Chapter I Intro & Objectives - SPREP

PHOENIX ISLANDS PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENT PLAN
Chapter III. Background, 4. Marine Resources
Draft 1 March 2007
on the lee sides of these islands. Kerr and Wragg (2006) reported no evidence of the recent
coral bleaching events and they did not observe any significant coral diseases.
Obura (in press) examined the coral reef structure and zonation of each of the Phoenix
Islands. For detailed descriptions of coral reefs of each Phoenix Islands, see Tables III-4.4 to
III-4.6 above.
NIKUMARORO (GARDNER)
In 1842, Charles Darwin published his work on the structure and distribution of coral reefs
(Darwin 1962). Various reefs were examined, including Manra (Sydney), Rawaki (Phoenix),
and Nikumaroro (Gardner).
Lovell et al (2000) provided a summary of reef types in Abriringa (Kanton), Birnie,
Enderbury, Manra, McKean, Nikumaroro, Orona, Rawaki, Carondelet Reef, and Winslow
Reef were provided (see Table III-4.2 above).
In 2000, the leeward site of Nikumaroro had 25 to 40 percent coral cover (Stone et al 2001).
The leeward sites surveyed in 2000 (Stone et al 2001) had 25 to 40 percent coral cover, and
in some places coral cover exceeded 75 percent. Coral cover on the windward site platform
was 70 percent with coral cover decreasing to 30 percent on the reef slope. Sixty one species
of coral were observed on Nikumaroro (Stone et al 2001). Threats to corals including
bleaching and starfish predation were noted.
In 2002, coral reef surveys were conducted in the Phoenix Islands (Obura and Stone 2003).
All of the Phoenix Islands were surveyed except McKean. Lagoon communities were highly
differentiated between Abariringa (Kanton), Orona, and Nikumaroro, with Abariringa the
most developed (Obura and Stone 2003).
Stone (2004) reported 92 species of coral on Nikumaroro with coral coverage as high as 75
percent. Coral was the dominant substrate, followed by Halimeda and coralline algae.
In 2004, the Planetary Coral Reef Foundation (2004) conducted dive surveys on Manra
(Sydney), Rawaki (Enderbury), Abaririgna (Kanton), McKean, and Nikumaroro (Gardner).
In 2006, Kerr and Wragg (2006) conducted coral health rapid assessment surveys on Manra,
Rawaki, Enderbury, Birnie, McKean, Orona, and Nikumaroro. All surveys were completed
on the lee sides of these islands. Kerr and Wragg (2006) reported no evidence of the recent
coral bleaching events and they did not observe any significant coral diseases.
Obura (in press) examined the coral reef structure and zonation of each of the Phoenix
Islands. For detailed descriptions of coral reefs of each Phoenix Islands, see Tables III-4.4 to
III-4.6 above.
ORONA (HULL)
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