WILDLIFE AND WILDLIFE HABITAT OF AMERICAN SAMOA. II .
WILDLIFE AND WILDLIFE HABITAT OFAMERICAN SAMOA. II.ACCOUNTS OF FLORA AND FAUNABy A. Binion Amerson, Jr., W. Arthur Whistler, and Terry D. SchwanerEnvironment Consultants, Inc., Dallas, TexasEdited by Richard C. BanksU.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceWashington, D.C.UNITED STATESDEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIORFISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICEWashington, D.C.1982
FOREWORD-A survey of the status of the wildlife and wildlife habitat of American Samoa, an unincorporated Territory of the UnitedStates, was recommended by administrative officials of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) in the early 1970's. Environment Consultants, Inc. (ECI), based in Dallas, Texas, was selected to conduct a2-year survey with A. Binion Amerson, Jr., asPrincipal Investigator. The contract was administered through the Division of Federal Aid in FWS Region I, Portland,Oregon.The primary objectives of the survey were to define the major ecosystems and to inventory their physical components,vegetation, and wildlife constituents; to prepare maps of these ecosystems; to identify any threatened or endangered speciesof wildlife; and to recommend wildlife management opportunities and needs. The report of the survey was to be in two parts.The first was to be a non-technical account suitable for wide general distribution; the second was to include the technicalaspects of the data and data gathering, with accounts of the wildlife species. This volume represents the second part of ECI'sreport.The final report submitted by ECI contained more than 1,200pages, 200 figures, and 110 tables, many of the latter severalpages long. The FWS felt that the report was too lengthy for publication in the form submitted. The task of editing and condensing ECI's report into publishable form, without altering its essentials, was assigned to Richard C. Banks, National Fishand Wildlife Laboratory (now Museum Section), FWS, Washington, D.C. Claudia J. Angle assisted with revision of thefigures, and Linda Wolfe retyped the tables and some of the text.ContentsPageForeword. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ii. .Abstract. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.Climate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3.Soils . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5.Methods. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5.Study Plots and Their Vegetation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7Plants. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17. .Dicotyledonae . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18.Monocotyledonae . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27Pteridophyta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31.VertebrateAnimals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36.Amphibians and Reptiles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36Birds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5. 4Mammals. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 3Acknowledgments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7. 6References. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7. .7.Tables. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat of American Samoa. 11.Accounts of Flora and FaunaA. Binion Amerson, Jr., W. Arthur Whistler,and Terry D. SchwanerEnvironment Consultants, Inc.Dallas, TexasAbstractA survey of the status of the terrestrial vertebrate wildlife and the wildlife habitat of American Samoa wasconducted from 15 June 1975to 21 December 1976. Data were collected from42 study plots representing 16vegetation communities and habitat types on the seven islands and from 98 linear survey routes.A checklist of plants includes 489 species of which 33 tree species are first reported for American Samoa.Eleven flowering plants are endemic to American Samoa.One amphibian and 15 reptiles occur in American Samoa. The amphibian, Bufo marinus, and a gecko,Hemidactylusfrenatus, are recent introductions. The Pacific boa, Candoia brbroni, is first reported fromAmerican Samoa, and 37 insular distribution records are reported. In number of individuals, reptiles are themost abundant vertebrates on the islands.The avifauna of American Samoa includes 53 species; the occurrence of 4 others is hypothetical. Fourspecies are reported from a single occurrence, and the listing of seven sea birds is based on sight records ofbirds flying over or near the islands. Six northern hemisphere shorebirds and one cuckoo are known only asmigrants. Two species, Columba Ifvia and Pycnonotus cafer, are introduced; only the latter is well established. One species, Gymnomyzasamoensis, is probably extirpated. The friendly quail-dove, Gallicolumbastalri, is reported from American Samoa for the first time.The mammalian fauna includes two native bats, a third hypothetical species, four introduced mice andrats of which one, Rattus exulans, probably represents an old introduction, and feral pigs.
