Guam
Guam, a U.S. unincorporated territory located at 13°
28' N, 144° 45' E, is the southernmost island in the Mariana Archipelago. It’s location in the western Pacific is approximately 3,700 miles west-southwest of Honolulu; 1,500 miles east of Manila; and 1,500 miles south-southeast of Tokyo. It is the largest island in Micronesia, with a land mass of 560 km2 and a maximum elevation of approximately 405 meters. It is also the most heavily populated island in Micronesia with a population of about 164,000 people (est. July 2003). 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 soils. This topography creates a number of watersheds throughout the southern areas which are drained by 96 rivers.
The condition of Guam’s coral reefs (including fringing reefs, patch reefs, submerged reefs, offshore banks, and barrier reefs) varies considerably, depending on a variety of factors including geology, human population density, degree of coastal development, levels and types of marine resource uses, oceanic circulation patterns, and frequency of natural disturbances (e.g., storms and earthquakes). Many of Guam’s reefs have declined in health over the past 40 years. However, in the past, Guam’s coral reefs have recovered after drastic declines. For example, an outbreak of the crown - of - thorns starfish in the early 1970s reduced coral cover in some areas from 50 to 60% to less than 1%. Twelve years later, greater than 60% live coral cover was recorded for these areas. A more distressing indicator of the condition of Guam’s coral reefs is the marked decrease in rates of coral recruitment.
Reefs unaffected by sediment, nutrient loading, and freshwater runoff in the northern part of the island and between river outflows, have relatively healthy coral communities. The reefs have not suffered the large scale bleaching events and coral diseases seen in other parts of the world. Unfortunately, some reefs have been damaged by land-based sources of pollution and heavy fishing pressure.
Guam satellite map
State of The Reefs Report (SOTR)
The State of Coral Reef Ecosystems of the United States and Pacific Freely Associated States: 2008.
The State of Coral Reef Ecosystems of the United States and Pacific Freely Associated States: 2005.
The State of Coral Reef Ecosystems of the United States and Pacific Freely Associated States: 2002.
Metadata, Data and Publications Search in CoRIS
Search the CoRIS Data & Publications Section for Guam metadata, data and publications
ReefBase Coral Bleaching Reports
Select "Micronesia" in the Region window and "Guam" in the Country window
Other Data & Information
Maps of Guam
Shallow-water Benthic Habitat Maps of American Samoa, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI)
NOAA Weather Forecast
Weatherbase
Status of Pacific Island Coral Reef fisheries
Guam Tide Charts
Guam Coastal Atlas provides benthic habitat maps and geospatial data for the nearshore waters of Guam
Coral Reef Bibliography of Guam, 1993-2004
Pacific Islands Benthic Habitat Mapping Center
Natural Resources Atlas of Southern Guam
Real Time and Near-Real Time Monitoring Data
Current time in Guam
Coralwatch Coral Bleaching Indices
Coral Reef Watch Satellite Coral Bleaching Monitoring
CRED Moored Instruments with Telemetry
Key Documents
Executive orders, Secretarial Orders, and Congressional Acts
Micronesia Coral Reef Initiative
ICRAN Strategic Plan
Guam Coral Reef Initiative
NOAA Coral Reef Ecosystem Research Plan
Guam Local Action Strategy
Successes and Challenges for Guam’s Coral Reef Conservation Program
Guam’s 5-Year Coral Reef Initiative Program
Education and Outreach
University of Guam Marine laboratory
UNEP Islands Web Site
DOI Office of Insular Affairs
CIA Factbook
Guam Database of Deep Water Sport and Edible Fishes
Marine Protected Areas/Marine Managed Areas
National Marine Fisheries Service Inventory of Marine Managed Areas
Report on the Status of Marine Protected Areas in Coral Reef Ecosystems of the United States. Volume 1: Marine Protected Areas Managed by U.S. States, Territories, and Commonwealths. NOAA Technical Memorandum CRCP 2 February 2007
Marine Protected Areas of the United States Home Page
The Marine Protected Areas Inventory
Federal MPA Legislation
Marine Federal Areas Fact Sheet
Executive order 13158: Marine Protected Areas
MPA Virtual Library
Achang Reef Flat Reserve
FAO Forestry country profiles
Guam’s Marine Preserves
Guam’s Marine Preserve Areas
Guam’s Marine Preserves: Powerpoint presentation
Guam information including list of MPAs
Guam National Wildlife Refuge
Guam Territorial Seashore Park
Guam - UN SYSTEM-WIDE EARTHWATCH Web Site
Haputo Ecological Reserve Area
Marine Managed Areas of the United States: Territory of Guam Digital Boundaries
Orote Peninsula Ecological Reserve Area
Orote Peninsula Ecological Reserve Area
Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center: Bathymetry of northeastern Guam, including Pati Point Marine Preserve
Pacific Islands Marine Protected Areas Community: Powerpoint presentation
Pati Point Marine Preserve
Piti Bomb Hole
Piti Bomb Hole Reserve
Photograph of a marine protected area
Report on the Status of MPAs in Coral Reef Ecosystems of the United States. Volume 1: Marine Protected Areas Managed by U.S. States, Territories and Commonwealths
Research in Guam’s Marine Protected Areas: Piti Bomb Holes Reserve
Sasa Bay Marine Preserve
Toward a Pacific Islands Marine Protected Area Community
Traditional Knowledge, Community Management, and Marine Protected Areas in the Pacific
Tumon Bay Marine Preserve
U.S. Marine Protected Areas Coral Reef Habitat Assessment
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