DOCSLIB.ORG

Analysis of Plant Microfossils in Archaeological

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Analysis of Plant Microfossils in Archaeological Analysis of Plant Microfossils in Archaeological Deposits from Two Remote Archipelagos: The Marshall Islands, Eastern Micronesia, and the Pitcairn Group, Southeast Polynesia1 Mark Horrocks2,3,5 and Marshall I. Weisler4 Abstract: Pollen and starch residue analyses were conducted on 24 sediment samples from archaeological sites on Maloelap and Ebon Atolls in the Marshall Islands, eastern Micronesia, and Henderson and Pitcairn Islands in the Pitcairn Group, Southeast Polynesia. The sampled islands, two of which are ‘‘mystery islands’’ (Henderson and Pitcairn), previously occupied and abandoned before European contact, comprise three types of Pacific islands: low coral atolls, raised atolls, and volcanic islands. Pollen, starch grains, calcium oxylate crystals, and xylem cells of introduced non-Colocasia Araceae (aroids) were identified in the Marshalls and Henderson (ca. 1,900 yr B.P. and 1,200 yr B.P. at the earliest, re- spectively). The data provide direct evidence of prehistoric horticulture in those islands and initial fossil pollen sequences from Pitcairn Island. Combined with previous studies, the data also indicate a horticultural system on Henderson comprising both field and tree crops, with seven different cultigens, including at least two species of the Araceae. Starch grains and xylem cells of Ipomoea sp., possibly introduced I. batatas, were identified in Pitcairn Island deposits dated to the last few centuries before European contact in 1790. During the late Holocene settlement of This involved starch staples produced the eastern Pacific, agricultural practices com- through a variety of ‘‘wet’’ and ‘‘dry’’ field- bining tropical Asian-Pacific and American cropping methods (Kirch 1994) and tree crops were adapted to a diversity of island cropping (Yen 1973). The extension of these environments (Yen 1973, Spriggs 1982, Ayres practices to remote islands of often very small and Haun 1990, Kirch 1994, Bellwood 2005). area with barren soil, unreliable groundwater supply, unpredictable rainfall, and frequent marine inundation was one of the most chal- 1 The Marsden Fund administered by the Royal Soci- lenging accomplishments of this diaspora. ety of New Zealand provided support for M.H. Funding from the Wenner Gren Foundation for Anthropological The starch staples include four species of Research, the United Nations, the U.S. National Park the Araceae, Colocasia esculenta (taro), Alocasia Service, the Australian South Pacific Cultures Fund, and macrorrhiza (elephant ear taro), Cyrtosperma the Historic Preservation Office (Republic of the Mar- merkusii (syn. chamissonis, giant swamp taro), shall Islands) provided support for M.I.W. Manuscript accepted 2 June 2005. and Amorphophallus paeoniifolius (elephant 2 Microfossil Research Ltd., 31 Mont Le Grand Road, yam); and Dioscorea spp. (yams), Musa spp. Mount Eden, Auckland 1003, New Zealand (e-mail: (bananas), Artocarpus altilis (breadfruit), and www.microfossilresearch.com). Ipomoea batatas (sweet potato). In total, there 3 School of Geography and Environmental Science, are approximately 30 species of subsistence University of Auckland, Private Bag 92-019, Auckland, New Zealand. plants listed (see, e.g., Kirch 1989, Loy et al. 4 School of Social Science, University of Queensland, 1992, Matthews 1996). Many of these origi- St. Lucia 4072, Queensland, Australia. nated in Asia and, recent research suggests, 5 Corresponding author. also in the Sahul continental region (Haberle 1995, Lebot 1999, Denham et al. 2003, Mat- Pacific Science (2006), vol. 60, no. 2:261–280 thews 2003, Bellwood 2005). They were in- : 2006 by University of Hawai‘i Press troduced throughout the Pacific by early All rights reserved human colonizers. Ipomoea batatas (sweet 261 262 PACIFIC SCIENCE . April 2006 potato) and Lagenaria siceraria (bottle gourd) this growing body of evidence, however, ma- originated in South America, their introduc- jor