IntroductionAmerican Samoa is a group of seven islands at about 14"south latitude and 170" west longitude, along the crest of asubmarine ridge. From west to east in the chain, the islandsare Tutuila, Aunu'u, Ofu, Olosega, Ta'ii, and Rose Atoll(Fig. 1). The seventh, Swains Island, is about 320 km northnorthwest of Tutuila. The island group is about 4,180 kmsouthwest of Honolulu and about 925 km northeast of Fiji(Fig. 2). The total land area is about 197 km2. Individualislands range in size from Tutuila (about 142 km2)to RoseAtoll (0.04 km2). The maximum elevation of 966 m is onTa'ii; in contrast, Rose Atoll and Swains Island are flat andlow, rising only about 9 m above sea level. Figures 3-5 showthe topography of the individual islands and place namesused in this report. The islands are inhabited except for RoseAtoll, which is a National Wildlife Refuge of the U.S. Fishand Wildlife Service.The natural vegetative cover of most of American Samoais tropical rain forest. Nearly two-thirds of the rain forest hasbeen destroyed or damaged by man's activities; undisturbedforest exists only on steep slopes. Despite the low fertility ofthe soil, plantation land is the most extensive type of vegetation (34%). Secondary forest (20%) is another major vegetation type; if undisturbed for along time, the secondary forestwill revert to a condition nearly indistinguishable fromprimary forest. The only relatively undisturbed vegetationtypes are cloud forest, montane and littoral scrub, and littoral strand.For the purposes of this study, "wildlife" was restricted tobirds, terrestrial mammals, reptiles, and amphibians.OCEANOLUIS.-AFU IS'wqOLOSEGA IS.IT A ' IS.ROSE ATOLLFig. 1. The islands of American Samoa and their relationship to Western Samoa.,
,ClimateTemperature. -The average annual temperature ofAmerican Samoa is about 23" C (Fig. 6). The southernhemisphere winter months of June, July, and August are thecoolest and the summer months of January, February, andMarch are the warmest. However, the mean annual range oftemperature is less than 2" C, in contrast to a mean dailyrange of about 7" C. Afternoon temperatures ordinarilyreach slightly more than 30" C in summer and slightly lessthan that figure in winter; night temperatures fall to about25" C in summer and about 22" C in winter. The highesttemperatures recorded at the Pago Pago Airport were about33 " C and the lowest about 16" C. Minimum temperaturesfrom April 1964 to March 1966, when the weather stationwas about 0.8 km farther inland, appear to have beensomewhat lower than those at the present location nearer theshore.Winds.-The prevailing winds throughout the year are theeasterly tradewinds. These tend to be more directly from theeast from December through March, but from the eastsoutheast and southeast in the rest of the year. Monthlyaverage wind speeds are 4-10 knots (Fig. 6). The trade windsare less consistent in summer than in winter. At Pago PagoAirport, winds occur with a minimum frequency of about30% in February to a maximum frequency of about 75% inAugust. Interruptions of the winds in summer are sometimesassociated with the proximity of small tropical storms, bandsof converging winds, or low-pressure systems higher in theatmosphere, all conditions that help make summer the rainyseason. At other times, the absence of the tradewinds ismarked by periods of light and variable winds. Westerly andnortherly winds are then more frequent; strong at times,these winds often reflect the nighttime drainage of cooled airfrom the mountains west and north of the airport.Hurricanes move into the area generally from the north,occasionally from the east or west. According to historicalrecords, Samoa experienced at Ieast 39 hurricanes between1831 and 1926; of these, 2 occurred in November, 7 inDecember, 11 in January, 3 in February, 12 in March, 3 inApril, and 1 at an unspecified time. Some have been intenseand highly destructive. On 29-30 January 1966, a hurricanebattered Pago Pago with gusts of more than 110 mph,deposited 15-36 cm of rain, and caused five deaths and anestimated 4.3 million in property damage.Precipitation.-Rainfall averages more than 318 cm annually at the Pago Pago Airport, but varies greatly over smalldistances because of the rugged topography. Pago PagoVillage, less than 6.5 km north of the airport at the head of ahill-encircled harbor open to the prevailing wind, receivesnearly 510 cm annually. The crest of the mountain receivesmore than 750 cm annually, and observations during the pre-Fig. 2. General location of American Samoa. Distances are shown in kilometers.
