pacific islands report_NU.indd - Whale and Dolphin Conservation ...

place but change to match the new environment,through either plastic response, such as shifts inphenology (for example timing of growth, breedingetc.), or, genetic response, such as an increase inthe proportion of heat tolerant individuals; or (iii)extinction.” It is therefore critical that projectedimpacts of climate change are taken into accountwhen addressing conservation and managementplans for cetaceans (Simmonds and Isaac In press).Chemical pollution and diseaseBetween June 1946 and October 1958, the Enewetakand Bikini Atolls of the Marshall Islands were usedas testing grounds for 66 nuclear devices (Reeveset al. 1999). This testing produced close-in falloutdebris that was contaminated with quantities ofradioactive fission and particle activated products,and unspent radioactive nuclear fuel that enteredthe aquatic environment of the atolls (Robinson etal. 1998). Today, the sediments in the lagoons arereservoirs for transuranics and some long-lived fissionand activation products, although the larger amountsof contamination are associated with fine andcoarse sediment material adjacent to the locationsof the high yield explosions. Radionuclides are alsodistributed vertically in the sediment column tovarious depths in all regions of the lagoons (Robinsonet al. 1998). Concentrations greater than falloutbackground levels are found in filtered water sampledover several decades from all locations and depthsin the lagoons. Of particular importance is the factthat the long-lived radionuclides are accumulatedto different levels by indigenous aquatic plants andorganisms that are used as food by resident peopleand quite possibly animals. Various isotopes ofplutonium have been found in reef fish includingmullet, convict surgeonfish and goatfish (Robinsonet al. 1998, Noshkin et al.1998). The resultant longtermimplications for the marine ecosystems andmarine mammals in this area are unknown.A comprehensive study of water quality of theU.S. Pacific Island territories revealed levels ofcontaminants in vacation beaches that have causedmany beach closures (Dorfman 2004). Examplesfrom Guam beaches indicate elevated levels ofenterococcus while estuarine areas are subject toorganic enrichment, pathogens, increased salinityand nutrients, and high pH from municipal pointsources and urban runoff. Information fromNorthern Mariana beaches indicates that runoff, and,faulty septic and sewage systems are part of thereason for beach-water contamination. In addition,sedimentation from unpaved roads and development,stormwater and urban runoff, reverse osmosisdischarges, and nutrients from golf courses andagriculture were cited as problematic in this area. Inaddition, landfills are believed to leach metals andsynthetic organic compounds (Dorfman 2004).High nutrient levels of phosphate and nitrate havebeen noted proximal to human activities alongthe Coral Coast of Vitu Levu in Fiji (Mosley andAalsbersberg 2003) in quantities believed to beharmful to coral reef ecosystems. Coupled withoverfishing of herbivore species these elevatednutrient levels are believed to be a contributor to therecent widespread growth of macro-algae speciesalong this coast. The authors noted that nutrientlevels were highest at sites located near hotels andother populated sites (Mosley and Aalsbersberg 2003).Mining operations in the Pacific Islands Regionpresently (or have historically) exist in Papua NewGuinea, Fiji, Nauru, Solomon Islands and, NewCaledonia and are feared to be placing a heavyenvironmental toll on the landscape (SPREP 2004).Dumping of mine tailings into submarine canyonsoccurs very close to the Pacific Islands Region.Of concern is that several large mines in nearbySulawesi, Indonesia dispose of their tailings in deepocean canyons known to support populations ofsperm whales and various beaked whales (Kahn2000). In addition to point-source pollution, theatmospheric transport of contaminants from theseoperations also represents a danger.The input of such toxins into the marine environmentlikely has grave consequences for cetaceans. ACURRENT STATE OF KNOWLEDGE OF CETACEAN THREATS, DIVERSITY, AND HABITATS IN THE PACIFIC ISLANDS REGION 21