Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2011

DOI

10.1155/2011/247030

Publication Title

Journal of Marine Biology

Volume

2011

Pages

1-14

Abstract

Given the economic and cultural dependence on the marine environment in Oceania and a rapidly expanding human population, many marine species populations are in decline and may be vulnerable to extinction from a number of local and regional threats. IUCN Red List assessments, a widely used system for quantifying threats to species and assessing species extinction risk, have been completed for 1190 marine species in Oceania to date, including all known species of corals, mangroves, seagrasses, sea snakes, marine mammals, sea birds, sea turtles, sharks, and rays present in Oceania, plus all species in five important perciformfish groups. Many of the species in these groups are threatened by themodification or destruction of coastal habitats, overfishing fromdirect or indirect exploitation, pollution, and other ecological or environmental changes associated with climate change. Spatial analyses of threatened species highlight priority areas for both site- and species-specific conservation action. Although increased knowledge and use of newly available IUCN Red List assessments for marine species can greatly improve conservation priorities for marine species in Oceania,many important fish groups are still in urgent need of assessment.

Original Publication Citation

Polidoro, B.A., Elfes, C.T., Sanciangco, J.C., Pippard, H., & Carpenter, K.E. (2011). Conservation status of marine biodiversity in Oceania: An analysis of marine species on the IUCN Red List of threatened species. Journal of Marine Biology, 2011, 1-14. doi: 10.1155/2011/247030

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