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Patterns of extinction risk and threat for marine vertebrates and habitat-forming species in the Tropical Eastern Pacific
Citation
Polidoro, BA and Brooks, T and Carpenter, KE and Edgar, GJ and Henderson, S and Sanciangco, J and Robertson, DR, Patterns of extinction risk and threat for marine vertebrates and habitat-forming species in the Tropical Eastern Pacific, Marine Ecology Progress Series, 448 pp. 93-104. ISSN 0171-8630 (2012) [Refereed Article]
Copyright Statement
Copyright 2012 Inter-Research.
Abstract
Marine conservation activities around the globe are largely undertaken in the
absence of comprehensive species-specific information. To address this gap, complete regional
species assemblages of major marine taxa are being progressively assessed against the Categories
and Criteria of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened
Species. The present study is the first analysis of entire major components of the biota of a
large marine biogeographic region conducted in the Tropical Eastern Pacific (TEP). It is based on
recently completed IUCN Red List assessments for all known species of bony and cartilaginous
shorefishes, corals, mangroves, and seagrasses in the TEP. Twelve percent of the >1600 species
assessed are in threatened categories, indicative of elevated extinction risk. Spatial analysis of all
assessed taxonomic groups, including previous IUCN Red List assessments for seabirds, marine
mammals, and marine turtles, highlights specific geographical areas of elevated threatenedspecies
richness. The distribution of threatened species in the TEP is primarily linked to areas with
high rates of overfishing, habitat loss, and increasing El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) event
impacts, as well as oceanic islands with high stochastic risk factors for endemic species. Species
assigned to the highest threat categories have life history traits that likely decrease their resilience
to various regional and site-specific threats. Comprehensive information in the form of IUCN Red
List assessments combined with spatial analysis will greatly help to refine both site- and speciesspecific
marine conservation priorities in the TEP.
Item Details
| Item Type: | Refereed Article |
|---|---|
| Keywords: | IUCN Red List, tropical Eastern Pacific, marine species, extinction risk theory, threatened species |
| Research Division: | Biological Sciences |
| Research Group: | Ecology |
| Research Field: | Marine and Estuarine Ecology (incl. Marine Ichthyology) |
| Objective Division: | Environment |
| Objective Group: | Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity |
| Objective Field: | Coastal and Estuarine Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity |
| UTAS Author: | Brooks, T (Dr Thomas Brooks) |
| UTAS Author: | Edgar, GJ (Professor Graham Edgar) |
| ID Code: | 82387 |
| Year Published: | 2012 |
| Web of Science® Times Cited: | 35 |
| Deposited By: | Sustainable Marine Research Collaboration |
| Deposited On: | 2013-01-30 |
| Last Modified: | 2017-11-01 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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