Chapter I Intro & Objectives - SPREP

PHOENIX ISLANDS PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENT PLAN
Chapter III. Background, 4. Marine Resources
Draft 1 March 2007
A new species of brittle star, Ophiocoma anaglyptica, was described from Abariringa
(Canton) (Ely 1944). It was collected in 1941 from the near shore beneath loose coral blocks.
McIntire (1960) noted the presence of Linckia multifora and L. diplax on Abariringa’s
(Canton) reef (see also Degener and Gillaspy 1955).
Sea urchins were everywhere on the reef (McIntire 1960).
In 2000, no sea cucumbers were observed on Abariringa (Stone et al 2001). In addition, one
crown of thorns star fish, Acanthaster planci, was observed.
In 2002, surveys of selected invertebrate diversity and abundance were conducted in the
Phoenix Islands (Obura and Stone 2003). Abariringa, Birnie, Enderbury, Manra,
Nikumaroro, Orona, and Rawaki were surveyed. Echinoderms were low in species richness
(for all classes).
In 2004, one crown of thorns starfish was observed on the fringing reef of Abariringa
(Kanton) (Planetary Coral Reef Foundation 2004).
BIRNIE
In 2002, surveys of selected invertebrate diversity and abundance were conducted in the
Phoenix Islands (Obura and Stone 2003). Abariringa, Birnie, Enderbury, Manra,
Nikumaroro, Orona, and Rawaki were surveyed. Echinoderms were low in species richness
(for all classes).
ENDERBURY
In 2000, three species of sea cucumbers were observed at Enderbury (Stone et al 2001). The
seastar, Linkia spp. was also observed there.
In 2002, surveys of selected invertebrate diversity and abundance were conducted in the
Phoenix Islands (Obura and Stone 2003). Abariringa, Birnie, Enderbury, Manra,
Nikumaroro, Orona, and Rawaki were surveyed. Echinoderms were low in species richness
(for all classes).
MANRA
In 2002, surveys of selected invertebrate diversity and abundance were conducted in the
Phoenix Islands (Obura and Stone 2003). Abariringa, Birnie, Enderbury, Manra,
Nikumaroro, Orona, and Rawaki were surveyed. Echinoderms were low in species richness
(for all classes).
MCKEAN
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