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On the 20th anniversary of the Convention on Biological Diversity, a network of very large marine protected areas (the Big Ocean network) has emerged as a key strategy in the move to arrest marine decline and conserve some of the last remaining relatively undisturbed marine areas on the globe. Here we outline the ecological, economic and policy benefits of very large-scale MPAs and show their disproportionate value to global marine conservation targets. In particular we point out that very large-scale MPAs are a critical component of reaching the Aichi targets of protecting 10% of global marine habitats by 2020, because in addition to encompassing entire ecosystems, they will bring forward the expected date of achievement by nearly three decades (2025 as opposed to 2054). While the need for small MPAs remains critical, large MPAs will complement and enhance these conservation efforts. Big Ocean sites currently contain more than 80% of managed area in the sea, and provide our best hope for arresting the global decline in marine biodiversity., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Abstract: Aim: Large‐scale variation in species richness results from multiple environmental controls. We proposed to identify the main factors that influence species richness of reef corals to provide insight into natural forces and their implications for future climate impacts. Location: Indian Ocean. Methods: We applied quantile regression (QR) to predict coral species richness and to evaluate the influence of reef area, biogeographical connection – represented by reef area up‐current, geological provinces defined by plate tectonics, latitude, longitude and mainland‐island separation, the physico‐chemical factors of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), salinity and primary productivity and seven properties of sea surface temperature (mean, minimum, maximum, standard deviation, range, kurtosis and skewness) on coral species richness. Predictions at three quantiles (0.50, 0.75 and 0.95) were compared against ordinary least squares regression (OLS) analysis. Results: All four models successfully predicted species richness, with the 95% QR model showing the best fit. According to this model, reef area, number of reefs up‐current and mean‐SST had positive effects while maximum and kurtosis‐SST had negative effects on richness. The distribution of observed richness values in relation to the regression line suggested this model revealed the main limiting factors. High predicted richness sites were located in the region from Western Australia to Central Indian Ocean Islands and southern India, the Mozambique Channel and East Africa and Southern Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. Sites with low predicted richness were Arabian/Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman, South Africa and south‐west Madagascar, Gulf of Kutch, Bay of Bengal and the Mascarenes. Conclusions: Temperature properties played a prominent role in influencing species richness mainly as latent energy and stress rather than thermal stability. These thermal properties indicate the conditions needed to promote coral diversity and selecting climate refugia for conservation management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT The Aichi Biodiversity Targets were designed to promote and implement the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) by providing a framework for action to save biodiversity and enhance its benefits for people. Specifically, Target 11 aims to protect 10% of all seas by 2020. The percentage of the world's oceans that are protected has increased steadily in recent years, mainly due to very large marine protected areas (MPAs)., The issue of making major gains in achieving protection targets through 'going big' has brought added scrutiny to the subject of MPAs. There is economy in scale, but several people have called into question whether going large will protect representative habitat and result in true protection, or whether it is merely a politically expedient way for some nations to attain targets by creating paper parks, while avoiding tough conservation decisions., The recent creation of large MPAs has greatly enhanced the chance of achieving global protection targets. Large areas typically contain several ecosystems and habitats that interact ecologically, and allow for more holistic conservation. The interactions between ecosystems in large MPAs occur without many of the problems associated with networks of smaller MPAs, where the connectivity between sites is often affected by human activities., The disadvantages of large MPAs include difficulties of surveillance, enforcement and monitoring of vast offshore areas, as well as high total costs. While the cost per unit area may be lower for large MPAs, conducting surveillance and monitoring in such vast areas requires much more expensive technologies., Large MPAs complement and add to existing management and conservation measures. Decision makers should consider designating them as one of a suite of possible protection measures. Besides greatly enhancing the chance of reaching agreed biodiversity targets, large MPAs improve the quality of conservation., Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An updated list of over 200 species of corals from Cosmoledo and Aldabra atolls is presented, which more than doubles previously known species diversity, and establishes these atolls as amongst the most species-rich in the Western Indian Ocean. However, partly this is an artefact of a new method of recording with digital cameras, described here, which greatly improves recording efficiency. This is the first underwater study of Cosmoledo, and the first for Aldabra outside the expedition reports cited. The survey extended to >30 m depth, and comes after the 1998 massive coral mortality. Coral cover was virtually eliminated at that time to about 8-10 m depth in Cosmoledo on seaward slopes, below which coral mortality was only about 50%. Mortality was selective regarding different species, genera and families. Cosmoledo's lagoon of >150 km 2 is shallower than the 'critical depth' of 8-10 m, resulting in an almost complete elimination of corals. To compare these atolls with other reefs in the region, critical depths are summarized for over 25 Indian Ocean locations. New coral recruits are abundant in the shallows of Cosmoledo and Aldabra 4 years later, though cover remains very low. Much bare rock remains (with turf algae) and some genera such as Acropora , previously apparently abundant, remain relatively very scarce. Apart from Porites , whose higher survival is now well documented, the best survivors from the 1998 mortality, and the most successful recruitment of new corals, are of faviids. Soft corals remain extremely scarce in all locations examined above the 'critical depth'. It is predicted that there may be a shift in the identity of the main species of corals in these atolls for many years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines the biodiversity patterns in corals in Indian ocean. Effect of toxonomic error in data; use of cluster analysis for regional groupings in the ocean; Correlation of species with distance between sites; Introduction of toxonomic error in data using random methods; Use of original data and data sets with errors by the clustering procedure.

The author reflects on the marine climate changes and public marine conservation issues. According to the author, the most common conservation issues concerns habitats. The author added that a number of conservation issues have been seized by well-meaning but less important issues. Furthermore, the author cited that biodiversity is one of the classic example.