THE SCIENCE

The goal of this expedition is to explore and to describe the reef ecosystems across the Line Islands chain, in order to 1) obtain an ecological baseline for coral reefs in the Pacific, and 2) gain insights into ecological changes across a gradient of human disturbance. We will collect rigorous, quantitative data, allowing us to test ecological hypotheses directly related to conservation goals. In particular, Jackson and colleagues (Jackson et al. 2001, Jackson and Sala 2001) have compiled evidence from historical and recent sources and have hypothesized that anthropogenic degradation causes the following distinct, qualitative changes to marine ecosystems:

The Line Islands are one of a handful of opportunities where we can make detailed observations along a real gradient of anthropogenic disturbance so we may test the validity of these hypotheses. Palmyra and Kingman are reefs where large animals live their entire lives in vast areas that are mostly well protected from human exploitation. They are the marine equivalent of the Serengeti, and an ideal place for testing the above ecological hypotheses regarding the characteristics of pristine ecosystems. By adding direct comparison of reef community characteristics along this transect from pristine sites to the more disturbed southeastern Line Islands, we have an unprecedented opportunity to test further hypotheses of changes induced by humans on reef ecosystems.