sent study indicate that annual rainfall may exceed 1,000 cmin the high-altitude cloud forest. In the average year, the airport records about 300 days with a trace of rain or more, andabout 175days with 0.25 cmor more. Thedriest months (Fig.6) are April through September and the wettest are Octoberthrough March, but seasonal rainfall may vary greatly between years.Heavy showers and long rainy periods can occur in anymonth. About 25-30 thunderstorms occur in an average year,mainly in the rainy season. Flooding rains have beenassociated with hurricanes and tropical storms, but also occur at other times. On 9 October 1967, rainfall totaling 19cm in 24 hours was recorded at the airport. This rain causedextensive flooding and damage on Tutuila Island.Relative humidity.-Relative humidity somewhatparallels the wet and dry periods of the year (Fig. 6). In thewetter months, the relative humidity reaches 90% at nightand the mid-70's during the day; in drier months it is about6-8 points lower.Sky cover.-The mean monthly sky cover (Fig. 6) betweensunrise and sunset is 7.4 on a scale of 0 (no clouds) to 10(complete cover). Periods of relatively clear skies generally occurduring the dry season (winter). In an average year there are 25completely clear days, 145 partly cloudy days, and 195cloudy days. No data are available on nighttime cloud cover.SoilsA total of 119 soil samples were taken from 18 of the studyplots and from Swains Island. The plots sampled arerepresentative of most of the vegetation community types.Thirteen characteristics of the soil were analyzed with aLaMotte soil testing kit. Particle size distribution (sand, silt,and clay) was evaluated and soil depth was measured (Table1).More detailed analyses were made for samples from 18locations on Rose Island. In addition to the characteristicsanalyzed on the soils of the other islands (Table I), RoseIsland samples were analyzed for percentages of organic carbon and total nitrogen. The percentage of organic matterranged from 0.72 to 36.2, that of nitrogen from 0 to 2.99.With an increase in organic matter there was a correspondingincrease in total nitrogen. There was also a decrease in pHwith an increase in organic carbon. An acid layer under thePisoniu forest grades into more alkaline conditions awayfrom the forest and deeper into the soil profile. Bird guanohas a great effect on the soils of this island.MethodsField work in American Samoa began on 15 June 1975 andterminated on 21 December 1976. An ecosystem approach todata collection was utilized. Sixteen community types weresampled at 41 study plots; Swains Island was an additional(42nd) study area. These study plots were used in gatheringdata on vegetation structure and composition and on the dis-tribution of the vertebrate wildlife species. All field notes,raw data, photographs accumulated during the survey, aswell as material compiled in analysis and in report preparations, are in the files of the Museum Section of the U.S. Fishand Wildlife Service, at the National Museum of NaturalHistory, Washington, D.C. 20560. Voucher specimenstakenin the course of this study have been deposited in the National Museum of Natural History (USNM), Washington.Community study plots.-A set of 41 study plots wasestablished in 16 plant communities (Table 2, Figs. 7-9). Theplots were constructed to represent homogeneous communities, although this tends to obscure the patchworknature of the forests. To facilitate the collection of data,subplots of 10x10m were marked. The shape of the plot wasusually a modified belt transect with 10 contiguous subplots.In areas of limited size, plots of various shapes were usedwithout regard to contiguity of subplots. Quadrats, divisionsof the subplots, were used in recording data on vines andsmall herbaceous plants.A total of 292 identified trees in and near the plots weremeasured (dbh) and tagged with numbered aluminum tagsattached at breast height by aluminum nails. All trees in theplots on Rose Island were so marked, and all coconut trees onthat island were tagged but not measured. In other plots thatcontained trees, only large trees near the corners (sometimesoutside) were tagged to serve as guideposts for future plotlocation. Because of tree growth these tags will probably notbe of value for more than 10 years.At the completion of the project, certain