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MORRIS GOLDMAN AND I KR. CARVER
Fic. 1. Rongelap islet us seen from the Jugoon
is the Jaurgest in the atoll. The islet is several
miles long but only a fraction of a mile wicle. Its
highest prominence is probably Icss than 15
feet above sea level (Fig. 1).
Drainage and Water Supply
The “soil” on theislet is compos «! basicallyof
louse organ: limestone debris accumulated on
the reef surface. The material is course and
porous so thit drainage by percolation through
the ground is almost instantaneous. The amount
of humus from decaving vegetation varies from
place to place but nowhere ib it more then a thin
layer. There is normally no running or stance
surfuce
water,
The only
naturally oecurrimng
fresh water is rainfall which i caucht on the
aluininum:
reofs
of houses and
dramed
ate
eisterns (Pig. 2). Ordinarily, there exist in these
coral islets,
bodies
of subsurface
fresh
water
known as Ghyben-Herzberg lenses, bat. so far
as we know, this source of water was not used
for drinking on Rongelap islet. There did appear
to be one well or pit where clothes were washed
but, for the most part, cistern water was used
for that purpose. Stored rain water is uscd without chemical or other treatment.
Flora and Fauna
t
itiereet
wenad
frie
See
ove
In general, the species of plaints making up
the vegetation are few ino number. Coconut
plantations form the dominant plant life on
Rongelap but, in addition, forests of other
types of trees or tall shrubs exist. Grasses of
various types are also found. The canopy in
these forests is not thick but considerable shade
is provided. An important physiological char-
Fic. 2. Aluminumroof with dowuspouts leading into concrete cistern for catching rain water.
acteristic of the plants, is a hivh salt tolerance.
The windward sides of the islet are exposed to
continual drenching with salt spray, and the
size of Rongclap islet is such that probably all
of the soil is exposed to salt washed down by
rainwater from the canopy.
In keeping with the generally limited biological
potential of the isiets, the numbers and types of
land animals are small. The onty maimunals
(hesides man scen on Rongelap were pigs, dogs,
cats and wild rats. The three dumoestic species
are not numerous. The pos forage in and away
from the village, wherets the eats and dogs
stay around the bonuses. The wild) rat is a small
species Which Bees in the brush away from: hunan habitation. Tt iuvades houses in search of
food Dut lives prinvipally on coconuts The only
other domestic gtdmak on Rongelap at the
time of the surves were chickens. These ranged
around the ville.
The other obvious land animals on Rongelap
are arthropods, of which the coconut crab is
probably the turgest. In general, insects, except
for flies, were hardly noticed. One was much less
conscious of them while he walked through the
forests on Rongelap than ino a wooded area
practicully anywhere in’ the United States.
Houseflies, however, were common in the village.
They were persistent in lighting on bare skin
and were a distinct annoyance. Unlike houseflies in the States, which can be caught by flypaper hanging from the ceiling, these flies almost never flew above table level except to
Belt on an individual,
°
In contrast to the condition ori land, the sea
and lacoon teemed with living things. Many
varieties of fizh, crustacea and mollusks were
Aree NE al
may occur. Rongelap Atoll is approximately 20
by &* mules in its greatest dimensions, and
Rongciap islet, where the survey was performed,