Editing Rodrigues (section)

==Geography==
[[File:Rodrigues CalcareniticShore.jpg|thumb|Calcarenitic shore of Rodrigues island, at Pointe Coton]]
[[File:Rodrigues Island, Mauritius-17May2004.jpg|thumb|right|A treeless landscape from the island]]
Rodrigues is a [[volcanic island]] rising from a ridge along the edge of the [[Mascarene Plateau]]. The [[tectonics|tectonically]] active [[Rodrigues Triple Point]] lies on the sea-floor nearby. Rodrigues is only 1.5&nbsp;million years old, even if the plateau under the lagoon surrounding Rodrigues may be much more ancient than the island.<ref name="geo1">{{cite web |url=http://www.govmu.org/portal/site/abtmtius/menuitem.37cd78c9e3a902984d57241079b521ca/ |title=Geography − Overview |publisher=Government of Mauritius |access-date=10 March 2012}}{{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Over time Rodrigues has developed a unique environment, including many [[Endemic (ecology)|endemic species]].

Rodrigues is situated about {{convert|560|km}} to the east of Mauritius. It is about {{convert|18|km|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|6.5|km|abbr=on}} wide with an area of {{convert|108|km2|abbr=on}}.<ref name="geo2"/><ref name="meteo">{{cite web |url=http://metservice.intnet.mu/pdfs/Climatological%20Summaries%20May%202008.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131010073952/http://metservice.intnet.mu/pdfs/Climatological%20Summaries%20May%202008.pdf |archive-date=10 October 2013 |title=Meteorological Services − Monthly Bulletin of Climatological Summaries |version=May 2008 |page=3 |publisher=Mauritius Meteorological Services |access-date=22 March 2012}}</ref> The shape is that of a whale back with a central ridge and deep cut valleys. The island is hilly with a central spine culminating in the highest peak, [[Mont Limon]] at {{convert|398|m|ft|abbr=on}}. Rodrigues is the only Mascarene island with extensive limestone deposits and caves. A large fringing reef surrounds the island forming a lagoon within which lie eighteen small islets.<ref name="bio">{{cite web |url=http://www.govmu.org/portal/goc/moa/file/chap6a.pdf |publisher=Government of Mauritius |title=Overview of the Biodiversity of Rodrigues |access-date=10 March 2012}}{{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref name="hydro">{{cite web |url=http://www.govmu.org/portal/goc/mpu/file/chapter%207.pdf |publisher=Government of Mauritius |title=Hydrology of Rodrigues and Agalega |access-date=10 March 2012}}{{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

The [[coral reef]] of Rodrigues is of particular interest as it is self-seeding&nbsp;– it receives no coral [[zooplankton]] from elsewhere. This has led to an overall species-poor but highly [[adaptation|adapted]] ecosystem. A species of coral, two species of ''[[Pomacentrus]]'' [[damselfish]]<!-- Pomacentrus rodriguesensis and ??? --> and many species of [[crustaceans]] are found only on Rodrigues' reefs.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cbd.int/doc/world/mu/mu-nr-03-en.pdf |title=Convention on Biological Diversity&nbsp;– Third National Report for the Republic of Mauritius, Section 5.2.1, p. 26 |access-date=19 January 2007 |date=October 2006 |publisher=Ministry of Environment and National Development Unit in collaboration with the UNEP/GEF |archive-date=12 May 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080512092629/http://www.cbd.int/doc/world/mu/mu-nr-03-en.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Climate===
The isolation and location of the island give a microclimate specific to Rodrigues, with two seasons. Rodrigues enjoys a mild tropical maritime climate with persistent trade winds blowing throughout the year. Mean summer temperature is {{convert|25.9|C|F}} and mean winter temperature is around {{convert|22.3|C|F}}. The temperature difference between summer and winter is 3.6&nbsp;°C. January to March are the hottest months and August is the coolest month. The wettest month is February; September and October are the driest months. The climate is hotter and drier than in Mauritius. Cyclones may arise from November to April, and Rodrigues is more often hit than Mauritius.<ref name=MMS>{{cite web |url=http://metservice.intnet.mu/climate-services/climate-of-rodrigues-and-islands.php |publisher=Mauritius Meteorological Services |title=Climate of Rodrigues & other outer islands |access-date=26 January 2015 |archive-date=8 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150208034614/http://metservice.intnet.mu/climate-services/climate-of-rodrigues-and-islands.php |url-status=live }}</ref>

