%0 Journal Article
%T Conservation Status of Marine Biodiversity in Oceania: An Analysis of Marine Species on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
%A Beth A. Polidoro
%A Cristiane T. Elfes
%A Jonnell C. Sanciangco
%A Helen Pippard
%A Kent E. Carpenter
%J Journal of Marine Biology
%D 2011
%I Hindawi Publishing Corporation
%R 10.1155/2011/247030
%X 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 perciform fish groups. Many of the species in these groups are threatened by the modification or destruction of coastal habitats, overfishing from direct 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. 1. Introduction Spread over approximately 43 million square kilometres of the Pacific Ocean, Oceania is comprised of thousands of small coral atolls and islands surrounded by vast areas of open ocean. Oceania is characterized by areas of high species diversity and endemism, both in the terrestrial and marine realms [1¨C3]. The Pacific islands of Oceania support an estimated nine million people [4], many of which rely heavily on marine resources for food and income generation. In many small island nations, the entirety of the population lives within the coastal zone, and marine resources may represent the only source of protein for human consumption. This is highlighted by fish consumption statistics, with annual rates estimated at 50£¿kg per person, as compared to eight kg for people living in continental countries such as Australia [5]. By nature of its small island geography, Oceania is particularly susceptible to changes impacting biodiversity [6, 7]. Depleted populations cannot always be easily replenished by neighbouring areas, and some species may be prone to localized extinctions, such as those with restricted ranges [8] or widespread species with low abundance and high ecological specialization [9]. Threats to marine conservation include habitat degradation, overfishing, invasive species introductions, and climate
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jmb/2011/247030/