AI Article 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.
Article 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.
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| http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.1159196 | DOI Listing |
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