Artenvielfalt: Auf Bikar und Bokak ist die Welt noch in Ordnung

In the vast Pacific Ocean, far from any landmass, lie the coral atolls of Bikar and Bokak, considered two of the most pristine and least impacted ecosystems in the region. These atolls, part of the Marshall Islands, have been designated as the country's first marine protected area, covering an area of 48,000 square kilometers. A research team from the University of Hawaii, led by marine ecologist Alan Friedlander, conducted an extensive investigation of the biodiversity in Bikar and Bokak, documenting species both above and below the water, on land, and in the air.

Their findings are astounding: 15 seabird colonies with breeding activity, 266 groups of reef fish, more than 200 groups of deep-sea or deep ocean fish, and 15 groups of predators such as sharks and mackerel. Among the observed groups, 14 were previously undocumented in the Marshall Islands, with two potentially being entirely unknown species.

The diversity includes zebra-striped giant clams, buffalo-head parrotfish, and green sea turtles. Friedlander emphasizes that Bikar and Bokak are not only treasures for the Marshall Islands, but for the entire planet. The study of these atolls offers a rare glimpse into ecosystems with minimal human impact, with only a few places on the planet untouched by human touch, from the deep sea to the highest peaks.

Friedlander states that Bikar and Bokak are among the best ecological reference systems to understand what has been lost in other places and to gain fundamental knowledge for effective protection and restoration measures.