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

Lincoln, Susana, Cowburn, Benjamin, Howes, Ella L., Birchenough, Silvana, Pinnegar, John K. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5061-9520, Dye, Stephen ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4182-8475, Buckley, Paul, Sheppard, Charles, Wabnitz, Colette C. C., Dutra, Leo X. C., Graham, Jennifer ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1950-5266, Archer-Rand, Simeon, Hardman, Emily, Engelhard, Georg H. and Townhill, Bryony L. (2022) Climate change impacts on the coral reefs of the UK Overseas Territory of the Pitcairn Islands: Resilience and adaptation considerations. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 102 (7). pp. 535-549. ISSN 0025-3154

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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.

Item Type: Article
Additional Information: Financial support: This study was supported by the UK Government Blue Belt Programme (www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-blue-belt-programme). © Crown Copyright - Crown, 2022.
Uncontrolled Keywords: adaptation,climate change,coral reefs,pitcairn islands,resilience,marine protected areas,marine protected area,adaptation,aquatic science,sdg 14 - life below water,sdg 13 - climate action ,/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/1100/1104
Faculty \ School: Faculty of Science > School of Environmental Sciences
University of East Anglia Research Groups/Centres > Theme - ClimateUEA
UEA Research Groups: Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Collaborative Centre for Sustainable Use of the Seas
Related URLs:
Depositing User: LivePure Connector
Date Deposited: 15 Dec 2022 03:50
Last Modified: 13 Apr 2023 14:34
URI: https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/90066
DOI: 10.1017/S002531542200090X

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