Documenting the 'dodos' of tomorrow

Summary

Dr. Gustav Paulay from the Florida Museum of Natural History spoke at KAUST in 2018 about the surprisingly low level of knowledge about marine biodiversity. He noted that only a fraction of the millions of marine species are currently known and described. Paulay highlighted the effectiveness of large-scale biodiversity surveys and the use of technology like mass sampling and DNA analysis to speed up species identification. Why it matters: Understanding and documenting marine biodiversity is crucial for conservation efforts and for leveraging the potential of marine resources in the Red Sea region and beyond.