[Coral-List] FW: Coral species extinction risk

[Paul Muir]

With all due respect, the taxonomy issue raised by Andrew is peripheral to the main points discussed in our comment on Deitzel et al. (2021): we conclude that there needs to be more species-level work on corals, not less.

It is also premature and potentially dangerous to argue that the current coral taxonomy is fundamentally flawed, that no-one can identify corals to species and that any management/research that relies on species identification is flawed. Taxonomy across all taxa is constantly evolving and improving as new techniques and data arise: this has been going on since the "beginning" of the field in the 1700s. But, during that time biology and conservation continued by using the best taxonomy available for each group. We cannot all wait for a certain researcher to Ascend the Mount for a decade before they pass down absolute judgement!? And while the new molecular techniques hold great promise, they are not absolute and will in turn be subject to future change: for example, the use of very small sample sizes and a heavy reliance on post-processing and interpretation of the data mean that they will not be the "ten commandments" of coral taxonomy that some preach. We also cannot afford to wait: in 10 years many species are likely to be lost to local/regional/global extinctions. We urgently need to collect species-level data related to conservation status, susceptibility to bleaching, recovery etc. and begin species-based management to mitigate these extinctions. Ad Doug implied, these data are quite poor, at least for Indo-Pacific corals. We can do this now, while keeping an eye on potential future developments in coral taxonomy.

PAUL MUIR

________________________________
From: Coral-List <coral-list-bounces at coral.aoml.noaa.gov> on behalf of Douglas Fenner via Coral-List <coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov>
Sent: Thursday, February 17, 2022 10:23 PM
To: Baird, Andrew <andrew.baird at jcu.edu.au>
Cc: coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov <coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov>
Subject: Re: [Coral-List] FW: Coral species extinction risk

Caution! This sender may be impersonating someone in your organization or a well known brand.

Another paper concluding that morphological traits that correlate with the
rate of extinction in Caribbean coral fossils do not correlate to Red List
status:

Raja et al. 2021. Morphological traits of reef corals predict extinction
risk but not conservation status.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/geb.13321

I'd argue that most coral reef conservation programs and actions are not
based on either the Red List or the US Endangered Species Act.

I believe that a group is currently working on revising the Red Listings
for corals.

Cheers, Doug

On Wed, Feb 16, 2022 at 1:52 PM Baird, Andrew via Coral-List <
coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov> wrote:

> Dear Corallist
>
> In the interests of balance, and as one of the people that helped collect
> the original data in Dietzl et al 2021, please find below an open access
> link to Dietzel et al's response to Muir et al 2022.
>
> https://rdcu.be/cGZ1R
>
> I think the most important point in this discussion, alluded to by both
> sets of authors, is the taxonomic uncertainly in the Scleractinia.
>
> The taxonomic framework we were working with when we collected the data,
> starting in the last millennia, was fundamentally flawed and remains so
> today. This does not undermine Dietzel et al's (2021) conclusion that there
> is no correlation between abundance and Red List status for most species.
> Indeed, it highlights the fact that most coral species should be described
> as data deficient.
>
> The bottom line is that no one can correctly and consistently identify
> most corals to species in most parts of the world. Consequently, any
> management strategy that relies on the correct and consistent
> identification of coral species is also flawed. This includes the Red List
> and most of the relevant legislation in many countries including Australia.
>
> It will take at least a decade before we have a robust taxonomy for the
> order, even if people start to take coral taxonomy seriously, therefore we
> need alternatives to the Red List and Endangered Species Acts to
> effectively manage coral reefs.
>
> Professor Andrew Baird
> ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies
> James Cook University
> University Drive, Townsville Q 4811
> Bld 19, Room 120
> Tel. +61747814857
>
> Check out our website https://coralprojectphoenix.org/
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Coral-List mailing list
> Coral-List at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
> https://coral.aoml.noaa.gov/mailman/listinfo/coral-list
>
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