The Great Barrier Reef has lost half its corals
A new study of the Great Barrier Reef shows populations of its small, medium and large corals have all declined in the past three decades. Lead author Dr Andy Dietzel, from the ARC Centre of Excell
ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies
James Cook University Townsville
Queensland 4811 Australia
Phone: 61 7 4781 4000
Email: info@coralcoe.org.au
Abstract: The molecular revolution has put the old morphological taxonomy of the Scleractinia to the sword. Recent molecular work reveals that almost none of the 27 morphological families were monophyletic, indeed, few of the 235 morphological genera have survived the upheaval intact. The implications of this revolution are profound with the potential to radically alter our understanding of reef coral community ecology, biogeography and evolution. Yet too few coral reef scientists have heard the revolutionary cry that “Morphology does not capture phylogeny” or considered the implications for their respective disciplines. The aim of this talk is to convince you that it is time to listen and encourage you to join this revolutionary endeavor. A workable phylogeny, the ready availability of an extensive catalogue of reef coral traits and biogeographical distributions mean that these are the best of times to be a reef coral ecologist.
Bio: Andrew is a postdoctoral fellow in the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies and has been searching for a decent revolution all his adult life
A new study of the Great Barrier Reef shows populations of its small, medium and large corals have all declined in the past three decades. Lead author Dr Andy Dietzel, from the ARC Centre of Excell
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Partner Research Institutions
ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies
James Cook University Townsville
Queensland 4811 Australia
Phone: 61 7 4781 4000
Email: info@coralcoe.org.au