Research

One planet, one experiment. ― Edward O. Wilson

Tetiaroa Society has attracted some of the world's leading scholars on Pacific/Island/Ocean issues and they guide our research programs which vary from island and coral reef ecology to digital science, and oceanography to archaeology. Central themes for research on Tetiaroa are sustainability and the conservation of this island, and other islands, and the ocean that surrounds us.

Almost all of the research being done on Tetiaroa now falls under the umbrella of the Tetiaroa Atoll Restoration Program (TARP). Technically this would include any research that is recording the response to our conservation actions which remove invasive species. These include changes in population dynamics and behavior of organisms, changes in the physical and chemical environment, and the arrival of new breeding species.

The Conservation and Sustainable Use Plan provides the rationale for the science programs.


Using eDNA for Rat Detection

The use of environmental DNA (eDNA) might be a powerful new tool to inform and accelerate decision-making in island restoration management.


Impacts of Rat Eradication on Coral Reef Health

The objective of this research is to assess the impacts of rat eradication and the subsequent return of healthy seabird populations on the health of the adjacent reefs on Tetiaroa.


Seascape Ecology project

Courtney Stuart studies nutrient cycling across the land-sea interface in Teti’aroa using a combination of landscape ecology theory, stable isotope analysis, and GIS-based approaches. During her September 2023 fieldwork in Teti’aroa, she collected samples of brown and green algae (Turbinaria and Halimeda).


Atoll forest dynamics before and after rat control

This project focuses on the effect of rat eradication on forest dynamics. Annual monitoring of seedlings, recruitment of native woody species, and percentage of herbaceous plant cover were started on Motu Reiono and Motu Ahuroa in 2018 and 2021.
The preliminary results from 2023 show that vegetation response to rat eradication may vary according to the ecological characteristics and initial plant composition of the motu, and underlines the importance of long term monitoring.


Forest Ecology

A striking discovery has been the very high root productivity observed on some atolls - we think this is the highest root activity ever observed in a tropical forest anywhere on Earth and are trying to puzzle out the reasons behind this.


Atoll restoration biodiversity responses

During a one-week fieldwork trip, Dr Brown and Dr Steibl discovered at least three undescribed species of weevil beetles on Tetiaroa atoll. The discovery of species that were unknown to science underlines the unique ecological value of Tetiaroa.


Land crab population monitoring

We conducted a set of studies aiming at determining the consequences of rat and ant eradication on land crabs, and at deciphering how habitat affects crab responses. Between June and August 2023 we deployed 40 camera traps to monitor ghost crab (Ocypode ceratolphthalma) activity inland all around the atoll.


Coconut crab monitoring

In this project we carried out a study to continue the inventory of conconut crabs on three motu on the atoll of Tetiaroa : Honuea, Reiono and Tiaraunu.
Results of this study show new maximums concerning the number of individuals by transect in the 3 study sites and this number is increasing compared to our previous studies.


Seabird population monitoring

For each nest or roosting bird we also identify the species of tree used, with the aim of informing the Tetiaroa habitat restoration program. This has allowed us to quantify some clear habitat preferences; for example, of the 9,856 seabirds counted during one monitoring period, only 2.7% were nesting or roosting in coconut palm, indicating that coconut palm is poor nesting/roosting habitat for seabirds.


Seabird breeding success monitoring : Gygis alba, Anous stolidus, Fregata ariel

The breeding success of brown noddies (Anous stolidus) and white terns (Gygis alba) was monitored using a combination of methods. This is our second year of data on brown noddy and white tern nesting success. We also installed two camera traps which will provide information on the development, breeding success and behavior of the lesser frigatebirds (Fregata ariel) during one entire year without any disturbance to this sensitive colony.


White tern habitat selection : Gygis alba

We conducted an atoll-wide survey of the distribution of white tern eggs and chicks between December 2022 and May 2023 to determine what affects nest site selection for white terns (Gygis alba).


Baseline Seabird Study on Tetiaroa

In 2023, we continued our work to better understand the ecology of seabirds at Tetiaroa in relation to removal of rats from the island. This incuded collecting data on nesting success, nest density, and activity of seabirds, long-term survival of seabirds, and foraging ecology of seabirds.


Groundwater Chemistry

Groundwater Nutrient Transport on Atolls
Research this year showed that nitrate levels varied with bird populations and size of motu with very high levels on Tahuna Rahi and Iti as expected. We have also found geochemical conditions to be extremely stratified within the motu sediments with anoxic and denitrified conditions at very shallow depths below the water table.


Archaeological Research on Tetiaroa

Following a busy year in 2022 that saw the beginning of our excavation program, a large part of 2023 was dedicated to the lab-analyses of the material previously collected at two sites on Onetahi - one marae (temple) and a maite (agricultural trench pit).


Investigating the ecology of reef sharks in Tetiaroa

In most of the world's oceans, shark populations have already been modified by humans.  As a result, it is difficult to study shark behavior and ecology under relatively pristine conditions.  French Polynesia, on the other hand, stands as the world's largest shark sanctuary, and among the French Polynesians islands, Tetiaroa is especially conducive to shark research because it is pristine, accessible, and small enough to be studied as an entire ecosystem.


Green Sea Turtle Monitoring on Tetiaroa Atoll

The beginning of the 2023-2024 season seems to predict a high number of nests for this season. Currently, 1300 tracks are reported with 201 confirmed nests and 459 probable nests. 62 females are identified and 10 of them were recaptured from previous seasons.


Tetiaroa Island Digital Ecosystem Avatar (IDEA)

Tetiaroa IDEA is a place-based data science infrastructure and computational platform for scenario-based planning. The Tetiaroa IDEA will model the complex feedbacks between climate change, management actions, public policy, and ecosystem services across the island’s coupled marine-terrestrial landscape.


Lagoon Fish & Crustacean Replenishment

The present project aims to replenish the Tetiaroa lagoon by rearing and releasing fish and crustaceans caught at post-larval stage. The marine post-larvae will be caught using nets set up on the reef at Tetiaroa. The implementation of this project is part of a sustainable resource management approach supported by Tetiaroa Society.


Giant Trevally Project

Bonefish and giant trevally are threatened by overfishing. The opportunity to study these animals in lightly fished locations like Tetiaroa is becoming increasingly rare. This research seeks to contribute to our understanding of the biology of these fishes and to determine steps necessary to protect them and establish sustainable fishing programs. 


Tetiaroa Biocode Project

The Tetiaroa Biocode Project aims to create a comprehensive inventory of all non-microbial life in a complex tropical ecosystem. The primary objective of the first expedition is to do One Cubic Foot from the Tetiaroa reef that documents all creatures inhabiting the space as a mirror or sister site to Moorea.


Tetiaroa Social-Ecological System Observatory

The data observatory will provide the secure infrastructure and long-term datasets needed to assess the effectiveness of management actions, underpin basic scientific research on the atoll, and provide an important reference point for the international global change research community. The observatory will monitor processes underlying sectorial issues prioritised by the UN: Water, Energy, Health, Food, and Biodiversity.