Biodiversity on the Intertidal Rocky Reefs of Oceanic Islands: the Lord Howe Island Marine Park as a Case Study

Intertidal rocky reefs of oceanic islands, such as those in the UNESCO-listed Lord Howe Island Marine Park (LHIMP), harbor exceptionally high biodiversity with a significant proportion of endemic and vulnerable species. This study reveals that rubble reefs support the greatest species richness, taxonomic diversity, and number of rare or habitat-restricted species, while topographic complexity emerges as the dominant driver of biodiversity patterns across reef types. However, these topographic effects are complex and variable, limiting their use as robust surrogates for broader biodiversity assessments. The research also identifies lagoonal reefs as particularly susceptible to cumulative human impacts. By integrating systematic biodiversity surveys with high-resolution drone-based photogrammetry, the study provides novel baseline data and practical management recommendations to safeguard these fragile ecosystems in the LHIMP and similar oceanic island environments.

Woods, C. (2026). Biodiversity on the Intertidal Rocky Reefs of Oceanic Islands: the Lord Howe Island Marine Park as a Case Study [University of Wollongong]. https://doi.org/10.71747/UOW-R3GK326M.32071869