gaps in the Pacific record remain. In addi- tions a result of Polynesian contact (Hather tion, human settlement of atolls is extremely and Kirch 1991, Green 2000). underresearched (Weisler 1999). Research on the age, development, and di- Although ethnographic accounts are valu- versity of early agriculture in the Pacific has able sources of information, we would like to been hindered by transformation of tradi- know which species were introduced where tional cropping systems after European con- and when. The so-called ‘‘mystery islands’’ tact and archaeological scarcity of crop are particularly problematic in this respect fossils. However, recent advances have been because they were uninhabited at the time made with regard to the latter at sites across of Western contact. There are more than a the Pacific by the identification of plant mac- score of these, typically small targets at some rofossils and especially by the application of a distance from their nearest neighbors (Irwin range of microfossil techniques, namely pol- 1992). Given the isolation, small size, and len, starch residues, and phytoliths. In Micro- especially resource-poor nature of these hab- nesia, prehistoric pollen (and macrofossils) of itats (including low-nutrient soils and unpre- the Araceae and Artocarpus altilis has been re- dictable water resources), it is uncertain if ported in the Mariana, Caroline, and Mar- horticulture was practiced at all. shall Islands (Beardsley 1994, Athens et al. During an archaeological expedition to the 1996, Athens and Ward 2002, 2004). In Mel- Pitcairn Group in Southeast Polynesia in anesia, Araceae starch residues have been 1991–1992, sediment samples from deposits identified at Lapita settlements in the Bis- thought to be prehistoric gardening areas marck Archipelago (Crowther 2005) and were collected (Weisler 1995). The project Vanuatu (Horrocks and Bedford 2005). Simi- was investigating the survival of small human larly, Lentfer and Green (2004) identified groups on isolated, marginal landfalls, and an Musa phytoliths at a Lapita site in the Bis- island-wide archaeological survey and exten- marcks. In Polynesia, starch residues, phyto- sive excavations in habitation sites were con- liths, and pollen of a suite of introduced ducted (Weisler 1995, 1997). In another cultivated plants have been identified in New project samples were collected in 1993–1997 Zealand, comprising Ipomoea batatas, Colocasia from the Marshall Islands in eastern Micro- esculenta, Lagenaria siceraria, and Broussonetia nesia (Weisler 1999, 2001a). That project papyrifera (paper mulberry) (Horrocks was investigating the timing and nature of 2004a). In the Society Islands, Parkes (1997) Araceae horticulture across the rainfall gradi- reported pollen of Ipomoea batatas, Colocasia ent in the Marshalls. Extreme remoteness is esculenta, and Cordyline fruticosa (syn. termina- a common feature of these two distant archi- lis, Pacific Island cabbage tree). Athens pelagoes. The sites presented the opportunity and Ward (1997) reported pollen of Colocasia to test different tropical soil types in a range esculenta, Cordyline fruticosa, and Aleurites mo- of environmental settings for preservation luccana (candlenut tree) in Hawai‘i, and Cum- of plant microfossils and to look for direct mings (1998) reported pollen of Ipomoea evidence of prehistoric horticulture near the batatas and starch granules of Colocasia on outer margins of both Polynesia and Micro- Easter Island. Macrofossils identified in Poly- nesia. The outer Pacific archipelagoes were nesia include Ipomoea batatas root (commonly among the last habitable places on Earth to referred to as tuber) from Hawai‘i (Rosendahl be colonized by people. These islands are and Yen 1971), the Cook Islands (Hather and ecologically fragile and often small, providing Kirch 1991), and New Zealand (e.g., Yen microcosms for the study of human adapta- and Head 1993); Aleurites moluccana endocarp tion to diverse, extreme environments. Pre- from the Cooks and Henderson Island (Kirch sented here are results of recent analyses of et