Testing ground for evolution
Each of the marine lakes of Palau has a specific set of species occasionally trapped in lakes by the receding sea 15 – 10 thousand years ago. Some lakes have steeper banks, some are elongated in the east-west direction, some in a south-north direction. Every such detail leads to different circumstances and consequently – different new species and subspecies of animals.
Some marine lakes of Palau are made even more exotic by the fact that they are meromictic – below the upper layer of marine water there is a layer of "dead", anoxic water separated by a layer of floating microorganisms, including a purple bacteria.
Such unusual monuments of nature serve as excellent "testing ground" for studies of evolution. Thus lately several scientists have made interesting treatises about these lakes. Lucky them (scientists!) – making science in beautiful Palau…
Jellyfish of president Nakamura
Goby Lake is small (just 2.1 ha) meromictic marine lake with a maximum length of some 260 meters and has formed rather recently (in geological terms). Lake is comparatively shallow – only the larger north-eastern part reaches 18 meters depth. Here, in north-eastern part in 9 – 10 meters depth there is an intense layer of purple-sulfur bacteria with anoxic water below.
Lake is rich with small fishes of several species (Acentrogobius janthinopterus, Exyrias puntang, Ophiocara porocephala, Parioglossus sp.) and is named after them.
The most renowned inhabitant of the lake though is an endemic subspecies of jellyfish Mastigias cf. papua nakamurai named after Palauan president Kuniwo Nakamura.
This jellyfish can become quite abundant in the small lake. It reaches 15 cm diameter, is somewhat asymmetrical, avoids the shadow.
Goby Lake is included in tourist routes although it is less popular than Jellyfish Lake.
References
- Coral Reef Research Foundation, Marine Lakes Research Accessed 08.02.10.
- Jellyfish swarms, tourists, and the Christ-child, Mike N. Dawson, Laura E. Martin, Lolita K. Penland. Hydrobiologia 451: 131-144, 2001. Accessed 08.02.10.
- Five new subspecies of Mastigias (Scyphozoa: Rhizostomeae: Mastiigidae) from marine lakes, Palau, Micronesia, Michael N. Dawson. Journal of Marine Biological Association, U.K. 2005., 85., 679-694. Accessed 08.02.10.
Goby Lake on the map
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| Location, GPS coordinates: | 7.31519 N 134.50200 E |
| Categories: | Animal colonies, Ecosystems, Lakes and streams |
| Values: | Biology |
| Rating: |  |
| Where is located? | Australia and Oceania, Micronesia, Palau, Koror, Koror Island |
| Area: | 2.1 ha |
| Dominating species: | Mastigias cf. papua nakamurai |
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Landmarks of Palau
Animal colonies
The sight of the gathering of countless penguins or antelopes is very fascinating and intriguing. There are locations in the world where such gatherings are permanent or regular, and: if there is a location with intriguing sights – this is landmark!
Recommended books
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