Darwin's atolls revisited: lagoon infilling and closure has ecological consequences to North Keeling Atoll

Authors

Jean-Paul A. Hobbs, Curtin University, Western Australia
Stephen J. Newman, Department of Fisheries, Western AustraliaFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

5-2-2015

Journal Title

Marine Biodiversity

ISSN

Print: 1867-1616 Electronic: 1867-1624

Keywords

Deep Water Layer, High Nutrient Input, Blacktip Shark, Lagoonal Habitat, Ramsar Wetland

Disciplines

Aquaculture and Fisheries | Biodiversity | Environmental Monitoring | Natural Resources Management and Policy

Abstract

Charles Darwin’s seminal theory of atoll formation was developed during his epic voyage on the Beagle. The Cocos (Keeling) Islands (12°12′ S, 96°54′ E) were the only atolls Darwin visited and comparisons with his 1836 observations reveal sediment-infilling of the south-east lagoon entrances at the southern atoll (Smithers et al. 1992). Here, we report that the same processes have caused the closure of the only lagoon entrance (south-east) at the northern atoll in 2005.

Recommended Citation

Hobbs, JP.A., Newman, S.J. Darwin’s atolls revisited: lagoon infilling and closure has ecological consequences to North Keeling Atoll. Mar Biodiv 46, 21–22 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12526-015-0345-5