Ecologic Observations on an Estuarine Environment at Fanning Atoll

Abstract

Salinity variations observed in an inlet and tidal flat on Fanning Atoll ranged from 7.8 to 42.3 %. Water temperatures varied from 25.1 C to 39.70 C. Daytime oxygen concentrations indicated that water at all stations was supersaturated. There are numerous estuaries on Fanning. Although distinct physical regions may be recognized within the estuaries, the distribution of organisms over these regions was found not to be comparable from estuary to estuary. Most of the fauna of the estuarine environment on atolls appears to be derived from euryhaline, high intertidal, or supratidal species of the lagoon shore.