al. 1992, Weisler 1995); and Araceae and pollen and starch residues in the sediment Musa leaf also from Henderson (Weisler samples from archaeological sites in these ar- 1997, Hather and Weisler 2000). Despite chipelagoes. Plant Microfossils from the Marshall Islands and Pitcairn Group . Horrocks and Weisler 263 The Study Areas, Sites, and Sample Context stratigraphically below a 1,580 G 80 yr B.P. date (Beta-69516 [Weisler 2001a]). The pit, marshall islands. Situated in eastern 73 cm in diameter, had subparallel sides to a Micronesia, the Marshall Islands comprise depth of 54 cm. Sample 3 is from MLMl-3, 29 atolls and five coral islands without a TP19, 21, and 24, buried A horizon dating central lagoon aligned in two roughly parallel to 1,910 G 70 yr B.P. (Beta-79576 [Weisler alignments. The climate is tropical, with the 1999]). Because the buried A horizon was archipelago traversing a rainfall gradient thin, sediment was taken from the sidewall from @1,000 mm in the north to @4,000 of three contiguous test pits. This sample is mm in the south. Mean annual temperature associated with the construction of an adja- is @27 C. Most of the atolls and islands are cent pit currently used for cultivation of currently inhabited; the two northernmost Cyrtosperma merkusi. and driest atolls, Taongi (Pokak) and Bikar, The Ebon and Enilok islet (Ebon Atoll) are uninhabited but are visited occasionally samples comprise samples 4–8. Samples 4–7 to collect birds and turtles. Samples from are from MLEb-2I, TP2 layers I, II, III, and two atolls were analyzed in this study: Maloe- IV, which correspond to samples 4–7 (Figure lap in the center of the archipelago and Ebon 1A). A 4-m-long trench was excavated in the far south. The 71 islets composing Ma- through the rim of a suspected horticultural loelap Atoll have a total terrestrial area of 9.8 pit, and stratigraphic samples were taken km2. Samples from one of these islets, Kaven from all four layers; layer III was the buried (2.3 km2), were analyzed. The 22 islets of A horizon dated to 1,930 G 40 yr B.P. (Beta- Ebon Atoll total 5.6 km2. Samples from two 92123 [Weisler 2002a]), layer I the near- of these, the largest, Ebon (2.7 km2), and surface A horizon, layer II a prehistoric habi- Enilok (0.4 km2), were analyzed.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Giant Swamp Taro, a Little-Known Asian-Pacific Food Crop Donald L
    36 TROPICAL ROOT CROPS SYMPOSIUM Martin, F. W., Jones, A., and Ruberte, R. M. A improvement of yams, Dioscorea rotundata. wild Ipomoea species closely related to the Nature, 254, 1975, 134-135. sweet potato. Ec. Bot. 28, 1974,287-292. Sastrapradja, S. Inventory, evaluation and mainte­ Mauny, R. Notes historiques autour des princi­ nance of the genetic stocks at Bogor. Trop. pales plantes cultiVl!es d'Afrique occidentale. Root and Tuber Crops Tomorrow, 2, 1970, Bull. Inst. Franc. Afrique Noir 15, 1953, 684- 87-89. 730. Sauer, C. O. Agricultural origins and dispersals. Mukerjee, I., and Khoshoo, T. N. V. Genetic The American Geogr. Society, New York, 1952. evolutionary studies in starch yielding Canna Sharma, A. K., and de Deepesh, N. Polyploidy in edulis. Gen. Iber. 23, 1971,35-42. Dioscorea. Genetica, 28, 1956, 112-120. Nishiyama. I. Evolution and domestication of the Simmonds, N. W. Potatoes, Solanum tuberosum sweet potato. Bot. Mag. Tokyo, 84, 1971, 377- (Solanaceae). In Simmonds, N. W., ed., Evolu­ 387. tion of crop plants. Longmans, London, 279- 283, 1976. Nishiyama, I., Miyazaki, T., and Sakamoto, S. Stutervant, W. C. History and ethnography of Evolutionary autoploidy in the sweetpotato some West Indian starches. In Ucko, J. J., and (Ipomea batatas (L). Lam.) and its preogenitors. Dimsley, G. W., eds., The domestication of Euphytica 24, 1975, 197-208. plants and animals. Duckworth, London, 177- Plucknett, D. L. Edible aroids, A locasia, Colo­ 199, 1969. casia, Cyrtosperma, Xanthosoma (Araceae). In Subramanyan, K. N., Kishore, H., and Misra, P. Simmonds, N. W., ed., Evolution of crop plants. Hybridization of haploids of potato in the plains London, 10-12, 1976.
