{
  "id": 15916947,
  "title": "Seabird guano and native trees keep islands above rising seas: Study",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/21/seabird-guano-and-native-trees-keep-islands-above-rising-seas-study",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-10-21T16:48:25.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Mongabay",
    "slug": "mongabay",
    "url": "https://news.mongabay.com/2026/10/seabird-guano-and-native-trees-keep-islands-above-rising-seas-study/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Low-lying tropical atoll islands face significant challenges due to climate change, but a new study sheds light on how these islands could maintain their resilience. The research, published in Science Advances, highlights the crucial role played by seabirds and native vegetation in bolstering the islands' defenses against rising sea levels. Seabirds contribute to the ecosystem by acting as biological pumps, transporting nutrients from the open ocean to nesting sites on land and then back to the ocean. This process, known as nutrient cycling, is vital for the islands' health and stability.\n\nThe study, led by distinguished professor Nicholas Graham from Lancaster University, England, explores how the energy from seabird guano is distributed throughout the terrestrial and marine ecosystems of these atoll islands. The findings reveal that these nutrients work in tandem with native vegetation to enhance processes that fortify the island's reef and underlying structure, even as sea levels continue to rise. Graham emphasizes that rewilding atoll islands, which often lack seabird populations and native forests in favor of coconut palms, could significantly enhance the islands' climate resilience. This approach not only boosts the islands' ability to withstand sea level rise but also benefits biodiversity, presenting a positive outcome for the environment. The study underscores the importance of natural processes and native species in sustaining these vulnerable islands, offering a promising strategy for climate adaptation.",
  "summary": "Low-lying tropical atoll islands appear remarkably vulnerable to climate change. But when shrouded with native forests and with abundant seabird populations, these islands may keep up with rising sea levels, a new study finds. Seabirds act as biological pumps, moving nutrients from feeding areas in the open ocean to roosting and nesting areas on land […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}