r a l s e c t o r , P I . 6 4 ) p a s s e d t h r o u g h t h e h e a r t o f a f i n e i n t e r i o r f o r e s t , w h i l e T r a n s e c t 2 ( s o u t h - c e n t r a l s e c t o r ) p a s s e d t h r o u g h s c r u b and h e r b m a t s which may r e p r e s e n t p a r t o f t h e
f o r m e r Cocos " ~ t r r s e r y , " P r o f i l e s t h r o u g h t h e s e 2 c r o s s - i s l a n d t r a n s e c t s r e s e m b l e t h o s e f r o m B r o t h e r s ( F i g , 46) and an o l d i n t e r i s l a n d c h a n n e l on Long ( F i g . 4 0 ) , r e s p e c t i v e l y ,
- rhe l o w , p e r i p h e r a l h e r b m a t s ( a b s e n t f r o m t h e l a g o o n s i d e ) a r e composed o f 30% H e l i o t r o p i u m , 20% B o e r h a v i a , 15% T o u r n e f o r t i a , and l e s s t h a n 1% o f P o r t u l a c a and L a p o r t e a . They a r e b e s t r e p r e s e n t e d i n t h e s o u t h e r n s e c t o r . The T o u r n e f o r t i a f o r e s t , 6 m h i g h on b o t h s i d e s , i s t h i c k , h a v i n g 95% c a n o p y c o v e r a g e . The P i s o n i a f o r e s t s , t h o u g h
f r a g m e n t e d ( 1 2 m h i g h , 100% c a n o p y c o v e r ) , c o n t a i n M o r i n d a , B o e r h a v i a , A c h y r a n t h e s , L a p o r t e a , and P h y m a t o s o r u s , b u t none c o v e r more t h a n 10% o f t h e g r o u n d a r e a .
t e d Booby ( 1 8 4 y ( 1 6 1 p a i r s ) , B l a c k Noddy ( 1 7 6 p a i r s ) , and White T e r n ( 1 9 5 p a i r s ) . No S o o t y T e r n s n e s t e d on
t h i s i s l e t i n 1988, but Clapp & S i b l e y (1971a) e s t i m a t e d 2,500 p a i r s i n 1965, and t h e F a l c o n e r s r e p o r t e d 1 a r g e c o l o n i e s on Manni ki ba, Bl a c k f i n and Matawa i n J u l y - August 1990.
Comments: Coconut c r a b s l i v e i n t h e Cocos g r o v e . A z u r e - t a i l e d and snake-eyed s k i n k s ( C r y p t o b l e p h a r u s p o e c i l o p l e u r u s ) , a s w e l l a s a g e c k o , were n o t e d i n 1990 (DHE, G . Wragg, p e r s . o b s . ) .
25) BLACKFIN ISLET ( 2 . 6 2 h a ) F i g s . 29, 54; P l s . 29 We named t h i s motu, second i n t h e C e n t r a l Leeward c h a i n , f o r 2 s h a r k a t t a c k s ( n e a r m i s s e s ) w i t h i n i t s n o r t h e r n c h a n n e l .
Physiography: B l a c k f i n , shaped l i k e c o n j o i n e d o v a l s , i s 140 m long and 190 m a c r o s s . Coral r u b b l e c o v e r s 30% o f i t s s u r f a c e ; a l l beaches and upper r e e f f l a t s a r e o f v a r i a b l e w i d t h s , due i n p a r t t o t h e f a c t t h a t i t has r e c e n t l y i n c o r p o r a t e d a s m a l l e r , c i r c u l a r motu i n t o i t s n o r t h e r n c o n f i n e s
.
e g e t a t i o n : B l a c k f i n I s l e t has 9 s p e c i e s o f p l a n t s ( 3 t r e e s , 1 s h r u b , 5 h e r b s ) , 35% o f C a r o l i n e ' s f l o r a . The o n l y i n t r o d u c t i o n , Cocos, i s r a r e . Four p l a n t communities were p r e s e n t . Herb mats a r e well r e p r e s e n t e d , e s p e c i a l l y around t h e newly i n c o r p o r a t e d i s l e t . The T o u r n e f o r t i a s c r u b , 21 m wide i n t h e e a s t , i s s h o r t ( t o 2 m), b u t approaches t h e s t a t u r e o f a f o r e s t ( t o 6 m) i n t h e w e s t . The c e n t r a l f o r e s t s o f Cordia and
P i s o n i a ( 0 . 4 1 ha) a r e 9 m h i g h .
B i r d s : Three s p e c i e s of s e a b i r d s bred i n 1988: G r e a t F r i g a t e b i r d ( 4 p a i r s ) , Brown Noddy (37 p a i r s ) , and White Tern ( 1 1 p a i r s ) . In May 1990, one Red-footed Booby s a t t i g h t on a n e s t , w h i l e 2 months l a t e r l a r g e numbers o f Sooty Terns began l a y i n g .
h i t e Tern I s l e t " ( 1 - 7 1 h a ) F i g s . 29, 5 4 ; P I . 3 ( P t . 1 1 ) On a r r i v i n g a t t h i s motu, t h e a u t h o r s were g r e e t e d by 15 White T e r n s , matawa i n G i l b e r t e s e .
Physiography: Of oval s h a p e , Motu Matawa i s t h i r d from t h e n o r t h i n t h e C e n t r a l Leeward c h a i n . I t i s 105 m l o n g and 190 m wide. The e n t i r e motu i s composed of c o r a l r u b b l e o f v a r y i n g g r a d e s , whose u n v e g e t a t e d p o r t i o n c o m p r i s e s o n e - f o u r t h o r more o f t h e l a n d a r e a . I t s lagoon beach i s 2 . 5 m wide, w h i l e t h e seaward beach ( s p a r s e l y v e g e t a t e d ) i s 6 m wide.