plots (Table 2)were permanently marked by cooperative effort of the Fishand Wildlife Service and the Government of AmericanSamoa. Galvanized 5.1 cm pipes were buried to depths of 46cm with 15 cm exposed. Each pipe was capped with a bronzemarker cemented into the top.Four sets of vegetation data were obtained at each of the 41survey plots: (1) tree species measurements and counts, (2)sapling counts, (3) estimated ground cover, and (4) frequency of climbers. Epiphytes were usually noted but because oftheir limited importance in the ecosystem and the lack of amethod for recording reliable quantitative data, informationon epiphytes is discussed only as species occurrence.Trees.-For this study, a tree was defined as a selfsupporting woody plant with a stem diameter of 2.5 cm orgreater measured at breast height (dbh) unless the "tree" wasshorter. Use of this single criterion does not distinguish between trees and the very few shrubs (small woody plants thatbranch at or near the base) in the Samoan forests. Treesbranching near the base were recorded by measuring thediameters of the major branches. The diameter of forest treeswith plank-like buttresses was measured above the origin ofthe buttresses when possible. Trees on the edges of plots weremeasured if the plot boundary passed through the trunk.Banyan trees (Ficus sp.), sometimes called strangler figs,presented a special problem. These plants send masses ofhanging roots to the ground from the tops of host trees onwhich they have become established. The roots eventually
coalesce to form a trunk and the host tree, locked within,dies. In practice, a banyan trunk was measured and itsequivalent diameter was estimated.The heavy growth of epiphytes or vines on tree trunks,characteristic of cloud florests, may have caused inaccuracies in identification or measurement. Growth wascleared away before measurement or measurements were adjusted for the thickness of vines.The major problem in obtaining tree data was accurateidentification. For tall forest trees the characteristic fruitsand flowers were often unavailable and leaves were often difficult to obtain. Bark characteristics could not be used exclusively. At times binoculars were used to identify the leavesin the crown of a tall tree.Heights of trees were estimated. Stratification was evidentonly in rain forest and mature secondary forest, but even inthese only two layers were found-a canopy layer 18-28 mhigh and an understory 6-18 m high.In the cloud forest, where dense undergrowth preventeduse of the plot method, an alternative point-centered methodwas used. At each of a series of points 10 m apart an imaginary line perpendicular to the series formed fourquadrants. The nearest tree in each quadrant was measured,as was the distance from the point. A series of 25 points over250 m yields measurements of 100 trees. Tree density can beobtained by averaging the distance between the points andthe trees (Mueller-Dombois and Ellenberg 1974).At some sites, a quick survey of tree species compositionand size was made by randomly selecting a large number oftrees and estimating their diameters.Saplings. -A woody plant more than 50 cm tall but with adbh of less than 2.5 cm was considered a sapling. Included inthese limits were true saplings of large and medium-sized treespecies as well as mature shrubs and small trees. The arbitrary separation of saplings from trees artificially dividedpopulations of some small tree species (e.g. Psychotria insularum and Polyscias samoensis). However, data from thetwo categories can be combined for more complete information about those species.Saplings were analyzed in quadrats derived by dividing the10x10 m subplots into quarters. Usually, a series of 5-10quadrats, one per subplot, was used; the same quadrat wasselected in each subplot. If saplings were relatively few, entiresubplots were used. Species, height, and number of saplingswere recorded; density was calculated from the number.Ground cover. -The ground cover consisted of all the lowplants, mostly less than 50 cm high, on the forest floor. Mostof these were ground ferns, but flowering herbs, creepingvines, and seedlings of tree species were included.The percentage of ground cover (Mueller-Dombois andEllenberg 1974) by individual plant species was estimated in5x5 m quadrats in the subplots using the Braun-Blanquet(195 1) cover abundance scale; where cover was sparse, entiresubplots were used. Where no fixed plots were establishedand where ground cover was particularly heavy, as in montane scrub and coastal marsh, ground cover was recorded inplots ranging from 2x2 to 5x5 m. Species, percentage ofcover, and frequency of occurrence in quadrats wererecorded.Climbers and vines.