. Atoll research bulletin. Coral reefs and islands; Marine biology; Marine sciences. 61 Pocillopora damicornis, Acropora palifera, Porites spp, and Leptastrea purpurea. Giant clams were abundant in these environments and along the slopes of perimeter reefs, but most were dead and some stacked in piles - clear evidence of unauthorized poaching. Nurse sharks (a harmless species) were also numerous. ADKUP ATOLL (Figures 31-37; A-13, and A-14) Aelon-in Adkup (also referred to as Erikub Atoll) has the form of an ellipse with its long axis (about 27 km long) facing NE and SW (Figure 31). It is the l
. Atoll research bulletin. Coral reefs and islands; Marine biology; Marine sciences. 61 Pocillopora damicornis, Acropora palifera, Porites spp, and Leptastrea purpurea. Giant clams were abundant in these environments and along the slopes of perimeter reefs, but most were dead and some stacked in piles - clear evidence of unauthorized poaching. Nurse sharks (a harmless species) were also numerous. ADKUP ATOLL (Figures 31-37; A-13, and A-14) Aelon-in Adkup (also referred to as Erikub Atoll) has the form of an ellipse with its long axis (about 27 km long) facing NE and SW (Figure 31). It is the largest and most southerly of the atolls visited during the 1988 expedition. In comparison to the rest of the Marshall Islands, Adkup is centrally located and of intermediate size in terms of lagoon surface area (232 km2), ranking 15th of 28 atolls. In terms of land area ( km2) however, Adkup ranks much lower, 25th, and even the table reef of Mejit has more island area. Due to its lower latitude, Adkup probably experiences a greater average annual rainfall rate than the other six areas visited in 1988, and its islets are densely forested. Adkup is clustered among several other atolls including Wotje just five NM to the north, Maloelap and Aur to the southeast, and Likiep to the northwest. Perhaps due to limited land and water area, Adkup is not permanently inhabited. However, residents of nearly Wotje regularly visit Adkup to gather copra, fish, and other food. At the time of our visit on 22-23 September 1988, there was evidence of a very recent visit to the main island (Adkup) of the atoll probably to harvest sea turtles, fish, and crabs. Due to its central location, Adkup is sheltered by other nearby atolls from heavy exposure to storms, surges, and waves, except those approaching from the south. lagoon There are no recent available navigation charts of the atoll, and the 1978 aerial photography of the northern Marshalls did not include Adkup. Eventually, after considerabl
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