Nomination for a World Heritage Site 2009 - Phoenix Islands ...

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shore fishes. Allen (in press) estimated that approximately 19 percent of the overall Pacific Plate fauna is endemic, based on an analysis of 17 common reef fish families. The endemicity of reef fish is largely unknown. The recently described damselfish (Chrysiptera albata) and goby (Trimma squamicanta) are currently known only from the Phoenix Islands. However, they can be expected at other areas in the central Pacific such as the Line Islands. Phoenix Islands fishes with apparent restricted distributions: Species General Distribution Myripristis earlei (Holocentridae) Marquesas and Phoenix Islands Paracirrhitus nisus (Cirrhitidae) Tuamotus and Phoenix Islands Kuhlia petit (Kuhliidae) Marquesas and Phoneix Islands Chaetodon declivis (Chaetodontidae) Marquesas, Line Is., and Phoenix Is. Apolemichthys xanthopunctatus (Pomacanthidae) Gilbert, Phoenix, and Line Islands Chrysiptera albata (Pomacentridae) Nikumaroro Atoll Bodianus prognathus (Labridae) Line and Phoenix Islands Coris centralis (Labridae) Line and Phoenix Islands Parapercis lata (Pinguipedidae) Line and Phoenix Islands Ctenogobiops sp. (Gobiidae) Line and Phoenix Islands Priolepis ailina (Gobiidae) Society and Phoenix Islands Trimma squamicana (Gobiidae) Phoenix Islands Inter-island comparisons: Although general diving conditions of the various islands are similar due to the relatively homogenous atoll environment, each island possesses distinctive faunal characteristics. Below some of the most obvious fish faunal highlights or peculiarities of each island are mentioned (from Allen and Bailey). Nikumaroro Atoll. – Huge numbers of surgeonfishes were one of the most impressive faunal features of the Phoenix Islands in general and some of the largest aggregations were witnessed here. Schooling species included Acanthurus triostegus, A. guttatus, A. nigroris, A. xanthopterus, and Zebrasoma veliferum. Nikumaroro was also the best location for sharks, including Charcharhinus amblyrhynchos, C. melanopterus, and Triaenodon obesus. As many as 15-20 sharks were seen on each dive. Other highlights included large schools of Lutjanus fulvus and an inordinate number of hawkfishes, which were generally abundant throughout the Phoenix Group. Manra Island. – Manra was notable for its abundance of the surgeonfish Acanthurus guttatus, which formed large feeding shoals in shallow, wave-affected gutters. In addition, an extensive sand patch at dive site 18 yielded about 20 individuals of Malacanthus brevirostris as well as numerous Coris centralis. Other extraordinarily abundant fishes included Kyphosus cinerascens and Mulloidichthys mimicus. Rawaki Island. – Plectognaths (triggerfishes, puffers, and allies) were generally abundant. The most puffers (Arothron meleagris) were seen at this island, including up to 15-20 fish in a single aggregation. There was also an abundance of the relatively rare Xanthichthys triggerfishes (X. auromarginatus and X. caeruleolineatus). 41
Kanton Atoll. – The relatively wide, deep passage and interconnected lagoon habitat were unique physical features associated with a number of fish species that were seen here and nowhere else in the Phoenix Islands: Heteroconger haasi, Atherinomorus lacunosa, Doryhamphus dactyliophorus, Epinephelus socialis, Kuhlia petit, K, mugil, Gerres argyreus, Centropyge bicolor, Heniochus acuminatus, Chromis ternatensis, Amblygobius nocturnus, Ctenogobiops sp., and Pleurosicya micheli. In addition, the following species were sighted only on the outer reef at Kanton: Belonoperca chabanaudi, Apogon taeniopterus, A. semiornatus, Fowleria punctulata, Chromis weberi, Halichoeres chrysus, H. pallidus, Hologymnosus doliatus, Ptereleotris evides, and Siganus argenteus. Parrotfishes were generally more numerous at Kanton compared to the other islands. Especially notable in this regard were huge spawning aggregations of Hipposcarus longiceps, encountered on the outer reef at the entrance to the main passage. Spectacular early morning (during outgoing spring tides) spawning episodes were witnessed on two occasions. Also, with the exception of one sighting at Birnie Island, Scarus altipinnis was confined to Kanton, and present in large numbers. Other fishes with unusually high abundance included Caranx lugubris, Chaetodon lunula (a school of 70 individuals seen in the lagoon), and C. trifascialis (confined to the lagoon). Birnie Island. – This small island was subject to strong surge, and consequently exhibited relatively low coral relief and a lower level of fish diversity. One notable observation was the presence of the normally deeper dwelling Paracentropyge multifasciatus and Xanthichthys auromarginatus in only 8-9 m depth. Conversely, Myripristis woodsi, usually found in less than 12 m, was seen as deep as 32 m. This soldierfish was exceptionally common. Other species that were seen in higher than usual numbers included Epinephelus polyphekadion and Bodianus prognathus. Orona Atoll. – Large shoals of Bumphead Parrotfish (Bulbometopon muricatus), included up to 200 or more individuals. This impressive fish was seen on most dives at Orona, both in the lagoon and on outer reefs. Kanton and Nikumaroro were the only other locations where it was sighted, but only small groups were encountered. The lagoon at Orona was also notable for its population of juvenile Napoleon Wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus), with observations of as many as 20-25 per dive. As part of the NEAq 2002 fish dive surveys, fish abundance was estimated (Obura and Stone 2003). Fish densities averaged 0.522 fish per m 2 . No apparent pattern was seen regarding fish abundance according to site exposure or island. Overall, fish populations were healthy and representative of coral reef communities. Key