21. LONE PALM ISLET (1.99 ha) (Figs. 29,52; Pis. 66-68) 



We named Lone Palm, fifth in the chain, for its single 

 coconut palm, which towers, Hag-like, above a dense mound of 

 Towmefortia. 



Physiography : Similar to Kota (to its south), Lone Palm 

 is sausage-shaped, 97 m long and 240 m wide, and four times 

 the size mapped by Arundel. Although composed almost 

 entirely of coral rubble, some sand borders the lagoon. Following 

 a pattern prevalent on all the leeward motus, its lagoon beach 

 is 2 m wide, while the seaward beach is 17 m. 



Vegetation : Eleven species of plants are present (three 

 trees, one shrub, seven herbs). 46% of Caroline's flora. Lone 

 Palm's plant communities are simple: a wide band of herb mats 

 and open Toumefortia flanks an oval of Towmefortia forest (to 

 1 m tall ). A line of Pisonia trees, with a lone Cocos surmounting 

 the scrub, easily identifies this islet from lagoon or ocean. 



Birds : Three species of seabirds bred in 1988: masked 

 booby (2 pairs), red-footed booby (48 pairs), and white tern 

 (9 pairs). In May 1990, we saw a large prebreeding swarm of 

 sooty terns. 



22. MOTU KOTA -Red-footed Booby Islet" (0.64 ha) 

 (Figs. 28,52: Pis. 66.68) 



We named this motu for its high density of red-footed 

 boobies (kota in Gilbertese). 



Physiography : Sixth in line south of Nake, sausage- 

 shaped Motu Kota is 50 m long and 175 m wide. At low tide 

 it is almost connected to Motu Mouakena. Both surveys 

 indicate that coral rubble, the islet' s predominant substrate, had 

 further accumulated on its south side since the 1985 aerial 

 photos and also since 1988. 



Vegetation : Though barely wooded. Kota has 1 1 species 

 of plants (3 trees, 1 shrub, 7 herbs). 41% of Caroline's flora. 

 One introduction is present, a single, tattered Cocos, partly 

 hidden by vegetation. Two plant communities are present: 

 peripheral herb mats and central Toumefortia scrub (to 10 m 

 tall |. with a few Pisonia. 



Birds : Three species of seabirds bred in 1988: brown 

 booby (1 pair), red-footed booby (12 pairs), and white tern 

 (3 pairs). In May 1990, a single masked booby was on territory, 

 and sooty terns swirled overhead. 



23. MOTU MOUAKENA "Masked Booby Islet" ( 1 .00 ha) 

 (Figs. 29,52; Pis. 15.69) 



This islet was named for its nesting masked boobies, a 

 relatively uncommon seabird on Caroline. 



Physiography : Somewhat U-shaped, Motu Mouakena is 

 seventh, and southernmost, in the South Nake chain of islets. 

 Both sides of the "U" were, in the recent past, separate islets. 

 By joining on the west, a narrow, V-shaped inlet was created on 

 the lagoon side. Motu Mouakena. 100 m long and 1 60 m wide. 

 is extremely nubbly ami infertile; much rubble was reorganized 

 during the February 1990 storm. Seventeen meters to its south 

 lies a newly emerging shoal of sand and gravel (PI. 15), perhaps 

 destined to be Caroline's fortieth motu or perhaps part of 



Mouakena' s southern shore. Since the above storm, rubble has 

 further accumulated on this shoal, its adjacent reef Oats, and the 

 channel separating it from Mouakena. It already supports one 

 Toumefortia shrub, two dozen Heliotropium plants, and very 

 scattered Lepturus and Portulaca. 



Vegetation : The number of species is eight ( one tree, one 

 shrub, six herbs), 30% of Caroline's flora, with no introductions. 

 Mouakena is thinly vegetated with open Toumefortia scrub (to 

 9 m tall, 26% cover), a few small Pisonia. and very sparse herb 

 mats. 



Birds : Mouakena has less vegetation and fewer birds than 

 might be expected from a consideration of its area because 

 much of it is unshaded, coarse coral rubble. Though 

 unproductive botanically, this provides ideal nesting grounds 

 for masked boobies, one of the two species of breeding seabirds 

 on the islet in 1988: masked booby (3 pairs) and red-footed 

 booby (8 pairs). In May 1990, we saw one great frigatebird nest 

 with eggs and a swirl of sooty terns. 



Central Leeward Islets 



This chain of 1 1 motus occupies the central west side of 

 Caroline. All are separated by channels, wadable only at low 

 tide but prowled by belligerent sharks. Approximately 

 1.600 m south of Motu Mouakena lies a sandy shoal (0.5 m 

 high. 7 m wide. 4 m long), close to the lagoon edge of the reef 

 flats and connected only by a thin thread of rubble to Motu 

 Mannikiba to its south. 



The islets range in size from Mannikiba (28.50 ha), the 

 most northerly, to Fishball (0.46 ha), the most southerly. All 

 support good seabird populations and. though quite well wooded. 

 are nonetheless the least lush motus on Caroline. Historical 

 records of the Central Leewards are very scant: much of 

 Mannikiba's forest was felled to make room for a Cocos 

 seedling "nursery" (Young, ca. 1922). The bulk of "40 trees on 

 other islets." in Young's totals, were most likely from Shark 

 and Emerald. The rest of this group is evidently pristine; the 

 natural communities on Bird Islet, in particular, are in excellent 

 condition. 



Shark Islet boasts the best sandy beach on the atoll. 

 In common with all the motus on Caroline's west rim. 

 their lagoonside beaches are narrow and leeward reef 

 Hats wide. The leeward flats are composed of a greater 

 variety of substrata than the former, including coral rubble 

 of several grades (always gray), upraised reef, and 

 beachrock. Periodically, thousands of nesting sooty 

 terns occupy their open spaces (Clapp & Sibley. 1971a: 

 AKK, personal observation; Anne Falconer, personal 

 communication). 



24. MOTU MANNIKIBA "Seabird Islet" (21.49 ha) 

 (Fig. 29; Pis. 70-72) 



We named this motu for its teeming seabirds, mannikiba 

 in Gilbertese. 



Physiography : Largest and most northerly of the Central 

 Leeward Islets. Mannikiba is somewhat rectangular with 

 rounded corners. Its reel Hats, containing an incipient islet, 

 stretch 2.0 km north to the South Nake Islets. 



44 



