Features
Acropora cytherea
One of the major corals responsible for building the immense calcium carbonate substructure that supports the thin living skin of a reef.
Coral Gardens
Convict Tangs Amidst a Garden of Coral Heaven
Acropora nasuta
Tightly packed branches and nariform (nose-shaped)corallites resemble floral clusters.
Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument
Johnston Atoll National Wildlife Refuge and six other national wildlife refuges are seemingly just dots near the equator of the Pacific Ocean, but upon a closer look these islands, reefs, and atolls are at the heart of the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument, one of the largest marine conservation areas in the world. These refuges host terrestrial and marine life in vast numbers and specialized life forms stretching our imagination. They provide a safe haven for millions of birds and marine life that swarm to shallow reefs and islands to rest, feed, mate, and give life to their off-spring.
Learn MoreAbout the NWRS
The National Wildlife Refuge System, within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, manages a national network of lands and waters set aside to conserve America’s fish, wildlife, and plants.
Learn more about the NWRS
Giving Native Wildlife a Fighting Chance
Check out the latest updates and happenings from around the Refuge
News
Volunteer Positions have been filled for the 2016-2017 C.A.S.T. Crew Season, but please check back for updates about the 2017 C.A.S.T. Crew Season.
Tenacious, driven, and fun personalities thrown in with some glue and grit, characterize the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Crazy Ant Strike Team (CAST) crews since 2010. The 12th Crazy Ant Strike Team biological crew of four volunteer technicians and one crew leader will live for six months on uninhabited Johnston Atoll. They are scheduled to depart Honolulu for their 4-day voyage across the ocean on-board the transport vessel Kahana, in June 2017. Previously, millions of Yellow Crazy Ants had completely displaced ground nesting bird populations and were impacting the largest nesting red-tailed tropic bird colony in the world. Building upon the eradication efforts of CAST crews before them this crew carries forward a goal of complete eradication of Yellow Crazy Ants that have been reduced, over a five year back-to-back strike team effort, by over 90%. Photo: CAST Crew 2013-2014
C.A.S.T. Crew Yearbook 
It is very promising that red-tailed tropic birds nesting on Johnston Atoll National Wildlife Refuge will soon be spared the pain inflicted by Yellow Crazy Ants. Check out the Audubon article and video.
Photo: Strike Team member Kevin Donmoyer after banding red-tailed tropic bird.
Audubon Article
Check it OUT! Find out how this volunteer crew figured out they needed literally 5 tons of sugar to be transported by ship to Johnston Atoll on 6.17.2015.
Personal Blog Post 6.14.2015
Acropora / Stony Coral
Acropora is most common in shallow reef environments with bright light and moderate to high water motion. Many small reef fishes live near their colonies and retreat into the thicket of branches if threatened.
Page Photo Credits — DL Hayes/USFWS, James Maragos
Last Updated: Mar 28, 2016