SAIPAN, CNMI (8 June 2003) -- The Department of Lands and Natural Resources yesterday disclosed it has discovered eight fish species that have not been previously named by scientists anywhere in the world. The eight were among the 95 species of reef fish that were newly documented in a study conducted by the agency last month. This brings the total number of documented fish species in the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas to 1,045. The DLNR estimates around 1,200 fish species in local waters. The study, conducted by the Division of Fish and Wildlife's biologists and scientists from the South African Institute of Aquatic Biodiversity and the University of Kansas Natural History Museum, resulted in the collection of 276 fish species from Saipan's waters using rotenone, a substance that poisons fish populations. DFW biologist Dr. Kate Moots said the use of the naturally occurring chemical did not pose any threat to humans and the marine environment, saying that no more than 2 lbs of diluted rotenone was used in each sampling site within the lagoon. She said the use of such chemical, which has been tapped for aquatic fish sampling since the 1950s, has been allowed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Three of the eight newly discovered fish species belong to the Eviota genus, two others belong to Enneapterygins, while the remaining three each belong to Trimma, Dinematichthys and Helcogramma. "It's possible that they are also found in other places, but scientists do not know much of them," Moots said. The eight are small fish, the adults of which are about an inch long. They are abundant on Saipan and possibly Tinian, the biologist said. Those belonging to the Eviota family live in open reef, preying on microorganisms beyond water columns and on reefs. The ones belonging to the Enneapterygins and Helcogramma are fast moving and are well camouflaged on the reefs, besides having three fins on the top. The fish belonging to Trimma is colored yellow and lives under overhangs, while that of the Dinematichthys has hardly visible eyes. The latter does not rely on eyesight to move or capture food and lives in dark areas underwater, the biologist said. | | The eight species will be brought to scientists in other parts of the world so they can be named. As for the Trimma fish, it will be brought to Dr. Richard Winterbottom of the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto, Canada; Dr. Helen Alexander of Australia will study the Eviota fish, while the Helcogramma fish will be referred to a specialist in South Africa. In a PowerPoint presentation in the presence of DLNR officials, Moots underscored the importance of knowing biodiversity within CNMI's waters, saying it would aid in understanding the dynamics of the marine ecosystem. This would be a tool toward better managing fish resources, Moots said. The study also resulted in the capture of an eel measuring a foot-and-a-half, the biggest collected so far in scientific studies in the CNMI. A total of 49 of the 95 newly discovered species on Saipan were not immediately expected to be found in the Marianas. Although Moots disclosed only eight unnamed fish species, she added that a total of 31 needs to be referred to international experts to establish their identities. Moots said the research team used rotenone in collecting the fish specimen, but said no more than two lbs were applied on each of the 13 sites within the lagoon on the initial phase of the study. Only 5 percent of the solution was biologically active, said Moots, while 95 percent was inert. In Utah, she said some 20,695 kg of rotenone solution were used at a single site on its waters. "People can safely swim in rotenone-treated water," the biologist said. She added that fish recolonized the sites after about 30 days since applying the rotenone solution. Funded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Sportsfish Restoration Program, the study involves two projects: The checklist of fish species and monitoring and assessment of marine sanctuaries. The results would aid in fisheries management, Moots said. SOURCE - Saipan Tribune |
