C.R. Long 
'1964 
shrubby Sida bushes. The nests are constructed of Sida twigs with Boerhaavia 
stems and leaves placed in the center. The nests in the dead or weakly 
sprouting Co.rdia and Messerschmidtia are composed of Sida twigs piled high. 
The twigs on tne bottom are weathered a gray color while those on top are 
lighter and appear to have been added at a later time. The Digitaria sp. is 
much shorter and less vigorous in appearance than that observed on Starbuck. • 
Much of the S ida is prostrate - only at the protected.edges of the lagoon or 
around the outside edge of the brush patches iq'the Sida upright. Both seedling 
and adult plants of Sida seem to be frequent in the Sesuvium patches rimming 
the lagoon (on the north end the Se suvium has filled in the old lagoon area), 
xhe wind seems to be out of the east at this season and almost constant. The 
brush piles, located toward the rim of the islands must also penetrate deeper ' 
for moisture to the fresh water lens belotr. This lens is subject to greater 
depletion in the dry lagoon areas and perhaps the lens is contracted during 
periods of extreme evaporation and dryness. The guano soils and underlying 
hardpan, and, the salty crusts formed in the lagoon beds may be responsible 
for the existence of any vegetation available water supplies on these dry 
islands. The Lesser Frigates nesting in the brush patch "spill over" into 
open areas on the west side (bare surfaces or some small Sida and Lepturus). 
Further along this side of the island is a guano mound, guano operation 
ruins and another brush area with Cordia and Messerschmidtia spp..supporting 
the nests of Greater Frigatebirds and redfooted boobies. 
Transect II (starting on the west near old guano diggings - from the shore). 
gravel and sand , bare disturbed site 
Sida Boerhaavia -> 
Lepturus dead Cordia 
Portulaca 
Cassytha on Sida 
former house sites mid-point of island 
gravel and sand 
Digitaria Sida 
Portulaca 
Boerhaavia 
In the rubble of the old guano operations on the north end of the island 
the Sida - Portulaca - Boerhaavia association was observed. A few clumps 
of Lepturus are also present but very sparsely distributed in this area. 
The distribution of plant species on the north end is non-uniform. On the 
rocky flats and rolling moupds Boerhaavia is found - suggesting, perhaps, 
a pioneer species in rocky or heavily gravelled areas. In some of these 
same areas one finds Portulaca associated with the Boerhaavia . It may be 
that the perennial Boerhaavia with its seasonal addition of dead leaves 
and stems and, finally, a dead rootstock of considerable size may contri¬ 
bute significantly to the windblown sand (which accumulates between and 
down below the rocks) - and windblown organic matter to..form the necessary 
soil pockets for the successful sprouting and growing of other species. 
The Portulaca is shallow rooted and needs a soil which will hold same water 
V 
content and at the same time be near the sunlit surfaces. In semi-protected 
areas behind the hillocks you find patches of Lepturus, usually on the east 
face slopes. In the depressions between the hillocks - in coral gravel and 
guano soil Se suvium seems to thrive, but not forming a continuous mat over the 
sand 
Triumfetta 
Digitaria 
larger gravel, rocks 
Lepturus ■£> 
Sida 
Portulaca 
•m 