{{Weather box
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes
|collapsed = yes
|location = Rodrigues
|Jan record high C = 33.9
|Feb record high C = 34.0
|Mar record high C = 33.9
|Apr record high C = 33.0
|May record high C = 30.9
|Jun record high C = 30.9
|Jul record high C = 30.4
|Aug record high C = 31.2
|Sep record high C = 30.7
|Oct record high C = 30.9
|Nov record high C = 30.9
|Dec record high C = 33.1
|year record high C = 34.0
|Jan high C = 29.2
|Feb high C = 29.3
|Mar high C = 29.4
|Apr high C = 28.7
|May high C = 27.5
|Jun high C = 26.0
|Jul high C = 25.0
|Aug high C = 24.8
|Sep high C = 25.4
|Oct high C = 26.3
|Nov high C = 27.4
|Dec high C = 28.7
|year high C = 27.3
|Jan low C = 23.6
|Feb low C = 23.8
|Mar low C = 23.7
|Apr low C = 23.0
|May low C = 21.6
|Jun low C = 20.1
|Jul low C = 19.1
|Aug low C = 18.8
|Sep low C = 19.3
|Oct low C = 20.1
|Nov low C = 21.3
|Dec low C = 22.8
|year low C = 21.4
|Jan record low C = 18.4
|Feb record low C = 19.8
|Mar record low C = 19.0
|Apr record low C = 18.4
|May record low C = 18.1
|Jun record low C = 16.5
|Jul record low C = 14.5
|Aug record low C = 15.2
|Sep record low C = 15.8
|Oct record low C = 16.5
|Nov record low C = 17.2
|Dec record low C = 19.2
|year record low C = 14.5
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 150.0
|Feb precipitation mm = 184.7
|Mar precipitation mm = 131.2
|Apr precipitation mm = 117.0
|May precipitation mm = 78.3
|Jun precipitation mm = 77.6
|Jul precipitation mm = 80.8
|Aug precipitation mm = 59.4
|Sep precipitation mm = 43.8
|Oct precipitation mm = 40.7
|Nov precipitation mm = 70.0
|Dec precipitation mm = 71.0
|year precipitation mm = 1104.5
|unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 12
|Feb precipitation days = 13
|Mar precipitation days = 13
|Apr precipitation days = 13
|May precipitation days = 12
|Jun precipitation days = 13
|Jul precipitation days = 15
|Aug precipitation days = 13
|Sep precipitation days = 9
|Oct precipitation days = 8
|Nov precipitation days = 7
|Dec precipitation days = 8
|year precipitation days = 
|Jan humidity = 79
|Feb humidity = 81
|Mar humidity = 80
|Apr humidity = 79
|May humidity = 75
|Jun humidity = 74
|Jul humidity = 75
|Aug humidity = 74
|Sep humidity = 74
|Oct humidity = 74
|Nov humidity = 76
|Dec humidity = 77
|year humidity = 76
|Jan sun = 275.9
|Feb sun = 240.1
|Mar sun = 257.3
|Apr sun = 243.0
|May sun = 244.9
|Jun sun = 219.0
|Jul sun = 232.5
|Aug sun = 244.9
|Sep sun = 237.0
|Oct sun = 275.9
|Nov sun = 273.0
|Dec sun = 285.2
|year sun = 3028.7
|Jand sun = 8.9
|Febd sun = 8.5
|Mard sun = 8.3
|Aprd sun = 8.1
|Mayd sun = 7.9
|Jund sun = 7.3
|Juld sun = 7.5
|Augd sun = 7.9
|Sepd sun = 7.9
|Octd sun = 8.9
|Novd sun = 9.1
|Decd sun = 9.2
|yeard sun = 8.9
|source 1 = Mauritius Meteorological Services<ref name=MMS />
|date=January 2015
}}

===Biodiversity===
[[File:Rodriguesrohrsänger.jpg|thumb|right|An endemic bird species, the Rodrigues warbler (''[[Acrocephalus rodericanus]]'') in the Grande Montagne area, Rodrigues]]

Rodrigues was characterised by endemic plant and animal species in abundance, but since the seventeenth century much of its biodiversity has been eradicated. The island was home to two now-extinct endemic giant tortoises, a [[Domed Rodrigues giant tortoise|domed species]] (''Cylindraspis peltastes''), and a [[Saddle-backed Rodrigues giant tortoise|saddle-backed species]] (''C. vosmaeri''), and such birds as the [[Rodrigues solitaire]] (''Pezophaps solitaria''), a giant flightless pigeon closely related to the [[dodo]] of Mauritius, and the [[Rodrigues night heron]] (''Nycticorax megacephalus''). An endemic species of bat, the [[Rodrigues flying fox]], is currently listed as [[endangered]] on the [[IUCN Red List]]. There are two remaining endemic bird species: the [[Rodrigues fody]] and the [[Rodrigues warbler]], both are listed as near threatened.{{citation needed|date = November 2023}}

To restore some forest areas, [[Grande Montagne Nature Reserve|Grande Montagne]], [[Anse Quitor Nature Reserve|Anse Quitor]] (with neighbouring [[François Leguat Giant Tortoise and Cave Reserve|François Leguat Giant Tortoise Reserve]]) and two islets, [[Île aux Sables]] and [[Île aux Cocos]] have been declared nature reserves (under the Forest and Reserves Act 1983).<ref name="bio2">{{cite web |url=http://www.cbd.int/doc/world/mu/mu-nr-04-en.pdf |publisher=Convention on Biological Diversity |author=Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development |title=Fourth National Report on the Convention on Biological Diversity&nbsp;– Republic of Mauritius |version=August 2010 |access-date=10 March 2012 |archive-date=12 May 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120512014433/http://www.cbd.int/doc/world/mu/mu-nr-04-en.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> Endangered plants on the reserves include ''Zanthoxylum paniculatum'', ''[[Polyscias rodriguesiana]]'', ''Badula balfouriana'', and ''Gouania leguatii''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mauritian-wildlife.org/application/index.php?tpid=31&tcid=88 |title=Welcome to the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation (MWF) – In The Field – Rodrigues – Anse Quitor |website=mauritian-wildlife.org |access-date=8 December 2018 |archive-date=26 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181026064446/http://www.mauritian-wildlife.org/application/index.php?tpid=31&tcid=88 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mauritian-wildlife.org/application/index.php?tpid=31&tcid=92 |title=Welcome to the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation (MWF) – In The Field – Rodrigues – Plant |website=mauritian-wildlife.org |access-date=8 December 2018 |archive-date=26 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181026064435/http://www.mauritian-wildlife.org/application/index.php?tpid=31&tcid=92 |url-status=live }}</ref>