Diversity and Conservation of the Land Snail Fauna of the Western Pacific Islands of Belau (Republic of Palau, Oceania)*

ABSTRACT Objectives: To clarify the pandemic status in Western Pacific countries or territories. Methods: The WHO’s daily situation reports of COVID-19 were reviewed from January 20, 2020, to March 24, 2020. Changes in the infections, deaths, and the case fatality rate (CFR) in Western Pacific countries or territories were counted. Results: As of March 24, a total of 17 countries or territories had reported the presence of COVID-19 in the Western Pacific Region, 96,580 people have been infected and a total of 3502 deaths. Fifty-three percent (9/17) of these countries or territories had their first case within 2 wk since the WHO’s first report, most are China’s neighbors with a large and dense population. No other country or territory in this region reported a new infection from January 30 to February 28. However, 8 (47.0%) countries or territories have reported the first cases in 3 wk since February 28, almost all are islands. Many countries maintained a small number of infections for a long time after the first report, but a rapid increase occurred later. Deaths occurred in 8 countries with a total CFR of 3.63%, and the CFR varies widely, from 0.39% (Singapore) to 7.14% (Philippines). Conclusions: The regional spread of COVID-19 urgently requires an aggressive preparedness for the Western Pacific Islands.

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Pelagic fisheries catching blue and striped marlins in the US Western Pacific islands

Marine and Freshwater Research ◽

10.1071/mf01249 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 54 (4) ◽

pp. 419 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

P. Dalzell ◽

C. H. Boggs

Keyword(s):

Pacific Islands ◽

Short Communication ◽

Western Pacific ◽

Blue Marlin ◽

Management Measures ◽

The Us ◽

The Western Pacific ◽

Specific Management ◽

Pelagic Fisheries

Various pelagic fisheries in the US Western Pacific islands capture blue and striped marlins. Total catches by US vessels in the Western Pacific islands amount to about 2000 t for blue marlin and 600 t for striped marlin, or 9% and 5% of the nominal total Pacific-wide catch of these two species, respectively. Catch records for domestic Western Pacific fisheries typically extend over several decades, although in this short communication they are confined to blue and striped marlin catches in the 1990s. There are currently no specific management measures for marlins in the US Western Pacific islands, but other management measures for US pelagic fisheries in this region may have an influence on marlin catches.

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Bitentaculate Cirratulidae (Annelida: Polychaeta) from the northwestern Pacific Islands with description of nine new species

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.3630.1.3 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 3630 (1) ◽

pp. 80-116 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

WAGNER F. MAGALHÃES ◽

JULIE H. BAILEY-BROCK

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

Pacific Islands ◽

Staining Pattern ◽

Hawaiian Islands ◽

Western Pacific ◽

Northwestern Pacific ◽

Methyl Green ◽

Mariana Islands ◽

Line Drawings ◽

The Western Pacific

Thirteen cirratulid species from the Hawaiian, Mariana and Marshall Islandsare described. Nine species are new to science: Aphelochaeta arizonae sp. nov., Aphelochaeta honouliuli sp. nov., Caulleriella cordiformia sp. nov., Chaetozone michellae sp. nov., Chaetozone ronaldi sp. nov., Monticellina anterobranchiata sp. nov., Monticellina hanaumaensis sp. nov., and Tharyx tumulosa sp. nov., from Oahu, Hawaii and Aphelochaeta saipanensis sp. nov., from Saipan in the Mariana Islands. Dodecaceria fewkesi and Monticellina nr. cryptica are newly recorded from the Hawaiian Islands. Dodecaceria laddi is widely distributed in the western Pacific and material collected from the Hawaiian, Mariana andMarshall islands is described. We provide SEM photographs for all species in addition to line drawings and methyl green staining pattern photographs for the new species.

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