August 31, 1964 (cont.) ‘1420 Lv Edna 1445 Arr Engebi to pick up Jackson and Arnold 1500 Lv Engebi 1705 Arrive back at Eniwetok On Engebi Jackson caught 1 roof rat in a Scaevola bush where he was apparently feeding on small green Scaevola fruit. "“Virtu-~ ally no mature Scaevola fruit was seen on the island." “Hypothesis: Rats and disappearance of Cenchrus from the island are causally related. this plant were 'preferred' (sand burr) Apparently the seeds of food. "Forest mice can effectively prevent reseeding of evergreen forests in some situations. rats to have literally Might it have been possible for these eaten the plant to extinction? "Now that this food source is gone, the carrying capacity of the island is reduced and fewer rats are present. "Japtan has many rats Cenchrus, abundance. (but of a different species) and much but coconuts and other food plants are present in great Is there another island comparable to Engebi in these respects?" Observations by Palumbo on Sanildefonso (Edna) Island: “Photographed the island and its vegetation and collected plants for analysis. The 'main' island appears smaller than the ‘sand’