26:
41:
213:
The Chuuk islands are surrounded by almost circular barrier reef more than 60 km across at its widest point, which encloses a lagoon and 69 low islets composed of coral sand. Within the lagoon are 10 principal and many smaller volcanic islands in two clusters, the
Faichuk group to the west and the
260:
The climate of the ecoregion is humid and tropical, with little variation in temperature from season to season. Rainfall is highest at the eastern end of the ecoregion, decreasing and becoming more seasonal towards the west. Pohnpei averages more than 4,500 mm of annual rainfall. Parts of Kosrae
269:
The natural vegetation of the islands was mostly tropical rain forest, with smaller areas of savanna and scrub, and mangroves along the shore. Atoll forests and coastal strand vegetation are found on the atolls. The principal forest types on the volcanic islands include lowland forest, montane
220:
is an extinct volcano 650 km east of Chuuk. The island has an area of 335 km. It is composed of weathered basalt, and geologically younger than Chuuk. The center of the island is a tableland with 11 separate peaks, the tallest of which reaches 734 meters elevation.
274:. Cloud forests occur as low as 450 meters on Pohnpei and 300 meters on Kosrae, which makes them some of the lowest-elevation tropical cloud forests in the world. The cloud forests are some of Oceania's most species-rich and are high in
296:
The native lowland forests are mostly gone. There are areas of secondary forest and savanna, and well-preserved mangrove forests and freshwater swamp forests along the coast. Steeper slopes are covered in thickets of
227:
lies 550 km to southeast of
Pohnpei towards the eastern end of the Carolines. It is a deeply dissected volcanic island with several steep high peaks, the highest of which reaches 629 meters elevation.
281:
Humans have altered the islands vegetation, increasing the savanna area, especially in the western islands, with fires, and converting much of the lowland into gardens, fields, and plantations or
278:. The islands are sufficiently close to Southeast Asia's diverse forests to allow plants to disperse, while the islands' age and relative isolation allowed plants to evolve into distinct species.
969:
984:
974:
792:
Pohnpei has protected all of its mangrove forests, and in 1987 established the
Pohnpei Watershed Forest Reserve which protects 51 km of the island's interior forests.
165:
73:
774:
Humans have dwelled in the ecoregion for over 2500 years. Early settlers brought and cultivated coconut, breadfruit, taro, bananas, and sugarcane in the lowlands.
541:
Little intact lowland or montane forest survives on Chuuk. The largest remnant montane forest is on
Uinipot Peak on Tol Island. It is home to the endemic plants
711:)m formerly endemic to Kosrae, are extinct. Several other species are endangered or threatened. Native birds are threatened by habitat loss, and the introduced
310:
Areas of primary montane rain forest and cloud forest still exist in the mountainous center of the island. Upland forests are of two main plant associations, a
433:
Primary montane forests and cloud forests persist in the highlands of Kosrae. The principal trees of Kosrae's montane forests include species of
766:
The cloud forest on
Pohnpei is home to 26 species of land snails, which represent 74 percent of the total species recorded on the island.
784:) is grown on the three high islands. It requires fertile organic soil, and montane forests are being cleared to expand its cultivation.
763:
There are 24 species of reptiles and amphibians in the
Caroline islands, including four endemic species and one endemic genus.
196:
180:
96:
141:
979:
760:
has subspecies on the Chuuk and
Mortlock islands. The fruit bats are threatened by habitat loss and hunting for export.
661:
964:
735:
610:
915:
BirdLife
International (2020) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Pohnpei Watershed Forest Reserve. Downloaded from
553:
515:
493:
519:
475:
497:
abundant in the lower canopy. The understory is composed of lush mosses, herbaceous hepatics (members of the
481:
341:
543:
487:
465:
335:
529:
318:
642:
626:
312:
293:
Pohnpei is the highest and wettest island, and its vegetation is less degraded than the other islands.