V e g e t a t i o n : Matawa has 10 s p e c i e s o f p l a n t s ( 4 t r e e s , 2 s h r u b s , 4 h e r b s ) , 39% o f C a r o l i n e ' s f l o r a . There a r e no i n t r o d u c t i o n s .
V e g e t a t i o n i s l e s s l u s h and more open a s one p r o g r e s s e s s o u t h on t h e leeward s i d e . T o u r n e f o r t i a ( t o 7 m ) c o v e r s h a l f t h e i s l e t , s u r r o u n d i n g an e a s t - c e n t r a l P i s o n i a - C o r d i a f o r e s t ( t o 8 m ) .
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I s l e t , Motu Matawa ( " F a i r y Tern I s l e t " ) , and Emerald I s l e .
B i r d s : I n 1988 f o u r s p e c i e s o f s e a b i r d s b r e d : Red-footed Booby ( 5 p a i r s ) , G r e a t F r i g a t e b i r d ( 1 p a i r ) , Brown Noddy ( 3 p a i r s ) , and White Tern ( 1 3 p a i r s ) . Most c o n s p i c u o u s were White T e r n s , w i t h 9 p a i r s b r e e d i n g on t h e 30-m-wide t r a n s e c t s w a t h . One d a r k morph Reef Heron f i s h e d i n t h e s h a l l o w s . In summer 1990, S o o t y T e r n s a l s o b r e d .
27) EMERALD ISLE ( 8 . 3 4 ha) F i g s . 29, 54; Pls. 24, 6 6 , 67 F i f t h down t h e c h a i n , we named Emerald f o r t h e r i c h l y c o l o r e d , t r a n s l u c e n t lagoon w a t e r s t h a t f r i n g e i t s s h o r e l i n e s .
P h y s i o g r a p h y : C r e s c e n t i c Emerald, 330 m l o n g and 240 m wide has l a g o o n s i d e r e e f s , p a t c h r e e f s , and c o r a l k n o l l s i r r e g u l a r l y p a t t e r n e d w i t h sandy c h a n n e l s .
V e g e t a t i o n : Emerald I s l e h a s 12 s p e c i e s o f p l a n t s ( 5 t r e e s , 1 s h r u b , 6 h e r b s ) , 46% o f C a r o l i n e ' s f l o r a . The o n l y i n t r o d u c t i o n i s Cocos. Four p l a n t communities, w i t h a f a i r l y high s p e c i e s d i v e r s i t y , a r e p r e s e n t : t h e h e r b m a t s , c o v e r i n g o n e - f o u r t h o f i t s l a n d a r e a , a r e composed a l m o s t e x c l u s i v e l y o f He7 i o t r o p i u m (35% c o v e r ) w i t h s c a t t e r e d 1 ow T o u r n e f o r t i a (30% c o v e r ) . The T o u r n e f o r t i a a t t a i n s a maximum h e i g h t o f 8 m a n d , f o r v a r i e t y , i s mixed a b o u t e q u a l l y w i t h Pandanus o v e r most o f i t s seaward w i d t h (144 m).
The i n t e r i o r f o r e s t ( t o 11 m t a l l ) i s a l s o mixed, w i t h Pandanus, T o u r n e f o r t i a , P i s o n i a , and a l i t t l e C o r d i a ( P I . 6 6 ) . T h i s 3 . 2 0 ha mixed f o r e s t , a s on S h a r k , s u g g e s t s t h a t Pandanus may be b o t h n a t i v e and
P o l y n e s i a n - i n t r o d u c e d , a l t h o u g h we do n o t have specimens t o v e r i f y t h i s . Cocos i s p r e s e n t a s 2 small g r o v e s , c o m p l e t e w i t h c o c o n u t c r a b s i g n
(mounds o f s h r e d d e d f i b e r s , P I . 5 3 ) , b e s i d e t h e e a s t and midwest s h o r e s . We have been u n a b l e t o t r a c e t h e h i s t o r y o f Emerald's f o r e s t s ; t h e Cocos
and f r a g m e n t e d P i s o n i a s u g g e s t p a s t d i s t u r b a n c e .
- s : S i x s p e c i e s o f b r e e d i n g s e a b i r d s were p r e s e n t : R e d - t a i l e d l r o p i c b i r d ( 1 p a i r ) , Red-footed Booby ( 3 p a i r s ) , G r e a t F r i g a t e b i r d (230 p a i r s ) , Brown Noddy ( 7 p a i r s ) , Black Noddy ( I 5 0 p a i r s ) , and White Tern
( 8 3 p a i r s ) .
Although we d i d n o t l o c a t e any R e d - t a i l e d T r o p i c b i r d n e s t s , 2 a d u l t s c i r c l e d s t e a d i l y o v e r h e a d . Two Reef Herons (1 d a r k morph, 1 1 i g h t ) f o r a g e d i n t h e i n s h o r e r e e f s h a l l o w s .
28) SHARK ISLET ( 7 . 9 8 ha) F i g s .
We named t h i s i s l e t t o commemorate a p a r t i c u l a r 1 c h a r g e d shoreward and l e a p e d t o t h e beach toward o u r
29, 5 5 ; P l s . 2 8 , 6 8 y p u g n a c i o u s s h a r k f e e t .
