This report summarizes the results of the first Environmental Standards and Procedures (UES) inventory of endangered species and wildlife resources at United States Army Kwajalein Atoll (USAKA), which was conducted in 1996. The primary objective of the inventory was to document the presence and general distribution of terrestrial and marine species of concern (SOCs) and to record observations on the overall condition of their habitats. Terrestrial SOCs included certain migratory seabirds, shorebirds, and waterfowl. Important terrestrial habitats included Pisonia, Pemphis, and mixed broadleaf forests; salt ponds; and seabird and shorebird breeding and loafing sites. Marine SOCs included certain marine mammals, sea turtles, corals, sponges, and mollusks. Important marine habitats included lagoon, interislet, and seaward reef flats and slopes; reef passes; lagoon floors; seagrass beds; reef quarry pits; and intertidal zones.
The 1996 inventory report is to be used as the official record of species and habitats of concern at USAKA until the results of the next inventory (1998) are reported and incorporated into the UES pursuant to the next applicable annual review.
Among other things, the UES protects species of concern (SOC) and significant habitats at USAKA. Lists of these species and habitats are included in the UES in Appendices 3-4A-G, and the Appendix of this inventory report. The UES require that inventories of USAKA species and habitats of special concern be conducted on a biennial basis to ascertain the status of these resources at each of the USAKA islets leased from the RMI at the time of the investigation. Resource Description: NODC Accession Number 0000251
ground condition
The Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS; https://www.itis.gov/) was utilized as an aid to complete upper level species classifications FOR THIS METADATA RECORD ONLY. Additional taxomic resources include: Bishop Museum webite (https://www.bishopmuseum.org/) MarLIN is an initiative of the Marine Biological Association of the UK in collaboration with major holders and users of marine biological data (http://www.marlin.ac.uk/index2.htm?demo/Litcor.htm); The Tree of Life is a collaborative web project, produced by biologists from around the world. On more than 2600 World Wide Web pages, the Tree of Life provides information about the diversity of organisms on Earth, their history, and characteristics (http://tolweb.org/tree/phylogeny.html); Australian Opheliidae (Polychaeta) DELTA database (http://www.museum.vic.gov.au/poly/ophitems.html); European register of Marine Species (http://erms.biol.soton.ac.uk/lists/brief/Polychaeta.shtml); CRUSTACEANS OF THE CNMI (http://www.crm.gov.mp/marine/biodiversity/crusties/crust.htm); Systema Naturae 2000 / Classification (http://sn2000.taxonomy.nl/Main/Classification/..%5C..%5C..%5CMain%5CClassification%5C15265.htm); Smithsonian Marine Station at Fort Pierce (http://www.sms.si.edu/IRLSpec/aspecies2.htm); Cephalaspidea from around the world (http://www.medslugs.de/Opi/CEPHALASPIDEA.htm): Sea slug forum (http://www.seaslugforum.net/species.htm); A Biotic Database of Indo-Pacific Marine Mollusks (http://data.acnatsci.org/obis/); The Academy of Natural Sciences: Online collections databases (http://erato.acnatsci.org/databases/index.php): The Amphipod Homepage (http://web.odu.edu/sci/biology/amphome/index.html): The Dutch Ascidians Homepage (http://www.ascidians.com/). *Although every effort is made at the NODC to insure accuracy of the taxonomy contained in this metadata record, information is provided as an aid to search engines and is not designed to serve as a definitive taxonomic guide.* Notes are included in this metadata record where the originator spelling differs from that as given by ITIS. NO ORIGINAL DATA IS ALTERED AT THE NODC.
Identifications to genus and species
Terrestrial - The interior of the islets were surveyed by counting birds within parallel strips in the larger forested areas. Incidental observations of other noteworthy species, wild chickens, vegetation, and bird habitats were also recorded. Marine - the presence of species of concern and various other important species (e.g. fishes, corals, algae, mollusks) were recorded. Emphasis was given to identifying conspicuous, diurnally active species. As a result, small, cryptic, and nocturnally active species are underrepresented in the data.
Dataset credit required. The United States Army and/or the National Oceanographic Data Center would appreciate recognition as the resource from which these data were obtained in any publications and/or other representations of these data.
USAKA / Reagan Test Site
Commander, USAKA/RTS
Attn: SMDC-KA
P.O. Box 26
Contact the United States Army Space and Missile Defense Command, SMDC Public Affairs, or the NOAA/NODC Pacific Liasion Officer (Patrick.Caldwell@noaa.gov) by phone/letter/e-mail
Data from: Mr. Randy Galien U.S. Department of the Army Space and Missile Defense Command U.S. Army Kwajalein Atoll Republic of the Marshall Islands Contributors- Michael Molina and Kevin Foster, USFWS U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Pacific Islands Ecoregion Honolulu, Hawaii 96850 and John Naughton and Eugene Nitta, NMFS U.S. Department of Commerce National Marine Fisheries Service Pacific Islands Area Office Honolulu, Hawaii 96822
See methodogy descriptions in primary data report.
Table 5 is "Comparisons of Shorebird and Waterfowl counts on Kwajalein Islet during the 1996 inventory of endangered species and wildlife resources with those made in 1988 by R.B. Clapp"
Reef fish observed are described in a descriptive paragraph for each station in the Results section, but were not documented in a separate data tables.
see "Methodology" section of this metadata record.
SSMC3, 4th Floor, E/OC1
1315 East-West Highway
Phone/FAX/E-mail/letter during business hours
NOAA makes no warranty regarding these data, expressed or implied, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty. NOAA and NODC cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in these data, nor as a result of the failure of these data to function on a particular system.
IBM-PC version
Complete data report including site maps, methodology, all data tables, and references cited. Separate duplicate data tables included
These data may be directly downloaded via the NODC's "Ocean Archive System". The system can be accessed through the NODC Home Page at www.nodc.noaa.gov or directly at: http://www.nodc.noaa.gov/search/prod/. See the "ACCESS INSTRUCTIONS" field of this metadata record for specific steps for direct download. Contact NODC via e-mail/phone/letter for custom order.
Contact the NODC User Services Group via phone/FAX/E-mail: nodc.services@noaa.gov
1315 East-West Highway, E/OC1, SSMC3, 4th Floor
E-mail, phone, FAX, mail
