Inventory and Monitoring at War In The Pacific National Historical Park

Blue sea star (Linckia laevigata) resting on coral at War in the Pacific National Historical Park.

K.L. Kramer, NPS

While primarily a World War II historical park in Guam, the seven units of War In The Pacific National Historical Park encompasses coral reefs, seagrass beds, tropical savanna grasslands, a mahogany forest, limestone forests, bogs, streams, coastal and forest wetlands, and offshore islets. These outstanding environments provide homes for rare animals and provide a laboratory for scientific inquiry and research.

What's Monitored Here

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  Benthic Marine Communities

  Four parks within the Pacific Island Network contain rich benthic marine communities that are home to algae, corals, and other invertebrates

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  Focal Terrestrial Plant Communities

  Long-term vegetation monitoring helps us determine plant community health, ecosystem stability, and the effectiveness of management

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  Marine Fish Communities

  Marine fish are a major component of coral reef ecosystems and serve many ecological functions

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  Stream Communities

  Freshwater ecosystems are considered to be among the world's most vulnerable

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  Water Quality

  The quality of surface waters, marine waters, and groundwater is fundamental to the ecosystems across the Pacific islands