P h y s i o g r a p h y : S t o u t l y c r e s c e n t i c , S h a r k I s l e t i s 280 m l o n g and 310 m wide i n t h e c e n t e r , The sandy lagoon beach and r u b b l y seaward beach a r e each 3 m w i d e , The f o r m e r i s C a r o l i n e ' s prime s t r e t c h o f s a n d , o v e r l a i n by numerous p i n k g r a n u l e s , p o s s i b l y due t o F o r a m i n i f e r a t e s t s , a s i n
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Figure 55. Vegetation and physiography of the Central Leeward I s l e t s nos. 5 through 11: Shark and S c a r l e t Crab I s l e t s , Motu Nautonga ("Sea Cucumber I s l e t " ) , Azure I s l e , Reef-flat, Bird and Fishball I s l e t s .
common i n t h e Tuamotus ( S t o d d a r t & S t e e r s 1 9 7 7 ) . Beyond high w a t e r t h e seaward r e e f f l a t s e x t e n d f o r 280 m.
V e g e t a t i o n : There a r e 1 2 s p e c i e s o f p l a n t s ( 5 t r e e s , 1 s h r u b , 6 h e r b s ) , 46% o f t h e a t o l l ' s f l o r a . One i n t r o d u c t i o n , Cocos, forms 3 clumps a l o n g t h e l a g o o n beach (1% o f t h e i s l e t ' s a r e a ) . S h a r k ' s r i n g s o f v e g e t a t i o n a p p r o x i m a t e t h e i s l e t ' s o u t l i n e . Herb m a t s d o t t h e f i n e sand
lagoonward, w h i l e t o seaward t h e y grow i n c o a r s e r u b b l e . The
T o u r n e f o r t i a ( t o 7 m t a l l ) e v e n t u a l l y g i v e s way t o a 12-m-high P i s o n i a f o r e s t s t u d d e d w i t h C o r d i a and Pandanus. C e n t r a l l y t h i s mixed f o r e s t i s u n n a t u r a l l y o p e n , s u g g e s t i n g p a s t d i s t u r b a n c e .
B i r d s : Four s p e c i e s o f s e a b i r d s bred i n 1988: G r e a t F r i g a t e b i r d (118 p a i r s ) , Brown Noddy ( 3 7 p a i r s ) , Bl a c k Noddy (125 p a i r s ) , and White Tern
(44 p a i r s ) . R e d - f o o t e d Boobies were n e s t i n g i n 1990. The n o t a b l e c o l o n i e s o f G r e a t F r i g a t e b i r d s and Black Noddies a r e due i n p a r t t o t h e e x t e n s i v e P i s o n i a f o r e s t , c o v e r i n g o n e - h a l f o f t h e i s l e t .
( 0 . 4 6 ha) F i g s . 2 8 , 55
T h i s motu was named by t h e a u t h o r s i n honor sf Coenobika p e r l a t u s , t h e s c a r l e t , f i s t - s i z e d h e r m i t c r a b t h a t i s abundant both h e r e and on t h e e n t i r e a t o l l .
Physiography: S c a r l e t Crab, s i x t h i n t h e c h a i n and o n l y 40 m l o n g by 125 m w i d e , i s a young oval motu. I t s k i r t s t h e s o u t h e r n s h o r e o f S h a r k , from which i t i s s e p a r a t e d by a channel 16 m w i d e . Because i t s e a s t e r n end p o i n t s i n t o t h e l a g o o n , t h e r e i s no t r u e lagoon beach.
T o g e t h e r w i t h t h e n e x t 3 i s l e t s , S c a r l e t C r a b ' s seaward r e e f f l a t s (480 m) a r e t h e most e x t e n s i v e on C a r o l i n e ' s l e e s i d e .
e g e t a t i o n : V e g e t a t i v e c o v e r i s s l i g h t : j e s s t h a n i% a r e a coverage o f H e l i o t r o p i u m and L a p o r t e a , i n t e r s p e r s e d w i t h 10 sma.1! T o u r n e f o r t i a ( t o
1 . 5 m). I t s s p e c i e s c o u n t i s 6 ( 1 s h r u b , 5 h e r b s ) , 23% o f C a r o l i n e ' s f l o r a , There a r e no i n t r o d u c t i o n s ,
B i r d s : Although d u r i n g s t o r m s t h i s motu i s undoubtedly awash, 2 s p e c i e s o f s e a b i r d s were b r e e d i n g i n 1988: Brown Noddy ( 1 p a i r , on ground) and White Tern ( 2 p a i r s , i n low s c r u b ) .
30) MOTU NAUTONGA "Sea Cucumber I s l e t " ( 0 . 3 4 h a ) F i g s , 2 8 , 55 We named t h i s motu f o r t h e G i l b e r t e s e word f o r t h e b l a c k s e a
cucumbers o r "beche-de-mer" ( L u d w i g o t h u r i a s p . ) t h a t a r e s t r e w n u b i q u i t o u s l y w i t h i n t h e 1 agoon s h a l l o w s ( P I . 1 0 ) .
P h y s i o g r a p h y : S e m i c i r c u l a r i n s h a p e , Nautonga i s s e v e n t h i n t h e C e n t r a l Leeward c h a i n , measuring 70 m l o n g and 8 0 m w i d e . S i t u a t e d c l o s e t o t h e l a g o o n , i t i s one o f 3 small motus t h a t b a r e l y p r o t r u d e above t h e r f l a t s . Nautonga's p e r i m e t e r beaches a r e a l l narrow ( 2 m), w h i l e i t seaward r e e f f l a t s a r e wide (495 m ) .
