Slithering Sentinels: assessing the relevance of sea snakes as bioindicators for monitoring New Caledonia's Lagoon

David Hudry 

Coral reefs are vital ecosystems, rich in biodiversity and economically significant. However, they face severe threats from human activities such as climate change, pollution, and overfishing. Large-scale monitoring is crucial for their conservation. Integrative bioindicators are needed to better assess their health. Marine snakes, as high-level predators with strong site fidelity, are excellent bioindicators. Their health and population status can accurately reflect local environmental conditions. Their long lifespan allows for long-term monitoring, helping to detect human-induced impacts on coral reef ecosystems. Sea kraits, which are amphibious and well-studied, play a key role in reef monitoring. They are abundant, easy to observe, and provide valuable ecological insights. Most research has focused on their relevance as bioindicators, but broader studies on aquatic snakes are necessary. Fully marine snakes (viviparous species) share habitats with sea kraits but have a wider ecological range. They expand the spectrum of prey types, foraging behaviors, and sensitivity to human activities. Their Indo-Pacific distribution makes them essential for coral reef monitoring. Despite their ecological importance, truly marine snakes remain understudied. Their populations are vulnerable to environmental changes, yet their role in coral reef ecosystems is not fully understood. Research on their conservation is essential, as they could be key indicators of reef health in biodiversity hotspots like New Caledonia.