-Climbers in a tropical forest may beherbaceous or woody, but commonly have stems that needsupport. They climb tree trunks by means of tendrils,specialized clinging roots, a spiral growth pattern, or a combination of these. Climbers may or may not reach thecanopy, and some species (e.g., the fern Lomagramma cordipinna)may climb or not. Where there are fewer trees, andtherefore more light on the ground surface, vines spreadhorizontally over the substrate. Some usually prostratevines, such as Ipomoea macrantha, are also able to climb lowtrees, as at the edge of coastal strand. Many weedy vinesfound in disturbed places such as pastureland, plantationland, and secondary forests in American Samoa have beenintroduced. Most of these require moderate sunlight forestablishment and are shaded out by developing forest.Information on vines and climbers was recorded with treedata, on trees with a dbh of 7.5 cm or more. Species and frequency of occurrence were recorded, and relative dominanceof each species was calculated from field estimates ofbiomass of the individual climbers. Climbers were assigned5, 3, 2, or 1 points, with higher values to more dominantvines. The total value for a species was divided by the totalfor all species in a sample to provide a rough percentage ofdominance in a plot. Vines and climbers were studied in 23plots.Lianas, woody vines often with stems as large as trees, maygrow over several treetops. This growth pattern, and the difficulty of identifying leafless and flowerless stems, make itdifficult to study these plants from the ground. They may beimportant or even dominant in canopy layers, but the accuracy of data on such lianas is questionable.Other surveys.-To provide more extensive data onwildlife, investigators established 98 linear survey routes onthe major islands (Table 3). Notes on vegetation were alsomade during the linear surveys. Some surveys were made onfoot, some by automobile. The number of repetitions of thesurveys varied.Special methods were used for study of the various planttypes and animal groups. These are discussed with the accounts of the species or groups involved.Study Plots and Their VegetationPlot 1, Nu'uuli Mangrove ForestSite.-A single rectangular plot 30x50 m, running N 22"E, in mangrove swamp about 1 km west of intersection andabout 150 m south of road at closest approach to swamp onNu'uuli Peninsula, Tutuila Island; elevation sea level. Softmud, high in organic matter, inundated with salt water athigh tide.Community. -A forest composed entirely of orientalmangrove (Bruguiera gymnorhiza) spaced about 4/100 mZ
ROSEATOLLfROSE.ISLAND"\-'1I03's11 04'SWAINS ISLAND.TOTAL AREA 3 2 6 . 3 4 HAMAXIMUM ELEVATION 9.1 MSHORELINE LENGTH 6 . 2 K M\20/TOTAL AREA 5.18HAMAXIMUM ELEVATION 3.1 MSHORELINE LENGTH I.OKM'4. //PvREEFFig. 5. Maps of Rose Atoll and Swains Island.
and forming a continuous canopy 8-16 m high. Patches ofmangrove saplings in forest but not in plot. Ground cover absent except for Bruguiera seedlings less than 50 cm (Table 4).Plot 2, Vaitogi Littoral ForestSite. -4series of 14 subplots 5x5 m in 2 parallel rows of 7each, 10 m apart, running N 68" W on lava coast perpendicular to shoreline about 0.7 km west of village of Vaitogi,Tutuila Island, next to small turnout on dirt road; elevation10 m. Slightly weathered lava rock covered by a thin layer ofsoil, with patches of loose sand on rock strand. Terrain flat.FWS marker no. 3 is 9 m west of aluminum tree tag no. 929.Community.-A severely disturbed forest of Pandanustrees 3-5 m high (Table 5) with patches of Scaevola taccadaand Acrostichum aureum interspersed with grass. Betweenthe trees and the shore is typical rock strand with obviousspecies zonation.Plot 3, Rose Littoral ForestSite. -Ten subplots, 10x10m and 10 m apart, curving southin a crescent along the margin of the forest from about 60 meast of the concrete marker on the eastern edge of the Pisoniaforest on Rose Island; elevation 1-3 m. Soil dark brown,loose, rich in humus, made from guano, leaf litter, and sand.Terrain nearly flat.Community.