Publications by authors named "Suzanne R Livingstone"
Article Synopsis
- Human activities are significantly harming ocean biodiversity, with a notable decline in marine animal populations.
- A study of 1,041 chondrichthyan fishes reveals that about 25% are threatened mainly due to overfishing, with large, shallow-water species being the most vulnerable.
- Immediate actions, including better fisheries management, are essential to prevent extinctions and support the recovery of these species.
Using data for 25,780 species categorized on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List, we present an assessment of the status of the world's vertebrates. One-fifth of species are classified as Threatened, and we show that this figure is increasing: On average, 52 species of mammals, birds, and amphibians move one category closer to extinction each year. However, this overall pattern conceals the impact of conservation successes, and we show that the rate of deterioration would have been at least one-fifth again as much in the absence of these.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMangrove species are uniquely adapted to tropical and subtropical coasts, and although relatively low in number of species, mangrove forests provide at least US $1.6 billion each year in ecosystem services and support coastal livelihoods worldwide. Globally, mangrove areas are declining rapidly as they are cleared for coastal development and aquaculture and logged for timber and fuel production.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- - The conservation status of 845 reef-building coral species was evaluated, revealing that 32.8% of the 704 assessed species are at a high risk of extinction due to factors like bleaching and diseases caused by rising sea temperatures.
- - Human activities also worsen the risk of coral extinction, and the overall threat level for corals has significantly increased in recent decades compared to most land species.
- - The Caribbean region has the highest percentage of corals in dangerous extinction categories, while the Coral Triangle has the largest number of species facing elevated extinction risks, highlighting the urgent need for effective coral conservation efforts.