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Eastern Micronesia Tropical Moist Forests
The Eastern Micronesia tropical moist forests is a tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests ecoregion in Micronesia. It includes the Marshall Islands, Banaba and the Gilbert Islands in Kiribati, Nauru, and Wake Island, a possession of the United States. Geography The islands are mostly atolls, low islands of coralline sand ringing a central lagoon, or raised platforms of coralline limestone. There are 30 atolls in the Marshall Islands, made up of more than 1000 islands. They form two parallel island chains that run southwest to northeast, extending 1,300 km from east to west and 1,150 km north to south. The western Ralik, or "sunset" chain extends from Enewetak to Ebon, and the eastern Ratak or "sunrise" chain from Bokak to Mili. The Gilbert Islands lie southeast of the Marshall Islands, and include 16 atolls and coral islands. Nauru and Banaba are low islands composed of uplifted coralline limestone lying west of the Gilbert Islands. Nauru is an independent country, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Onotoa
Onotoa is an atoll of Kiribati. It is situated in the Gilbert Islands in the Pacific Ocean, from Tamana, Gilbert Islands, Tamana, the smallest island in the Gilberts. The population of Onotoa in the 2015 census was 1,393. The atoll is similar to many other atolls in the Gilbert Islands with its continuous line of islets and islands on the eastern side. The western side consists of a submerged reef which surrounds the islet filled lagoon. Geography Onotoa is a low lying atoll with a land area of . It has 7 villages with Tabuarorae, an islet, located at the southernmost end of the island followed by Aiaki, Otoae, Temao, Buariki (Onotoa), Buariki, Tanaeang and Tekawa at the northernmost end of the island. The villages are located along the lagoon coastal area throughout the island. The combined islets of Otoae and Aiaki are now easily accessible after the construction of a causeway from Temao to Aiaki. Tabuarorae is also connected to the rest of the island following the constructio ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bokak Atoll
Bokak Atoll ( Marshallese: or , ) or Taongi Atoll is an uninhabited coral atoll in the Ratak Chain of the Marshall Islands, in the North Pacific Ocean. Due to its relative isolation from the main islands in the group, Bokak's flora and fauna has been able to exist in a pristine condition. Geography It is located north of Majuro Atoll, the capital of the Marshall Islands, and north-northwest of Bikar Atoll, the closest atoll, making it the most northerly and most isolated atoll of the country. Wake Island is north-northwest. The land area is , and the lagoon measures . It consists of 36 islets. The total area is (including reef flat). Physical features The atoll is roughly crescent-shaped, measuring about by , and oriented in a north–south direction. The atoll reef is unbroken except for a wide channel in the west. Ten islets lie on the eastern and southeastern reef. The more important named islets, from north to south, are North Island, Kamwome, Bwdije, Sibylla, Bo ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Insular Flying Fox
The insular flying fox or Pacific flying fox (''Pteropus tonganus'') is a species of flying fox in the family Pteropodidae. It is geographically widespread, the most widespread flying fox in the Pacific: it is found in American Samoa, the Cook Islands, Fiji, New Caledonia, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Samoa (where it is called ''pe'a fanua, pe'a fai'' and ''taulaga''), the Solomon Islands, Tonga, and Vanuatu. History Archaeologists on an excavation site at Rurutu announced in 2006 some important fossil finds: Description The range of coloration in this bat species varies somewhat. Its back is described as black or seal brown; its mantle has been called orange, yellow, cream buff, and tawny. This bat lacks an interfemoral membrane; its forearms and tibia are bare, and the fur of the males is described as "stiff, short, oily hairs". In flight, their outstretched wings appear a translucent dark brown when viewed from below. Distribution and habitat The insular flying fox has a wid ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Indo-Pacific