-Forestof Pisonia grandis trees approaching 20 m in height, some higher in center of island,without stratification (Table 6). No ground cover. Cocosnucifera and Messerschmidiaargentea trees present on islandbut not in plot.Plot 4, Aunu'u Littoral ForestSite.-A single 30x50 m plot 200-300 m from shoresouthwest of Ma'ama'a Cove on Aunu'u Island; elevation 20m. Soil brown, loose, dry, without rocks, crossed by extensive surface roots of Barringtonia. Forest slopes gently tonortheast. Forest inland, cut off from shore.Community.-Forest consists almost entirely of large,spreading Barringtonia asiatica (Table 7) 7-1 1 m high; treeswell spaced (6.8/100 m2). Almost no ground cover.Plot 5, Onenoa Littoral ForestSite.-A series of nine unmarked subplots, 10x10m, 10 mapart, along upper margin of beach about 400 m west ofvillage of Onenoa on northwest-facing shore between Soloand Palau points, Tutuila Island; elevation 0-5 m. Coral rubble with no soil development or accumulated litter. Terrainflat but bordered by steep rocky slope. FWS marker no. 9 isin plot.Community.-Almostexclusively huge Barringtoniaasiatica trees, 8-11 m high, behind which is a narrow disturbed forest. Ground cover dominated by seedlings of Barringtonia with some Asplenium nidus. (Table 8).Plot 6, Aig2 Littoral ForestSite.-A series of six continuous subplots, lOxlOm, in tworows of three each extending inland from shore in southerlydirection, at AigZ, the valley east of abandoned village ofAoloau on north coast of Tutuila Island; elevation 1-5 m.Continuous with Plot 18. Coral rubble and coral plates withno soil or sand. Beach covered by rounded rocks with littlesand. Terrain flat.Community.-Dominant tree, Barringtonia asiatica(Table 9), forming a canopy 10-16m high; forest floor open,trees well spaced. Saplings few, ground cover light and consisting mostly of Barringtonia seedlings and Aspleniumnidus. At 30-50 m inland, Barringtonia samoensis replacesB. asiatica under lowland rain forest.Plot 7, Saua Littoral ForestSite. -Five contiguous subplots, 10x10 m, parallel toshore running N 28"W, 15-25 m from shore about 1.5 kmsouth of end of road at Saua on east coast of Ta'ii Island,west of northern terminus of coral-plate trail; elevation 1-5m. Coral plates and rocks of various sizes, no sand or soil.Terrain flat.Community. -Mixed forest to 18 m high, dominated byBarringtonia asiatica, Pisonia grandis, and Hernandiasonora (Table lo), with no understory; well spaced trees giving open aspect to forest. Saplings scarce, ground cover light.Plot 8, Pala Littoral ForestSite.-No plot; dbh estimated for 63 randomly selectedtrees in forest about 50m north of PalaMud Lake about 50 minland from north coast of Aunu'u Island; elevation 2-5 m.Substratum of coral plates and rubble on flat terrain.Community. 4 p e n forest of the typical littoral speciesHernandia sonora, Pisonia grandis, and Barringtoniaasiatica, and a coastal ridge forest species, Planchonellacostata (Table 11); canopy about 10-15 m high with nostratification. Few saplings and small trees, very light groundcover.Plot 9, Sili Coastal ForestSite. --No plot; dbh estimated for 100 randomly selectedtrees on northeast tip of Olosega Island about 800 m east ofSili Village, from beginning of plateau plantation land alonga trail down to edge of littoral forest; elevation 20-100m. Soildry and very rocky, with frequent rock outcroppings and leaflitter on ground. Slope of 40-50" to east and northeast.Community.-A forest dominated by Barringtoniaasiatica, Syzygium clusiaefolium, and Diospyros samoensis(Table 12) with no stratification and light ground cover.Plot 10, Pofala Coastal ForestSite.-No plot; dbh of 65 randomly selected treesestimated along ridge on north side of Aunu'u Island about50 m east of Pofala Hill; elevation 30 m. Dry soil with fewrocks, originating from volcanic tuff. Ridge slopes gently,but ground drops steeply on both sides. Area disturbed bytrail.Community.-Transition between coastal and ridgeforest, with Erythrina variegata and Diospyros samoensisthe dominant trees (Table 13); no stratification.
MONTHLY SKYCOVER (RANGE )*/PREcwwIoN(cm)Fig. 6. Historical weather data (1956-76 monthly averages) for Pago Pago International Airport, Tutuila Island.
