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One-third of reef-building corals face elevated extinction risk from climate change and local impacts

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Carpenter, Kent E., Abrar, Muhammad, Aeby, Greta, Aronson, Richard B., Banks, Stuart, Bruckner, Andrew W., Chiriboga, Angel, Cortés, Jorge, Delbeek, J. Charles, DeVantier, Lyndon et al.

. (2008) One-third of reef-building corals face elevated extinction risk from climate change and local impacts. Science, Volume 321 (Number 5888). pp. 560-563. ISSN 0036-8075

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.1159196

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:

Q Science > QH Natural history > QH301 Biology

Divisions:

Faculty of Science > Life Sciences (2010- ) > Biological Sciences ( -2010)

Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):

Coral reef ecology -- Research, Coral declines, Coral reef conservation, Climatic changes -- Environmental aspects, Coral reefs and islands -- Climatic factors -- Research

Journal or Publication Title:

Science

Publisher:

American Association for the Advancement of Science

ISSN:

0036-8075

Official Date:

25 July 2008

Dates:

Date	Event
25 July 2008	Published

Volume:

Volume 321

Number:

Number 5888

Number of Pages:

Page Range:

pp. 560-563

Identification Number:

10.1126/science.1159196

Status:

Peer Reviewed

Publication Status:

Published

Access rights to Published version:

Restricted or Subscription Access

Funder:

Charles Darwin Foundation, Conservation International (Philippines), Darwin Initiative, First Philippine Conservation Incorporated, Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, Walton Family Foundation, Zoological Society of London, Royal Caribbean Cruises (Firm), Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, Conservation International

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thank the following for help and support: M. Alava,
J. Baillie, D. Bass, H. Reyes Bonilla, T. Brooks,
H. Froyalde, P. Glynn, S. Henderson, C. Hickman,
M. Hoffmann, D. Huang, R. McManus, M. Palomar,
C. Pollock, R. Quicho, M. Smith, M. Syahrir, R. Trono,
M. Vera, D. Zebrowski, Charles Darwin Foundation,
CI Philippines, Darwin Initiative, First Philippine
Conservation Incorporated, Gordon and Betty Moore
Foundation, Walton Family Foundation, and the
Zoological Society of London.