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Steibl S, Kench PS, Young HS, Wegmann AS, Holmes ND, Bunbury N, Teavai-Murphy TH, Davies N, Murphy F, Russell JC. Rethinking atoll futures: local resilience to global challenges. Trends Ecol Evol 2024; 39:258-266. [PMID: 38114338 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2023.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Revised: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
Atoll islands are often perceived as inevitably lost due to rising sea levels. However, unlike other islands, atoll islands are dynamic landforms that have evolved, at least historically, to vertically accrete at a pace commensurate with changing sea levels. Rather than atoll islands' low elevation per se, the impairment of natural accretion processes is jeopardising their persistence. While global marine impacts are deteriorating coral reefs, local impacts also significantly affect accretion, together potentially tipping the scales toward atoll island erosion. Maintaining atoll island accretion requires intact sediment generation on coral reefs, unobstructed sediment transport from reef to island, and available vegetated deposition sites on the island. Ensuring the persistence of atoll islands must include global greenhouse gas emission reduction and local restoration of accretion processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Steibl
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
| | - Paul S Kench
- Department of Geography, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Hillary S Young
- Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | | | | | - Nancy Bunbury
- Seychelles Islands Foundation, Victoria, Mahé, Seychelles; Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | | | - Neil Davies
- Tetiaroa Society, Tetiaroa, French Polynesia; Gump South Pacific Research Station, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | | | - James C Russell
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand; School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK.
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Fellowes TE, Vila-Concejo A, Byrne M, Bruce E, Baker E. Risk classification of low-lying coral reef islands and their exposure to climate threats. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 912:168787. [PMID: 38029987 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Revised: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
The bio-physical responses of low-lying coral islands to climate change are of concern. These islands exist across a broad range of bio-physical conditions, and vulnerabilities to rising and warming seas, ocean acidification and increased storminess. We propose a risk-based classification that scores 6 island eco-morphometric attributes and 6 bio-physical ocean/climate conditions from recent open-access data, to assign islands with respect to 5 risk classes (Very Low, Low, Moderate, High and Very High). The potential responses of 56 coral islands in Australia's jurisdiction (Coral Sea, NW Shelf and NE Indian Ocean) to climate change is considered with respect to their bio-physical attributes and eco-morphometrics. None of the islands were classed as Very Low risk, while 8 were classed as Low (14.3 %), 34 were Moderate (60.7 %), 11 were High (19.6 %), and 3 were Very High (5.4 %). Islands in the Very High risk class (located on the NW Shelf) are most vulnerable due to their small size (mean 10 Ha), low elevation (mean 2.6 m MSL), angular/elongated shape, unvegetated state, below average pH (mean 8.05), above average rates of sea-level rise (SLR; mean 4.6 mm/yr), isolation from other islands, and frequent tropical storms and marine heatwaves. In contrast, islands in the Low (and Very Low) risk class are less vulnerable due to their large size (mean 127 Ha), high elevation (mean 8.5 m MSL), sub-angular/round shape, vegetated state, near average pH (mean 8.06), near average SLR rates (mean 3.9 mm/yr), proximity to adjacent islands, and infrequent cyclones and marine heatwaves. Our method provides a risk matrix to assess coral island vulnerability to current climate change related risks and supports future research on the impacts of projected climate change scenarios. Findings have implications for communities living on coral islands, associated ecosystem services and coastal States that base their legal maritime zones on these islands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas E Fellowes
- Geocoastal Research Group, School of Geosciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia; Marine Studies Institute, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
| | - Ana Vila-Concejo
- Geocoastal Research Group, School of Geosciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia; Marine Studies Institute, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Maria Byrne
- Marine Studies Institute, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia; School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Eleanor Bruce
- Geocoastal Research Group, School of Geosciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia; Marine Studies Institute, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Elaine Baker
- Marine Studies Institute, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia; UNEP/GRID-Arendal, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
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