Atoll Research Bulletin
https://hdl.handle.net/10088/4782
2024-03-28T22:51:30ZBiological Surveys of Carondelet, A Shallow, Submerged Seamount in the Phoenix Islands, Kiribati
https://hdl.handle.net/10088/118621
Biological Surveys of Carondelet, A Shallow, Submerged Seamount in the Phoenix Islands, Kiribati
Mangubhai, Sangeeta; Nand, Yashika; Tekiau, Aranteiti; Zgliczynski, Brian; Sandin, Stuart
Carondelet is a remote seamount in the Phoenix Islands of the Republic of Kiribati. Earlier expeditions to characterize coral reef communities of the Phoenix Islands Protected Area (PIPA) were not able to survey the seamount due to challenging ocean conditions preventing divers from entering the water safely (e.g., large waves and surface currents). In 2015, scientists from the Wildlife Conservation Society, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, and Kiribati Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resource Development conducted surveys around the shallow habitats (<30 m) of the seamount to characterize coral reef fish and benthic communities. Biodiversity was generally low, with 12 coral genera (six families), 120 bony fish species (25 families), and two shark species (Triaenodon obesus, Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos) recorded. The most dominant coral genera were Montipora and Acropora at 5‒8 m and Porites and Pavona at 20 m. Coral cover ranged from 12.8% (± 5.9 s.d.) at 20 m to 35.3% (± 6.2 s.d.) at 12 m. A patch of black reef was observed around an abandoned anchor line, and the team observed unfouled fishing line around the seamount suggesting that fishing activities had occurred around the time of the survey, despite it being located within PIPA. To our knowledge, this is the only published information on the biodiversity of this remote seamount, and makes an important contribution to document the marine resources found within PIPA and the coral reef communities they support.
Key words: Phoenix Islands Protected Area, biodiversity, black reefs, climate change, coral reefs, corals, fish, sharks
2024-01-01T00:00:00ZThe Peculiar Flora of Motu Motiro Hiva (Salas Y Gómez, Chile) and Its Similarities with Other Small Remote Uninhabited Eastern Pacific Islands
https://hdl.handle.net/10088/117751
The Peculiar Flora of Motu Motiro Hiva (Salas Y Gómez, Chile) and Its Similarities with Other Small Remote Uninhabited Eastern Pacific Islands
Meyer, Jean-Yves; Cotoras, Darko D.; Hucke, Pedro Lazo; Pakarati, Sebastian Yancovic
Motu Motiro Hiva or Salas y Gómez (Chile) is a small and remote uninhabited island in the Southeastern Pacific Ocean near Rapa Nui (Isla de Pascua or Easter Island, Chile). Its terrestrial flora remains poorly known, with few scattered records and uncertainty on some species identification due to sporadic and brief visits by naturalists during the past century. We describe the vascular flora and assess the species status and relative abundance based on several field surveys conducted between 2011 and 2022. Motu Motiro Hiva, one of the most isolated small uninhabited islands in the world, harbors a surprisingly poor flora compared to its relatively diverse and unique avifauna and arthropod fauna. In contrast to most other Pacific islands, it remains a relatively pristine terrestrial ecosystem, which highlights its world conservation value and the importance of its continued monitoring and protection, especially for the potential effects of sea-level rise.
2023-01-01T00:00:00ZFishes from Bassas Da India Atoll in the Mozambique Channel
https://hdl.handle.net/10088/116885
Fishes from Bassas Da India Atoll in the Mozambique Channel
van der Elst, Rudy; Chater, Simon; King, Dennis
Bassas da India is a remote, uninhabited coral atoll in the West Indian Ocean. Its inaccessibility had historically precluded study of its ichthyofauna until a small group of scientists from the Oceanographic Research Institute in South Africa undertook a two-week biodiversity survey in 1991. Since then, the discourse on climate change has taken on a higher relevance, calling for protection and study of biodiversity hotspots such as Bassas da India. The survey recorded 309 fish species, including a number of vulnerable teleosts and elasmobranchs. As the only published information on the biodiversity of this remote small island, it is intended that this dataset will contribute to increased relevance as an ecological baseline for detecting impacts relating to climate change in the South West Indian Ocean. Each species is listed in terms of its individual abundance, IUCN status as well as its museum and photographic record. Comparisons are made with survey results of other small coral islands in the region, notably Europa Island, revealing several distinct differences in fish diversity. There is evidence that giant groupers will replace sharks as apex predators when there is no local exploitation. A total of 86 species were photographed to confirm identity, and a further 84 species were provided to the South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity museum in Grahamstown and also to several international species experts.
2021-01-01T00:00:00ZEcological and Infrastructure Assessment of Kanton (Abariringa) Island, Phoenix Island Protected Area, Kiribati
https://hdl.handle.net/10088/116884
Ecological and Infrastructure Assessment of Kanton (Abariringa) Island, Phoenix Island Protected Area, Kiribati
Smith, Adam K.; Cook, Nathan; Songcuan, Al; Sartori, Greta; Cassidy, Daniel; Deane, Matthew; Teroroko,, Tukabu; Rimon, Betarim
The remote Kanton (Abariringa) Atoll, in the South Pacific Phoenix Islands Protected Area, was assessed using rapid techniques to describe the infrastructure, fish, coral, birds, vegetation, sharks, turtles, and marine mammals. Median live coral cover was 28% (8%�93%) with 11 coral genera, the most abundant being tabular Acropora spp. A total of 130 species of fish (9365 individuals) showed highest abundance in the fore reef habitat. The most abundant bird was the Brown noddy (Anous stolidus) with 3600 individuals counted. Nine species of plants were identified, with Beach saltbush (Scaevola sericea) being the most abundant. The human subsistence catch was 345 fish and invertebrates with a weight of 103.5kg over a five-day period. Assessment of the aesthetics of dive sites identified two excellent sites: the shipwreck of President Taylor and the Cascades, with very high abundances of coral and reef fish. The condition of infrastructure on the island, including the Kanton port, airfield, and road network, were rated as �Poor� for Port (above water), Jetty, Road, Water, and Waste management; followed by �Fair� for Road and Energy and �Good� for Port (below water).
2020-01-01T00:00:00Z