Four hundred and twenty-seven gobies of five species (three endemic) were collected in headwater streams of Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) during February-November 1999. Sicyopterus lagocephalus and the genus Lentipes represented by an undescribed species are reported in the FSM for the first time. Stiphodon caeruleus is the most abundant goby species in Pohnpei rivers, at least in mid to upper reaches; gobies previously reported as Stiphodon cf. elegans are an undescribed species. Sexual dimorphism in coloration and pattern was detected in all species, but a statistically significant difference in body size based on standard length was demonstrated only in Stiphodon caeruleus. Locality data provide evidence of habitat partitioning or segregation along a stream gradient in some species, but further study is needed to clarify these relationships.

Developmental rates of Chrysomya megacephala (F.), Chrysomya rufifacies (Macquart), and Chrysomya nigripes Aubertin (Diptera: Calliphoridae) were estimated in each of two decomposing pig carcasses (Sus scrofa, L.) located in an open field and in a forest on Guam. Significant oviposition occurred within hours of death, and maggot mass formation was observed on both carcasses within the first 24 hr. C. rufifacies was the most common fly species collected near the carcasses, followed by C. megacephala. C. rufifacies was the only fly species reared from samples collected from the carcasses. Fly development rates in the carcass in the sunlit open field were higher than those in the carcass in the shaded forest area. In each habitat, a strong association between maggot length, air temperature, and degree-day accumulation was observed. No carrion beetles or other insect decomposers other than flies were observed. Decomposition on Guam proceeded from fresh bloat to complete skeletonization within a few days and lacked the intermediate steps characteristic of decomposition in more temperate climates. Forensic analysis of outdoor homicide crime scenes on Guam must therefore be completed soon after the time of death to yield useful entomological information. More detailed characterization of the development of forensically important species across an array of conditions is necessary to provide adequate analytical tools for law enforcement agencies in Guam and in Micronesia.

We report the results of opportunistic sightings collected over a 9–year period. These observations add 9 species to the previously known species from New Caledonia, bringing the total number of cetaceans identified in this area to 13. They are: Minke whale, Balaenoptera acutorostrata (Lacépède, 1804); Sperm whale, Physeter macrocephalus (Linnaeus, 1758); Short-finned pilot whale, Globicephala macrorhynchus (Gray, 1846); Killer whale, Orcinus orca (Linnaeus, 1758); Bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus (Montagu, 1821); Spinner dolphin, Stenella longirostris (Gray, 1828); Spotted dolphin, Stenella attenuata (Gray, 1846); Risso’s dolphin, Grampus griseus (Cuvier, 1812); and Blainville’s beaked whale, Mesoplodon densirostris (de Blainville, 1817).

In this paper we report the widespread occurrence of large annelids (Polychaeta: Nereididae) in Hawaiian stream depositional habitats, drawing attention to the lack of knowledge of Hawaiian stream energetics.  Specimens of Namalycastis sp. were collected from five Hawaiian Islands from May–July 1995 and from the island of Maui from July–December 1999 and April–July 2000.  Most specimens collected were N. hawaiiensis, while two specimens of N. abiuma were collected from a single site on the island of Molokai.  Specimens were collected from elevations ranging from 3–240 m; several collections were from sites above at least one major (> 15 m high) waterfall.  Habitats were characterized by slow-moving or stagnant water, water temperatures ranging from < 18–29 C, mixed gravel and sand substrates with organic detritus.  Specimens were found among roots of vegetation along stream edges, in small lava pockets, buried in loose gravel, and in depressions between, under, and inside porous rocks.  Body lengths of preserved specimens ranged from ~ 9 to 150 mm among islands and streams between years and seasons.  Polychaetes were usually abundant in these habitats indicating a nearly ubiquitous distribution of Namalycastis, and suggesting ecological importance for stream benthic trophic dynamics throughout the Hawaiian archipelago.

Forty three resident islanders contributed their knowledge on the status of sea turtles on Pohnpei, Micronesia during an island-wide survey in 1999. The green turtle (Chelonia mydas) and the hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) are the two most common turtles in Pohnpei. Local islanders hunt turtles regularly and take them opportunistically while fishing, often disregarding size limits, closed seasons, and other restrictions. Nesting occurs rarely (more frequently in the past than now), and is limited to a few beaches on some of the lagoon islands; the main island is surrounded by mangroves. The leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) has been recorded from time to time, mainly outside the reef. The Pohnpeian name oarkalahp is used for putative green turtle/hawksbill hybrids.

