Professor Alex Rogers, Science Director for Ocean Census, led the second lecture in Senckenberg’s Distinguished Lecture Series in June. He explored the biodiversity crisis and gave an overview of Ocean Census and how the project intends to combat this crisis through advancements in taxonomic techniques.
The ocean faces a biodiversity crisis driven by direct and indirect human impacts. However, our knowledge of global marine biodiversity is insufficient for ocean management.
Large areas of the ocean remain unexplored and data from a single scientific expedition can significantly change our understanding of the distribution of marine life. With species in decline and extinction a real possibility, species discovery and description has to accelerate and address the policies needed to conserve marine life.
Rewatch the lecture below.