Editing Geography of Tuvalu (section)

===Island, reef and lagoon habitats===
[[File:Nukufetau.jpg|thumb|right|240px|[[Nukufetau]] atoll.]]
{{see also|Coral reefs of Tuvalu|Protected areas of Tuvalu}}

Tuvalu consists of three [[reef]] islands and six true [[atolls]]. Its small, scattered group of [[atolls]] have poor soil and a total land area of only about 26.26&nbsp;square kilometres (less than 10&nbsp;sq.&nbsp;mi.) making it the fourth smallest country in the world. The islets that form the atolls are very low-lying.  [[Nanumaga]], [[Niutao]], [[Niulakita]] are [[reef]] islands and the six true atolls are [[Funafuti]], [[Nanumea]], [[Nui (atoll)|Nui]], [[Nukufetau]], [[Nukulaelae]] and [[Vaitupu]]. [[Funafuti]] is the largest [[atoll]] of the nine low [[reef]] islands and atolls that form the Tuvalu volcanic island chain. It comprises numerous islets around a central lagoon that is approximately {{convert|25.1|km|mi|abbr=off}} (N–S) by {{convert|18.4|km|mi|abbr=off}} (W-E), centred on 179°7’E and 8°30’S. On the atolls an annular reef rim surrounds the lagoon, with several natural reef channels.<ref name="FSN">{{cite journal| last =McNeil | first =F. S. |title= Organic reefs and banks and associated detrital sediments|journal=Am. J. Sci.|volume= 252|issue=7|pages= 385–401 | year = 1954|bibcode=1954AmJS..252..385M|doi=10.2475/ajs.252.7.385|doi-access=free}}</ref> A standard definition of an ''atoll'' is "an annular reef enclosing a lagoon in which there are no promontories other than reefs and islets composed of reef detritus".<ref name="FSN"/> The northern part of the Funafuti lagoon has a deep basin (maximum depth recorded of 54.7 m) basin, and the southern part of the lagoon has very narrow shallow basin.<ref name="SOPAC">{{cite web |title= EU-SOPAC Project Report 50: TUVALU TECHNICAL REPORT High-Resolution Bathymetric Survey Fieldwork undertaken from 19 September to 24 October 2004 |publisher= Pacific Islands Applied Geoscience Commission c/o SOPAC Secretariat|date=October 2018 |url= ftp://ftp.gouv.nc/sig/PUBLIC/club_geomatique/2017/GT_donnees_geo_maritimes_22_06_2017/Rapport_de_leve_CPS.pdf| access-date=21 October 2019 }}</ref>

The eastern shoreline of [[Fongafale]] in the Funafuti lagoon (''Te Namo'') was modified during World War II; several piers were constructed, beach areas filled, and deep water access channels were excavated. These alternations to the reef and shoreline have resulted in changes to wave patterns with less sand accumulating to form the beaches as compared to former times; and the shoreline is now exposed to wave action.<ref name="TN">{{cite web| work=tuvaluislands.com |title= Fogafale: Then and Now (1941 & 2003)|url=  http://www.tuvaluislands.com/maps/fogafale_1.html|archive-url=  https://web.archive.org/web/20060209040631/http://www.tuvaluislands.com/maps/fogafale_1.html|url-status=  usurped|archive-date=  9 February 2006| access-date=14 June 2015}}</ref> Several attempts to stabilize the shoreline have not achieved the desired effect.<ref name="RC">{{cite web|first=Ralf|last=Carter|title=Wind and Sea Analysis – Funafuti Lagoon, Tuvalu|date=4 July 1986|url=http://prdrse4all.spc.int/data/wind-and-sea-analysis-funafuti-lagoon-tuvalu|work=South Pacific Regional Environmental Programme and UNDP Project RAS/81/102 (Technical. Report No. 58 of PE/TU.3)|access-date=2 January 2020}}</ref>

