Wednesday, July 10th, 2019 – Plenary Speaker – “Deep Coral Reefs, the Biodiversity Library, and Resilience: Calibrating Priorities” – Richard Pyle

“Deep Coral Reefs, the Biodiversity Library, and Resilience: Calibrating Priorities”

Tropical coral-reef ecosystems extend from the surface down to depths of meters or more, but only the top 20% (down to 30 m)  have been well documented.  The remaining 80% of coral-reef habitat from ~30-150m, known as “mesophotic coral ecosystems” (MCEs) remain largely unknown. Initial investigations of these deep coral-reef environments since the 1980s using advanced mixed-gas diving technology have revealed a wealth of biodiversity, including many species new to science. Over the past decade, scientific attention on MCEs has increased dramatically, culminating in the recent publication of a 1,000-page book summarizing existing research and knowledge. Among the more prominent questions is the extent to which MCEs can serve as refugia for species impacted on shallower reefs. Coral-reef ecosystems are emblematic of issues affecting biodiversity in all environments across the planet. In light of major climate changes happening on a global scale, it is time to re-assess scientific priorities.

SPEAKER BIOGRAPHY

Richard Pyle studies coral-reef fishes, with an emphasis on ecosystems at depths of ~30-150m (below where SCUBA divers commonly explore). He has worked in the fish collection of Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum in Honolulu since 1986, both conducting ichthyological research and designing equipment and protocols for advanced mixed-gas deep diving. In addition, he is actively involved in the development of computer database systems to manage biodiversity data, and is a Commissioner and Councilor for the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN).