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Article History

Received: 30 October 2025

Accepted: 18 March 2026

First Online: 29 March 2026

Declarations

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: Field observations and leaflet collections of Cycas micronesica were conducted on Rota Island, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in 2007. These activities complied with all applicable local and national regulations. No collections occurred on federal or protected lands, and no specific permits were required at the time of collection. The species was not listed under the U.S. Endangered Species Act until 2015, so no E.S.A. authorization was needed at the time of collection. All collections remained within U.S. territorial borders; therefore, CITES documentation was not required. Herbarium vouchers to accompany Rota habitats are deposited at the University of Guam herbarium. Collectors were Lynn Raulerson, voucher Raulerson13316, Agnes Rinehart, voucher Rinehart19202, and Agnes Rinehart, voucher RinehartLR19202. The microsatellite data are also publicly available, any bona fide researcher may contact author A.C.J. to obtain these data. The plants were identified as Cycas micronesica K.D. Hill by Ken D. Hill, who first described and validly named the species in 1994 and included all known cycad populations occurring on Rota in his species circumscription. The study species is the only cycad species in Micronesia, and is the only gymnosperm on Rota. Identification of our study species is unmistakable. Our goal was demography, survival following an invasive species threat, and population genetics. We did not include any aspect of systematics.

: Not applicable.

: The authors declare no competing interests.