marine biodiversity - mark costello - nric synthesis

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Synthesis across Census’ regions (2010) PLoS ONE 5(8): e12110. (2010) PLoS ONE 5(8): e12110. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0012110 doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0012110 Mark J. Costello Mark J. Costello University of Auckland, New University of Auckland, New Zealand Zealand [email protected]

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Page 1: Marine Biodiversity - Mark Costello - NRIC synthesis

Synthesis across Census’ regionsSynthesis across Census’ regions

(2010) PLoS ONE 5(8): e12110. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0012110

(2010) PLoS ONE 5(8): e12110. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0012110

Mark J. Costello Mark J. Costello University of Auckland, New ZealandUniversity of Auckland, New Zealand

[email protected]

Page 2: Marine Biodiversity - Mark Costello - NRIC synthesis

The Census Regions The Census Regions

Page 3: Marine Biodiversity - Mark Costello - NRIC synthesis

Census figuresCensus figures

• 2000 - 20102000 - 2010• 2,700 scientists2,700 scientists• 80 countries80 countries• 538 field expeditions538 field expeditions• US$650 millionUS$650 million

• 24 worldwide media 24 worldwide media releases to >1,000 releases to >1,000 media outlets > 50 media outlets > 50 languages languages

• 2,600 publications2,600 publications• >1,200 new species+>1,200 new species+

This synthesis paper This synthesis paper based on:based on:• 15 regional reviews15 regional reviews• by 162 authors with by 162 authors with

support from 200 of their support from 200 of their colleaguescolleagues

• of 26 sub-regionsof 26 sub-regions

Page 4: Marine Biodiversity - Mark Costello - NRIC synthesis

Why now?Why now?

• End of the decade-long Census of Marine Life End of the decade-long Census of Marine Life with its with its network of National and Regional Implementation network of National and Regional Implementation Committees (NRIC)Committees (NRIC)

• Decade of complaints of dwindling expertiseDecade of complaints of dwindling expertise in in discovering and describing species (taxonomy)discovering and describing species (taxonomy)

• Decade of evidence of Decade of evidence of • global scale declines in marine populations global scale declines in marine populations (90% for some)(90% for some)• direct and indirect long-term changes to marine ecosystemsdirect and indirect long-term changes to marine ecosystems, ,

including collapse of fisheries, ‘trophic cascades’, oxygen including collapse of fisheries, ‘trophic cascades’, oxygen depletion (dead zones)depletion (dead zones)

Page 5: Marine Biodiversity - Mark Costello - NRIC synthesis

What we now knowWhat we now know

• about 230,000 marine species describedabout 230,000 marine species described

• Half are crustaceans, molluscs and fishHalf are crustaceans, molluscs and fish

• Proportions of taxa vary geographically, so should avoid Proportions of taxa vary geographically, so should avoid extrapolation between regionsextrapolation between regions

Page 6: Marine Biodiversity - Mark Costello - NRIC synthesis

More from the CensusMore from the Census

Deep-sea dragonfish.Photo: Julian Finn, Museum Victoria

Phronima shrimp living in a salp.

Photo: H. Bahena

Deep sea octopus, Benthoctopus

Gulf of Mexico 2700mPhoto : I. MacDonald

Venus fly-trap. Gulf of Mexico 1500 mPhoto: I. MacDonald

Zombie worm. Eats bones dead whales.

Photo: Y. Fuijjwara, JAMSTEC

Burglar alarm jellyfish

and hydroid.

Photos: JAMSTEC

Page 7: Marine Biodiversity - Mark Costello - NRIC synthesis

Alien speciesAlien species

• Most alien species in Mediterranean (Suez Canal effect)Most alien species in Mediterranean (Suez Canal effect)• Followed by rest of Europe, New Zealand, AustraliaFollowed by rest of Europe, New Zealand, Australia

Round goby Chinese mitten crab. Photos: Estonian Marine Institute.

Comb jelly. Photo: Ahmed Kideys

Seaweeds Codium & Caulerpa. Photo: Enrique Ballesteros, Mario Cormaci

Page 8: Marine Biodiversity - Mark Costello - NRIC synthesis

Richest regions (in species)Richest regions (in species)

• Most species:Most species:• Australia & Japan Australia & Japan

>32,000>32,000• China >22,000China >22,000

• Highest species endemicity Highest species endemicity (uniqueness):(uniqueness):• New Zealand, Antarctica, New Zealand, Antarctica,

Australia and South AfricaAustralia and South Africa

Endemic speciesEndemic species• ½ New Zealand and Antarctic½ New Zealand and Antarctic• 28% Australia & South Africa28% Australia & South Africa• >20% South America >20% South America

Endemic Mediterranean sea-slug.Peltodoris atromaculata

Photo: Marta Coll

Page 9: Marine Biodiversity - Mark Costello - NRIC synthesis

Geographic patternsGeographic patterns

Poor species – area relationship reflected lack of sampling in

offshore areas

Page 10: Marine Biodiversity - Mark Costello - NRIC synthesis

Main threats to biodiversity across all regions

Main threats to biodiversity across all regions

Top 3Top 3• OverfishingOverfishing• Habitat lossHabitat loss• PollutionPollution

Other threatsOther threats• Alien species, changing temperature, Alien species, changing temperature,

oxygen depletion, acidificationoxygen depletion, acidification

Trawl catch and threatened skateBaby skate, Raja asterias

Photo’s: Marta Coll

Page 11: Marine Biodiversity - Mark Costello - NRIC synthesis

Most threatened regionsMost threatened regions

• MediterraneanMediterranean• Gulf of MexicoGulf of Mexico• Baltic SeaBaltic Sea• China SeaChina Sea