The Indo-Pacific is a vast biogeographic region of Earth. In a narrow sense, sometimes known as the Indo-West Pacific or Indo-Pacific Asia, it comprises the tropical waters of the Indian Ocean, the western and central Pacific Ocean, and the seas connecting the two. The term is especially useful in marine biology, ichthyology, and similar fields, since many marine habitats are continuously connected from Madagascar to Japan and Oceania, and a number of species occur over that range, but are not found in the Atlantic Ocean. As a distinct marine realm, the region has an exceptionally high species richness, with the world's highest species richness being found in at its heart in the Coral Triangle, and a remarkable gradient of decreasing species richness radiating outward in all directions. The region includes over 3,000 species of fish, compared with around 1,200 in the next richest marine region, the Western Atlantic, and around 500 species of reef building corals, compar ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ochrosia Oppositifolia
''Ochrosia oppositifolia'' grows as a small to medium-sized tree up to tall, with a trunk diameter of up to . Its flowers feature a creamy to white corolla. Its habitat is coastal forest, bush or open areas to altitude, rarely inland. Local medicinal uses include as a carminative and in high doses as an abortifacient. ''Ochrosia oppositifolia'' is native to regions from the Seychelles through tropical Asia to the Pacific. Oppositines are vasorelaxant beta-carbolines isolated from ''Ochrosia oppositifolia''. Gallery File:Ochrosia oppositifolia 3836716.jpg, Fruits. Tonga File:Ochrosia oppositifolia seed and seedling, Guam.jpg, Fruit and seedling. Dededo Dededo (; Spanish: ) is the most populated village in the United States territory of Guam. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Dededo's population was just under 45,000 in 2020. The village is located on the coral plateau of Northern Guam. The gr ..., Guam File:Ochrosia oppositifolia in understory, Dededo, Guam.jpg, Leav ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Thespesia Populnea
''Thespesia populnea'', commonly known as the portia tree (), Pacific rosewood, Indian tulip tree, or milo, among other names, is a species of flowering plant belonging to the mallow family, Malvaceae. It is a tree found commonly on coasts around the world. Although it is confirmed to be native only to the Old World tropics, other authorities consider it to have a wider, possibly pantropical native distribution. It is thought to be an invasive species in Florida and Brazil. Distribution ''Thespesia populnea'' is native to tropical coastlines and is adapted for oceanic dispersal and growth in island environments. It is known from both coasts of Africa, tropical Asia, northern Australia, the Pacific Islands (including Hawaii), the tropical Pacific coast of the Americas from Mexico south to Colombia, the West Indies, and Florida in the United States. Its exact native distribution has been debated, with most authorities considering it to be native only to the Old World tropics, s ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hernandia Nymphaeifolia
''Hernandia nymphaeifolia'' is a species of plant in the Hernandiaceae family. Its common name is lantern tree. Description ''Hernandia nymphaeifolia'' is a tree with 5–22 m high. The leaves are narrowly or broadly ovate or subcircular. The 5-9 veins are palmate. The flowers are white or greenish, hermaphrodite, with fragrant odour; male and female are separated. The fruit is fleshy, waxy red or white. Distribution and Ecology This species occurs throughout the tropics (Duyfjes 1996) exclusively in coastal areas: along the sea-shore in littoral forest and in coastal swamps. Fujita (1991) lists ''H. nymphaeifolia'' as being seed dispersed by the Marianas flying fox in the Mariana Islands. It is one of the most common beach trees in New Ireland (island), New Ireland. Uses ''Hernandia nymphaeifolia'' has a light, perishable wood. It has been used in South Pacific islands for fishing rods, fish net floats, wooden sandals, fan handles, drawing boards, canoe accessories, furnitur ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cordia Subcordata