fish indicator species had similar abundance in 2002 (Obura and Stone 2003) as in 2000 (Stone et al 2001). The exceptions were dogtooth tuna and sharks, both of which declined significantly in abundance. Dogtooth went from being present in 75% of large fish sampled (in 2000, see Stone et al 2001) to zero in 2002 (Obura and Stone 2003). Reef shark density was similar between 2000 and 2003 in Enderbury, Nikumaroro, and Birnie. On Rawaki (Phoenix), Manra, Kanton, and Orona, shark density had dropped significantly and were absent in many sites. This was attributed to the shark fishing operations between those two survey years. Sapolu (2005) reported that the relative density of angelfishes (family Pomacanthidae) was higher on isolated islands, peaking at 14 species in the Phoenix Islands. There was high correlation between isolation and endemism in pomacanthids. In addition, shallow water substrate was an important factor driving species diversity. For the Pomacanthidae, the 42
Page 1 and 2: Nomination for a World Heritage Sit
Page 3 and 4: TABLE OF CONTENTS List of Acronyms
Page 5 and 6: RNHP Regional Natural Heritage Prog
Page 7 and 8: Criteria under which property is no
Page 9 and 10: Map 1. Phoenix Islands Protected Ar
Page 11 and 12: 1. e) Maps and plans, showing the b
Page 13 and 14: SECTION 2. DESCRIPTION 2. a) Descri
Page 15 and 16: Meteorology PIPA is located in the
Page 17 and 18: To summarize, PIPA illustrates evol
Page 19 and 20: Topographic Features of Phoenix Isl
Page 21 and 22: Carondelet Reef and adjacent unname
Page 23 and 24: Fautasi Seamount Fautasi Seamount i
Page 25 and 26: Siapo Seamount Siapo Seamount is lo
Page 27 and 28: Tai Seamount Tai Seamount, featured
Page 29 and 30: Tau Tau seamount Tau Tau Seamount i
Page 31 and 32: Unnamed Seamount 1 Unnamed Guyot SM
Page 33 and 34: Unnamed Seamount 3 Unnamed Seamount
Page 35 and 36: Vertical sections of the central Pa
Page 37 and 38: that the Phoenix Islands are affect
Page 39 and 40: The Phoenix Island reefs provide a
Page 41: A list of all coral species identif
Page 45 and 46: (dominated by T. squamosa) clams in
Page 47 and 48: 19) Other beaked whales, Mesoplodon
Page 49 and 50: Seamounts An important feature of P
Page 51 and 52: A research expedition led by the Ne
Page 53 and 54: Vegetation The islands have a spars
Page 55 and 56: Terrestrial fauna Terrestrial inver
Page 57 and 58: Preliminary estimates of number of
Page 59 and 60: - Important wintering grounds for A
Page 61 and 62: ISLAND SUMMARIES Descriptions and s
Page 63 and 64: Nikumaroro Land Area: 4.1 sq. km Al
Page 65 and 66: Nikumaroro is a classic tropical at
Page 67 and 68: Human Occupation: Inhabited by gove
Page 69 and 70: ackish pond in its center that is p
Page 71 and 72: Rawaki is the most important sea bi
Page 73 and 74: largest brackish lagoon with a dept
Page 75 and 76: Orona is the second largest atoll,
Page 77 and 78: Birnie Area: Land area 48.2 ha, tot
Page 79 and 80: IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Page 81 and 82: The islands may have been visited a
Page 83 and 84: The Government of Kiribati (GoK), N
Page 85 and 86: The exceptional mid-ocean remotenes
Page 87 and 88: significantly altered the environme
Page 89 and 90: guttatus, A. nigricans, A. triosteg
Page 91 and 92: specifically demonstrable in PIPA,
Page 93 and 94:
3. c) Comparative analysis (includi
Page 95 and 96:
●The southeast tropical Pacific:
Page 97 and 98:
Map extract courtesy Conservation I
Page 99 and 100:
The Marine Protected Area that dese
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The only other island groups with c
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submerged reefs, seamount summits,
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SECTION 4. STATE OF CONSERVATION AN
Page 107 and 108:
dominated this fishery. Korean long
Page 109 and 110:
The island with the highest diversi
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Population estimates of mammal spec
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(ii) Environmental Pressures Climat
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There may be a number of unregulate
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(1) Requirements of the PIPA manage
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Local Government Act - The Local Go
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Birds -. In Schedule 1 of the Wildl
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PIPA Zonation Phase 1 - the current
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PIPA Management 2008- 2009 PIPA is
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(>$420,000 USD from 2008-2010). Thi
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6(6) Monitoring Programme 8(2) Mana
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under the Environment (Amendment) A
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GoK’s PIPA Director Mr. Tukabu Te
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Within PIPA there are about 50 peop
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1. Marine Ecosystem Monitoring Indi
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studies were carried out primarily
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Id. No Format (slide/ print/ video)
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Bikenibeu, Tarawa Republic of Kirib
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8. d) Official Web address http://
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SECTION 10. APPENDICES - PIPA MAPS
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Appendix 2. Location of the Phoenix
Page 151 and 152:
Appendix 4. Bathymetry of PIPA. 150
Page 153 and 154:
Appendix 6. PIPA Phase 2 Zonation m
Page 155:
PHOENIX ISLANDS PROTECTED AREA (PIP
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