Aldabra

Aldabra is a raised coral atoll in the Seychelles, renowned for its giant tortoises and protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Coral atoll: A ring-shaped coral reef or island surrounding a lagoon, formed as a volcanic island subsides. Aldabra is a raised example of this reef-ring landform.
Aldabra giant tortoise: A large tortoise native to Aldabra, where it forms one of the world’s largest tortoise populations. Its abundance is Aldabra’s most celebrated conservation feature.
Coral reef: A marine ecosystem built chiefly by calcium-carbonate structures produced by corals and other organisms. Coral growth built the reef framework from which Aldabra’s atoll developed.
Aldabra Research Station: A scientific field station on Aldabra operated by the Seychelles Islands Foundation. It supports long-term ecological study on the remote atoll.
Aldabra Group: An island group in the southwestern Seychelles comprising Aldabra, Assumption, Cosmoledo, and Astove. Aldabra is the group’s largest island and defining feature.
Aldabra rail: A flightless subspecies of the white-throated rail endemic to Aldabra. It is the Indian Ocean’s last surviving flightless bird species.
Sea-level change: A rise or fall in the average level of the ocean relative to land. Changes in sea level helped shape Aldabra’s raised reef terraces and lagoon.
Island biogeography: The study of how island area, isolation, and other factors shape species diversity. Aldabra’s isolation and endemic species make it a natural setting for this field.
Aldabra Lagoon: The shallow body of water enclosed by Aldabra’s reef rim and islands. Its tidal channels and flats shape the atoll’s habitats.
Green sea turtle: A large sea turtle that feeds mainly on seagrasses and algae as an adult. Aldabra’s beaches are among the most important nesting sites for this species in the western Indian Ocean.

Linked from 5 pages