''Cordia subcordata'' is a species of flowering tree in the borage family. It can be found growing in eastern Africa, South Asia, Southeast Asia, northern Australia and the Pacific Islands including Hawaii. The plant is known by a variety of names, including kou, beach cordia, sea trumpet, and kerosene wood. Description A mature kou tree grows to at maturity, but may be as tall as . It has ovate leaves that are and wide with short hairs on the upper surface. Flowers and fruit Blooming occurs throughout the year, but most kou flowers are produced in the spring. Each kou flower is funnel- or tube-shaped long and in diameter, made of orange petals and pale green sepals that form cymes or panicles. Kou trees produce fruit all year around. Their fruit are spherical long, brown, and woody when mature. Each fruit contains four or fewer seeds that are long. The fruit are buoyant and may be carried very far by ocean currents. Distribution and habitat ''C. subcordata'' h ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Allophylus Timoriensis
''Allophylus timoriensis'' (synonym ''Allophylus marquesensis'') is a species of plant in the family Sapindaceae The Sapindaceae are a family (biology), family of flowering plants in the order Sapindales known as the soapberry family. It contains 138 genera and 1,858 accepted species. Examples include Aesculus, horse chestnut, maples, ackee and lychee. The .... It is native to an area from Thailand through Southeast Asia to islands of the Pacific Ocean. References timoriensis Flora of Indo-China Flora of Malesia Flora of Papuasia Flora of the Pacific Plants described in 1824 Taxonomy articles created by Polbot {{sapindales-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Pandanus Tectorius
''Pandanus tectorius'' is a species of ''Pandanus'' (screwpine) that is native to Malesia, Papuasia, eastern Australia, and the Pacific Islands. It grows in the coastal lowlands typically near the edge of the ocean. Common names in English include thatch screwpine, Tahitian screwpine, hala tree ( in Hawaiian) and pandanus. The fruit is edible and sometimes known as hala fruit. Description ''P. tectorius'' is a small tree that grows upright to reach in height. The single trunk is slender with brown ringed bark. It is spiny, grows to 4.5–11 m (15–35 ft) in width, and forks at a height of . It is supported by aerial roots (prop roots) that firmly anchors the tree to the ground. Roots sometimes grow along the branch, and they grow at wide angles in proportion to the trunk. 林投 20190525170309.jpg, Growth habit 林投 20190530190950.jpg, Aerial roots 林投帶刺氣生根與新葉 20190525170359.jpg, Spiny aerial roots and leaflets Pandanus tectorius fruit.jpg, Fruit s ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Pisonia Grandis
''Pisonia grandis'', the grand devil's-claws, is a species of flowering tree in the ''Bougainvillea'' family, Nyctaginaceae. Description The tree has broad, thin leaves, smooth bark and bears clusters of green sweet-smelling flowers that mature into sticky barbed seeds. Dispersal occurs when seeds stick to bird feathers. Vegetative reproduction frequently results when fallen branches sprout or basal shoots develop into new trees. Distribution ''Pisonia'' trees are distributed throughout the coral cays of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. The species often dominates mature coral cay vegetation, growing in dense, thick strands up to tall. ''Pisonia'' wood is rather weak and soft and decays rapidly when the trees fall. ''Pisonia'' forests are a common nesting site for seabirds. One of the best remaining ''Pisonia'' forests can be found on Palmyra Atoll. St. Pierre Island, Farquhar Group, was once covered by a ''Pisonia grandis'' forest. This forest disappeared after guano mini ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Guettarda Speciosa
''Guettarda speciosa'', with common names sea randa, or zebra wood, is a species of shrub in the family Rubiaceae found in coastal habitats in tropical areas around the Pacific Ocean, including the coastline of central and northern Queensland and Northern Territory in Australia, and Pacific Islands, including Micronesia, French Polynesia and Fiji, Malaysia and Indonesia, Maldives and the east coast of Africa. It reaches 6 m in height, has fragrant white flowers, and large green prominently-veined leaves. It grows in sand above the high tide mark. Taxonomy and naming ''Guettarda speciosa'' was originally described by Carl Linnaeus in volume two of his ''Species Plantarum'' in 1753, citing Java as its origin. The genus was named in honour of the 18th century French naturalist Jean-Étienne Guettard, while the specific epithet is derived from the Latin ''speciosus'' 'showy'. It is the type species of the genus. Its closest relatives are all native to the neotropics, yet it has disp ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