V e g e t a t i o n : T h e r e a r e 9 i n d i g e n o u s s p e c i e s ( 3 t r e e s , 1 s h r u b , 5 h e r b s ) , 35% o f the a t o l l ' s f l o r a . Though s m a l l , Nautonga's v e g e t a t i o n i s
c o n c e n t r i c a l l y z o n e d , c o m p r i s i n g h e r b mats (10-14 m wide) and a c e n t r a l f o r e s t o f Tournefortia and Pisonia (84 m w i d e ) , t o 10 m t a l l .
B i r d s : F i v e s p e c i e s o f s e a b i r d s bred i n 1988: R e d - f o o t e d Booby (11 p a i r s ) , G r e a t F r i g a t e b i r d ( 2 p a i r s ) , Brown Noddy ( 7 p a i r s ) , Black Noddy
(32 p a i r s ) , and White Tern (10 p a i r s ) . L e s s e r F r i g a t e b i r d s a p p e a r e d t o be p r e p a r i n g t o n e s t i n May 1990. One p a i r o f B l u e - g r a y Noddies, f l y i n g s o u t h , was s e e n i n May 1990.
3 1 ) AZURE ISLE ( 0 . 2 0 h a ) F i g s . 28, 5 5 ; P I . 51 We named t h i s s m a l l , wedge-shaped motu f o r t h e s t r i k i n g c o l o r s o f i t s n e a r b y l a g o o n .
P h y s i o g r a p h y : E i g h t h from t h e n o r t h , t h i s s m a l l , e i o n g a t e d t r i a n g l e o f l a n d i s 30 m l o n g and 66 m w i d e , I t s seakrard r e e f f l a t s a r e wide
(512 m), w h i l e t h e a d j a c e n t c h a n n e l s a r e narrow and s h a l l o w .
e t a t i o n : Azure h a s o n l y 7 s p e c i e s ( 1 t r e e , 1 s h r u b , h e r b s ) , 27% o f C a r o l i n e ' s f l o r a . A young motu, Azure i s a s u p e r b example of an e a r l y s t a g e o f b i o l o g i c a l s u c c e s s i o n . I t s p l a n t c o v e r c o n s i s t s of a s i n g l e mound o f Tournefortia s c r u b crowned by a s i n g l e Pisonia t r e e ( 6 m t a l l ) , growing o n l y one m e t e r above s e a 1 eve1
.
Only 45% o f t h e motu i sv e g e t a t e d ; t h e r e s t , p r i m a r i l y t o s e a w a r d , i s c o a r s e r u b b l e . Azure I s l e i l l u s t r a t e s t h e minimum width o f v e g e t a t i o n ( 3 8 m) i n which Pisonia d e v e l o p s on Carol i n e .
B i r d s : T h i s motu i l l u s t r a t e s t h e speed a t which s e a b i r d s w i l l u t i l i z e newly a v a i l a b l e h a b i t a t s . Within i t s dozen o r s o Tournefortia s h r u b s
( t o 4 m t a l l ) , 3 s p e c i e s o f s e a b i r d s n e s t : R e d - f o o t e d Booby ( 7 p a i r s ) , G r e a t F r i g a t e b i r d ( 2 p a i r s ) , and White Tern ( 2 p a i r s ) , A p a i r o f Blue- g r a y Noddies were s e e n i n May 1990.
32) REEF- LET ( 0 . 0 9 ha) F i g s , 2 7 , 55
We named t h i s young motu f o r i t s p r i m a r y c h a r a c t e r i s t i c : r e e f f l a t s . Ninth i n t h e C e n t r a l Leeward c h a i n , t h i s curved s t r i p o f c o a r s e r u b b l e 1 i e s p a r a l l e l t o t h e c h a n n e l s t h a t s u r r o u n d and spawned i t . I t measures a b o u t 20 m l o n g and 60 m wide. Three s p e c i e s o f p l a n t s ( 1 s h r u b , 2 h e r b s ) , 12% o f C a r o l i n e ' s f l o r a , c o v e r l e s s t h a n o n e - f o u r t h o f i t s a r e a and a r e d i s t r i b u t e d s o s p a r s e l y t h a t n o t one b i r d was p r e s e n t .
3 3 ) BIRD ISLE F i g s . 29, 55
T h i s i s one o f t h e motus named on A r u n d e l ' s c h a r t ( F i g . 4 ) , p r o b a b l y b e c a u s e o f numerous B l a c k Noddies and/or S o o t y T e r n s .
Physiography: B i r d i s o v o i d , measuring 230 m long by 200 m wide. I t s i t s c l o s e t o t h e i n n e r edge o f t h e lagoon r e e f , whereas 400 m o f seaward r e e f f l a t s s t r e t c h westward.
Vegetation: There a r e 12 s p e c i e s o f p l a n t s ( 4 t r e e s , 2 s h r u b s , 6 h e r b s ) , 46% o f C a r o l i n e ' s f l o r a . A small Cocos g r o v e i s t h e o n l y i n t r o d u c t i o n . I t i s well-wooded, w i t h v e r y narrow h e r b mats (6% of
t o t a l a r e a ) . T o u r n e f o r t i a ( t o 8 m) and P i s o n i a ( t o 14 m) e a c h c o v e r 42%
o f i t s s u r f a c e ; t h e r e s t i s r u b b l e . The P i s o n i a f o r e s t i s o f good qua1 i t y (90-95% canopy c o v e r ) , h a v i n g s c a t t e r e d Morinda, B o e r h a v i a , and A c h y r a n t h e s a s an u n d e r s t o r y . One l a r g e clump o f S u r i a n a (14 x 14 m , 2 . 5 m h i g h ) grows c e n t r a l l y (A. G a r n e t t , p e r s . comm.). B i r d I s l e t shows v e r y few s i g n s o f p a s t d i s t u r b a n c e , having prime p l a n t communities, r i c h i n b r e e d i n g s e a b i r d s .
