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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
agricultural and biological sciences
Reefs and islands of the Chagos Archipelago, Indian Ocean: Why it is the world's largest no-take marine protected area
Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, Volume 22, No. 2, Year 2012
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Description
The Chagos Archipelago was designated a no-take marine protected area (MPA) in 2010; it covers 550 000km2, with more than 60 000km2 shallow limestone platform and reefs. This has doubled the global cover of such MPAs. It contains 25-50% of the Indian Ocean reef area remaining in excellent condition, as well as the world's largest contiguous undamaged reef area. It has suffered from warming episodes, but after the most severe mortality event of 1998, coral cover was restored after 10years. Coral reef fishes are orders of magnitude more abundant than in other Indian Ocean locations, regardless of whether the latter are fished or protected. Coral diseases are extremely low, and no invasive marine species are known. Genetically, Chagos marine species are part of the Western Indian Ocean, and Chagos serves as a 'stepping-stone' in the ocean. The no-take MPA extends to the 200nm boundary, and. includes 86 unfished seamounts and 243 deep knolls as well as encompassing important pelagic species. On the larger islands, native plants, coconut crabs, bird and turtle colonies were largely destroyed in plantation times, but several smaller islands are in relatively undamaged state. There are now 10 'important bird areas', coconut crab density is high and numbers of green and hawksbill turtles are recovering. Diego Garcia atoll contains a military facility; this atoll contains one Ramsar site and several 'strict nature reserves'. Pollutant monitoring shows it to be the least polluted inhabited atoll in the world. Today, strict environmental regulations are enforced. Shoreline erosion is significant in many places. Its economic cost in the inhabited part of Diego Garcia is very high, but all islands are vulnerable. Chagos is ideally situated for several monitoring programmes, and use is increasingly being made of the archipelago for this purpose. © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Authors & Co-Authors
Sheppard, Charles R.C.
United Kingdom, Coventry
University of Warwick
Ateweberhan, Mebrahtu
United Kingdom, Coventry
University of Warwick
Bowen, Brian W.
United States, Kaneohe
Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology
Carr, P.
Unknown Affiliation
Chen, Chaolun Allen
Taiwan, Taipei
Academia Sinica, Biodiversity Research Center
Clubbe, Colin
United Kingdom, Richmond
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Craig, Matthew Thomas
Puerto Rico, Mayaguez
Recinto Universitario de Mayagüez
Ebinghaus, Ralf
Germany, Geesthacht
Helmholtz-zentrum Hereon Gmbh
Eble, J.
United States, Kaneohe
Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology
FitzSimmons, Nancy N.
Australia, Canberra
University of Canberra
Gaither, Michelle R.
Unknown Affiliation
Gan, Chai Hsia
Taiwan, Taipei
Academia Sinica, Biodiversity Research Center
Gollock, Matthew J.
United Kingdom, London
Zoological Society of London
Guzman, N.
Australia
Nestor Guzman: Navfacfe Pwd dg Environmental
Graham, Nicholas Anthony James
Australia, Townsville
James Cook University
Harris, A.
United Kingdom, Coventry
University of Warwick
Jones, Rachel
United Kingdom, London
Zoological Society of London
Keshavmurthy, Shashank
Taiwan, Taipei
Academia Sinica, Biodiversity Research Center
Koldewey, Heather Jane
United Kingdom, London
Zoological Society of London
Lundin, C. G.
Switzerland, Gland
International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources
Mortimer, Jeanne A.
United States, Gainesville
University of Florida
Obura, David Obare
Kenya, Mombasa
Coral Reef Degradation in the Indian Ocean East Africa
Pfeiffer, Miriam
Germany, Aachen
Rheinisch-westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen
Price, Andrew R.G.
United Kingdom, Coventry
University of Warwick
Purkis, Sam J.
United States, Jacksonville
University of North Florida
Raines, P.
United Kingdom, London
Coral Cay Conservation
Readman, James W.
United Kingdom, Plymouth
Plymouth Marine Laboratory
Riegl, Bernhard M.
United States, Jacksonville
University of North Florida
Rogers, Alex David
United Kingdom, Oxford
University of Oxford
Schleyer, Michael H.
South Africa, Durban
Oceanographic Research Institute
Seaward, Mark R.D.
United Kingdom, Bradford
University of Bradford
Sheppard, Anne
United Kingdom, Coventry
University of Warwick
Tamelander, Jerker
Thailand, Bangkok
Unep Division of Environmental Policy Implementation
Turner, John R.
United Kingdom, Bangor
Bangor University
Visram, Shakil
Taiwan, Taipei
Academia Sinica, Biodiversity Research Center
Vogler, C.
Germany, Munich
Ludwig-maximilians-universität München
Vogt, S.
United States
Naval Facilities Engineering Command Far East
Wolschke, H.
Germany, Geesthacht
Helmholtz-zentrum Hereon Gmbh
Yang, J. M.C.
Taiwan, Taipei
Academia Sinica, Biodiversity Research Center
Yang, Sungyin
Taiwan, Taipei
Academia Sinica, Biodiversity Research Center
Yesson, Chris
United Kingdom, London
Zoological Society of London
Statistics
Citations: 162
Authors: 41
Affiliations: 24
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1002/aqc.1248
ISSN:
10527613
e-ISSN:
10990755
Research Areas
Environmental
Health System And Policy