Since 1962, the University of Guam has housed the GUAM herbarium collection, which comprises important collections of terrestrial and marine plants from the tropical western Pacific. This herbarium contains 57,647 archived specimens, mostly from Micronesia, an expanse in the western Pacific the size of the continental United States and encompassing over 2,000 islands. Specimens include comprehensive collections from the region as well as the entire terrestrial and marine flora of the Mariana Islands (of which the territory of Guam is the largest and southernmost island). Unique amongst U.S. herbaria, GUAM’s focal area of research is situated entirely within the Paleotropics, e.g., with lateritic soils and uplifted limestone habitats. The remote, insular and oceanic setting has also resulted in a herbarium that, for its size, has a high proportion of rare, endangered and newly discovered species. The herbarium also contains unique vouchers from island areas that have been devastated by volcanic eruptions. GUAM provides the nearest reference collection and taxonomic expertise for most Micronesian-based governments, conservationists and resource managers.

Twenty-eight new records and three new species are documented for the Guam flora, extending the records and checklist published in Micronesica 43: 237–479. Of note among the new records are Pinnunavis yarrensis (Grunow) H. Okuno and Nitzschia janischii Grunow both observed alive, plus Protokeelia cholnokyi (Giffen) Round & Basson and Pogoneis bahrainii Round & Basson seen only in acid-cleaned preparations. Psammodictyon pustulatum (Voigt ex Meister) n. comb., n. stat. (Bacillariales: Bacillariaceae) differs from related species in having a pair of rounded elevations on the distal side of the sternum.  Three new species are described; only one was observed alive. Colliculoamphora gabgabensis (Eunotiales: Eunotiaceae) is smaller and more finely striated than its congeners. Lauderia excentrica (Thalassiosirales: Lauderiaceae) differs from the only other species of the genus in having a large, excentric, reniform annulus. Rhoiconeis pagoensis (Naviculales: Naviculaceae) differs from the other two known species in its stria density.

 In 2007, five adult female green turtles (Chelonia mydas) nesting at Erikub Atoll, Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), were satellite tagged and tracked to various parts of the Pacific. The turtles’ travels ranged between approximately 2800 and 6900 km and showed different behaviors – directed travel and pelagic travel. The turtles traveled through multiple Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) in both the North and South Pacific and final positions were recorded near Palawan Island, Philippines; Tarawa, Republic of Kiribati; Bikini Atoll, RMI; South of Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia, and pelagic waters east of Mili Atoll, RMI. This study shows the international connectivity of green turtles nesting in this area and the results can be used to exchange information and enhance regional conservation efforts between nations that share these endangered and culturally important turtle resources.

The marine benthic algae from six seamounts, i.e., isolated submerged reefs, banks and shoals, along the Mariana Islands were identified and recorded based on SCUBA collections obtained during the August˗September 2003 and the September 2005 cruises by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The algae represented the first collections obtained from Supply Reef, Zealandia Bank and Tatsumi Reef within the Mariana Arc and from Stingray Shoal, Pathfinder Reef, and Arakane Reef within the West Mariana Ridge. A total of 67 species were documented, i.e., 8 species of blue-green algae, 30 species of red algae, 5 species of brown algae, and 24 species of green algae. Thirty-one algal species were collected only from seamounts within the West Mariana Ridge, and 5 algal species were collected only from seamounts (including Santa Rosa Reef reported previously) within the Mariana Arc. The remaining 31 algal species were recorded from seamounts along both the West Mariana Ridge and Mariana Arc. Aside from 5 taxa identified only to genus, 4 species of red algae (Antithamnion decipiens, Ceramium isogonum, Chondria bullata and Gayliella transversalis) were new records for Micronesia (including Mariana Islands). Ten additional species of red algae (Caulacanthus ustulatus, Ceramium affine, Ceramium codii, Chondria simpliciuscula, Dasya cf. corymbifera, Jania pumila, Jania rubens, Lomentaria hakodatensis, Polysiphonia dotyi and Polysiphonia sertularioides) were new records for the Mariana Islands.