La vie animale terrestre à Takapoto

Abstract

La vie animale terrestre à Takapoto. The author puts together the data and reports from different specialists who studied, in relation to the UNESCO MAB project "Man and Biosphere", theme 7, the terrestrial biota of the atoll of Takapoto (Tuamotu archipelago, French Polynesia). In order to describe the atoll biota, the author makes out five different habitats, and comments upon the food-cycle structures that control the relations between flora and fauna. Although the determination of all the available species is not yet over as far as entomology is concerned, it is most likely that the animals of Takapoto had a "pioneer" action. This fauna settled very recently and has an universal origin. This is in perfect harmony with the theory of the re-emerging of the Tuamotu atolls. The animal and vegetal species are now spreading over Takapoto, mainly from the Australian and Asian regions, most often via Tahiti. However, due to the fast-developing continent to continent means of conveyance in the Pacific, the latest species that have reached the island may originate from farther countries. But for birds perhaps, the speciation does not seem, up to now, to have developed into new species adapted to the archipelago as it is the case for neighbour high islands like Tahiti or the Marquesas. The inhabitants of Takapoto can only live on and hold out by fulfilling their needs mainly with sea and lagoon products rather than very poor terrestrial ressources. Joining in the modern economic systems, the Paumotu — i.e. the inhabitant of the Tuamotu archipelago — will meet a difficult issue as for the ecology of those South Pacific atolls. The ecosystems of the Tuamotu archipelago enjoy a stable equilibrium, but they are far more fragile than any other because of their very poor ecological diversity.