Climate change impacts on the coral reefs of the UK Overseas Territory of the Pitcairn Islands: Resilience and adaptation considerations

Susana Lincoln, Benjamin Cowburn, Ella L. Howes, Silvana Birchenough, John K. Pinnegar, Stephen Dye, Paul Buckley, Charles Sheppard, Colette C. C. Wabnitz, Leo X. C. Dutra, Jennifer Graham, Simeon Archer-Rand, Emily Hardman, Georg H. Engelhard, Bryony L. Townhill

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Abstract

The coral reefs of the Pitcairn Islands are in one of the most remote areas of the Pacific Ocean, and yet they are exposed to the impacts of anthropogenic climate change. The Pitcairn Islands Marine Protected Area was designated in 2016 and is one of the largest in the world, but the marine environment around these highly isolated islands remains poorly documented. Evidence collated here indicates that while the Pitcairn Islands' reefs have thus far been relatively sheltered from the effect of warming sea temperatures, there is substantial risk of future coral decalcification due to ocean acidification. The projected acceleration in the rate of sea level rise, and the reefs' exposure to risks from distant ocean swells and cold-water intrusions, add further uncertainty as to whether these islands and their reefs will continue to adapt and persist into the future. Coordinated action within the context of the Pitcairn Islands Marine Protected Area can help enhance the resilience of the reefs in the Pitcairn Islands. Options include management of other human pressures, control of invasive species and active reef interventions. More research, however, is needed in order to better assess what are the most appropriate and feasible options to protect these reefs.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)535-549
Number of pages15
JournalJournal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom
Volume102
Issue number7
Early online date24 Nov 2022
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Nov 2022

Keywords

  • adaptation
  • climate change
  • coral reefs
  • Pitcairn Islands
  • resilience
  • marine protected areas
  • marine protected area
  • Adaptation

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