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Chapter I Intro & Objectives - SPREP

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PHOENIX ISLANDS PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENT PLAN<br />

<strong>Chapter</strong> III. Background, 3. Terrestrial Resources<br />

Draft 1 March 2007<br />

BIRNIE<br />

Hermit crabs were found on Birnie (Hydrographic Office 1940). They were more numerous<br />

than the rats (Bukaeireiti and Rabaua 2002).<br />

According to Garnett (1983), there was one species of Arachnida on Birnie, Ornithodoros<br />

capensis.<br />

Pierce et al (2006) examined the species diversity of various terrestrial crab species on<br />

Abariringa (Kanton), Birnie, Enderbury, McKean, Nikumaroro, Orona, and Rawaki (see<br />

Table III-3.14 above). Crabs species included the hermit crab, Coenobita spp., land crab,<br />

Cardisoma spp., and coconut crab, Birgus latra.<br />

ENDERBURY<br />

Hermit crabs were found on Enderbury (Hydrographic Office 1940).<br />

Abbott (1966) reported that thousands of hermit crabs now inhabit the abandoned guano<br />

worker houses.<br />

King (1973) noted that hermit crabs have been observed causing mortality in large sooty tern<br />

colonies (800,000 birds) and in frigatebird colonies.<br />

Bryan (1974) claimed that the principal damage done to the large colony of sooty terns and<br />

frigatebirds was caused by hermit crabs.<br />

Garnett (1983) reported two species of spiders (Arachnida) on Enderbury: Argasidae,<br />

Ornithodoros capensis, and Ixodidae, Ixodes amersoni.<br />

In 1995, land crabs were found on Enderbury (Government of Kiribati 1995).<br />

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