Eastern Indo-Pacific (EI)

The Eastern Indo-Pacific (EI) realm comprises the tropical waters surrounding the volcanic islands of the central Pacific Ocean. It includes most of Polynesia (except New Zealand), the Marshall Islands, and Hawaii. This realm is characterized by its isolation, which has led to high levels of regional endemism, particularly in Hawaii. While it shares many species with the Central Indo-Pacific, its biodiversity generally decreases as one moves eastward across the Pacific. The realm’s ecosystems are dominated by coral reefs and open oceanic habitats surrounding isolated island chains. It serves as a vast bridge for the dispersal of tropical marine life across the central Pacific basin.