An estimated 169 individual Chelonia mydas were observed via 238 sightings over 28 marine surveys covering roughly 54% of Saipan’s outer reef and shoreline perimeter. No other sea turtle species were sighted. Sixty percent of the turtles were classified as juveniles, 22% as juvenile/adults, and 12% appeared to be of adult size. A disproportionate number of turtles (60%) were located along relatively uninhabited east coast sites where access to humans is limited but topographically complex benthos and a variety of food resources is apparent. Two species of seagrass and at least 29 species of algae noted as green turtle forage in other regions of the world were identified at Saipan in this and previous surveys. Turtle nesting activity was limited, with 15 crawls and 6 nests recorded throughout the 1999 nesting season. 

The published sale catalogues of the Museum Godeffroy in Hamburg provide hitherto overlooked information regarding early German herpetological research in Palau. The type specimens of the agamid lizard Hypsilurus godeffroyi Peters, 1867 are supposedly from Palau, but have never been seen or collected there again. The Godeffroy catalogues indicate that the data provided for these specimens by the collector, Alfred Tetens, may have been inaccurate. Tetens also traveled to the Anchorite, Hermit, and Ninigo Groups off the northern New Guinea coast and we hypothesize that one of these areas is the true origin of the types of H. godeffroyi. The collections of Tetens and Jan Kubary, both employees of the Godeffroy firm, provided the basis for the first published lists of the herpetofauna of Palau. Among other species, these collectors of the 1860s and 1870s confirmed the occurrence of two of lizards not rediscovered until well into the 20th Century.

No abstract.

First paragraph summarizes the paper:

Three recent books on marine algal floras are helpful in Micronesia, although they are about other areas. The objective of this short review is to note their utility in our region. 

The aphidiid parasitoids of Guam and their associated host aphids are documented. Lipolexis oregmae (Gahan), Lysiphlebus testaceipes (Cresson) and Aphidius matricariae Haliday were collected from Guam, with the latter being represented by a single specimen.  The aphidiids Aphidius colemani Viereck and Diaeretiella rapae (M’Intosh) have been released as biological control agents on Guam. A. colemani was reared from Aphis gossypii Glover mummies collected from the release area shortly after its initial introduction, but has not been recovered in subsequent samples. Likewise, D. rapae was recovered at several release sites about a month after release, but not since. All aphidiid parasitoids observed on Guam are introduced species, as are the aphids they attack. A synonymy between L. scutellaris (Mackauer) and L. oregmae (Gahan) is provided, as is a key to Guam aphid parasitoids.
Aphelinid parasitoids were occasionally collected in this study. While listed in the collection index , they were not identified to species level or dealt with further in the analysis.

A search of 41 lava tube caves during 1994-97 in Samoa revealed only two caves containing five Polynesian Sheath-tailed Bats. At least five other caves showed signs of previous bat occupation, and several caves have historical records of large numbers of sheath-tailed bats. The suggested causes for the decline to the verge of extinction in decreasing order of significance are Cyclones Val & Ofa, agro-deforestation, and use of pesticides.

No abstract.

First paragraph summarizes the paper:

The yoga tree, Elaeocarpus joga Merrill (Elaeocarpaceae) is endemic to Guam and Rota in the Mariana Islands. We have been conducting a survey of the pests of E. joga in Guam, and have previously reported on a psylloid and two thrips (Muniappan et al. 2000a, b). In this paper we report an additional ten pests that attack this tree in Guam, five of which are exotic. We also report on the natural enemies of two of the caterpillar pests.

This is the second paper resulting from a study of marine benthic plants collected from Pohnpei Island and Ant Atoll in the Caroline Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, between 1994 and 1997. It documents the occurrence of 113 species of red algae (Division Rhodophyta), exclusive of crustose coralline algae. Of these, 56 are new records for Pohnpei, 76 are new records for Ant Atoll, and 53 are new records for Micronesia (here including the Caroline, Mariana, Marshall, Gilbert, and Ellice Islands). A previous paper reported 80 species of green and brown algae and seagrasses from Pohnpei and Ant, of which 8 were new records for Micronesia. Added to reports from the literature, the total known marine benthic flora of Ant and Pohnpei (exclusive of Cyanobacteria and crustose coralline algae) now stands at 244. The high volcanic nature of Pohnpei is very different from the low calcareous Ant Atoll, which led us to expect higher species numbers for Pohnpei relative to Ant, and greater differences in their algal floras than we found. Comparisons of the Ant-Pohnpei algal flora were also made, using the Jaccard and Sorensen’s indices, to Ifaluk Atoll (Caroline Islands), Enewetak Atoll (Marshall Islands), the Northern Mariana Islands, and the distant south Pacific island groups of Fiji and French Polynesia. Biogeographic investigation of the marine plant flora revealed that Ant Atoll and Pohnpei have a large number of widespread and Indo-Pacific species, but very few probable regional endemics.

