Journal article
Vulnerability of marine megafauna to global at-sea anthropogenic threats
Conservation Biology, Vol.40(1), pp.1-25
2026
PMCID: PMC12856791
PMID: 41236032
Abstract
Marine megafauna species are affected by a wide range of anthropogenic threats. To evaluate the risk of such threats, species' vulnerability to each threat must first be determined. We build on the existing threats classification scheme and ranking system of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species by assessing the vulnerability of 256 marine megafauna species to 23 at-sea threats. The threats we considered included individual fishing gear types, climate-change-related subthreats not previously assessed, and threats associated with coastal impacts and maritime disturbances. Our ratings resulted in 70 species having high vulnerability (v > 0.778 out of 1) to at least 1 threat, primarily drifting longlines, temperature extremes, or fixed gear. These 3 threats were also considered to have the most severe effects (i.e., steepest population declines). Overall, temperature extremes and plastics and other solid waste were rated as affecting the largest proportion of populations. Penguins, pinnipeds, and polar bears had the highest vulnerability to temperature extremes. Bony fishes had the highest vulnerability to drifting longlines and plastics and other solid waste; pelagic cetaceans to 4 maritime disturbance threats; elasmobranchs to 5 fishing threats; and flying birds to drifting longlines and 2 maritime disturbance threats. Sirenians and turtles had the highest vulnerability to at least one threat from all 4 categories. Despite not necessarily having severe effects for most taxonomic groups, temperature extremes were rated among the top threats for all taxa except bony fishes. The vulnerability scores we provide are an important first step in estimating the risk of threats to marine megafauna. Importantly, they help differentiate scope from severity, which is key to identifying threats that should be prioritized for mitigation.
Details
- Title
- Vulnerability of marine megafauna to global at-sea anthropogenic threats
- Authors
- Michelle VanCompernolle (Corresponding Author) - The University of Western AustraliaJuliet Morris - University of Western AustraliaHannah J Calich - Australian National UniversityJorge P Rodríguez - Institute for Cross-Disciplinary Physics and Complex SystemsSarah A Marley - Scotland's Rural CollegeJessica R Pearce - University of Western AustraliaBriana Abrahms - University of WashingtonKatya Abrantes - James Cook UniversityAndré S Afonso - University of CoimbraAlex Aguilar - Institut de Biologia EvolutivaAndrews Agyekumhene - University of GhanaTomonari Akamatsu - Waseda UniversitySusanne Åkesson - Lund UniversityNyimale G Alawa - Social ActionJoanna Alfaro-Shigueto - Universidad Científica del SurR C Anderson - Maldives National UniversityTycho Anker-Nilssen - Norwegian Institute for Nature ResearchJavier A Arata - The ArkGonzalo Araujo - Nature Conservation FoundationMartin C Arostegui - Woods Hole Oceanographic InstitutionHaritz Arrizabalaga - Marine Technology UnitLucy M Arrowsmith - Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and AttractionsMarie Auger-Méthé - University of British ColumbiaIsabel C Avila - University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, FoundationFred Bailleul - South Australian Research and Development InstituteJoanna Barker - Zoological Society of LondonDawn R Barlow - Oregon State UniversityAdam Barnett - James Cook UniversityHector Barrios-Garrido - Universidad del ZuliaAlastair M M Baylis - South Atlantic Environmental Research InstituteGiovanni Bearzi - Dolphin Interconnect Solutions (Norway)Lars Bejder - University of Hawaiʻi at MānoaEduardo J Belda - Universitat Politècnica de ValènciaScott R Benson - NOAA National Marine Fisheries ServiceMichael L Berumen - King Abdullah University of Science and TechnologySophie Bestley - Australian Antarctic DivisionNatalia P A Bezerra - Universidade Federal do Espírito SantoAntonin V Blaison - Observatoire des Sciences de l'Univers de la RéunionLars Boehme - Andrews UniversitySteven J Bograd - NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service Southwest Fisheries Science CenterBolaji Dunsin Abimbola - Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine ResearchMark E Bond - Florida International UniversityAsunción Borrell - Institut de Biologia EvolutivaPhil J Bouchet - Biomathematics and Statistics ScotlandPeter Boveng - NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service Alaska Fisheries Science CenterGill Braulik - Andrews UniversityCamrin D Braun - Woods Hole Oceanographic InstitutionStephanie Brodie - Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research OrganisationLeandro Bugoni - Universidade Federal do Rio GrandeCarlos Bustamante - Universidad de AntofagastaSteven E Campana - University of IcelandSusana Cárdenas-Alayza - Universidad Peruana Cayetano HerediaRuth H Carmichael - Dauphin Island Sea LabGemma Carroll - Environmental Defense FundMatt I D Carter - Andrews UniversityFilipe R Ceia - University of CoimbraSalvatore Cerchio - African Conservation CentreLuciana C Ferreira - Australian Institute of Marine SciencePhilippine Chambault - University of California, Santa CruzTaylor K Chapple - Oregon Department of Fish and WildlifePatricia Charvet - Universidade Federal do CearáElpis J Chavez - Universidad de Costa RicaDamien Chevallier - Centre National de la Recherche ScientifiqueAndre Chiaradia - Parks VictoriaB Louise Chilvers - Massey UniversityMegan A Cimino - University of California, Santa CruzBethany L Clark - BirdLife internationalC R Clarke - University of JeddahThomas A Clay - University of California, Santa CruzCarl S Cloyed - Dauphin Island Sea LabJesse E M Cochran - King Abdullah University of Science and TechnologyTim Collins - Wildlife Conservation SocietyEnric Cortes - Florida State UniversityEduardo Cuevas - Universidad Autónoma de Baja CaliforniaDavid J Curnick - Zoological Society of LondonPeter Dann - Parks VictoriaP J Nico de Bruyn - University of PretoriaAsha de Vos - University of ColomboSolène Derville - University of New CaledoniaMaria P Dias - Sustainability InstituteBruno Diaz-Lopez - Bottlenose Dolphin Research InstituteKara L Dodge - New England AquariumAlistair D M Dove - Georgia Institute of TechnologyThomas K Doyle - University College CorkJ Marcus Drymon - Mississippi Department of Wildlife Fisheries and ParksChristine L Dudgeon - University of the Sunshine CoastPeter H Dutton - NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service Southwest Fisheries Science CenterUrsula Ellenberg - University of WashingtonSimon H Elwen - University of the Western CapeLouise Emmerson - Australian Antarctic DivisionEdem A Eniang - Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural ResourcesMario Espinoza - Universidad de Costa RicaNicole Esteban - Swansea UniversityEvert Mul - Norwegian Institute for Nature ResearchBrian S Fadely - NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service Alaska Fisheries Science CenterAnnette L Fayet - Norwegian Institute for Nature ResearchChris Feare - Haslemere HospitalSteven H Ferguson - Fisheries and Oceans CanadaLaura Joan Feyrer - Fisheries and Oceans CanadaBrittany Finucci - National Institute of Water and Atmospheric ResearchSee article text for complete list of authors (Author)Bonnie Holmes - University of the Sunshine CoastAlexis L Levengood - University of the Sunshine CoastKylie L Scales - University of the Sunshine Coast
- Publication details
- Conservation Biology, Vol.40(1), pp.1-25
- Publisher
- Wiley-Blackwell Publishing, Inc.
- Date published
- 2026
- DOI
- 10.1111/cobi.70147
- ISSN
- 1523-1739
- PMID
- 41236032; PMC12856791
- Copyright note
- © 2025 The Author(s). Conservation Biology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society for Conservation Biology. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited and is not used for commercial purposes.
- Grant note
- Pew Charitable Trusts / Jock Clough Marine Foundation / C.F. & E.A. Jenkins Postgraduate Scholarship
- Organisation Unit
- School of Science, Technology and Engineering
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 991184325102621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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