Protecting seabirds and restoring natural vegetation could give low-lying tropical atoll islands a fighting chance against the threat of sea-level rises, a new study reveals.

As Earth’s atmosphere continues to warm, sea levels are projected to rise, threatening to swamp ‘tropical paradise’ atoll islands, such as those found in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

Publishing today in the journal Science Advances, an international team of researchers, led by marine scientists at Lancaster University, show how seabird nutrient flows affect atoll islands and the coral reefs that surround them – influencing their ability to adapt to rising sea levels.

Bleached corals can fully recover within a few weeks through brief contact with healthy corals, opening new possibilities for restoration.