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Article ? AI-assigned paper type based on the abstract. Classification may not be perfect — flag errors using the feedback button. Tier 2 ? Original research — experimental, observational, or case-control study. Direct primary evidence. Marine & Wildlife Sign in to save

A global horizon scan of issues impacting marine and coastal biodiversity conservation

Nature Ecology & Evolution 2022 116 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 50 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.
William J. Sutherland, Omar Defeo, William J. Sutherland, Diva J. Amon, Silvana N.R. Birchenough, William J. Sutherland, Ann Thornton, James E. Herbert‐Read, Agnes Muthumbi, Agnes Muthumbi, David M. Paterson, Brendan J. Godley Brendan J. Godley Ann Thornton, Brendan J. Godley Emma L. Johnston, Peter I. Macreadie, Peter I. Macreadie, Agnes Muthumbi, Agnes Muthumbi, Agnes Muthumbi, Diva J. Amon, Agnes Muthumbi, William J. Sutherland, Moriaki Yasuhara, Diva J. Amon, Brendan J. Godley Brendan J. Godley Emma L. Johnston, Brendan J. Godley Peter I. Macreadie, Brendan J. Godley Brendan J. Godley Silvana N.R. Birchenough, Hermanni Kaartokallio, Lloyd S. Peck, Maria P. Dias, David M. Paterson, Hermanni Kaartokallio, Hermanni Kaartokallio, Brendan J. Godley Brendan J. Godley Irene R Schloss, Brendan J. Godley Emma L. Johnston, Isabelle M. Côté, William J. Sutherland, Lloyd S. Peck, Brendan J. Godley William J. Sutherland, Brendan J. Godley William J. Sutherland, Hermanni Kaartokallio, Brendan J. Godley Alberto Piola, Brendan J. Godley Emma L. Johnston, Lloyd S. Peck, Maria P. Dias, Brendan J. Godley Brendan J. Godley Brendan J. Godley Omar Defeo, Omar Defeo, Sally A. Keith, Silvana N.R. Birchenough, Anthony J. Richardson, Emma McKinley, Paul V. R. Snelgrove, Brendan J. Godley Silvana N.R. Birchenough, Silvana N.R. Birchenough, Brendan J. Godley Diva J. Amon, Lloyd S. Peck, Ricardo Calado, Paul V. R. Snelgrove, Anthony J. Richardson, Anthony J. Richardson, Omar Defeo, Brendan J. Godley Isabelle M. Côté, Brendan J. Godley S. Degraer, Brendan J. Godley Emma L. Johnston, Anna Meta×as, Hermanni Kaartokallio, David Obura, Ricardo Calado, Peter I. Macreadie, Anna Meta×as, Agnes Muthumbi, David Obura, David M. Paterson, David M. Paterson, Paul V. R. Snelgrove, Alberto Piola, Brendan J. Godley Anthony J. Richardson, Hermanni Kaartokallio, Irene R Schloss, Brendan J. Godley Paul V. R. Snelgrove, Bryce D. Stewart, Anna Meta×as, Paul M. Thompson, Anthony J. Richardson, Peter I. Macreadie, Gordon Watson, Thomas A. Worthington, Agnes Muthumbi, Moriaki Yasuhara, Brendan J. Godley William J. Sutherland, William J. Sutherland, Brendan J. Godley Paul V. R. Snelgrove, Brendan J. Godley Brendan J. Godley

Summary

Researchers convened a transdisciplinary panel of 30 marine experts to identify 15 emerging issues likely to significantly impact marine and coastal biodiversity over the next decade, including wildfire runoff, novel biodegradable materials, and soft robotics, using a modified Delphi voting process to prioritize from 75 candidate issues.

The biodiversity of marine and coastal habitats is experiencing unprecedented change. While there are well-known drivers of these changes, such as overexploitation, climate change and pollution, there are also relatively unknown emerging issues that are poorly understood or recognized that have potentially positive or negative impacts on marine and coastal ecosystems. In this inaugural Marine and Coastal Horizon Scan, we brought together 30 scientists, policymakers and practitioners with transdisciplinary expertise in marine and coastal systems to identify new issues that are likely to have a significant impact on the functioning and conservation of marine and coastal biodiversity over the next 5-10 years. Based on a modified Delphi voting process, the final 15 issues presented were distilled from a list of 75 submitted by participants at the start of the process. These issues are grouped into three categories: ecosystem impacts, for example the impact of wildfires and the effect of poleward migration on equatorial biodiversity; resource exploitation, including an increase in the trade of fish swim bladders and increased exploitation of marine collagens; and new technologies, such as soft robotics and new biodegradable products. Our early identification of these issues and their potential impacts on marine and coastal biodiversity will support scientists, conservationists, resource managers and policymakers to address the challenges facing marine ecosystems.

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