    [Show full text]
  • In Vivo Screening of Salinity Tolerance in Giant Swamp Taro (Cyrtosperma Merkusii)
    CSIRO PUBLISHING The South Pacific Journal of Natural and Applied Sciences, 32, 33-36, 2014 www.publish.csiro.au/journals/spjnas 10.1071/SP14005 In vivo screening of salinity tolerance in Giant Swamp Taro (Cyrtosperma merkusii) Shiwangni Rao1, Mary Taylor2 and Anjeela Jokhan1 1Faculty of Science, Technology & Environment, The University of the South Pacific, Suva, Fiji. 2Centre for Pacific Crops & Trees, Secretariat of the Pacific Community, Suva, Fiji. Abstract Giant Swamp Taro (Cyrtosperma merkusii) is a staple food crop in the Pacific, especially in the low lying atoll islands such as Tuvalu and Kiribati. This is owing to its ability to survive under poor soil conditions and harsh environments. However, as a result of the effects of climate change such as sea water inundation and intrusion into the fresh ground water lens, this crop is now under threat. To address this issue an adaption approach was taken whereby, Cyrtosperma merkusii was screened in vivo for salt tolerance. The epistemology followed random selection of two cultivars Ikaraoi and Katutu. These two cultivars were subjected to 0% (0 parts per trillion), 0.5% (5 ppt), 1% (10 ppt), 1.5% (15 ppt) and 2% (20 ppt) of salt in Yates’s advance seedling common potting mix. Both cultivars were able to tolerate salinity levels up-to 5ppt which is significantly more than the salt tolerance in glycophytes of 2.83 ppt. This research provides an insight into the variation of salt tolerance that may exist in C.merkusii gene pool, which can be used to adapt to natural disasters and buffer its impacts.
    [Show full text]
  • Trees and Other Plants 10
    Dt 17 U. P. President V. Sinco laying a wreath in front of the Collete Cenotaph on the Twentieth Forestry Day, November 30, 1959, in memory of those who died for the cause of Forestry. ' . ')··~ .. ,.-.·~ .. ·J I 1" .'. ""' ·II • 'f' ~ •• # Iii 1. FORESTRY PROPOSALS FOR THE PHILIPPINES Tom Gill 2. AN APPRAISAL OF FORESTRY IN THE PHILIPPINES Nicolas P. Lansigan 3. SELECTIVE LOGGING- NO LONGER A LIP SERVICE Amando M. Dalisay 4. POTENTIALITIES OF THE PHILIPPINE LUMBER INDUSTRY Antonio de las Alas 5. A NEW PERSPECTIVE IN STUDENT AFFAIRS Arturo M. Guerrero 6. KNOW YOUR CIVIL SERVICE OPINIONS AND RULINGS Teofilo A. Santos 7. ONE WAY TO PREVENT "KAINGIN" fN PUBLIC FORESTS Francisco A bi jay 8. WANTED: FORESTERS Eugenio dela Cruz 9. OFFICIAL COMMON NAMES OF TREES AND OTHER PLANTS 10. Students Section 11. Forestry in the News 12. FPRI Highlights 13. Campus Notes 14. From the Mailbag 15. Sunshine Corner 16. Editorials 17. Pictorials Forestry PropfJSals for the Philippines By TOM GILL General Situation the Philippines, literally thousands of small The forest problem of the Philippines clearings are hacked out annually and burr.­ centers about the rapid rate of forest des­ ed to create temporary farms which pock­ truction. Each year the pace of devasta­ mark both virgin forests and logged-over tion mounts. Each year the forests decline. areas. On some islands, forest denudation Already over wide areas they have been has progressed to the point where nothing wholly annihilated. The great bulk of this remains but snags and abandoned land that denudation is not primarily the result of is being taken ov~r by cogon grass or, even logging, for logging, when properly con­ worse, is being eaten away by erosion, ducted, is simply the harvesting of matm.·e The great area of abandoned _land is proof timber.
