An integrated system to assess marine extinctions.

Area of Science:

• Marine Biology
• Conservation Science
• Extinction Science

Background:

• Over 20 global and 700 local marine extinctions reported in the last 500 years.
• Existing methods for verifying extinctions are often data-intensive, time-consuming, and limited in scope.
• A robust system is needed to accurately assess marine species extinction status across various scales.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and apply an Integrated System to Assess Marine Extinctions (ISAME).
• To provide a versatile method applicable to any taxonomic group and geographic scale (global and local).
• To categorize marine species' extinction status accurately for informed conservation strategies.

Main Methods:

• Development of the Integrated System to Assess Marine Extinctions (ISAME).
• Application of ISAME to 10 diverse marine extinction case studies.
• Categorization of species into 'unverified', 'possibly extinct', or 'extinct' based on evidence.

Main Results:

• ISAME classified 6 out of 10 studied species as unverified extinctions due to insufficient evidence or taxonomic issues.
• Two species, the Guadalupe storm-petrel and the lost shark, were classified as possibly extinct.
• Two species, the largetooth sawfish and Steller's sea cow, were confirmed as extinct.

Conclusions:

• The ISAME system offers a scalable and adaptable approach to evaluating marine extinctions.
• Accurate extinction status determination is vital for effective marine conservation and preventing biodiversity loss.
• The study highlights the need for rigorous evidence in declaring species extinct.