ONLY ON CHUUK Endemic flora and fauna of our islands

ONLY ON CHUUK ONLY ON CHUUK

Endemic flora and fauna Endemic flora and fauna ofof our islands our islands

Preface

The world is changing rapidly and becoming more integrated.

Places located far apart are now displaying countless similarities. Unique properties that used to differentiate one geographical place from another are now vanishing at an alarming rate: plants and animals, environments, cultures, and ways of life are becoming comparable all over the world. Today these unique species, habitats, cultures, languages, and many other distinctive aspects, which make our world so beautiful in its diversity, are coming under unprecedented threat.

The people of Chuuk have always lived close to their

environment. Our culture and the nature of our islands are intertwined like threads of a fishing net. In Chuuk, the wellbeing of the environment, culture, and people are inseparable. As our children grow up observing the natural world around them, it is vital that they learn about the features that are unique to Chuuk. This will encourage them to respect, appreciate, and regard the islands environment as part of their own unique heritage and, therefore, feel a responsibility to protect it.

Table of contents
Introduction About Chuuk Map of Chuuk Lagoon Map of Outer Islands What is fauna? What is flora? What are native species? What are invasive species? What are endangered species? What is extinction? What are endemic species? >> FLORA (PLANTS) >> FAUNA (ANIMALS) >> HABITATS (PLACES) Conclusion Glossary 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 25 39 46 47

Introduction

Chuuk State is one of the four states of the Federated States of The islands of Chuuk are located far from the other Pacific

Micronesia. Our islands are small but are important to the whole world because of their rich natural heritage.

Islands and even farther away from larger landmasses. The closest continents are Asia and Australia each well over 1,000 miles away. As a result, few plants and animals have been able to get to Chuuk on their own. However, those that somehow have managed to fly or float over to Chuuk have remained living on our islands. Over long periods of time, some of these plants and animals evolved, no longer resembling the ancestors from which they came. In time, some eventually developed into new species of plants and animals that are indigenous to Chuuk not existing anywhere else on Earth. They are now found only on Chuuk, so it is important that we take care of them.

This book is about those plants and animals. Lets learn which
ones they are and how to recognize them!

About Chuuk

The islands of Chuuk are in the western part of the Pacific Chuuk Lagoon is an area of the ocean surrounded by a

Ocean, in the region known as Micronesia. They include many islands of various kinds and sizes. The islands are divided into two groups: Chuuk Lagoon and Outer Islands.

large circular-shaped reef. This reef acts as a giant barrier that separates the lagoon waters within from the open ocean outside. Many relatively large islands are found within the lagoon. They are known as high islands, because they are tall and hilly and rise well above the sea level.

Outer Islands also have circular-shaped reefs and lagoons, but

they do not have any land within their lagoons. Instead, they have only small, low, flat islets located on the reefs themselves. They are all sandy and rise just slightly above the sea level. They lack any hilly areas. These small islands, also known as atolls, are scattered across the very large ocean area to the northwest, northeast, southwest, and southeast of Chuuk Lagoon.

Map of Chuuk Lagoon

north

romanUm PaaTa Wonei UdoT FanaPanges Tol Parem

Weno Tonoas FeFan Uman

Polle

10 miles

Map of the Outer Islands

north

hall

islan

ds

mUrillo nomWin

namonUiTo
ds

islan

ChUUk lagoon PollaP PUlUWaT hoUk neoCh

mo

Wes

Ter n

nama losaP
rT lo Ck

c i f i a c

a n c e

namolUk eTTal lekinioCh saToWan

isla
nd s

200 miles

What is flora?

Flora is the name given to plant life in general. Plants are

living things able to use energy from the sun to grow. They use that energy and water, together with compounds that they obtain from air and soil, to grow roots, stems, leaves, and fruits. In turn, plants may become food for animals and people.

Plants play a vital role in many aspects of life on Chuuk and

everywhere in the world. There are many kinds of plants. Some are found across wide and diverse areas, whereas others are very specialized and can live only in specific places. Different kinds of plants are known as species. Each species has only one scientific name, though it may have many local or common names.

Chuuk is fortunate to have a great variety of plants, which

include grasses, flowers, bushes, trees, and more. People have used plants in different ways for centuries. Some are important as food and medicine, and some are used as raw materials to build houses, canoes, and tools. Some plants are familiar, but some are quite rare. Some plants grow only on Chuuk and nowhere else.

What is fauna?