Floristics of a chronosequence corresponding to forest succession were documented in the Ngermeduu Bay Drainage Area (NBDA), Babeldaob, Palau.  Following the abandonment of Japanese agricultural communities in 1944, forest area in NBDA increased over 10%. However, species composition of these regenerated forests were previously unknown, and it remained unclear if or how past land use has influenced forest structure and composition. Therefore, I surveyed forests of different ages in NBDA to understand 1) how forest structure and composition changed in relation to forest age, and 2) the importance of endemic species to secondary succession following agricultural abandonment. Three stands in each of four vegetation categories were sampled (secondary vegetation, early succession forest, mid succession forest, mature forest), and species richness, diversity, composition and structure were determined. Results indicated that species richness and diversity were highest in early succession forests, while mature forest were dominated by a few characteristic species such as Pinanga insignis and Manilkara udoido. One introduced species, Falcataria moluccana (=Albizia falcataria), was present in both early and mid succession forest. While very few individuals were encountered, the large size of F. moluccana made this species an important component of successional forests. Despite past human impacts and introduced species, native species dominated forest structure and composition regardless of forest age. Moreover, endemic species in particular played a vital role in forest structure and composition, attesting to the uniqueness of these forests.

Mariana fruit bat populations (Pteropus mariannus) on Guam have declined dramatically since the 1950s. The last island-wide survey in 1984 estimated 450–525 animals on northern Guam; no bats were counted on southern Guam. During June–July 1996, we conducted early morning surveys for Mariana fruit bats from eight stations in the upper Talofofo River watershed on southern Guam. We recorded three sightings of solitary bats in flight. We also compiled 35 incidental observations of mostly solitary bats from 1985–1999. Our data suggest that small numbers of fruit bats reside in the watershed, primarily on lands protected by a U.S. Navy base. Disturbance associated with poaching may preclude larger roosts.

The association between a syllid polychaete and the marine sponge Ianthella basta (Pallas, 1776) is described from the island of Guam (Micronesia). The polychaete is a new species of Haplosyllis Langerhans, 1879, named H. basticola. The new species was observed infesting in extraordinary high numbers the inside of the sponge canals and mesenchyme without any specially built tube-like structure. The closest species to H. basticola is H. anthogorgicola Utinomi, 1956 but they clearly differ in size, morphology of the simple setae and the annulations of the dorsal cirri. Haplosyllis basticola, n. sp. is characterized by a maximum of 25 setigers, dorsal cirri of the anterior 1st to 4th setigers clearly annulated averaging 10, 3, 3, and 4 annulations respectively, and the presence of only one simple seta by parapodia with a large subterminal tooth and two smaller terminal teeth. A size frequency histogram of the population showed a unimodal distribution, which could be an indication of a continuous reproductive effort. The presence of female and male reproductive stolons gave us the opportunity to describe them. The chemical analysis of worm and sponge extracts and a Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy analysis done on H. basticola failed to confirm the presence of bastadins in the worm. We discuss evidence of a positive reciprocal relationship between the worm and the sponge.

A new species of pseudocerotid flatworm Pseudoceros indicus nov. sp. (Platyhelminthes, Polycladida) is described. This species was found to be widespread and abundant from Chuuk Lagoon, Micronesia, common from eastern Australia and Papua New Guinea, and rare from the Indian Ocean. There has been much confusion over the name of this and similarly patterned species. Remarks on other pseudocerotids from Micronesia are also presented.

Pseudopaguristes, gen. nov., an aberrant, presently monotypic, genus of the hermit crab family Diogenidae, is diagnosed and its type species, Pseudopaguristes janetkae, sp. nov., is described and illustrated. As its name implies, this new genus is, in many morphological characters, nearly identical to the genus Paguristes Dana. However, it differs most significantly in gill number, the sexually dimorphic, enlarged right cheliped of the male, the dimorphic propodus of the left second pereopod of the female, and the development of a preungual process at the base of the claw of the dactyl of the fourth pereopod that, together with the claw, gives the appearance of a miniature chela.

A new genus and new species of xanthid crab of the subfamily Euxanthinae, Olenothus uogi, is described from Guam. Olenothus is affiliated with the genera Euxanthus, Hypocolpus and Pleurocolpus, but can be distinguished from them by a suite of carapace, antennal, cheliped, thoracic sternal, male abdominal and male gonopod features.

