Quoique l’existence de récifs coralliens des grands fonds soit connue depuis quelques siècles, ce n’est qu’au cours de la dernière décennie que ces écosystèmes ont éveillé l’intérêt des scientifiques cherchant à mieux les comprendre. On s’inquiète de plus en plus de la pluralité et de l’ampleur des menaces anthropogéniques (humaines) pesant sur ces fragiles habitats. […]

Biodiversity is critical in mediating, and even preventing, the spread of emerging zoonotic diseases, or diseases that are transmissible from wildlife to human populations. These include avian flu and Hantavirus. Understanding how threats to biodiversity conservation may also threaten human health is urgent, particularly as human development, changing environmental conditions and global trade are facilitating […]

Although the existence of deep-sea coral reefs has been known for centuries, it is only in the last decade that interest and understanding of these ecosystems have increased. There is a growing concern about the diversity and magnitude of anthropogenic (human) threats to these fragile habitats. Bottom trawling poses by far the largest threat. These […]