The rising population results in increased demand on fish stocks, which are under stress;<ref name="RevLT">{{cite web|last=Lusama|first=Tafue|date=29 November 2011|title=Tuvalu plight must be heard by UNFCC|url=http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/3701422.html|access-date=29 November 2011|publisher=The Drum – Australian Broadcasting Corporation}}</ref> although the creation of the [[Funafuti Conservation Area]] has provided a fishing exclusion area that helps sustain fish populations across the Funafuti lagoon. Population pressure on the resources of Funafuti and in-adequation sanitation systems have resulted in pollution.<ref name="Krales"/><ref name="FB">{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/poverty-matters/2011/mar/04/tuvalu-sustainable-way-of-life-disappears | location=London | work=[[The Guardian]] | first1=Florent | last1=Baarsch | title=Warming oceans and human waste hit Tuvalu's sustainable way of life | date=4 March 2011|access-date=24 October 2011}}</ref> The Waste Operations and Services Act 2009 provides the legal framework for the waste management and pollution control projects funded by the European Union that are directed to organic waste composting in eco-sanitation systems.<ref name="TWWSP">{{cite web|url= http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/documents/aap/2009/af_aap_2009_tuv.pdf |title= Tuvalu / Water, Waste and Sanitation Project (TWWSP): CRIS FED/2009/021-195, ANNEX | date =2009|work=European Union|access-date=24 October 2011}}</ref>

Surveys were carried out in May 2010 of the reef habitats of Nanumea, Nukulaelae and Funafuti (including the Funafuti Conservation Area) and a total of 317 fish species were recorded during this ''Tuvalu Marine Life'' study. The surveys identified 66 species that had not previously been recorded in Tuvalu, which brings the total number of identified species to 607.<ref name=TMLSY>{{cite web|author1=Sandrine Job |author2=Daniela Ceccarelli | title = Tuvalu Marine Life Synthesis Report|date = December 2011| work= Alofa Tuvalu project with the Tuvalu Fisheries Department| url= http://www.alofatuvalu.tv/US/05_a_tuvalu/05_page_tml/livret2light.pdf| access-date=3 December 2013}}</ref><ref name=TMLScR>{{cite web|author1=Sandrine Job |author2=Daniela Ceccarelli | title = Tuvalu Marine Life Scientific Report|date = December 2012| work= Alofa Tuvalu project with the Tuvalu Fisheries Department| url= http://www.alofatuvalu.tv/US/05_a_tuvalu/05_page_tml/livret4light.pdf| access-date=3 December 2013}}</ref>

The terrestrial invertebrates are land and shore crabs, including ''Paikea'' (''[[Discoplax rotunda]]''), ''Tupa'' (''[[Cardisoma carnifex]]''), ''Kamakama'' (''[[Grapsus albolineatus]]''), a range of hermit crabs, ''Uga'' (''[[Coenobita]] spp'') and the coconut crab, ''Uu'' (''[[Coconut crab|Birgus latro]]'').<ref name="TCAP-NN66"/> Also important are a range of land snails, misa (''[[Melampus (gastropod)|Melampus]] spp'') used to make shell [[Lei (garland)|leis]] (ula) and [[Art of Tuvalu|traditional handicrafts]],<ref name="RBA1">{{cite web|author= Randy Thaman, Feagaiga Penivao, Faoliu Teakau, Semese Alefaio, Lamese Saamu, Moe Saitala, Mataio Tekinene and Mile Fonua| work= Rapid Biodiversity Assessment of the Conservation Status of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (BES) in Tuvalu|title= Report on the 2016 Funafuti Community-Based Ridge-To-Reef (R2R) |date = 2017|url= https://www.sprep.org/attachments/VirLib/Tuvalu/r2r-biorap.pdf| access-date=13 February 2021}}</ref> which includes the decoration of mats, fans and wall hangings.<ref name="ATP">{{cite web| last =Tiraa-Passfield | first = Anna |title= The uses of shells in traditional Tuvaluan handicrafts| publisher= SPC Traditional Marine Resource Management and Knowledge Information Bulletin #7|date = September 1996|url= http://www.spc.int/DigitalLibrary/Doc/FAME/InfoBull/TRAD/7/TRAD7_02_Tiraa.pdf| access-date=13 February 2021}}</ref>