Fauna is the name given to animal life in general. Unlike

plants, which rely on the energy of the sun to survive, animals are living things that must obtain the energy they need by consuming food. Their food may be plants or other animals.

Some animals are considered domestic. They include chickens,

pigs, dogs, and other animals raised by people. All other animals are considered wild. They include insects, fishes, birds, and numerous others. There are countless kinds of animals in the world. Each different kind of animal represents a different species. Each species has only one scientific name, though it may have many local or common names.

Different kinds of animals live in different places. Some live on

land, while others live in water. Some are able to fly, and some hide under rocks. Countless animal species live in the ocean surrounding Chuuk. We encounter some common animals often, but others live only in a few places and are rarely seen. Some animals live only on Chuuk and nowhere else.

What are native species?

All plants and animals that are naturally found in a certain

place are called native species. They arrived at that particular place on their own and were not originally brought there by people. There are hundreds of plant and animal species that are native to the islands of Chuuk. They have lived in Chuuk for a long time, well before the first people arrived.

In contrast, some plants and animals are not native. They

did not arrive naturally to a particular place. Instead, people brought them. Any plant or animal that people brought to Chuuk from another place is not a native species.

We should learn to distinguish between plants and animals

that are native and those that are not native. Chuuk is the natural home of its native species. They belong here. Species that are not native came from somewhere else relatively recently and are not a natural part of our islands environment. Non-native species may eat native species, compete with them, or affect them in some other negative way.

10

What are invasive species?

Species brought to an island by people are not native. They

are introduced. This may have been done on purpose, because people thought that an animal or plant was attractive or useful. For example, pigs were brought to Chuuk because they are useful as food. However, some species may have arrived by accident. Rats most likely reached here by hiding in arriving boats.

In some cases, non-native species may reproduce and spread

very quickly, almost as if they are attacking a place. In such cases, we call them invasive species. They may cause major problems. They may eat or compete with native species for food or space. This problem is very serious on islands. Native species on islands are not used to the company of invasive species and may not know how to defend against them.

Local plants and animals may seriously suffer from invasive

species. It is important to keep possibly invasive species away from Chuuk or identify them early and ensure that they are removed before they cause serious damage.

11

What are endangered species?

Many plants and animals are under threat because of peoples

actions. Sometimes people do harmful things intentionally. For example, they hunt animals, collect plants for food, or cut down trees for firewood and building materials. At other times, people may not directly kill a plant or animal, but may destroy its natural habitat (home). For example, they cut down forests to use wood, thus destroying the natural home of many plants and animals.

As a consequence of such behavior, some plants or animals

become very rare. For example, sea turtles used to be much more common in the past. They are hunted around our islands and have become rare. When a species becomes rare, we call it an endangered species. Such species should be protected, or they will die out. In many countries, endangered species are under protection of the law and are known as protected species. It is illegal to kill them or harm them in any way. If hunting or destruction of habitat of an endangered species is not stopped, the species may disappear altogether. It may become extinct.

12

What is extinction?

When all individuals of some type of plant or animal have

died across the entire world, that species undergoes extinction. This is an awful thing because a species that has become extinct can never return. It will never live again. Extinction is forever.

Extinction of one species can affect many other species. This is

because plants and animals form relationships with each other. Some plants may need particular animals to spread their seeds. Some animals may require particular plants for food. If any species becomes extinct, all other species that depend on it are in danger of extinction and may become extinct themselves.

In many parts of the world, species are becoming extinct

because of human activities such as hunting, pollution, and destruction of the natural environment. Many species that used to be found on various islands of Micronesia are already extinct. Our ancestors had them in their midst, but we will never see them. We should protect the native species we have in Chuuk and make sure that none of them become extinct.

13

What are endemic species?

Some native plants and animals found in Chuuk occur nowhere

else in the world. Plants and animals that live only in one particular place or area are called endemic species. In contrast, a species found in various places is not considered endemic.

Endemic species are truly unique parts of our islands natural

heritage. We should care for them to ensure that they are not harmed or have their survival threatened. If they were to go extinct in Chuuk, they would be extinct throughout the world. Because of this, we have a duty to give them special protection.

All of the following plants and animals are endemic to

Chuuk. Most of them are species that live only in Chuuk State. A few may also be found on some other islands, but are still considered endemic to Chuuk, because the variety found here is sufficiently distinct from those found elsewhere. We should learn which plant and animal species are endemic to Chuuk, so that we can take care not to harm them. Endemic species are true treasures of our islands.