The genus Parapilumnus Kossmann, 1877, is redefined on the basis of the type species, Pilumnus cristimanus A. Milne Edwards, 1873, and a new species, Parapilumnus oryctos from Guam. The present study completely changes the current understanding of the genus and necessitates the transfer of Parapilumnus s. str. out of the Pilumnidae and into the subfamily Chasmocarcininae in the family Goneplacidae. Most of the species now assigned to Parapilumnus are referred back to the genus Pilumnus s. lato, pending a revision of the genus.  A replacement name, Pilumnus debae, is proposed for Parapilumnus guinotae Deb, 1987, which is here transferred to Pilumnus and becomes a junior homonym of Pilumnus guinotae Takeda & Miyake, 1968. A species previously referred to “Parapilumnus”, P. quadridentatus (De Man, 1895), possesses a suite of distinctive adult and larval characters, and is here referred to a new pilumnid genus, Aniptumnus.

A suite of new radiocarbon dates (including two conventional and nineteen AMS) provide the first chronology of Yapese stone money quarries in western Micronesia. Early ethnohistoric records document the Yapese carving of their large disks of ‘money’in the limestone Rock Islands of Palau while oral traditions suggest it was also taking place prior to European contact. However, there has been no archaeological data to substantiate the antiquity of this exchange system. Recent archaeological excavation at three quarry sites has addressed this issue. Radiocarbon dating of charcoal, shell, and human bone, in conjunction with oral traditions and ethnohistorical accounts, suggest these stone money quarries were multi-component and that quarrying activity was taking place at least several hundred years prior to European contact and intensified shortly thereafter. 

Abstract in Palauan:

Ngarngii a omesuub el mla meketmokl el olecholt el kmo, a rechad ra Belulechab a mirael el mei era ikal iungs el ngara Ngebard ra Micronesia el melasech a ududir el balang. Elsel tial omesuub, eng mla mo er ngii a luich ma tang el loruul aikel de dung el kmo, radiocarbon dating. Tiang a tara teletael el ousbech er ngii el olecholt a rekil a klalo. A omesuub el milketmokl ra ngaramong el tirkel semmong el chad ra omesubel a tekoi ma teletelel a klechad ma siukang a rirellii ma uldedlid el cheldecheduch ra irechar a ochotii el kmo, a rechad ra Belulechab a mla er Belau el melasech a ududir ra uchei ra lemei a rechad ra Ngebard (Europeans). Meng uaisei, eng di dimlak el rak e mle ua ngerang a klemengetir el ngar Belau el melasech aika el ududir. Tirkel semmong ra omesubel aua ekakid el tekoi a mla kmiis a edei el kekerous el basio el ikel mla er ngii a rechad ra Belulechab e melasech a baling el osiik a klalo el ngii a mo sebechel sumecheklii tial tekoi. A omesubel a rikel a bas, ma kai, ma chiuesir a rechad el milngai ra ikal basio el mla er ngii omelasech el balang, ma uldelid el cheldechederir a mle chad ra erechar, ma di mla meketmokl el omesuub, eng meketeklii el kmo, aika el basio a mla er ngii a usbechellel ra rechuodel ra uchei ra rechad ra Belulechab a lemei er Belau. Ng dirrek el meketeklii el kmo, a re Belulechab a mla er Belau el melasech a balang era uchei ra lemei a re chad ra Ngebard. A uriul ra lemei a rechad ra Ngebard ea omelsechel a balang a merael el kmal mo klou.

In this study, we documented cascade climbing rates of 133 and 230 postlarvae of Lentipes concolor (O‘opu alamo‘o) and Atyoida bisulcata (Opae kahaole), respectively, from two streams on the island of Maui, Hawaii. Climbing measurements and observations were made of postlarvae at the water-substrate interface in cascade habitats of constricted water flow. Both species were observed to move in short bursts of forward progression within or above the pulsing water-substrate interface. Goby postlarval climbing rates ranged from 0.04 – 1.50 cm s^–1 and were slower than shrimp rates which ranged from 0.30 – 3.06 cm s^–1. The high variability is attributed to the bursting movement behaviors exhibited by both species. During one night of monitoring, a mean of 9.4 shrimp min^–1 were observed to climb along ~ 0.4 m stretch of the watersubstrate interface, resulting in conservative recruitment estimate of 564 shrimp h^–1. Potential applications to stream management are discussed.

The spinner dolphin, Stenella longirostris, has been observed throughout the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and most notably in Saipan Lagoon, where there was a series of strandings in 1995. Recent documented reports of these occurrences were examined. Identified dolphins were primarily females associated with sub-adults or juveniles. A single dead male was found to have its stomach engorged with seagrass. Reliable observations in the Mariana Islands spanning 1995 – 2001 and strandings during 1995 in Saipan Lagoon are presented.