Sediment Sampling
Sediment samples were also collected at those locations sampled for water
and from other locations around the inner perimeter of the lagoons.
A hand-
held Ponar grab sampler was used, and the undisturbed top layer was subsampled
to a depth of 3 cm, placed in plastic bags, frozen, and sent to LLNL.
Fish and Invertebrate Sampling
Throw nets were used exclusively to catch reef fish at the atolls.
Large
pelagic and benthic fish were collected on sport fishing gear using feathered
jigs
or
baited
hooks
while
trolling
in
the
lagoons.
Edible
collected by hand (free diving) in shallow areas of each lagoon.
clams were returned to the research vessel,
plastic bags, and frozen.
clams
were
The fish and
segregated by species,
placed in
.The samples were shipped frozen to LLNL for storage
and eventual processing.
Specific
species were collected because they are commonly eaten by the
Marshallese;
relatively
abundant
at
all
atolls
and
at
different
locations
within an atoll; have different feeding habits; and for some, represent species
for which previous radiological data were available at Enewetak and Bikini.
It was not always possible, however, to obtain a sufficient number of the same
species at every location we sampled.
Various
reef
fish
were
collected.
Mullet
Crenimugil
crenilabis
and
Neomyxus chaptalii are herbivorous, detrital feeders that ingest considerable
quantities of bottom sediment along with food.
triostegus
are
herbivorous
filamentous algae that
browsers
feeding
Convict surgeonfish Acanthurus
on
small
algal
fronds
and
grow on reef rock or on the base of dead coral.
The
unicornfish Naso lituratus, also a herbivore, browses on larger seaweed growing
on
sandy
browsers
areas.
of
and
but
rocky
will
areas.
Rabbitfish
occasionally
feed
fleshy
rostratus
items
found
are
in
herbivorous
garbage
Rudderfish Kyphosus cinerascens are strictly herbivorous browsers.
the
above
fish
belong
to
Mulloidichthys samoensis consume
small
on
Siganus
clams,
belongs
strictly
to
on
crustaceans,
the
third
benthonic
other
trophic
fauna
the
second
level.”
fossorial and other benthic
invertebrates,
level.”
and
trophic
also
and
Threadfin
belong
to
small
fauna
fish.
Polydactylus
the
third
All
Goatfish
including
This
species,
sexfilis
trophic
dump
feed
level.”