Abrar, M. and Carpenter, K.E. and Aedy, G. and Aronson, R.B. and Banks, S. and Bruckner, A. and Chiriboga, A. and Cortes, J. and Delbeek, C. and Devantier, L. and Edgar, G.J. and Edwards, A. and Fenner, D. and Guzman, H.M. and Hoeksema, B.W. and Hodgson, G. and Johan, O. and Licuanan, W.Y. and Livingstone, S.R. and Lovell, Edward R. and Moore, J.A. and Obura, D.O. and Ochavillo, D. and Polidoro, P.A. and Precht, W.F. and Quibilan, M.C. and Reboton, C. and Richards, Z.T. and Rogers, A.D. and Sanciangco, J. and Sheppard, A. and Sheppard, C. and Smith, J. and Stuart, S. and Turak, E. and Veron, J.E.N. and Wallace, C. and Weil, E. and Wood, E. (2008) One-third of reef-building corals face elevated extinction risk from climate change and local impacts. Science, 321 (5888). pp. 560-563. ISSN 0036-8075
Full text not available from this repository.Abstract
The conservation status of 845 zooxanthellate reef-building coral species was assessed by using International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List Criteria. Of the 704 species that could be assigned conservation status, 32.8% are in categories with elevated risk of extinction. Declines in abundance are associated with bleaching and diseases driven by elevated sea surface temperatures, with extinction risk further exacerbated by local-scale anthropogenic disturbances. The proportion of corals threatened with extinction has increased dramatically in recent decades and exceeds that of most terrestrial groups. The Caribbean has the largest proportion of corals in high extinction risk categories, whereas the Coral Triangle (western Pacific) has the highest proportion of species in all categories of elevated extinction risk. Our results emphasize the widespread plight of coral reefs and the urgent need to enact conservation measures.
| Item Type: | Journal Article |
|---|---|
| Subjects: | G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GE Environmental Sciences Q Science > Q Science (General) |
| Divisions: | Faculty of Science, Technology and Environment (FSTE) > School of Marine Studies |
| Depositing User: | Ms Neha Harakh |
| Date Deposited: | 27 May 2008 04:10 |
| Last Modified: | 23 Jul 2012 08:47 |
| URI: | https://repository.usp.ac.fj/id/eprint/161 |
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