Atolls – the “biodiversity cool spots” vs hot spots: a critical new focus for research and conservation
type: Dataset
description: This paper highlights the seriousness of the “biodiversity crisis” on atolls and the need to place greater research and conservation emphasis on atolls and other small island ecosystems. It is based on studies over the past twenty years conducted in the atolls of Tuvalu, Tokelau, Kiribati, the Marshall Islands and the Tuamotu Archipelago of French Polynesia. It stresses that atolls offer some of the greatest opportunities for integrated studies of simplified small-island ecosystems.
language: en
date created: 21-07-2021T03:07:03.0
date modified: 16-07-2025T22:07:50.0
publisher: Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme
subject of: Biodiversity
keywords: biodiversity crisis
keywords: biodiversity
keywords: tokelau
keywords: marshall islands
keywords: tuamotu archipelago
keywords: french polynesia
keywords: kiribati
keywords: tuvalu
keywords: ecosystem
keywords: conservation
keywords: atolls
license: https://pacific-data.sprep.org/resource/public-data-license-agreement-0
spatial: POLYGON ((-184.05615180731 -10.247901080297, -184.05615180731 -5.8630351198568, -179.34521377087 -5.8630351198568, -179.34521377087 -10.247901080297))
spatial coverage: Tuvalu, Tokelau, Kiribati
accountable person: R. R Thaman
distribution: Atolls – the “biodiversity cool spots” vs hot spots: a critical new focus for research and conservation
  type: DataDownload
  file format: pdf
  encoding format: application/pdf
  content size: 322737
  description: This study presents a “snapshot” of the current status of atoll biodiversity, including associated marine biodiversity, and stresses that atolls are “biodiversity cool spots”, which, apart from, in some cases, very considerable marine resources, have among the poorest and most highly threatened biodiversity inheritances on Earth.
distribution: Atoll ecosystems that are threatened and in need of protection in the Pacific Islands.
  type: DataDownload
  file format: xlsx
  encoding format: application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet
  content size: 10403
  description: Most atoll ecosystems and a wide range of terrestrial and marine organisms, and genetic or cultivars varieties of traditional food and other multi-purpose plants are declining in abundance and under threat of either “economic extinction” or extirpation and in need of some form of protection. The severity of the situation is greatest on those more urbanized atolls where both the biodiversity and the local knowledge of biodiversity are threatened. *see R Thanman pdf report for more information*
distribution: Atoll ecosystems that are threatened and in need of protection in the Pacific Islands - CVS
  type: DataDownload
  file format: csv
  encoding format: text/csv
  content size: 519
  description: CVS version of the data in excel
distribution: Terrestrial and marine plants and animals that are rare, endangered or in short supply, and in need of protection in the atolls of the Pacific Islands.
  type: DataDownload
  file format: xlsx
  encoding format: application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet
  content size: 10883
  description: Terrestrial and marine plants and animals that are rare, endangered or in short supply, and in need of protection in the atolls of the Pacific Islands.