Studies of soils and plants in the Northern Marshall Islands

Abstract

During the period 1958-1964, the authors undertook soil and vegetation studies in the northern Marshall Islands as part of the University of Washington Radiation Biology Laboratory surveillance team. This team was responsible for monitoring levels of radiation in various components of the island environment and any effects on plant and animal life. The authors of this report were charged with the soils and vegetation components but assisted with collections in the aquatic ecosystems and some food plant materials. Collections and measurements were made during relatively short term visits to the islands with sample processing and analysis performed during intervening periods. Much of the field and laboratory work was done by graduate students in the College of Forest Resources and the Department of Botany, with results reported in theses, but generally not in the open press. Therefore, we use some of this material in the report, together with unpublished material from our files.