Background
Pacific island countries are comprised of a series of small isolated
islands surrounded by productive and highly diverse coral reefs.
It is this surrounding reef environment that has long supported
the human populations on these islands. However, worldwide coral
reefs have rapidly become the most threatened ecosystem on earth.
It is estimated 58% of reefs worldwide are at risk from anthropogenic
impact and exploitation. Despite the low population density, reefs
throughout the Pacific are also at risk of anthropogenic impact
with 41% considered medium or high risk (Bryant et al. 1998).
Although it is a contentious issue, coral reef degradation is generally
attributed to two major factors: overfishing (leading to herbivore
reduction) and an influx of inorganic nutrients and other pollutants
from anthropogenic sources. Both of these factors push the equilibrium
of the reef towards a more algal dominated system. This project
will quantify these pressures at a number of sites surrounding both
populated and unpopulated islands in the Pacific. The ecological
responses to these pressures are varied and complex, hence this
project will use an integrated approach of laboratory bioassays,
field manipulations and empirical field assessments.
Aims and outcomes
•
Assess the relationship between island population density and:
Nutrient status of the surrounding coral reef
Ecosystem health of the surrounding coral, algae, seagrass, mangrove
and fish communities • Development of a rapid community based
assessment method of coral reef ecosystem health, based on key environmental
indicators |