14

Part 1 FLORA (PLANTS)

>> >> Plants are living organisms that obtain most of their energy from sunlight. Common plants include trees, flowers, herbs, bushes, grasses, vines, ferns, and mosses.

15

KISINOMW Randia carolinensis

Kisinomw is a tall tree that grows only in the upland forests of Weno,
Fefan, Tonoas, and Tol. It provides an important habitat for native birds, many of which like to nest in its canopy. People use kisinomw wood for construction of houses, canoe parts, and wooden fish traps.

16

PAANAW Semecarpus kraemeri

Paanaw grows only on Chuuks highest mountain, Winipwt on

Tol island. People usually avoid it because it is poisonous, but birds use it as a place to rest and nest. Its leaves are oblong and lightcolored underneath. The paanaw trunk releases a resinous sap, which becomes black and hard when exposed to air.

17

PWO Cynometra yokotai

pwo is a pretty and useful

endemic tree that grows about fifty feet tall. Its leaves consist of many leaflets arranged in pairs. It grows on Weno, Tonoas, Fefan, and Tol. People use it for house construction, medicine, and firewood. It also provides breeding and nesting habitats for native birds.

18

RS Schefflera kraemeri

rs is a beautiful tree endemic to the upland forests of Weno and

Tol. Its leaves consist of several leaflets arranged in a hand-like fashion. Its wood is quite soft and is used only for firewood. Many native birds enjoy resting on this tree, while some make their nests on it.

19

AW Ficus trukensis

Aw grows in the upland forests of Weno, Fefan, Tonoas, Udot, Tol,

and Polle. Similar trees are found on other islands in Micronesia. Au reaches thirty to fifty feet tall and has smooth, oval-shaped leaves. It has a unique entangled and intertwined trunk, but its branches are clean and without aerial roots. It produces orange fruits enjoyed by birds. People use au for local medicine and construction.

20

KINIAWAN CHUUK Clinostigma carolinensis

Kiniaw is a tall palm,

reaching well over twenty feet. These palms are conspicuous in forests, on ridges, and on the hilltops of Tonoas, Weno, Udot, Tol, Fefan, and Uman. They are easily recognized by distinctive clusters of small flowers located below the tree crown. People use the kiniaw to weave sleeping mats, hats, and baskets, and also for parts used in house construction. These pretty and graceful palms, which contribute much to the beauty of our islands, can be seen on the uplands overlooking many parts of Chuuk.

21

WENNGNGT Eugenia trukensis

Wenngngt is a

relatively small tree that grows on Polle and Tol. It produces small whitish flowers and reddish fruits that are eaten by birds and bats, as well as people. This tree is also used for construction, canoe parts, fish traps, fuel wood, and medicine.

22

NIIFACH Freycinetia comensii

Niifach is a beautiful

endemic plant found in the upland forests of Weno, Tonoas, Fefan, Udot, Tol, and Uman. It produces many long and narrow leaves, similar to a palm or pandanus tree. People collect the leaves of niifach to weave mats, fans, hats, handicrafts, and various parts used in house construction.

23

OIN CHUUK Hoya trukensis

This plant is a vine with many succulent leaves. The simple, oval24

shaped leaves are dark green on the upper surface and lighter colored below. Flowers are light in color. If broken, the stem releases yellow milky sap. Unlike most of our endemic plants, which grow in the upland forests, this vine prefers coastal areas. It is quite rare.

Part 2 FAUNA (ANIMALS)

>> >> Animals are living organisms that obtain most of their energy from eating food. Common animals include invertebrates (such as worms, mollusks, and insects) and vertebrates (such as fishes, birds, and mammals).

25

SIICHN Acladocricus setigerus

Siichn is a giant millipede (an invertebrate with a long body

composed of many segments and pairs of feet). It grows to over six inches long. It lives only in the forests of a few mountaintops in Chuuk. It inhabits well-shaded areas, mostly on forest floors and on tree trunks. It sprays a poisonous secretion as defense against predators. If the substance touches human skin, it causes a burning sensation. The affected area may itch and turn a reddish-brown color.

26

OCHPIN CHUUK Teinobasis carolinensis

Ochp is known in English as dragonfly. Dragonflies are elongated

insects with two pairs of large, transparent wings. They are fast and skilled flyers and important predators of other insects, upon which they feed. Dragonflies lay their eggs in bodies of fresh water. Eggs hatch into youngsters known as larvae, which live in freshwater habitats until they grow to become flying adults. There are many kinds of dragonflies found in Micronesia, but one small and fragile species is known only from the islands of Chuuk Lagoon.