    [Show full text]
  • Nutritious Leafy Vegetables to Improve Nutrition Security on Pacific Atolls
    FACTSHEET NUTRITIOUS NO: LEAFY VEGETABLES FOR ATOLLS 01 Tackling NCDs from the ground up: Nutritious leafy vegetables to improve nutrition security on Pacific atolls Introduction Epidemic of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) Since the 1940s the consumption of high-energy, low-nutrient foods, including white flour, sugar, polished rice, turkey tails and mutton rib flaps by Pacific Islanders and indigenous Australians, combined with reduced exercise, has resulted in alarming rates of obesity, heart disease, diabetes and certain cancers. Indeed, around 70% of deaths in Pacific Island countries (PICs) are due to NCDs. Apart from the tragic personal cost, premature death and disability undermines national economic productivity. These conditions were not present when traditional diets and lifestyles predominated. In addition, many PICs are affected by the “double burden” of NCDs and undernutrition; for example, high rates of iron deficiency anaemia in PNG, Fiji, Solomon Islands and Tuvalu. This project, funded by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) and titled Improving soil health, agricultural productivity and food security on atolls (ACIAR SMCN2014/089) builds on the project Feasibility study on increasing the consumption of nutritionally-rich leafy vegetables by indigenous communities in Samoa, Solomon Islands and Northern Australia (ACIAR PC/2010/063): www.aciar.gov.au/publication/fr2014-15 The project included a GxE study in which single leafy vegetable species were sampled across different sites/different soils and multiple species growing at the same site were sampled, then analysed for mineral nutrients and carotenoids, including beta-carotene (pro-vitamin A). This approach enabled partitioning of the effects of environment (mostly soil type) and genetics (plant species).
    [Show full text]
  • Bogner, J. 1987. Morphological Variation in Aroids. Aroideana 10(2)
    4 AROIDEANA, Vol. 10, No.2 Morphological Variation in Aroids J. Bogner Menzinger Strasse 63 0-8000 Munich 19 West Germany INTRODUCTION The Araceae or aroid., are a large family or roasted (or otherwise heated) to of about 2400 species, grouped in 107 become edible. Essentially, plants have genera and these again in nine subfami­ produced poisons to protect themselves lies. The aroids are mainly a tropical from being eaten by animals. Several aroids family and are distributed world-wide. also have uses in folk-medicine. For in­ They show great variation in their mor­ stance, Acorus calamus has been used phological characters, which will be de­ since ancient times for stomach ailments. scribed in this paper along with some Tjlphonium blumei Nicolson & Sivadasan other data. is used to treat diarrhea in tropical Asia and was brought by man (probably from USES India) to Africa, Madagascar and to the Neotropics (Brazil, Venezuela), where it Many aroids are very handsome orna­ is naturalized today. The Indians in Co­ mental plants and often cultivated, to men­ lombia use Urospatha antisylleptica R. E. tion just a few: Monstera deliciosa Liebm., Schultes, Philodendron dyscarpium R. E. Dieffenbachia maculata (Ladd.) G. Don, Schultes and Anthurium tessmannii Krause Epipremnum aureum (Linden & Andre) for contraceptive purposes. Roots ofHeter­ Bunting, many Philodendron species etc. opsis spruceanum Schott are used for Monstera deliciosa also has a delicious basket-weaving and certain aroids as arrow fresh infructescence tasting like pineap­ poisons for hunting by indigenous people. ple. Others are important food plants, like These are just a few examples of the uses Colocasia esculenta (L) Schott, the Taro, of aroids, about which much more is in which the tuberous stems and the known.