Birds: F i v e s p e c i e s of s e a b i r d s n e s t e d i n 1988: Red-footed Booby (29 p a i r s ) , G r e a t F r i g a t e b i r d (6 p a i r s ) , Brown Noddy ( 4 2 p a i r s ) , Black Noddy
(329 p a i r s ) , and White Tern ( 4 8 p a i r s ) . In June 1990, many t h o u s a n d s o f S o o t y T e r n s 1 a i d on B i r d and a d j a c e n t F i s h b a l l .
34 BALL ISLET ( 0 . 5 7 h a ) F i g s , 28, 5 5 , 56
E l e v e n t h and s o u t h e r n m o s t i n t h e C e n t r a l Leeward c h a i n , we named F i s h b a l l a f t e r f i n d i n g a l a r g e g l a s s f i s h i n g f l o a t w i t h a broken bottom, d e c o r o u s l y p l a c e d i n t h e i s l e t ' s c e n t e r a m i d s t c o r a l s l a b s .
Physiography: Paramecium-shaped, F i s h b a l l l i e s c l o s e t o t h e lagoon and i s s e p a r a t e d from Bird by a s h a l l o w , r u b b l e s t r e w n channel 100 m wide.
The motu i s 45 m l o n g by 144 m wide, w i t h seaward r e e f f l a t s 595 m i n e x t e n t . South o f t h e i s l e t , t h e r e e f f l a t s - - w a d a b l e a t v e r y low t i d e - - s t r e t c h 1 . 4 km t o t h e S o u t h e r n Leeward I s l e t s .
e t a t i o n : - Ihe number o f p l a n t s p e c i e s i s 8 ( 1 s e e d l i ~ g " t r e e , " 1 s h r u b , 6 h e r b s ) , 31% o f C a r o l i n e ' s f l o r a . F i g u r e 56 d e p i c t s an e a s t - west c r o s s - s e c t i o n o f F i s h b a l l , showing a v e r t i c a ? p r o f i l e and t h e r e l a t i v e abundance and d i s t r i b u t i o n o f each s p e c i e s , F i s h b a l l
e x e m p l i f i e s a young motu. All p l a n t s a r e low and h a l o p h y t i c ; most a r e h e r b s . The motu i s h a l f - c o v e r e d w i t h a s p a r s e h e r b mat. o f H e 7 i o t r o p i u m
(10% c o v e r ) , w i t h s c a t t e r e d l a p o r t e a , l e p t u r u s , and P o r t u l a c a ( e a c h (1%
c o v e r ) . Small T o u r n e f o r t i a s h r u b s ( t o 2 m t a l l ) a r e s c a t t e r e d i n t h e c e n t r a l s e c t o r , w h i l e a t i n y d r i f t s e e d l i n g o f Morinda, 7 cm h i g h , s t r u g g l e d t o g a i n a f o o t h o l d i n t h e e x p o s e d , s a l t y r u b b l e .
T h i s motu i s a f i n e example of t h e i n i t i a l s t a g e s o f i s l e t
f o r m a t i o n and c o l o n i z a t i o n , d e m o n s t r a t i n g t h a t s e a - d i s p e r s e d , h a l o p h y t i c h e r b s f i r s t a p p e a r l a t e r becoming shaded o u t by T o u r n e f o r t i a , e n a b l i n g a g r e a t e r p l a n t s p e c i e s d i v e r s i t y t o e s t a b l i s h . I t i s v e r y u n l i k e l y t h a t a ground w a t e r l e n s i s p r e s e n t .
o s p e c i e s o f s e a b i n 1988: R e d - t a i l e d T r o p i c b i r d ( 3 Brown Noddy ( 5 pa May 1990, many t h o u s a n d s o f S o o t y T e r n s c o v e r e d t h e ground and s w i r l e d i n t h e a i r , day and n i g h t . We
A c h y r a n t h e s c a n e s c e n s B o e r h a v i a r e p e n s H e l i o t r o p i u m a n o m a l u m k a p o r t e a r u d e r a l i s b e p t u r u s r e p e n s M o r i n d e c i t r i f o l i s P o r t u l a c a l u t a a T o u r n e t o r t i a a r g e n t e a
Figure 56. Fishball I s l e t ( n o . 11, Central Leewards):
east-west cross-section through the center of t h i s young motu, which exhibits early stages of geological and biological evolution. Data includes f l o r i s t i c composition, r e l a t i v e abundance of plant species, degree of species overlap and canopy heights. Vertical height i s exaggerated.
found no e g g s , but 1 a y i n g o c c u r r e d i n J u n e h e r e and on a d j a c e n t Bird I s l e t (Anne F a l c o n e r , p e r s . comm.)
.
