Part 1. Environment and biota of the Tikehau atoll (Tuamotu archipelago, French Polynesia)

Abstract

The islands of French Polynesia are scattered throughout a considerable oceanic area located on the eastern boundary of the Indo-Pacific Province. This area stretches from 134°28' W (Temoe Island) to 154°40' W longitude (Stilly Island), and from 7°50' S (Motu one Island) to 27°36' S latitude (Rapa Island). Out of the 118 islands constituting French Polynesia, 35 are high volcanic islands and 83 are low-relief islands or atolls. Altogether, the territory of French Polynesia represents an area of 4000 km2 of dry land, 12,000 km2 of lagoonal water and a huge Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) covering 5,500,000 km2 of oceanic water (Gabrie and Salvat, 1985).