    [Show full text]
  • Hawaii and the US-Affiliated Pacific Islands. In
    Hawaii and the U.S.-Affiliated Pacific Islands J.B. Friday, Kathleen Friday, and Craig Elevitch J.B. Friday is the extension forester, University of Hawaii at Manoa, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources Cooperative Extension Service; Kathleen Friday is the Forest Legacy/Stewardship program manager—Hawai’i and Pacific Islands, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Region, State and Private Forestry; Craig Elevitch is the director of Agroforestry Net. Description of the Region systems. Continuous soil cover prevents erosion. Because the species diversity and structure of tree-based multistory gardens Hawaii and the U.S.-affiliated Pacific Islands (fig. A.1) include are similar to native forests, these agroforests protect water- a diversity of traditional and modern agroforestry systems that sheds and water quality, both in streams and near the shore. have developed across a broad range of environments, from The productivity over extremely long timeframes based only low coral atolls to high volcanic islands rising to 4,205 meters on local resources attests to their value as models for modern (m) (13,796 feet [ft]) in Hawaii. The peoples of Micronesia agroforestry systems that can be resilient to environmental and Polynesia settled their islands as many as 4,000 years ago stressors of the type that are projected to accompany climate (Athens and Ward 2004) and brought with them a basic suite change (table A.1). of agricultural plants. In the ensuing centuries, they developed highly sophisticated agroforestry systems tailored to meet food The most common traditional system is a tree-based multistory security needs within the local environments they inhabited.
    [Show full text]
  • Paper Template
    International Journal of Science and Engineering Investigations vol. 7, issue 79, August 2018 ISSN: 2251-8843 The Dalugha (Cyrtosperma Merkusii (Hassk) Schott) Adaptation to Open and Shaded ‎Light Conditions on the Nitu Island, Tatoareng District, Sangihe Regency Semuel P. Ratag1, Adrian P. Pangemanan2, Winda M. Mingkid3 1,2Lecturer at the Faculty of Agriculture, Sam Ratulangi University, Manado 95115, Indonesia 3Lecturer at the Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences, Sam Ratulangi University, Manado 95115, Indonesia ([email protected]) Abstract-This article describes the adaptation of the Dalugha components is interesting because it is still under-investigated plant on Nitu Island, Tatoareng District, Sangihe District which [7], [8]. grows in open light, open-shaded, and shaded conditions. This study relates to the development of Dalugha plants as an The existence of Dalugha on Sangihe Island was reported alternative food crop seen from its adaptation to open and by van Dinter in 1899 and Vorderman in 1899 [9]. This plant shaded conditions which is indicated by the content of has become one of the important food crops for people in the Sangihe Islands and its surroundings. Dalugha tubers can be chlorophyll in the leaves. This study aims to analyze differences in chlorophyll content in conditions of open- used as flour as a base or additional material for making growing, open-shaded, and shaded areas. The method used is various kinds of cakes [5]. an observational method where the response of plants is Dalugha in wetlands in coastal areas has the potential to be observed in a range of conditions held by nature. Chlorophyll developed in conjunction with efforts to increase food content was observed using absorban measurement method for availability and anticipate the effects of climate change, plant leaf extract using a spectrophotometer.
