CNAS Research & Extension

2016 Western Pacific Tropical Research Center Impact Report

 Children’s Healthy Living (CHL) In the U.S., obesity in children is occurring at younger ages than previously observed and is impacting children as early as age two. Being obese or overweight carries substantial health consequences. Children are at risk for serious chronic diseases including type 2 diabetes, heart disease and certain types of cancer. The […]

The Bark Beetle Attacking Guam’s Nanåsu Plants Has Been Identified

Experts at the University of Florida have identified the tiny bark beetle which is attacking Guam’s nanåsu plants, also known as beach naupaka or by its scientific name, Scaevola taccada. Nanåsu is a major component of the beach strand community on Pacific Islands where it is also used as an ornamental landscaping plant. Ironically, this same […]

Propagation Research on Rare Trees Expands Species Recovery Potential

Many rare tropical tree species are restricted to a small, endemic range with very few remaining reproductive individuals. These species suffer from many threats. Conservation agencies often attempt to rebuild the population within the known endemic range of these endangered trees. This desire to rebuild robust populations of rare trees is constrained by the need […]

Native Plantings at Yigo Experiment Farm

The Guam Plant Extinction Prevention Program (GPEPP) has something new for visitors to experience at the University of Guam Experiment Station in Yigo. This station is where College of Natural & Applied Sciences scientists carry out experiments and research projects. It is also the home of the Triton Farm, an integrated demonstration farm, where the […]

Making Memories with Marine Biology: Outreach Event Inspires Youth

Saturday, February 4 was a busy day for University of Guam Master’s candidate in Biology and Sea Grant Fellow Valeri Lapacek as she hosted her community outreach called “A Day in the Life of a Marine Biologist.” Lapacek taught kids about what marine biologists do, shared her excitement about the ocean and its inhabitants, and […]

Conservation Protocols Lessen Damage to Cycad Population During Tropical Cyclone on Guam

Plants and animals that can claim nativity on one of the many islands in the western Pacific Ocean usually enjoy a tranquil utopia as the lazy days come and go. The views are stunning, the hardships are scarce, and the weather is benevolent. Erratum: the weather is almost always benevolent. Calling this part of the […]

Cycad Seed Tissue Loaded with Carbohydrates

Learning how to make a seed was one of the crucial transitions for the world’s plants. The competitive advantages that seed-producing plants possess has led to their dominance in most contemporary natural habitats. Additionally, the crops that comprise the bulk of today’s human diet are all seed-producing plants. The original plants that learned to make […]

Butterfly Mother’s Food Choice for Offspring Changes with Experience

Plants communicate with animals using a blend of signals that influence animal behavior. The balance of plant attractants and deterrents partly determine the ultimate level of damage that an animal herbivore imposes on a plant. These intricate communications between the herbivore and the plant support sustainable relationships in their mutual native homelands. However, the ease […]

Non-native Insects Change More Than Native Host Plant Survival

When non-native herbivores invade new geographic regions, the consequences can be devastating to the native plants. Epidemic levels of herbivory damage may ensue because the delicate biological interactions that keep everything in balance within the herbivore’s native habitats may be missing in the invaded region. The island of Guam is home to a native cycad […]