SOUTHERN LEEWARD ISLETS P l s . 14, 69
T h i s c h a i n of 5 small motus l i e s a l o n g t h e s o u t h w e s t e r n edge of t h e l a g o o n . All a r e b u i l t upon p i l e s o f r u b b l e about 3 m h i g h , o r i e n t e d e a s t - w e s t , and s e p a r a t e d by s h a l l o w , narrow c h a n n e l s . From 1 . 5 1 t o 3.67 ha i n s i z e , t h e i r topography, v e g e t a t i o n , and b r e e d i n g s e a b i r d s a r e s i m i l a r . Although s i t u a t e d on t h e leeward s i d e of t h e a t o l l , t h e
S o u t h e r n Leeward I s l e t s e x h i b i t some windward c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s ; t h e y l i e o p p o s i t e and s l i g h t l y n o r t h o f a wide b r e a k i n t h e windward r e e f which a l l o w s t r a d e winds t o sweep, u n i n t e r r u p t e d , a c r o s s t h e l a g o o n . T h i s promotes t h e i r 60-80% c o v e r o f s c r u b o r f o r e s t . Ana-Ana, t h e
s o u t h e r n m o s t , was p e r i o d i c a l l y occupied from 1987-1991 by t h e F a l c o n e r f a m i l y .
Of p a r t i c u l a r b o t a n i c a l i n t e r e s t a r e t h e i n t e r i o r f o r e s t s ,
composed o f P i s o n i a mixed w i t h more C o r d i a t h a n e l s e w h e r e on t h e a t o l l . Pure C o r d i a g r o v e s ( m o s t l y t o o small t o map a c c u r a t e l y ) t y p i c a l l y occupy t h e f o r e s t p e r i p h e r i e s .
T h e i r h i s t o r y ( p r e v i o u s t o 1987) i s unknown; a l l a p p e a r t o h a r b o r v i r g i n p l a n t communities mingled w i t h o c c a s i o n a l d r i f t - d e r i v e d Cocos o r Pandanus.
35) MOTU RAURAU " B l ue-Gray oddy I s l e t " ( 3 . 4 8 ha) F i g s . 29, 5 7 ; P l s . 1 4 , 69 Northernmost o f t h e Southern Leeward I s l e t s , we named t h i s motu f o r t h e Blue-gray Noddies ( r a u r a u i n G i l b e r t e s e ) observed t h e r e .
y: Raurau i s o v o i d , w i t h a small l a g o o n s i d e bay, and maximum dimensions o f 180 m long and 231 m wide, I t has t h e most e x p a n s i v e r u b b l e o f a l l t h e S o u t h e r n Leeward I s l e t s . T h i s c o a r s e c o r a l c l i n k e r e x t e n d s , a p r o n - l i k e , around t h e i s l e t , w i d e s t ( 4 0 m ) c l o s e s t t o t h e l a g o o n , and narrower (10 m) t o seaward, The seaward r e e f f l a t s e x t e n d 446 m t o t h e ocean.
V e g e t a t i o n : The number of p l a n t s p e c i e s i s 10 ( 5 t r e e s , 1 s h r u b , 4 h e r b s ) , 39% of t h e a t o l l ' s f l o r a . Raurau's 2 p l a n t communities a r e s i m p l e : a v e r y s c a n t h e r b mat i s s p r i n k l e d w i t h T o u r n e f o r t i a , which r i s e s t o 6-m-high s c r u b a l l around t h e i s l e t . Laportea forms a narrow band a t t h e i n t e r f a c e between c o r a l r u b b l e and s c r u b . C e n t r a l l y a P i s o n i a f o r e s t ( t o 13 m), d o t t e d w i t h C o r d i a on t h e p e r i p h e r y , h a r b o r s much Morinda i n t h e u n d e r s t o r y , i n c l u d i n g t h e t a l l e s t Morinda ( 1 3 m) s e e n on t h e a t o l l . A handful o f d r i f t - d e r i v e d Cocos and Pandanus, t h e o n l y i n t r o d u c t i o n s , d o t t h e s c r u b .
RUBBLE H E R B M A T
0
T O U R N E F O R T I Aa
C O R D I A P l S O N l AI**TI COCOS
-
H O U S E S I T E PANDANUS) S U R I A N A
\
M O T U E I T E Ir
c r o p o r r - T r i d s c n a R e e f s
M O T U K l M O A
M O T U A H A - A H A
S O U T H E R W L E E W A R D I S L E T S
Figure 57. Vegetation and physiography of t h e 5 Southern Leeward Is1 e t s : Motus Raurau ("Bl ue-gray Noddy I s l e t " )
,
E i t e i ( " F r i g a t e b i r d I s l e t " ) , Pisonia I s l e t , Kirnoa ("Rat I s l e t " ) , and Ana-Ana ("Anne's I s l e t " ) .
Birds: No s e a b i r d s were found on t r a n s e c t , but a perimeter walk in 1988 revealed 4 species breeding i n t h e 1 eeward Tournefort i a : Red-footed Booby (10 p a i r s ) , Great Frigatebird (31 p a i r s ) , Brown Noddy ( 1 p a i r ) , and White Tern ( 2 p a i r s ) . This i s l e t , f o r i t s s i z e , i s p a r t i c u l a r l y r i c h in f r i g a t e b i r d s .
Comments: Polynesian r a t s a r e present.
36) MOTU EITEI " F r i g a t e b i r d I s l e t " (1.41 ha) Figs. 29, 57;
Pls. 14, 69 Second in l i n e from t h e north, we named t h i s motu f o r i t s nesting Great F r i g a t e b i r d s , e i t e i in Gil b e r t e s e .
