Ecosystem restoration is expected to enhance ecosystem resilience to climate change, but few empirical and mechanistic demonstrations of such assertions exist. Here, we explore this topic for tropical atoll systems, combining science on nutrient subsidies and geo-ecological functions through a unifying ecological energetics lens. We show that native forest cover and seabird nutrient inputs increase primary productivity and secondary metabolism on islands and adjacent coral reefs, scaling with key ecosystem processes. We then demonstrate that seabird and native forest restoration could contribute to reducing island climate change vulnerability by (i) increasing reef accretion rates such that they keep pace with sea-level rise under a 2.0°C warming scenario, (ii) enhancing the production rate of sediment, which could contribute to island maintenance, and (iii) increasing vegetation fine root length, aiding island sediment stabilization. Collectively, our findings provide an integrated energetics and geo-ecological perspective that suggests rewilding of atolls can contribute to climate resilience.
Graham N.A.J., Benkwitt C.E., Lange I.D., Perry C.T., Thomson E.R., Wedding L.M., Dunn R.E., Steibl S., Stuart C.E., Jeannot L.-L., Appoo J., Rodriguez Fillol J., Stuhr M., Palola P., Carr P., DeVore J.L., Ducatez S., Zora A., Hastings A.K., Barroso S.F., Evans S., Schulze M., Cotton E., Reddington H. and Malhi Y. (2026) Seabirds and native vegetation drive ecosystem processes that support atoll island resilience. Science Advances 12(42): eaei1145. 10.1126/sciadv.aei1145
@article{Graham2026,
Title = {Seabirds and native vegetation drive ecosystem processes that support atoll island resilience},
Author = {Graham, Nicholas A. J. and Benkwitt, Cassandra E. and Lange, Ines D. and Perry, Chris T. and Thomson, Eleanor R. and Wedding, Lisa M. and Dunn, Ruth E. and Steibl, Sebastian and Stuart, Courtney E. and Jeannot, Laura-Li and Appoo, Jennifer and Rodriguez Fillol, Julia and Stuhr, Marleen and Palola, Pirta and Carr, Peter and DeVore, Jayna L. and Ducatez, Simon and Zora, Anna and Hastings, Ayla K. and Barroso, Solène Fabre and Evans, Sean and Schulze, Melissa and Cotton, Emma and Reddington, Hazel and Malhi, Yadvinder},
Journal = {Science Advances},
Year = {2026},
Pages = {eaei1145},
Volume = {12},
Doi = {10.1126/sciadv.aei1145},
Abstract = {Ecosystem restoration is expected to enhance ecosystem resilience to climate change, but few empirical and mechanistic demonstrations of such assertions exist. Here, we explore this topic for tropical atoll systems, combining science on nutrient subsidies and geo-ecological functions through a unifying ecological energetics lens. We show that native forest cover and seabird nutrient inputs increase primary productivity and secondary metabolism on islands and adjacent coral reefs, scaling with key ecosystem processes. We then demonstrate that seabird and native forest restoration could contribute to reducing island climate change vulnerability by (i) increasing reef accretion rates such that they keep pace with sea-level rise under a 2.0°C warming scenario, (ii) enhancing the production rate of sediment, which could contribute to island maintenance, and (iii) increasing vegetation fine root length, aiding island sediment stabilization. Collectively, our findings provide an integrated energetics and geo-ecological perspective that suggests rewilding of atolls can contribute to climate resilience.},
}
TY - JOUR
AU - Graham, Nicholas A. J.
AU - Benkwitt, Cassandra E.
AU - Lange, Ines D.
AU - Perry, Chris T.
AU - Thomson, Eleanor R.
AU - Wedding, Lisa M.
AU - Dunn, Ruth E.
AU - Steibl, Sebastian
AU - Stuart, Courtney E.
AU - Jeannot, Laura-Li
AU - Appoo, Jennifer
AU - Rodriguez Fillol, Julia
AU - Stuhr, Marleen
AU - Palola, Pirta
AU - Carr, Peter
AU - DeVore, Jayna L.
AU - Ducatez, Simon
AU - Zora, Anna
AU - Hastings, Ayla K.
AU - Barroso, Solène Fabre
AU - Evans, Sean
AU - Schulze, Melissa
AU - Cotton, Emma
AU - Reddington, Hazel
AU - Malhi, Yadvinder
TI - Seabirds and native vegetation drive ecosystem processes that support atoll island resilience
T2 - Science Advances
PY - 2026
SP - eaei1145
VL - 12
DO - 10.1126/sciadv.aei1145
AB - Ecosystem restoration is expected to enhance ecosystem resilience to climate change, but few empirical and mechanistic demonstrations of such assertions exist. Here, we explore this topic for tropical atoll systems, combining science on nutrient subsidies and geo-ecological functions through a unifying ecological energetics lens. We show that native forest cover and seabird nutrient inputs increase primary productivity and secondary metabolism on islands and adjacent coral reefs, scaling with key ecosystem processes. We then demonstrate that seabird and native forest restoration could contribute to reducing island climate change vulnerability by (i) increasing reef accretion rates such that they keep pace with sea-level rise under a 2.0°C warming scenario, (ii) enhancing the production rate of sediment, which could contribute to island maintenance, and (iii) increasing vegetation fine root length, aiding island sediment stabilization. Collectively, our findings provide an integrated energetics and geo-ecological perspective that suggests rewilding of atolls can contribute to climate resilience.
ER -
