The outstanding coral biodiversity of the Gambier Archipelago is being studied by scientists to compare the biodiversity of open and closed atoll reefs, to better understand the coral biology and to assess its state according to its exposure to human activities. The lack of exposure of the majority of these islands to any source of local anthropogenic pollution (urbanization, sedimentation due to erosion) makes it possible to evaluate the effects related to global changes (global warming, ocean acidification).