Aspects of Biology and Ecological Functioning of Coral Reefs in Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands

The Mariana Islands are a chain of 16 volcanic peaks stretching over a distance of approximately 2,500 km from 13° to 21° N latitude and centered at 145° E longitude (Fig. 19.1). Politically, the area is divided into two jurisdictions, Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Guam is a US territory located at 13°28' N, 144°45' E and is the southernmost island in the Mariana Archipelago. It is the largest island in Micronesia, with an area of 560 km² and a maximum elevation of approximately 405 m above sea level. The northern portion of the island is relatively flat and consists primarily of uplifted limestone. The southern half of the island is primarily volcanic, with more topographic relief, and large areas of highly erodible lateritic soils (Siegrist and Randall 1992; Chapter 18, Riegl et al.). The island possesses fringing reefs, patch reefs, submerged reefs, offshore banks, and a barrier reef surrounding the southern shores. The reef margin varies in width, from tens of meters along some of the windward areas, to well over 100 m. The combined area of coral reefs and lagoons is approximately 69 km² in nearshore waters between 0–3 nmi, and an additional 110 km² in federal waters greater than 3 nmi offshore (Hunter 1995).

Guam was ceded to the US in 1898 following the Spanish -American War, and was placed under the administration of the Department of the Navy, with a US appointed governor. It was occupied by the Japanese from 1941 to 1944, after which time it was retaken by US Forces. US President Truman signed the Organic Act in 1949 establishing Guam as an unincorporated territory of the United States and granting citizenship to the island’s people. A territorial college was established in 1952, which later became the University of Guam, accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. The University of Guam Marine Laboratory was established in 1970, and became a center for regional research on coral reefs. The Marine Laboratory has been largely responsible for the wealth of information available on coral reef taxonomy, biology and ecology in the western Pacific, and maintains a database and taxonomic collection as well as access to many regional coral reef-related publications.