Seagrass Community Composition and Biomass at Nahpali Island, Pohnpei

The seagrass community off the barrier reef island of Nahpali, Pohnpei State, Federated States of Micronesia, was sampled in August 1996 to determine species composition and above-ground biomass. Three species were found: Cymodocea rotundata, Enhalus acoroides, and Thalassia hemprichii. This is the first time that C. rotundata has been recorded for Pohnpei. There were differences in the distribution relative to distance from shore for these seagrass species. Enhalus acoroides at this site showed significantly lower mean biomass (4.95 g dry weight/ m2 ) than the other two species (C. rotundata 42.53 g dry weight/ m2 , T. hemprichii 21.86 g dry weight/ m2 ).