27

TENGN CHUUK Simulium trukense

Teng is known in English as black fly or gnat. It is a very small kind

of fly with two wings, resembling a mosquito. One species is endemic to Chuuk. Adults feed by stinging people and animals and drinking their blood. They are very small so we often do not see them, but we may feel the itch after being bitten. Teng adults can fly, but their larvae are aquatic and live in flowing streams of fresh water.

28

NICHOUPACHEN MWOCHUNK Lepidodactylus oligoporus

There is a distinct species of gecko that is found only on Namoluk

atoll in the Mortlock Islands. Like other geckos, it is nocturnal (active at night) and feeds on insects. This gecko is very similar to other geckos and non-specialists cannot tell them apart. However, scientists classify it as a distinct species, because they observed some unique characteristics under a microscope. There may be many other new species of animals waiting to be discovered somewhere in our islands.

29

SIRIP Gallicolumba kubaryi

Sirip is a medium-sized bird nearly one foot in length, with a short

tail. Its English name is Caroline Islands Ground Dove. The adults have purplish-crimson wings and back, and black posteriors. Their breasts and heads are white, with a black crown at the top of the head. The juveniles are rusty-brown in color. Sirip live in native and agricultural forests at all elevations, as well as in coastal forests of small islets. They seem to prefer dense brush, especially thickets of hibiscus. Sirip feed on the ground and eat seeds, worms, and small snails.

30

UWAW Metabolus rugensis

Uwaw is also known as the Chuuk Monarch. It does not live

anywhere outside of Chuuk and is considered one of the symbols of our islands. It grows to about 8 inches long. The color of males and females differs significantly. The males have almost entirely white plumage with a black face and throat, while the females have entirely black plumage. They are usually found in upland native forests, but they may also be encountered in mangroves, coastal forests, tree plantations, and along steep ridges or cliffs. They nest in trees with dense foliage and protect their territory. Uwaw eat insects and lizards.

31

NIMAKR Myiagra oceanica oceanica

Nimakr is the Chuukese

subspecies of a bird known in English as the Oceanic Flycatcher. It can be found in forest or other habitats with many trees. Nimakr enjoys perching on trees, especially on vertical surfaces, and does not settle voluntarily on the ground. They have shallowly forked tails, black-brown backs and wings, and gray-brown underparts. This bird is mentioned in many traditional chants and serves as a metaphor for wisdom and enlightenment, as its chirpings at dawn are the first harbingers of each new day on Chuuk.

32

MWUR Ducula oceanica teraokai

Mwur is one of the largest

and rarest birds found in Chuuk. Known in English as the Micronesian Imperial Pigeon, this beautiful bird lives in other parts of Micronesia as well, but the subspecies in Chuuk is unique. It used to live in various natural forest habitats, both in the lowlands (such as mangroves) and upland areas. Sadly, the number of mwur has been declining in Chuuk over the years and the species is now in danger of extinction. It is found only in the Faichuuk region, particularly deep inside the upland forest of Mount Winipwt.

33

NIMESWNPWN Rukia ruki

Nimeswnpwn is known by many English names (Truk Greater

White-eye, Teardrop White-eye, Faichuuk White-eye, or Truk Whiteeye). This very little bird is critically endangered and is one of the rarest birds in the entire world! It lives only in one place: the summit of Mount Winipwt on Tol island. It hides deep in the natural forest more than 1,200 ft above sea level, yet occasionally wanders into peripheral parts of the forest where native trees are mixed with trees planted by people.

34

NIKEITAPAR Myzomela rubrata major

Nikeitapar is a bird found

all over Micronesia. Its English name is Micronesian Honeyeater. Members of this species that live on Chuuk, however, are notably larger than anywhere else; therefore, they form a different subspecies. They inhabit forests, mangroves, shrubs, grasslands, and even villages. Nikeitapar feed primarily on nectar from flowers (thus its English name), but they will also take insects and other small invertebrates for food. They are territorial and aggressive, defending their own territory from all other birds, including other members of the same species.

35

NIIMWMWMWNG SEPWN Aerodramus inquietus rukensis

Chuukese subspecies of an unusual bird known in English as the Caroline Swiftlet. It is rather small (4-5 inches), uniformly gray-black in color, with a shallowly forked tail. It is among the most commonly seen endemic birds in Chuuk, but people sometimes confuse it with small bats. It hides in forests and caves and under rocky ledges. It is usually observed only in the afternoon, when it flies out to skillfully catch small insects in mid-air at high speeds. This behavior gives it its local name, which translates literally as the bird that feeds on air.

