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Disappearing coral reefs are among a host of ecological markers that showcase how promises to protect the planet’s biodiversity are not being met, according to a new study this week in the journal Science.

Marine scientist John Bruno, Ph.D., from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, is part of a team of international researchers who contributed to the paper, which represents the first global assessment of targets made by world leaders through the 2002 Convention on Biological Diversity (note: see here for the news release from the study’s lead author).

Compiling over 30 indicators – measures of different aspects of biodiversity, including changes in species’ populations and risk of extinction, habitat extent and community composition – the study found no evidence for a significant reduction in the rate of decline of biodiversity, and that the pressures facing biodiversity continue to increase.

The paper, published online at the Science Express website, includes information from Bruno and colleagues that shows the cover of live hard coral on reefs in the Indo-Pacific and Caribbean declined on average by almost 40 percent between 1980 and 2004.

“Coral reefs are a key canary in the coal mine for gauging the health of the oceans, one of our richest veins of biodiversity,” said Bruno, associate professor of marine sciences in the UNC College of Arts and Sciences. “Problem is, the canary’s singing a lot more quietly now than it was several decades ago.”

Bruno’s contributions to the new paper reflect similar findings he published in the journal PLOS One earlier this year, that showed how dedicated marine reserves can help safeguard coral reefs. That report – the first comprehensive global study to gauge the impact of marine protected areas on the health of corals – showed that, on average, coral cover in protected areas remained constant, but declined on unprotected reefs (for more information see http://bit.ly/aXRY0d and http://bit.ly/bqhv0c).

“This shows that if we walk the talk on protecting biodiversity, it pays off,” Bruno said. “Given the time it takes to maximize these benefits, it makes sense to establish more marine protected areas. Authorities also need to strengthen efforts to enforce the rules in existing areas.”

Media note: Bruno is currently in Australia, but can be reached at +61 (432) 942-618 or  This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or via Skype (username: johnfbruno).

Multimedia: For images and video of researchers surveying coral reefs, see here and here.

News Services contact: Patric Lane, (919) 962-8596,  This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it