    [Show full text]
  • Root and Tuber Crops of the Pacific: a Resource for Meeting the Challenges of the 21St Century
    Root and tuber crops of the Pacific: A resource for meeting the challenges of the 21st century Mary Taylor1, Valerie Tuia1, Rosa Kambuou2 and Tevita Kete1 Secretariat of the Pacific Community, Private Mail Bag, Suva, Fiji1 [email protected]; National Agriculture Research Institute, Papua New Guinea2 Abstract The Pacific Island Countries and Territories, home to an estimated 9.5 million people, are geographically, ecologically, sociologically and economically diverse. This region faces numerous social and physical challenges simply by nature of the size of the islands, and their geographical isolation. The 21st century, however, has brought new challenges from climate change to increasing food prices to the alarming increase in lifestyle- related diseases, which is strongly associated with the over-consumption of nutritionally poor foods, often imported. The response to the increasing food prices has been to strengthen local food production. Increasing local food production and promoting local food consumption provides an excellent opportunity to address the nutrition-related health problems. However, local food production has to be sustained in the light of climate change. This paper describes the work of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) in promoting and supporting the conservation and utilization of root and tuber diversity, as one of the solutions to manage these many challenges. For example, the SPC Centre for Pacific Crops and Trees (CePaCT), which houses a unique collection of over 850 accessions of taro (Colocasia esculenta), as well as other crops and trees of importance to the region, is building a “climate-ready” collection, consisting of local crops and varieties selected because such diversity will provide the farmers in this region with the traits, such as drought and salt tolerance.
    [Show full text]
  • Pacific Regional Consultation
    PACIFIC REGIONAL CONSULTATION STRENGTHENING CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABLE USE OF PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE IN THE PACIFIC ISLAND COUNTRIES Suva, Fiji, 7-10 December 2010 REPORT Table of Contents PART I: Executive Summary 3 1.1 The international context 3 1.2 Objectives of the Pacific Regional Consultation 3 1.3 Introduction to the status of PGRFA in the Pacific region 4 PART II: Proceedings of the Sessions: Key Issues for Pacific Island Countries 6 2.1 Inaugural session 6 2.2 Session I: Conservation and sustainable use of genetic resources: 6 Status, trends and networking 2.2.1. Status of conservation and sustainable use of genetic 6 resources in the Pacific Island Countries 2.2.1.1 Country presentations 6 Vanuatu 6 Cook Islands 7 Kiribati 7 2.2.1.2 Regional activities in genetic resources 8 2.2.2 The role of the international instruments in the 10 conservation and use of GRFA Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture 10 International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and 10 Agriculture Global Crop Diversity Trust 11 2.3 Session II: Information sharing and reporting mechanisms for GRFA 11 2.4 Session III: Partnerships and Alliances - Opportunities for the 13 Pacific Island Region 1 2.4.1 Global Partnership Initiative for Plant Breeding Capacity Building 13 2.4.2 Participatory plant breeding in Samoa 13 2.4.3 Opportunities and challenges in use of PGRFA for trade: 14 the case of New Zealand 2.4.4 Regional partnerships and networks for agro-biodiversity in the 14 Asia-Pacific region 2.4.5 Funding
    [Show full text]
  • Pacific Regional Strategy for GCDT
    REGIONAL STRATEGY FOR THE EX SITU CONSERVATION AND USE OF CROP GENETIC DIVERSITY IN THE PACIFIC ISLANDS REGION 1. Strategy overview, background and development process Regional focal Mary Taylor, Regional Germplasm Centre Adviser [email protected] persons Luigi Guarino, PGR Adviser [email protected] Position Genetic Resources Team Land Resources Division (LRD) Name of organization Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) http://spc.int Address Private Mail Bag, Suva, Fiji Islands Telephone/fax (679) 3370733 / 3370021 Date of submission April 2005 (first draft) to the Trust Feb. 2006 (second draft) Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs) American Samoa, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), Countries Fiji Islands, French Polynesia, Guam, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Caledonia, Niue, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), Palau, Papua New Guinea (PNG), Pitcairn Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Wallis & Futuna. Aroids (taro and giant swamp taro), banana, breadfruit, coconut, Annex 1 crops sweet potato, yams 1 The 22 Pacific Islands Countries and Territories are made up of thousands of islands scattered over some 33 million sq km of ocean, a third of the Earth’s surface. Only 2% of this area is land, of course, but this is home to about 8 million people, speaking 50% of the world's languages, over 800 in PNG alone. Most of these people live in rural areas and rely on agriculture, together with fishing and forest products, for their livelihoods. The Pacific is a centre of diversity and/or origin for a small cumber of crops, but in general, due to its history of human colonization, crop genetic diversity in the mostly vegetatively propagated crops of the region declines markedly from west to east.