Niimwmwmwng sepwn is the

36

PTEN CHUUK Pteropus insularis

Pten Chuuk is one

species of fruit bat found only in Chuuk Lagoon. Its home is the high upland forest, where it lives in colonies on the breadfruit and other large trees. At night, it flies all over the island and feeds on fruits. Bats, which have front limbs that are webbed and developed as wings, are the only mammals naturally capable of true and sustained flight. Many bats feed on flying insects, but some specialize in eating fruit. Bats that eat fruit are usually quite large and are known in English as fruit bats.

37

PTEN MWOCHUNK Pteropus phaeocephalus

Pten Mwochunk is the second

species of fruit bat in Chuuk State. It is found only in the Mortlock Islands. The atolls where they live are very small and do not have many large trees. When people cut down big trees, bats loose places to live. The loss of their habitat in the Mortlock Islands has caused this fruit bat to become very rare. It is now a critically endangered species. Fruit bats are important because they pollinate and disperse the seeds of wild and domestic plants. Therefore, they have both ecological and economic roles in our islands.

38

Part 3 HABITATS (PLACES)

>> >> Habitats are various types of natural places where different plants and animals live. There are terrestrial habitats (such as forests), freshwater habitats (such as rivers), and marine habitats (such as reefs).

39

TERRESTRIAL HABITATS

Living organisms inhabit many different places. Different

species adapt to live in a particular kind of place. The suitable home for a particular organism is called a habitat. Different organisms need different habitats in order to survive. For example, a bird lives in a forest, but a fish lives in the lagoon.

Habitats that are found on land are called terrestrial

habitats. They include all the different kinds of natural places we see on our islands. Terrestrial habitats in Chuuk include forests (wennap), grassy areas (maasies), gardens (tnnipi), reef islands (t), and other areas. It is important that each of these habitats continues to exist in the future; otherwise organisms that live there will no longer have a home and will disappear from Chuuk. If a species is endemic to Chuuk and its habitat is destroyed, that species will go extinct. For example, if we cut down a large tree, we may destroy the habitat of our fruit bats. If we cut down many trees, we destroy the forest habitat of many plants and birds. Plants and animals can go extinct when their habitat is destroyed.

40

41

FRESHWATER HABITATS

Some organisms can survive only in places with lots of fresh

water. Such places are called freshwater habitats. They include the different kinds of places in which there is flowing or stagnant fresh water. Chuuk has only a few freshwater habitats. Larger islands have small streams flowing down hilly slopes. During the rainy season, the streams get larger. During drought, the streams become vary small. Many organisms, such as freshwater fish, shrimp, and insects, live in the streams and cannot survive without them. Other very important freshwater habitats on our islands are taro patches (pwn). Taro grows well in damp places, so taro patches usually have some fresh water in them. Some organisms, especially small fish and invertebrates, live in taro patches. People also depend on taro patches as a source of food.

Our islands are relatively small and surrounded by the vast

ocean of salty water. There is not a lot of fresh water in Chuuk. The few freshwater habitats that we do have must be kept clean and healthy. Freshwater organisms need proper habitats. And of course, people cannot survive without enough clean fresh water!

42

43

MARINE HABITATS

The ocean is home to countless organisms. They live in many

different habitats. Habitats found in the ocean are called marine habitats. In Chuuk, marine habitats include coastal areas, such as mangroves (chia) and seagrass beds, the lagoon (nmw), and coral reefs (ooch), as well as the deep ocean beyond our lagoon.

Marine habitats of Chuuk are facing many threats. When we

pollute our land and rivers, chemicals and waste are eventually washed by rainwater into coastal waters. They may poison organisms living there. When boats put down anchors, they often break coral. This destroys the homes of sea animals and damages the overall reef habitat. Some truly bad and shameless people throw dynamite onto our reefs to catch fish easily. Doing so kills thousands of creatures small and large and turns wide areas of our marine habitats into an underwater wasteland. We must stop damage and abuse of habitats around our islands, because plants and animals need homes to live and we need plants and animals for our own survival. Damage that we inflict upon the natural habitats of Chuuk is therefore damage we inflict upon ourselves.