All are enclosed seas near high human All are enclosed seas near high human populationspopulations

Page 12: Marine Biodiversity - Mark Costello - NRIC synthesis

What we do not knowWhat we do not know

• Major gaps in most basic knowledgeMajor gaps in most basic knowledge• Thousands of species in specimen collections not yet Thousands of species in specimen collections not yet

described and nameddescribed and named• Hundreds of thousands of species yet to be Hundreds of thousands of species yet to be

discovered – probably discovered – probably over 1 million marine speciesover 1 million marine species• May only know 20% of all species in the oceansMay only know 20% of all species in the oceans• Deeper seas and smaller invertebrates least knownDeeper seas and smaller invertebrates least known• Knowledge gaps similar in Developed and Developing Knowledge gaps similar in Developed and Developing

CountriesCountries

Photo: Marta Coll

Page 13: Marine Biodiversity - Mark Costello - NRIC synthesis

Recent discoveriesRecent discoveries

Elpidia belyaevi, a new species of sea cucumber from the Arctic

deep sea.

Photo: Antonina Rogacheva, Shirshov Institute of

Oceanology, Moscow

Fucus radicans Pereyra et al. 2009.

Baltic endemic seaweed.

Photo: Lena Bergstrom, Swedish Board of

Fisheries

Hydatinidae gen. sp. (red-lined paper bubble snail) new species discovered on a

sperm whale carcass in the deep sea.

Photo Credit: Yoshihiro Fujiwara JAMSTEC

Page 14: Marine Biodiversity - Mark Costello - NRIC synthesis

Marine biodiversityMarine biodiversity

• We only see the tip of the iceberg, and We only see the tip of the iceberg, and • it is meltingit is melting

© Ralph A. Clevenger/CORBISwww.sea-way.org/blog

Page 15: Marine Biodiversity - Mark Costello - NRIC synthesis

So what?So what?

• Knowing what is there opens door to new discoveries Knowing what is there opens door to new discoveries • How nature works How nature works • Potential food (and pests!)Potential food (and pests!)• Understanding of biology with benefits to medicine, food Understanding of biology with benefits to medicine, food

processing, new bio- and chemo-technologiesprocessing, new bio- and chemo-technologies

• Every enterprise needs an inventory of its stockEvery enterprise needs an inventory of its stockSpecies are to natural resources (biodiversity) whatSpecies are to natural resources (biodiversity) what• planets and stars are to astronomyplanets and stars are to astronomy• elements are to chemistryelements are to chemistry• nuclear particles are to physicsnuclear particles are to physics• materials are to machinesmaterials are to machines

• Where would our society and life-style be today if our ancestors did Where would our society and life-style be today if our ancestors did not explore nature and document knowledge for future generations?not explore nature and document knowledge for future generations?

• How will our descendants judge us?How will our descendants judge us?

Page 16: Marine Biodiversity - Mark Costello - NRIC synthesis

Can we afford this research?Can we afford this research?

• Can we afford not to? If we do not, then Can we afford not to? If we do not, then society will lose expertise and knowledgesociety will lose expertise and knowledge

• Strong public interest in “discovery”Strong public interest in “discovery”• It is not expensive in the long-term scheme It is not expensive in the long-term scheme

of thingsof things

Page 17: Marine Biodiversity - Mark Costello - NRIC synthesis

Political significancePolitical significance

Baseline for Baseline for • Convention on Biological DiversityConvention on Biological Diversity• Global Ecosystem Assessment Global Ecosystem Assessment

• Demonstration that marine environment can be Demonstration that marine environment can be included in global assessments included in global assessments • Now have a baseline of we know, do not know; Now have a baseline of we know, do not know;

resources and threats; regarding marine biodiversityresources and threats; regarding marine biodiversity• Hundreds of marine biologists have collaborated Hundreds of marine biologists have collaborated

globally to synthesise their knowledgeglobally to synthesise their knowledge

Page 18: Marine Biodiversity - Mark Costello - NRIC synthesis

Solutions?Solutions?

• ‘‘Open access’ online species identification guidesOpen access’ online species identification guides Positive correlation between state of knowledge index and Positive correlation between state of knowledge index and

availability of identification guides, and awareness of alien species availability of identification guides, and awareness of alien species (potential pests)(potential pests)

Enable students and public to participate in species discoveryEnable students and public to participate in species discovery

• International collaborationInternational collaboration Leadership from intergovernmental organisations, countries, Leadership from intergovernmental organisations, countries,

institutions, and scientific communityinstitutions, and scientific community Sharing expertise and facilities (e.g. ship-time)Sharing expertise and facilities (e.g. ship-time) Agreement on gaps and prioritiesAgreement on gaps and priorities

• Modernise working practicesModernise working practices Rapid open-access publication of data and knowledgeRapid open-access publication of data and knowledge Higher priority for species identification guidesHigher priority for species identification guides Take advantage of new technologies to increase productivity Take advantage of new technologies to increase productivity

Page 19: Marine Biodiversity - Mark Costello - NRIC synthesis

Let’s explore and discoverLet’s explore and discover

70% of the planet surface is ocean70% of the planet surface is ocean

60% is deep-sea60% is deep-sea

80% (4/5) of species

undiscovered

Underwater, underexplored,

under-discovered

Page 20: Marine Biodiversity - Mark Costello - NRIC synthesis

http://coml.org/nric-embargo-video

See the weird and wonderful examples of marine species and their habitats at

From: express.howstuffworks.com

Photos without attribution are by the author