Nihoa has been able to remain a relatively pristine place because access to the island is very difficult. Steep cliffs and ocean swells often prohibit human visitation, which is the primary cause of alien species introductions. The 2 teams conducted their first rapid ecological assessments of the research trip and will report on their initial findings later during the expedition. The sites they surveyed were selected by the companion research vessel, the NOAA Townsend Cromwell, which conducted towboarding surveys of the island on September 10. All rights reserved.
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