509:
503:
472:
The montane forests transition to dwarf cloud forest above 300 meters elevation. Canopy trees include
652:
Another five species are restricted-range, and extend other
Micronesian ecoregions. These include the
728:
685:
669:
634:
523:
322:
949:
902:
BirdLife
International (2020) Endemic Bird Areas factsheet: East Caroline Islands. Downloaded from
743:
547:
56:
752:
594:
299:
577:
Thirteen species of birds are endemic to the ecoregion. Three species are endemic to Chuuk, the
349:
and other shrubs are abundant in the understory. Other montane forest trees include species of
677:
653:
586:
282:
239:
192:
176:
692:). 24 of the 29 recorded bird species on Pohnpei make extensive use of the upland forests.
704:
602:
944:
872:
248:, the capital of the Federated States of Micronesia, is on Pohnpei. The largest city is
25:
712:
61:
958:
720:
578:
498:
459:
235:
119:
696:
618:
566:
443:
387:
304:
271:
231:
214:
Nomoneas group to the east. The largest island, Tol, reaches 443 meters elevation.
114:
933:
854:
435:
407:
381:
375:
359:
199:
it includes the states of Chuuk, Pohnpei, and Kosrae and the eastern islands of
109:
40:
393:
367:
351:
172:
447:
439:
417:
200:
168:
125:
734:
The islands' native non-marine mammals are bats, including the widespread
422:
411:
403:
371:
363:
275:
399:
355:
245:
217:
224:
31:
731:
in the 1920s, and is abundant on the north and east of the island.
719:) and other introduced rats which prey heavily on native birds. The
230:
The ecoregion includes many atolls and atoll groups, including the
777:
453:
207:
68:
249:
469:. Terrestrial and epiphytic fern are abundant and diverse.
916:
903:
206:
The ecoregion includes both high volcanic islands and low
234:
north of Chuuk, the Remetau group west of Chuuk, and the
950:
Carolines tropical moist forests (Encyclopedia of Earth)
565:
The flora of the atolls is mostly of widespread coastal
316:
association between 450 and 680 meters elevation, and a
210:, islands of coralline sand ringing a central lagoon.
45:
Map of the Carolines tropical moist forests ecoregion
649:) inhabits the ecoregion's high islands and atolls.
303:. About a third of Pohnpei is covered with a local
150:
140:
135:
102:
92:
84:
79:
67:
55:
50:
18:
970:Environment of the Federated States of Micronesia
421:are abundant, and there are many terrestrial and
985:Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests
339:forms the upper canopy layer, and the tree fern
166:tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests
74:tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests
975:Geography of the Federated States of Micronesia
601:). Five are endemic to Pohnpei, including the
569:species, with relatively few endemic species.
8:
191:The ecoregion spans the central and eastern
898:
896:
894:
892:
945:Carolines tropical moist forests (DOPA)
801:
849:
847:
845:
843:
841:
839:
837:
835:
833:
831:
829:
827:
825:
641:) lives on Chuuk and Pohnpei, and the
175:. It includes the central and eastern
15:
823:
821:
819:
817:
815:
813:
811:
809:
807:
805:
261:receive more than 6,400 mm per year.
7:
513:There are many epiphytes, including
463:sp.), and the sole indigenous palm
934:"Carolines tropical moist forests"
873:"Carolines tropical moist forests"
855:"Carolines tropical moist forests"
345:is dominant in the lower canopy.
14:
727:) was introduced to Pohnpei from
307:system of rotating tree gardens.
88:582 km (225 sq mi)
162:Carolines tropical moist forests
39:
24:
19:Carolines tropical moist forests
333:association, the endemic palm
197:Federated States of Micronesia
181:Federated States of Micronesia
97:Federated States of Micronesia
1:
742:) and two endemic bats, the
238:southeast of Chuuk, and the
662:Micronesian imperial pigeon
1001:
554:Atractocarpus carolinensis
446:, Macaranga, Dendrocnide,
195:, and include most of the
736:Pacific sheath-tailed bat
623:Trichoglossus rubiginosus
611:Pohnpei mountain starling
516:Elaphoglossum carolinense
494:Syzygium stelechanthoides
203:, known as the Remetau.
38:
23:
770:Conservation and threats
520:Hymenophyllum polyanthos
476:Elaeocarpus carolinensis
474:Sphaeropteris lunulata,
917:http://www.birdlife.org
904:http://www.birdlife.org
740:Emballonura semicaudata
482:Astronidium carolinense
442:, Psychotria, Syzgium,
342:Sphaeropteris nigricans
326:on the highest slopes.
