Chapter I Intro & Objectives - SPREP

PHOENIX ISLANDS PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENT PLAN
Chapter III. Background, 4. Marine Resources
Draft 1 March 2007
Nikumaroro 2.59 0.35 1.40 0.34 0.51 1.04 0.16 0.65 0.09 0.14 3.64
Manra 2.16 0.32 1.30 0.21 0.32 0.81 0.12 0.47 0.09 0.14 2.97
Birnie 2.49 0.43 1.74 0.13 0.19 0.16 0.01 0.05 0.04 0.05 2.64
McKean 0.84 0.12 0.50 0.09 0.13 0.43 0.07 0.27 0.04 0.06 1.27
Rawaki 0.58 0.09 0.36 0.05 0.07 0.17 0.03 0.11 0.01 0.02 0.74
Total 23.98 3.69 14.77 2.21 3.31 7.35 1.05 4.20 0.84 1.26 31.33
% 15.4 61.6 9.2 13.8 14.3 57.1 11.4 17.1
ABARIRINGA (CANTON, KANTON)
Smith and Henderson (1976 and 1978) reported 82 species of coral in Abariringa’s (Canton)
lagoon from 38 genera. Coral distribution in the leeward ocean reef and lagoon were
controlled by physical conditions. Coral cover and number of coral species decreased with
increased distance from the lagoon entrance.
Jokiel and Maragos (1978) divided Abariringa (Canton) into various coral habitats including:
leeward ocean reef zone, pass zone, altered zone, line reef zone in the lagoon, and back
lagoon zone. Coral species list, precent coverage and frequency of occurance were provided
for each zone surveyed. Overall, 29 percent of sites (7 sites) had live coral coverage of 0 to
25 percent and 71 percent of sites had live coral coverage of 25 to 50 percent (see also Lovell
et al 2000). Cluster analysis was completed to compare species similarities between sites
and zones. Species number and percent coral coverage increased towards the lagoon passage.
Based on coral survey results, Jokiel and Maragos (1978) estimated the coral coverage of
Abariringa (Canton). Results are provided in Table III-4.7 below.
Table III-4.7. Estimated coral coverage of Abariringa (Canton) Atoll.
(source: Jokiel and Maragos 1978).
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