Physiography: Motu E i t e i i s rounded, 105 m long and 280 m wide. Lying perpendicular t o t h e reef a x i s , i t touches t h e lagoon edge on i t s inner s i d e . To seaward, t h e reef f l a t s a r e 644 m wide.
etation: There a r e 8 s e c i e s of p l a n t s ( 3 t r e e s , 1 shrub, 4 h e r b s ) , of t h e a t o l l ' s f l o r a , i t h no introductions. E i t e i i s carpeted with 3 plant communities in t h e usual concentric arrangement. However, t h e r e i s a s l i g h t d i f f e r e n c e in t h e species composition of t h e herb mats: on t r a n s e c t , the southern mat ( 2 m wide) consisted s o l e l y of P o r t u l a c a , while the north s i d e contained a 3-m swath of Heliotropium, Laportea, and s c a t t e r e d Suriana. Inside t h e mat i s a r i n g of Tournefortia scrub ( t o 5 m ) and a c e n t r a l Pisonia-Cordia f o r e s t ( t o 11 m ) . Laportea i s p a r t i c u l a r l y abundant, while Portulaca, normally confined t o t h e edges, abounds in small openings within t h e i n t e r i o r woodlands.
Birds: Four species of seabirds bred on Motu E i t e i in 1988: Red-footed Booby (17 p a i r s ) , Great Frigatebird (14 p a i r s ) , Brown Noddy (6 p a i r s ) , and White Tern (18 p a i r s ) . The a t o l l ' s f i r s t Blue-gray Noddy nest was found in 1990 ( P t , 1 1 ) .
37 ( 2 . 4 5 ha) Figs. 2 9 , 57; P l s . 14, 69
We named t h i s motu f o r i t s f i n e Pisonia f o r e s t .
Physiography: Pisonia, t h i r d in t h e chain from t h e north, i s almost c i r c u l a r , and l i e s c l o s e l y appressed t o i t s neighbor i s l e t s . I t s maximum dimensions are 140 m long and 220 m wide. Like Raurau, i t possesses a wide "apron" of coral rubble and sparse herbs on the lagoon s i d e . I t s seaward reef f l a t s a r e 300 m wide.
Vegetation: The number of plant species i s 15 ( 5 t r e e s , 2 shrubs, 8 h e r b s ) , 58% of the a t o l l ' s f l o r a . The only introduction i s Cocos (few, s c a t t e r e d , north and south s h o r e s ) . Well-wooded, Pisonia harbors t h e customary 3 plant communities: t h e herb mat i s almost pure
Heliotropium, dotted with Suriana. One specimen of Lepidium bidentatum was found in 1990. The Tournefortia scrub a n d f o r e s t , covering half of
t h e motu's length and width, grows t o 9 m, while t h e Pisonia-Cordia f o r e s t , covering 0.86 ha (35% of t h e i s l e t ' s a r e a ) , reached 10 meters.
Birds: Despite t h e f i n e P i s o n i a f o r e s t , no Black o r Brown Noddies nested. Only 3 s p e c i e s of s e a b i r d s bred in 1988: Red-footed Booby (26 p a i r s ) , Great F r i g a t e b i r d (14 p a i r s ) , and White Tern (10 p a i r s ) . Best represented were Red-footed Boobies; a perimeter count yielded 18 tended n e s t s , a l l in Tournefortia scrub. A Long-tailed Cuckoo was heard in t h e i n t e r i o r .
Comments: Rats were common: 6 were noted on a mid-morning t r a n s e c t survey.
38) MOTU KIMOA "Rat I s l e t " (1.80 ha) Figs. 29, 57;
P l s . 14, 69, 70 Fourth from t h e north, we named t h i s motu f o r C a r o l i n e ' s s i n g l e mammalian i n h a b i t a n t , t h e Polynesian r a t , kimoa in G i l b e r t e s e .
Physiography: Kimoa, s m a l l e s t of t h e Southern Leeward I s l e t s and shaped l i k e a f l a r e d t e a r d r o p , i s squeezed between i t s neighbor motus. I t s maximum dimensions a r e 92 m long and 218 m wide, almost 4 times t h e s i z e mapped by Arundel ( F i g , 4 ) . The southeast rubble and herb mats a r e wide. The d i s t a n c e t o t h e o u t e r r e e f edge i s 307 meters. Of s p e c i a l note i s t h e emergent Tridacna-Acropora reef which s t r e t c h e s completely a c r o s s t h e lagoon t o Tridacna I s l e t . This r e e f i s 15-20 m wide
( F i g . 48; P l s . 25, 57) and 1,023 m long, which, t o g e t h e r with an equal length in blind d i v e r t i c u l a e , t o t a l s over 2 kilometers. The Tridacna clams aggregate in d e n s i t i e s u p t o 80/sq m (Sirenko & Koltun, in p r e s s ) .
e g e t a t i o n : Kimoa has 11 s p e c i e s of p l a n t s ( 3 t r e e s , 2 shrubs, 6 h e r b s ) , 42% of Caroline's f l o r a , There a r e no i n t r o d u c t i o n s . Though small and narrow, Kimoa i s well-vegetated. I t s herb mats a r e composed of Heliotropium on t h e south s i d e and Portulaca ( p l u s Suriana) on t h e n o r t h . The i n t e r i o r Tournefortia-Pisonia-Cordia f o r e s t s ( t o 11 m ) cover nearly h a l f t h e i s l e t ' s a r e a .
i r d s : Four s p e c i e s of s e a b i r d s bred in 1988: Red-footed Booby (21 p a i r s ) , Great F r i g a t e b i r d ( 3 p a i r s ) , Black Noddy ( 2 p a i r s ) , and White Tern ( 7 p a i r s ) . Red-footed Booby n e s t s occupied perimeter s i t e s .
