Description and Rationale
Freshwater ecosystems are considered to be among the world's most vulnerable. In the Pacific islands, there are relatively few native freshwater species; however, many of them are endemic, meaning they are found nowhere else in the world. Pacific island freshwater ecosystems face a multitude of threats such as climate change, exotic species introductions, and habitat degradation, which threaten native animal populations. The Pacific island national parks are working to protect some of these last remaining habitats
Monitoring Objectives
- Determine long-term trends in population distribution and abundance, and community composition of freshwater fish and invertebrates (including snails and crustaceans) in selected streams.
- Quantify associations among stream animal communities (fish and invertebrates) and their habitat by correlating physical and chemical habitat measures with observed species distribution and abundance.
Last updated: February 8, 2018