Critical knowledge gaps in the conservation and restoration of cold‐water corals

Abstract Introduction Critical knowledge gaps hamper effective conservation of threatened cold‐water coral (CWC) ecosystems, facing cumulative anthropogenic and climate pressures. This review provides a strategic roadmap for urgent, informed intervention. Objectives This review synthesizes global expert consensus to identify and prioritize key knowledge gaps impeding CWC conservation and restoration. Our objective is to provide a strategic roadmap for research, funding, and policy over the next decade. Methods Through literature synthesis and a global expert panel (i.e. the authors), we identified and prioritized critical knowledge gaps in CWC conservation and restoration. Priorities were defined as challenges addressable within a decade through focused international collaboration and funding. Results We identified 10 knowledge gaps across five themes, including CWC status and distribution, community composition, early life history, metapopulation dynamics and connectivity, growth, and food dynamics. We then provide recommendations for international policy that would support CWC protection. Conclusions Addressing these research priorities is a prerequisite for effective conservation strategies. A coordinated international effort is crucial over the next decade to translate this knowledge into actionable plans and prevent irreversible biodiversity loss.

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Publication Details

Journal
Restoration Ecology
Published
2025-12-26
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1111/rec.70286
Primary Topic
Coral and Marine Ecosystems Studies
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

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article

Critical knowledge gaps in the conservation and restoration of cold‐water corals

Michelle L. Taylor, Cherisse Du Preez, Laura F. Robinson, Erica Hendy et al.
Restoration Ecology
Coral and Marine Ecosystems Studies
article

Critical knowledge gaps in the conservation and restoration of cold‐water corals

Michelle L. Taylor, Cherisse Du Preez, Laura F. Robinson, Erica Hendy, Kristopher G. Benson, María Montseny, Maria Luiza de Carvalho Ferreira, Asako K. Matsumoto, Rebecca E. Ross, Tina Kutti, Erik E. Cordes, Sandra Brooke, Cassandra Roch, Thomas F. Hourigan, Anna Meta×as, James Barry, Salomé Buglass, Rhian G. Waller, Sebastian Hennige, Daniel Lauretta, Evan Edinger, Alex D. Rogers, Q. Liu, R. T. S. Cordeiro, M. V. Kitahara, Marina Carreiro‐Silva, Ana‐Belen Yánez‐Suárez, Eva Ramirez‐Llodra, Carlos M. Duarte, Stuart Banks, Jessica D. Gordon, Zoleka N. P. Filander, Christine Ferrier‐Pagès, Ann I. Larsson
article en

Abstract

Abstract Introduction Critical knowledge gaps hamper effective conservation of threatened cold‐water coral (CWC) ecosystems, facing cumulative anthropogenic and climate pressures. This review provides a strategic roadmap for urgent, informed intervention. Objectives This review synthesizes global expert consensus to identify and prioritize key knowledge gaps impeding CWC conservation and restoration. Our objective is to provide a strategic roadmap for research, funding, and policy over the next decade. Methods Through literature synthesis and a global expert panel (i.e. the authors), we identified and prioritized critical knowledge gaps in CWC conservation and restoration. Priorities were defined as challenges addressable within a decade through focused international collaboration and funding. Results We identified 10 knowledge gaps across five themes, including CWC status and distribution, community composition, early life history, metapopulation dynamics and connectivity, growth, and food dynamics. We then provide recommendations for international policy that would support CWC protection. Conclusions Addressing these research priorities is a prerequisite for effective conservation strategies. A coordinated international effort is crucial over the next decade to translate this knowledge into actionable plans and prevent irreversible biodiversity loss.

Restoration EcologyVol. 34(3)
NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service (US), University of Essex (GB), Universidade dos Açores (PT), Charles Darwin Foundation (EC), Dalhousie University (CA), Memorial University of Newfoundland (CA), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (US), Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (ZA), NOAA National Ocean Service (US), Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (US), Fisheries and Oceans Canada (CA), University of British Columbia (CA), Universidade de São Paulo (BR), National Oceanography Centre (GB), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CN), University of Victoria (CA), Florida Coastal School of Law (US), Tokyo National Museum (JP), Norwegian Institute of Marine Research (NO), Government of Canada (CA), University of Bristol (GB), University of Chicago (US), Bernardino Rivadavia Natural Sciences Museum (AR), Biodiversity Research Institute (US), Nanjing Institute of Geology and Paleontology (CN), OceanSaver (Norway) (NO), Institut de Biologia Evolutiva (ES), Marine Environmental Analysis (Sweden) (SE), Scientific Centre of Monaco (MC), Edo Tokyo Museum (JP), University of York (GB), Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco (BR), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (SA), Universitat de Barcelona (ES), Temple University (US), Chiba Institute of Technology (JP), University of Gothenburg (SE), University of Edinburgh (GB), Nelson Mandela University (ZA)
China Postdoctoral Science Foundation, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Natural Environment Research Council, National Key Research and Development Program of China
Openalex Percentile: Top 30%
Coral and Marine Ecosystems Studies
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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