44

45

Conclusion

There are countless different plants and animals living in

various habitats throughout the world. Chuuk is very fortunate to have several plant and animal species that do not occur anywhere else on Earth. They are known as endemic species. The reason that Chuuk has many endemic species is because our islands are far from other places. Some plants and animals, which arrived here in the distant past, have been isolated from their relatives elsewhere for a very long time, and have developed new characteristics enabling them to adapt to our local conditions. Eventually, they have evolved into new species, which now exist ONLY ON CHUUK.

If any of the endemic plants and animals were to go extinct in

Chuuk, they would become extinct across the entire world. For that reason, each should be truly special to us, and we should extend great care to ensure that its survival is not put at risk. This is especially important considering that people are rapidly changing the islands environments to suit their lifestyles, and, as a result, many plant and animal habitats are being threatened.

46

Glossary
adapt adult aerial root ancestors aquatic canopy cluster colony conspicuous domestic ecological elongated endangered environment extinct extinction fauna fern flora foliage heritage high island indigenous introduced invasive invertebrate juvenile landmass change to become more successful in a new environment fully-grown and developed animal or person roots that are located above the ground organisms that gave rise to subsequent, newer organisms found in water branches and leaves of trees group group of individual organisms living together as one easily visible, standing out from others plant or animal that is regularly kept by people relationships between living things and environment unusually long compared to wide species facing a serious risk of extinction surroundings and conditions in which a species lives no longer in existence complete disappearance of a plant or animal species animals in general or in a particular area plant with feather-like leaves; it produces no seeds plants in general or in a particular area plant leaves considered collectively (as a group) valued things and ideas passed down from older generations hilly or mountainous island rising well above sea level occurring naturally in a particular place or area non-indigenous; brought by people to a particular place introduced species that is harmful to local environment an animal that does not have a backbone (e.g., insect, worm) young and not yet mature animal or person large body of land, usually bigger than an island

47

larvae leaflet limbs lowland mammal marine microscope moss native nocturnal oblong organism plumage poisonous pollinate posterior predator resinous sap secretion scientific name species stagnant stem subspecies succulent terrestrial tree crown upland vertebrate vine

insects babies with forms very different from adults small leaf that, together with others, forms a larger leaf arms or legs of an animal areas of low elevation, usually located near the coast an animal that has hair or fur and gives milk to its young found in the ocean instrument used for viewing very small objects small plant that grows in form of mats in humid places species that are indigenous to a place, not introduced organisms that are usually active at nighttime shaped as an oval an individual living thing, a life form (plant, animal) bird feathers considered collectively (as a group) plant or animal that produces a substance harmful to others transfer pollen from one flower to another rear end of an animal animal that naturally preys (feeds) on others consistency of a sticky, gooey substance natural fluid found within a plant natural substance discharged from a plant or animal unique and international name of a plant or animal species distinct kind of a plant or animal sluggish or not moving, usually pertaining to water main body of a plant that supports branches, leaves, etc. sufficiently distinct group of organisms within a species juicy, often pertaining to leaves that contain a lot of water found on land branches and leaves of a tree areas of high elevation, usually on hills and mountains an animal that has a backbone (e.g., fish or bird) a climbing plant that has a long, slender stem

48

This book presents plants and animals that are found only in Chuuk State.
l Island Research & Education Initiative (IREI), l Chuuk State Department of Agriculture (DOA), and l Chuuk Conservation Society (CSS)
Innocente Penno, Director, Chuuk DOA Sleeper Sared, Invasive plant species and forest health coordinator, Chuuk DOA Danko Taboroi, Director, IREI Jan Nicole Pruden and John C. Pruden, Illustrators, IREI Mary Rose Nakayama, Chuuk Coordinator, IREI Curtis Graham, Marine Program Manager, CCS Emerson Odango, Linguist, IREI Julian Sivas, Chief of Forestry, Chuuk DOA Basiente Atan, Urban community forestry coordinator, Chuuk DOA Sabrino Robert, Officer In Charge, Chuuk Plant and Animal Quarantine akalin Nei and Mark Cartwright, Copyeditting volunteers This book was created as a service to the people of Chuuk. It is not to be sold.

ONLY ON CHUUK Endemic flora and fauna of our islands

It aims to teach students and the public how to recognize these important organisms on their own islands, as well as to introduce the concepts of endemic and endangered species, extinction, habitat loss, and other topics in ecology and conservation. The book is product of collaboration between:

Published by

distributed by

www.islandresearch.org

Chuuk DOA