940:. World Wildlife Fund.
938:Terrestrial Ecoregions
861:. World Wildlife Fund.
859:Terrestrial Ecoregions
319:Sphaeropteris lunulata
643:Caroline reed warbler
627:long-billed white-eye
544:Heptapleurum kraemeri
488:Polyscias subcapitata
466:Ponapea ledermanniana
336:Clinostigma ponapense
686:Micronesian myzomela
670:Micronesian starling
658:Aerodramus inquietus
635:Caroline ground-dove
530:Peperomia kusaiensis
980:Oceanian ecoregions
748:Pteropus molossinus
744:Caroline flying fox
647:Acrocephalus syrinx
548:Semecarpus kraemeri
146:Critical/endangered
142:Conservation status
753:Pteropus pelagicus
725:Lonchura hunsteini
595:teardrop white-eye
583:Metabolus rugensis
527:, and the endemic
347:Maesa carolinensis
331:Maesa carolinensis
313:Maesa carolinensis
300:Hibiscus tiliaceus
782:Piper methysticum
690:Myzomela rubratra
682:Zosterops semperi
678:citrine white-eye
654:Caroline swiftlet
639:Pampusana kubaryi
631:Rukia longirostra
607:Rhipidura kubaryi
510:Pteris spinescens
504:Marattia fraxinea
158:
157:
992:
965:Caroline Islands
941:
920:
913:
907:
900:
887:
886:
884:
883:
869:
863:
862:
851:
591:Myiagra oceanica
587:Chuuk flycatcher
501:, and the ferns
499:buttercup family
385:, and the palms
283:secondary forest
242:around Pohnpei.
240:Senyavin Islands
193:Caroline Islands
177:Caroline Islands
43:
28:
16:
1000:
999:
995:
994:
993:
991:
990:
989:
955:
954:
932:
929:
924:
923:
914:
910:
901:
890:
881:
879:
871:
870:
866:
853:
852:
803:
798:
790:
788:Protected areas
772:
709:Aplonis corvina
705:Kosrae starling
666:Ducula oceanica
615:Aplonis pelzeni
603:Pohnpei fantail
575:
563:
539:
524:Lindsaea rigida
431:
323:Pandanus patina
291:
267:
258:
189:
131:
46:
34:
12:
11:
5:
998:
996:
988:
987:
982:
977:
972:
967:
957:
956:
953:
952:
947:
942:
928:
927:External links
925:
922:
921:
919:on 30/11/2020.
908:
906:on 29/11/2020.
888:
864:
800:
799:
797:
794:
789:
786:
771:
768:
717:Rattus exulans
713:Polynesian rat
701:Porzana monasa
574:
571:
562:
559:
538:
535:
457:, tree ferns (
430:
427:
290:
287:
266:
263:
257:
254:
188:
185:
156:
155:
152:
148:
147:
144:
138:
137:
133:
132:
130:
129:
123:
117:
112:
106:
104:
100:
99:
94:
90:
89:
86:
82:
81:
77:
76:
71:
65:
64:
59:
53:
52:
48:
47:
44:
36:
35:
29:
21:
20:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
997:
986:
983:
981:
978:
976:
973:
971:
968:
966:
963:
962:
960:
951:
948:
946:
943:
939:
935:
931:
930:
926:
918:
912:
909:
905:
899:
897:
895:
893:
889:
878:
877:DOPA Explorer
874:
868:
865:
860:
856:
850:
848:
846:
844:
842:
840:
838:
836:
834:
832:
830:
828:
826:
824:
822:
820:
818:
816:
814:
812:
810:
808:
806:
802:
795:
793:
787:
785:
783:
779:
775:
769:
767:
764:
761:
759:
755:
754:
749:
745:
741:
737:
732:
730:
726:
722:
721:mottled munia
718:
714:
710:
706:
702:
698:
693:
691:
687:
683:
679:
675:
674:Aplonis opaca
671:
667:
663:
659:
655:
650:
648:
644:
640:
636:
632:
