Chapter I Intro & Objectives - SPREP

PHOENIX ISLANDS PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENT PLAN
Chapter III. Background, 1. Physical Setting of the Islands
Draft 1 March 2007
zero. Most of the carbon produced remained in the lagoon. Phosphorus utilization in
Abariringa’s (Canton’s) lagoon was estimated at 0.027 m moles m -2 day -1 (Smith and Jokiel
1978). Nitrogen utilization was 8.5 higher. Net excess organic carbon production was
estimated to be about 3 m moles m -2 day -1 , or 35 mg C m -2 day -1 . Gross carbon production
was estimated to be 6 g C m -2 day -1 . CaCO3 production was estimated to be 13 m moles m -2
day -1 , or 1.4 g CaCO3 m -2 day -1 .
Jokiel and Maragos (1978) analyzed sediment composition and water quality in Abariringa’s
(Canton’s) lagoon, based on distance from the lagoon passage. Results are provided here in
Tables III-1.2 and III-1.3. Sediment closer to the lagoon passage had hard substrata or larger
median grain size, while sediments far from the lagoon passage consisted of calcareous mud
(smaller median grain size).
Table III-1.2. Sediment composition in Abariringa’s (Canton’s) lagoon
(source: Jokiel and Maragos 1978).
Table III-1.3. Water quality in Abariringa’s (Canton’s) lagoon.
(source: Jokiel and Maragos 1978).
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