What is a Mangrove? Mangroves belong to a group of special species of plant life that grow in salty, wet soils and are adapted to survive during immersions at high tides. The term “mangrove” refers to all species of plants and shrubs that are adapted to living in salty, wet soil in the intertidal zone.
Mangroves: The Forest Between Land and Sea Read Post »
What is a badland? Badlands are areas of land that cannot support plant growth due to severe erosion. They are barren patches of land that are commonly reddish-brown in color, but can sometimes be tan (Figure 1).
Badlands in Southern Guam Read Post »
Basic biology. The giant clam is a member of the Phylum Mollusca and the Class Bivalvia. These clams have two shells (called “valves”) that are hinged on what is called an umbo. Their flesh or mantle is the mechanism that secretes the clam’s shell.
Hima: Conserving a Cultural Heritage Read Post »
Octopuses are one of the many unique creatures that inhabit Guam’s waters. Octopuses are solitary animals ranging in size from one gram to an impressive 70 kilograms. They are commonly found in coral reefs where shelter and food are abundant. They have a diverse diet but mostly feed on crabs, clams, and worms. There is a large population all around the island and they are an important food source for many people living on Guam. In 2001 alone, over 3000 pounds of octopus were caught. Scientists do not know how many species of octopus call Guam home. Only 19 have been described but there may be many more.
The Octopus: A Genius Among the Spineless Read Post »
Corals and their relatives. When people think of corals, usually the first thing they picture is not an actual coral, but a coral reef: large calcium carbonate (limestone) structures, filled with colorful plants and animals. Corals themselves are only one part of coral reefs (albeit a very important one) and while they secrete the material that makes up the reefs (calcium carbonate), they are, in fact, animals. Corals are relatives of jellyfish and anemones. While at first glance they may look nothing like their relatives, if you take a closer look you start to see some similarities.
Staghorn Corals on Guam Read Post »
Pacific Islands, including the Mariana Islands, often have many small native snails. Many of the species in the Marianas are unique to the archipelago, or even to only one of the islands. Some of these snails live in trees in the moist and shaded forests, while others live in the moss and leaf litter of the forest floor. Guam has about 100 species of land snails, although about twenty of these have probably been introduced.
Land Snails (Akaleha’) of the Mariana Islands Read Post »
Curator and professor of biology. University of Guam (UOG) professor, Dr. Lynn Raulerson (1937-2012), was a driving force in documenting the flora of Guam and worked as a biology professor for 40 years.
Clair Lynn Raulerson Read Post »
Scientific name: Intsia bijuga. Ifit is the official territorial tree of Guam and is culturally important throughout the Mariana Islands. Ifit, also called ifil or ifel, belongs to the legume or pea family (Fabaceae) and subfamily Caesalpinoideae.
Since the devastating earthquake and tsunami that ravaged Japan’s coastline in March 2011 and sent thousands of Guam residents looking for higher ground, questions about the vulnerability of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands to an equally dangerous tsunami have been raised.
Tsunami and Earthquake History and Potential for Guam Read Post »
Echinoderms are members of a phylum (i.e., a major group) of common, often large and colorful shallow-water invertebrates seen on the reefs around Guam. The phylum is comprised of five classes: sea stars, sea urchins, sea cucumbers, brittle stars and sea lilies. The first three classes need little introduction and have been recognized since ancient times.
Sea Stars, Sea Urchins and Other Echinoderms Of Guam Read Post »