39) MOTU ANA-ANA "Anne's I s l e t " (2.16 ha) Figs. 29, 57; P l s . 7a, 14, 52, 69, 71
This motu includes a small s e t t l e m e n t with 3 thatched huts
(cooking, e a t i n g , s l e e p i n g ) , a water tank, chicken coop, and garden. I t was occupied from 1987-1991 by Anne and Ron Falconer, 2 small c h i l d r e n , chickens, Muscovy ducks, and a dog. A wooden sign marked "Ana-Ana"
indicated t h a t t h e i s l e t had been named.
I t i s i n t e r e s t i n g t o compare P l a t e s 7a and 71, i d e n t i of Ana-Ana 105 y e a r s a p a r t .
17 1 cal p r o f i l e s Physiography: Ana-Ana i s t h e southernmost motu in t h e Southern Leeward I s l e t s , 120 m long by 2 2 2 m wide a t i t s widest p o i n t . Approximately 3 m high, i t i s roughly o v a l , with a hooked point and curved bay f a c i n g t h e lagoon. This point i s a c t i v e l y growing as more and more rubble i s deposited by t h e l a r g e flow of water passing through t h e channel (430 m wide) t h a t s e p a r a t e s Ana-Ana and South I s l a n d . This channel c o n t a i n s abundant clams t h a t amass i n t o an extensive Acropora-Tridacna r e e f
s t r e t c h i n g approximately 900 m across t h e lagoon t o Tridacna I s l e t . The o u t e r r e e f f l a t s measured 281 meters.
Vegetation: Ana-Ana has 15 species of p l a n t s ( 5 t r e e s , 2 shrubs, 8 h e r b s ) , 58% of C a r o l i n e ' s f l o r a . Introductions include Cocos,
v e g e t a b l e s , a few ornamentals and, a s y e t , no weedy e x o t i c s . Ana-Ana's vegetation i s t y p i c a l of t h e o t h e r Southern Leeward I s l e t s except f o r t h e s e t t l e m e n t . Narrow t r a i l s from t h e southern channel lead t o a neat c l e a r i n g , approximately 40 m x 70 m , t h e only inhabited portion of t h e a t o l l . We advised t h e Falconers a g a i n s t introducing a l i e n p l a n t s with spreading seeds and requested them t o d e s t r o y a l l i n t r o d u c t i o n s when vacating t h e i s l a n d permanently.
Ana-Ana has s p a r s e herbaceous mats: Suriana, Ne7iotropium, Portu7aca, Laportea, and Lepturus. The Tournefortia s t r a n d includes Cocos, Cordia, and Pandanus. Quality Pisonia f o r e s t , 15 m high, covers 43% of t h e i s l e t ' s a r e a .
Birds: No breeding s e a b i r d s were found on any of t h e 3 v i s i t s t o
Caroline. However, t h e Falconers found a few White Terns and one Great F r i g a t e b i r d nesting in t h e perimeter scrub, as well as groups of Brown Noddies s i t t i n g on t h e beach. Long-tailed Cuckoos were seen around t h e huts in March, A p r i l , and May 1 9 9 0 . I t i s t o be hoped t h a t s e a b i r d s r e t u r n now t h a t t h e motu i s again uninhabited.
omments: Rats and l a r g e cockroaches a r e abundant. Despite t h e t i d y s i t e , 1 2 r a t s occupied a p i l e of coconut d e b r i s , while o t h e r s s c u r r i e d amongst t h e f o r e s t l i t t e r , The Falconers trapped over 1,300 r a t s one 2- y e a r period. Several pale geckos with a few s p o t s and l a r g i s h heads were seen in and around t h e huts (probably mourning geckos).
1. CONCLUSIO
Lushly wooded Caroline A t o l l , with t h e majority of i t s 39 i s l e t s (399 ha of land) e i t h e r in n e a r - p r i s t i n e condition o r having recovered remarkably from p a s t d i s t u r b a n c e , i s one of t h e l e a s t s p o i l e d a t o l l s i n t h e P a c i f i c . Uninhabited, i t harbors p l a n t ecosystems and breeding s e a b i r d s ( P t . 11) of national and i n t e r n a t i o n a l importance. I t s marine and t e r r e s t r i a l ecosystems a r e prime outdoor ecological l a b o r a t o r i e s f o r research on geological processes including ground water, sea l e v e l
changes, t h e dynamics of motu formation, f i s h poisoning, and numerous f a c e t s of ecology including p l a n t succession and Pisonia growth r a t e s .
Carol i n e b o a s t s prime c o r a l r e e f s t h i c k l y s t u d d e d w i t h T r i d a c n a c l ams, s u b s t a n t i a1 numbers o f c o c o n u t c r a b s , b r e e d i n g s i t e s f o r g r e e n t u r t l e s , w i n t e r i n g g r o u n d s f o r s h o r e b i r d s i n c l u d i n g t h e r a r e B r i s t l e - t h i g h e d Curlew, a n c i e n t Tuamotuan marae, and a c r y s t a l l i n e , u n p o l l u t e d l a g o o n . The v a r i e t y , abundance, and q u a l i t y o f i t s f l o r a and f a u n a q u a l i f y i t f o r s t a t u s a s an o f f i c i a l l y r e c o g n i z e d i n t e r n a t i o n a l p r e s e r v e ( P t . 11, S e c t . G ) . E f f o r t s toward i t s c o n s e r v a t i o n have t h u s f a r been
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