Northern tip of MIle Island, looking north. Note the narrowing sand cover and the tip made up solely of coral rubble, indicating a higher wave energy environment. A few washed-up and germinating coconuts can be seen in the foreground.
(Photograph © 1989-2001 Dirk HR Spennemann)

Northern tip of Mile Island, looking south. Note the washed-up and germinated coconuts as well as the commencing colonisation by Scaevola sericea andTournefortia argentea
(Photograph © 1989-2001 Dirk HR Spennemann)

A coconut taking root on pure sand. The flesh of the nut provides sufficient nutrients for the first few weeks.
(Photograph © 1989-2001 Dirk HR Spennemann)

Dense row of washed-up coocnuts on the ocean beach of Garu Island, Mile Atoll, in various stages of germaniation
(Photograph © 1989-2001 Dirk HR Spennemann)

Germinating washed-up coconuts among Vigna marina creepers on the lagoonal shore of Mile Island (looking south from a point near the northern tip)
(Photograph © 1989-2001 Dirk HR Spennemann)

Panoramic view of the oceanside on the western (leeward) rim of Mile Atoll. Note the smaller size of the coral rubble, as well as the small strandwall and the line of germination washed-up coconuts.
(Photograph © 1989-2001 Dirk HR Spennemann)

Coastal wash zone on Nelu Island, Mile Atoll. Note the dense row of washed-up coconuts in verious states of germination nad growth.
(Photograph © 1989-2001 Dirk HR Spennemann)

Coconut thicket on Arbar Islet. Note the comparatively young age of the coconuts (as evidenced by their low height) and the moist soil. A large number of coconuts that failed to germinate can be seen on the ground.
(Photograph © 1989-2001 Dirk HR Spennemann)

Rubble beach and strandwall on the western ocean side of Nadikdik (Knox) Atoll, looking northeast.
(Photograph © 1989-2001 Dirk HR Spennemann)

Boulder rampart and shingle beach on the western ocean side of Nadikdik (Knox) Atoll, looking southwest.
(Photograph © 1989-2001 Dirk HR Spennemann)

The oceanside on the eastern (windward) rim of Mile Atoll. Note the coral rubble. The beach vegetation comprises of a Scaevoloa sericea thicket with a few esablished coconut palms protruding.
(Photograph © 1989-2001 Dirk HR Spennemann)

Lagoonal beach of Mejatto Island. The shoreline is subject to variations as evidenced by the fallen coocnut palm.
(Photograph © 1989-2001 Dirk HR Spennemann)

The lagoon side of Ebadon islet, which had been cleared in the mid 1980s for the construction of an airstrip (which never eventuated). The area has revegatated by natural colonisation. Note the thicket of Scaevola sericea and isolated washed-up and germinated coconuts. The coconut trunks lying on the beach are the remains of plams pushed over during vegetation clearing.
(Photograph © 1989-2001 Dirk HR Spennemann)

Coconut palm with footholds cut into the stem to alow easier climb to the top. Majuro ("Laura") Island, Majuro Atoll.
(Photograph © 1989-2001 Dirk HR Spennemann)

Typical scene of heavily modified coastal vegetation. Open coconut grassland near the northern tip of Majuro ("Laura") Island, Majuro Atoll.
(Photograph © 1989-2001 Dirk HR Spennemann)

Typical scene of heavily modified coastal vegetation. Open coconut grassland near the northern tip of Majuro ("Laura") Island, Majuro Atoll.
(Photograph © 1989-2001 Dirk HR Spennemann)

Coconut shrubland on Majuro ("Laura") Island, Majuro Atoll
(Photograph © 1989-2001 Dirk HR Spennemann)

Stem of a young coconut showing irregular growth. The constriction in the middle of the stem was caused by a drought situation. Mejatto Island, Kwajalein Atoll.
(Photograph © 1989-2001 Dirk HR Spennemann)