Chapter I Intro & Objectives - SPREP

PHOENIX ISLANDS PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENT PLAN
Chapter III. Background, 3. Terrestrial Resources
Draft 1 March 2007
Mueller-Dombois and Fosberg (1998) also discussed various mixed plant species
communities in the Phoenix Islands including small tree/shrub communities, and herbaceous
plant species communities. Cryptogamic formations in which various species of blue-green
algae (Cyanobacteria) penetrate exposed coral limestone result in dark grey or blackish color.
Hypersaline pools, ponds, and lagoons were also home to a gelatinous mixture of blue-green
algae.
Anderson (2002) noted that no pre-historic faunal extinctions have been recorded yet for the
Phoenix Islands.
Neilson (2002) reported that there were no mangroves in the Phoenix Islands.
Neilson (2002) noted the number of plant species present on Abariringa (Kanton), Birnie,
Manra, Nikumaroro, Orona, and Rawaki, and the plant habitats present for each island (see
Table III-3.4 below).
Table III-3.4. Number of plant species and plant habitats
present on each Phoenix Islands
(source: Neilson 2002; see also Obura and Stone 2003).
Island No. of Species Habitats present*
Abariringa (Kanton) 18 F, S, H, M
Nikumaroro 13 F, S, H, M
Orona 13 F, S, H, M
Enderbury 11 S, H
Manra 7 S, H
Birnie 5 H
Rawaki 4 H
*F = Forest, S = Shrub, H = Herbaceous, M = Modified.
Neilson (2002) noted that the prostrate vine, Ipomoea macrantha was present in the Phoenix
Islands. I. pes-carprae was not present, but was now dominant over I. macrantha in the
Gilbert Islands.
Pierce et al (2006) conducted plant surveys in the Phoneix Islands. Summary results are
provided in Table III-3.5 below.
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