Plot 11, Nu'utele Coastal ForestSite.--No plot; dbh estimated for 194 randomly selectedtrees along ridge toward south end of Nu'utele Islet off westcoast of Ofu Island; elevation 70 m. Eight, dry soil formedfrom volcanic tuff with very little leaf litter; terrain flat ontop of ridge but steep (30-40")on sides.Community.-Forest dominated by Diospyros elliptica,Syzygium clusiaefolium, and S. dealaturn less than 10 m tallwith no stratification and light ground cover (Table 14).- Plot 12, Masefau Coastal ForestSite. -A series of 10 contiguous lox 10 m subplots in a lineN 60" E, near top of Nu'usetoga Islet at Masefau Bay onnorth coast of Tutuila Island, parallel to contour of isletbelow summit on south facing slope; elevation 70 m. Soillight in color, loose, formed of volcanic tuff; rocks few, leaflitter present particularly in flat places. Moderate slope of10-30". FWS marker no. 10 and aluminum tag no. 82 atsouthwest corner of plot.Community.-Transition between coastal and lowlandridge forest. Dominant trees Intsia bijuga and Syzygium inophylloides. Site disturbed in past (World War 11) as evidenced by regeneration of Intsia trees from cut trunks, by amountof Rhus taitensis, and by signs of military occupation.Canopy 10-15 m. Dominant understory species, Diospyrossamoensis and Syzygium clusiaefolium. Saplings few andground cover light (Table 15).Plot 13, Maloat; Ridge ForestSite. --No plot; dbh estimated for 51 randomly selectedtrees on top of Tuasina Ridge between Fagali'i and Maloat2villages, northwest coast of Tutuila Islan
birds flying over or near the islands. Six northern hemisphere shorebirds and one cuckoo are known only as . southwest of Honolulu and about 925 km northeast of Fiji (Fig. 2). The total land area is about 197 km2. Individual . which is a National Wildlife Refuge of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The natural vegetative cover of most of .
the type of habitat and wildlife that currently exist on your property and your habitat goals. It also depends on the habitat and wildlife in surrounding properties. Implementing a habitat practice could benefit some wildlife species and be detrimental to others. However, practically every landholding c
HABITAT III POLICY PAPER 2 – SOCIO-CULTURAL URBAN FRAMEWORKS 29 February 2016 (Unedited version) 1 This Habitat III Policy Paper has been prepared by the Habitat III Policy Unit 2 members and submitted by 29 February 2016. The Policy Paper template provided by the Habitat III Secretariat has been followed. Habitat III Policy Units are co-led by two international organizations and composed by .
regarding fish, wildlife, and habitat WAC 365-190-130 We are purveyors of BAS for fish, wildlife and habitat Under state law, WDFW has an obligation on behalf of the public to perpetuate fish and wildlife—which are considered property of the state. RCW 77.04.
Terrestrial Habitat and Wildlife selected to predict likely effects that are identifiable, measurable and predictable by alternative, and can be related to habitat capability of associated species.Major impacts to these habitats can be estimated, and forestwide differences by alternative, if any, related to habitat changes and human distu
Recycling, reuse, greywater systems, and constructed wetlands allow us to avoid these embarrassments. 7. Destroys Wildlife Habitat—Provides Wildlife Habitat. Consider the impact of the building, its site development, and its occupants on wildlife habitat. Let old families move back into the neighborhood.
CP Practice Practice Code Practice Purpose Maintenance 4B 4D 10 25 12 2 3 3A 11 15A 20 Permanent Wildlife Habitat (Corridors), Noneasement Permanent Wildlife Habitat, Noneasement Vegetative Cover - Grass - Already Established Rare and Declining Habitat Wildlife Food Plot Establishment of Permanent Native Grasses Tree Planting Hardwood Tree
WILDLIFE HABITAT EVALUATION WORKSHEETS INTRODUCTION This evaluation procedure is based primarily on habitat diversity to give a general rating applicable to many different wildlife species. It is intended to assist the decision maker to understand the effects of various agricu
This Habitat III Policy Paper has been prepared by the Habitat III Policy Unit 10 members and submitted by 29 February 2016. The Policy Paper template provided by the Habitat III Secretariat has been followed. Habitat III Policy Units are co-led by two international organizations and composed by a maximum of 20 experts each, bringing together individual experts from a variety of fields .