628:
624:
620:
616:
612:
608:
604:
600:
596:
592:
588:
584:
580:
579:Chuuk monarch
572:
570:
568:
560:
558:
556:
555:
550:
549:
545:
536:
534:
532:
531:
526:
525:
521:
517:
512:
511:
506:
505:
500:
496:
495:
490:
489:
484:
483:
478:
477:
470:
468:
467:
462:
461:
460:Sphaeropteris
456:
455:
450:
449:
445:
441:
437:
428:
426:
424:
420:
419:
414:
413:
409:
405:
401:
396:
395:
390:
389:
384:
383:
378:
377:
373:
369:
365:
361:
357:
353:
348:
344:
343:
338:
337:
332:
327:
325:
324:
320:
315:
314:
308:
306:
305:silvicultural
302:
301:
294:
288:
286:
284:
279:
277:
273:
264:
262:
255:
253:
251:
247:
243:
241:
237:
236:Nomoi Islands
233:
228:
226:
222:
219:
215:
211:
209:
204:
202:
198:
194:
186:
184:
182:
178:
174:
170:
167:
163:
153:
149:
145:
143:
139:
134:
127:
124:
121:
118:
116:
113:
111:
108:
107:
105:
101:
98:
95:
91:
87:
83:
78:
75:
72:
70:
66:
63:
60:
58:
54:
49:
42:
37:
33:
27:
22:
17:
937:
911:
880:. Retrieved
876:
867:
858:
791:
781:
776:
773:
765:
762:
758:P. pelagicus
757:
751:
747:
739:
733:
724:
716:
708:
700:
697:Kosrae crake
694:
689:
681:
673:
665:
657:
651:
646:
638:
630:
622:
619:Pohnpei lory
614:
606:
598:
590:
582:
576:
567:Indo-Pacific
564:
552:
542:
540:
528:
514:
508:
502:
492:
486:
480:
473:
471:
464:
458:
452:
444:Campnosperma
434:
432:
416:
398:
397:. Lianas of
392:
388:Ptychosperma
386:
380:
350:
346:
340:
334:
330:
328:
317:
311:
309:
298:
295:
292:
280:
272:cloud forest
270:forest, and
268:
259:
244:
232:Hall Islands
229:
223:
216:
212:
205:
190:
161:
159:
136:Conservation
729:New Ireland
436:Horsfieldia
408:Freycinetia
382:Astronidium
376:Gynotroches
360:Elaeocarpus
959:Categories
882:2020-11-29
796:References
599:Rukia ruki
394:Metroxylon
368:Psychotria
352:Glochidion
252:in Chuuk.
173:Micronesia
30:forest on
448:Boehmeria
440:Neuburgia
423:epiphytic
418:Pachygone
201:Yap State
187:Geography
169:ecoregion
151:Protected
128:(portion)
80:Geography
412:Hypserpa
404:Merremia
372:Timonius
364:Syzygium
276:endemism
62:Oceanian
684:), and
633:). The
625:), and
593:), and
485:, with
425:ferns.
400:Ipomoea
356:Myrsine
329:In the
289:Pohnpei
256:Climate
246:Palikir
218:Pohnpei
179:in the
120:Pohnpei
93:Country
51:Ecology
750:) and
703:) and
561:Atolls
551:, and
479:, and
451:, and
429:Kosrae
415:, and
379:, and
225:Kosrae
208:atolls
115:Kosrae
103:States
32:Kosrae
778:Sakau
573:Fauna
537:Chuuk
454:Ficus
265:Flora
164:is a
154:0.03%
110:Chuuk
69:Biome
57:Realm
695:The
507:and
491:and
391:and
250:Weno
160:The
85:Area
676:),
668:),
660:),
617:),
609:),
585:),
183:.
171:in
126:Yap
961::
936:.
891:^
875:.
857:.
804:^
756:.
557:.
546:,
533:.
522:,
518:,
438:,
410:,
406:,
402:,
374:,
370:,
366:,
362:,
358:,
354:,
285:.
885:.
780:(
746:(
738:(
723:(
715:(
707:(
699:(
688:(
680:(
672:(
664:(
656:(
645:(
637:(
629:(
621:(
613:(
605:(
597:(
589:(
581:(
321:–
122:,
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