    [Show full text]
  • The Diversity of Terrestrial Araceae in Mt. Watuwila Complex, South-East of Sulawesi
    Berk. Penel. Hayati: 15 (131–137), 2010 THE DIVERSITY OF TERRESTRIAL ARACEAE IN MT. WATUWILA COMPLEX, SOUTH-EAST OF SULAWESI Ina Erlinawati Herbarium Bogoriense, Pusat Penelitian Biologi, Lembaga Ilmu Pengetahuan Indonesia (LIPI) Jl. Raya Jakarta-Bogor Km 46, Cibinong 16911, Bogor, Indonesia Email: [email protected] ABSTRACT The arums comprise the family of Araceae, including the numerous aroids subfamily, monocotyledonous flowering plants, in which flowers are borne on a type of inflorescence called a spadix. The diversity of terrestrial Araceae in Sulawesi is very poorly documented and understood and remains critically threatened. The aims of this study were to understand the diversity of terrestrial Araceae on Mount Watuwila Complex and to add the number specimen collection in Herbarium Bogoriense. The exploration was conducted by used exploring method, including collection, identification and description. The exploration on Mount Watuwila Complex (170–800 m alt.), May 7–29, 2008 was got 22 number collections of Araceae, consist of 12 numbers of terrestrial Araceae, 10 species, those are Aglaonema simplex Bl., Alocasia macrorrhizos (L.) G. Don, Alocasia suhirmaniana Yuzammi & A. Hay, Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott, Homalomena spp. (3 species), Schismatoglottis calyptrata (Roxb.) Zoll. & Moritzi, S. plurivenia Alderw and Spathiphyllum commutatum Schott. Schismatoglottis calyptrata (Roxb.) Zoll. & Moritzi is dominant species and Alocasia suhirmaniana Yuzammi & A. Hay is endemic species. The descriptions of each species were made. Key words: diversity, terrestrial Araceae, Mt. Watuwila Complex, South-East of Sulawesi INTRODUCTION the use of fibres from species of Anthurium, Heteropsis, Philodendron, Cercetis and Gymnostachys. Araceae is a family of monocotyledonous flowering Sulawesi (formerly known as Celebes) is one of the plants in which flowers are borne on a type of inflorescence four larger Sunda Islands of Indonesia and is situated called a spadix.
    [Show full text]
  • DYNAMICS of an ISLAND AGROECOSYSTEM Where to Now?
    19 DYNAMICS OF AN ISLAND AGROECOSYSTEM Where to Now? Marjorie V. C. Falanruw and Francis Ruegorong* Introduction Yap is a member of the Federated States of Micronesia, located in the northwest Pacific. The State consists of a cluster of four high islands, a raised limestone island and about 133 low-lying coralline islets in atolls scattered over about 260,000 square kilometres of ocean. Many of the low-lying islands are being affected by sea-level rise and concomitant saltwater intrusion. The islands have been administered by Spain (1886 to 1899), Germany (1899 to 1914), Japan (1914 to 1946) and since then, by the United States; initially as a Trust Territory and currently under a Compact of Free Association. Under this Compact, the United States is providing development assistance until 2023. Small islands like Yap represent ecosystems at a human scale, with definite limits. Swidden agriculturists make use of the ecosystem services of natural systems to develop soil fertility and other conditions conducive to crop growth. The sustainability of swidden systems requires that the ecosystem remains basically intact and is not stressed beyond its limits. As human populations increase, larger areas are needed in order to produce sufficient food, while allowing ample time for soil fertility and tilth to be restored under natural fallows. When it is not possible to expand into larger agricultural areas, it is necessary to intensify efforts in order to compensate for impacts on natural systems. The islands of Yap have ecosystems with fixed terrestrial boundaries and a history of dense human population. Being unable to expand their area, the people intensified their agricultural systems and integrated them with the islands’ ecosystems.
    [Show full text]