Thesis (M.S.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 78-83). / ix, 83 leaves, bound ill., map 29 cm

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 104-106). / iv, 106 leaves, bound 29 cm

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 303-334). / Also available by subscription via World Wide Web / x, 334 leaves, bound map 29 cm

The endemic avifauna of Guam and the Mariana Islands represent a unique assemblage of bird species found nowhere else in the world and thus, are of considerable biological and conservation importance. Unfortunately, most of these species are understudied and exist in precariously low populations. The endangered Mariana Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus guami), one of the last remaining native waterbirds, is a prime example of this since information is lacking for development of an effective recovery plan. Thus, this thesis attempts to provide much needed information regarding moorhen space use, seasonal movement, distribution, and abundance. In Chapter 2, the dynamic use of space and movement among moorhens within and across landscapes on multiple islands is explored throughout the annual cycle. Adult Mariana Common Moorhens were radio-marked on Guam (N=25) and Saipan (N=18) to determine home range and inter- and intra-seasonal movement patterns in 2000 and 2001. Birds were tracked throughout the dry and wet season. During the dry season, 48 and 11.1% of radio-marked adults on Guam and Saipan, respectively, dispersed from their capture site to another wetland site. During the wet season, 71.4 and 70% of radio-marked birds on Guam and Saipan, respectively, dispersed from their capture site to another wetland site. In 2001, Saipan moorhen surveys indicated juveniles dispersed during the onset of the rainy season. Thus, intra-island movement increased during the wet season. Similarly, inter-island movement occurred from Saipan to Tinian during the onset of the wet season. On Guam, moorhens were more likely to move greater average distances in the wet season than the dry season. Among Guam moorhens captured on Fena Reservoir (N=9), Guam and that dispersed during the 2000 wet season, 66.6% returned to Fena Reservoir during the 2001 dry season. During the wet season, the frequency of movement among sites was inversely proportional to the average distance between each site. Home-range estimates on Guam averaged 3.1 ha �� 4.8 SD and did not differ significantly between sexes or seasons. However, during the dry season, females exhibited significantly smaller mean core areas than males. To our knowledge, this is the first radio telemetry study that has taken a multi-island approach to understanding a mobile islands species throughout its annual cycle. In Chapter 3, population estimates for the Mariana Common Moorhen were determined on Guam, Saipan, Tinian, and Rota from island-wide surveys conducted from May through September 2001. We estimate the total adult moorhen population to be 287, including 90, 154, 41, and 2 adult moorhens on Guam, Saipan, Tinian, and Rota, respectively. Surveys also revealed changing moorhen distribution throughout the annual cycle and suggested inter-island movement from Saipan to Tinian occurred during the onset of the wet season. Surveys conducted on Fena Reservoir from March through August 2000 indicated adult moorhen numbers were significantly less than those from a similar survey in 1988. In addition, nest surveys of six territories revealed 58.8 % egg loss and 71.4% chick loss. Conservation efforts for this subspecies have mainly focused on protection of remaining wetlands. Efforts need to be expanded to include more active monitoring of populations, vegetation management, and predator control on wetlands throughout the Marianas and Guam. / Graduation date: 2003

No description available.

Aquaponics has recently emerged on the global scene as a viable form of alternative agriculture. A combination of practices, such as growing and harvesting fish (aquaculture) along with "hydroponically" grown fruits and vegetables, aquaponics integrates traditional agriculture practices with twenty-first century scientific food producing methods. In this thesis, I analyze the literature on aquaponics and connect it firmly within the current social and environmental discussions of the food security discourse among Pacific Island Countries and Territories in order to provide a context of geographical relevance of fish and vegetable producing systems. I also provide data from the Northern Mariana Island of Rota to showcase why and how aquaponics may be a viable option for improving food security within such a context. I then argue that the aquaponic project on the island of Rota helps serve as one potential pathway to improving food security. / 2015-07-14

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 303-334).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of California, Santa Cruz, 1992. / Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 273-295).

Rota Island, the southernmost island in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in the western Pacific, has the types of caves previously documented on the other limestone mantled islands in the Mariana Arc that have been investigated for caves: Aguijan, Guam, Tinian and Saipan. Caves developed at the edge of the fresh-water lens by zones of enhanced carbonate dissolution produced by fresh-water/salt-water mixing are most common. Among these mixing zone caves, flank margin caves dominate. Flank margin caves were found singly and in extensive horizons representing significant sea-level still stands. However, another type of mixing zone cave was found on Rota in numbers not documented on neighboring islands. Mixing zone fracture caves, apparently formed as zones of enhanced dissolution, produced fresh-water discharging from the lens along fractures, migrated vertically as sea-level changed. Some mixing zone fracture caves on Rota are developed in clusters from two to four caves. The mixing zone caves of Rota reflect the interaction of eogenetic limestone, glacioeustasy, local tectonics and enhanced carbonate dissolution via mixing of disparate waters. The development of mixing zone caves on Rota is in agreement with the Carbonate Island Karst Model (CIKM). Rota has a few caves developed along the contact between limestone and the insoluble volcanic rock that makes up the core of the island. The most important of these is Water Cave, a large spring that is the source for most of the municipal water on Rota. Rota also two extensive zones of vertical fissures developed along bedrock fractures; Fissure City and As Mundo Fissure Zone. In addition, Rota has one cave apparently developed along a fault; Gagani Cave. Some of the caves documented on Rota are difficult to classify and warrant further investigation.

The Rota bridled white-eye (Zosterops rotensis)(Aves, Passeriformes) has experienced a severe population decline and range restriction over the last four decades. Little is known about this species and factors involved in the decline and range restriction are unclear. This study examined the potential roles of habitat alteration, introduced black drongos (Dicrurus macrocercus), and introduced rats in the decline and gathered more information on the behavior and breeding biology of this species. New life history data were collected and Rota and Saipan bridled white-eyes were found to differ in nest site characteristics and some behaviors. The importance of habitat alteration was assessed by examining Rota bridled white-eye habitat relationships at the microhabitat, within-range, Sabana-wide, and island-wide levels. Rota bridled white-eyes show a preference for high elevation wet forest but what drives their distribution within their current range was unclear. However, the alteration of this forest type by supertyphoon Roy in 1988 was probably the major factor in the decline of Rota BWEs between 1982 and 1996. Black drongo and Rota bridled white-eye relationships were addressed using current and historical survey data. Black drongos were found to prey on Rota bridled white-eyes but they probably only played at most a partial role in the decline of the Rota bridled white-eye. Introduced rats densities were assessed in Rota bridled white-eye areas and on other areas of the island and no evidence for rat numbers limiting Rota bridled white-eyes to their current range was found. / Master of Science