Wetlands of the Pacific Island region

Abstract

The wetlands of 21 countries and territories of the Pacific Islands region are reviewed: Vanuatu, and Wallis and Futuna. The regions' wetlands are classified into seven systems: coral reefs, seagrass beds, mangrove swamps, riverine, lacustrine, freshwater swamp forests and marshes. The diversity of species in each of these groups is at near global maxima at the west of the region, with decline towards the east with increasing isolation, and decreasing island size and age. The community structure is unique in each country, and many have endemic species with the habitat isolation that epitomises this island region. There remain, however, some serious gaps in basic inventory, particularly in freshwater biodiversity. Threats to wetlands include introduced freshwater species, loss of wetlands adjacent to urban growth, downstream effects of mining and land clearance, and over-use of mangrove, seagrass and coral reef resources by predominant subsistence economies that remain in this region. Only five countries are signatories to the Ramsar convention on wetlands, and this only recently with seven sites. Wetland managers have identified the need for community education, baseline surveys and monitoring, better legislation and policy for wetland management, and improved capacity of local communities to allow the wise use of their wetlands.

Cenozoic ecological history of South East Asian peat mires based on the comparison of coals with present day and Late Quaternary peats

“…Mangroves growing on peats are, however, widely reported on oceanic islands in areas of everwet climate, forming above carbonates, in the western Pacific (Ellison, 2009). Similar settings occur in the Caribbean (Spackman et al, 1966).…”

The conservation status of marine biodiversity of the Pacific Islands of Oceania

“…Marine ecosystems are affected by coastal modification and development, during which many habitats are degraded, fragmented or destroyed. For example, mangroves, which provide important nursery habitat for many marine species, are harvested for a variety of uses, including fuel and building materials, and are also cleared to make room for development and urban growth (Ellison 2009). Additional impacts of invasive species and climate change are serious threats to many species, especially those that are rare and/or endemic.…”

“…More people are fishing, and using more advanced and efficient technologies (Chin et al 2011). Other Number of species per 100 km coastal and marine resources are also exploited, including: mangroves, for firewood and construction materials (Ellison 2009); coral reefs, for sand and rock used in construction (Chin et al 2011); and molluscs, such as cone snails, giant clams, and cephalopods, for subsistence and the aquarium trade.…”

“…In particular, mangroves are often cleared for development and urban growth (Ellison 2009). Although fairly limited in most Pacific Island countries and territories, land reclamation can have severe localized impacts (Chin et al 2011).…”

Classifying Pacific islands

“…Spanning almost one-third of the earth's surface, the Pacific presents a daunting challenge to anyone seeking to generalize about it, whether this refers to its geology, its ocean, its islands, or the peoples who inhabit them. In the past, perceptions of uniformity or emptiness within the Pacific encouraged generalization (Köppen 1936;Ward 1989) and even today, when the diversity of its natural environment is almost universally acknowledged, there remains a need for informed generalization for particular purposes (e.g., Ellison 2009;Dickinson 2001;Mueller-Dombois and Fosberg 1998;Neall and Trewick 2008;Richardson and Richardson 1986). …”