– How do scientists know that a sea creature is extinct or endangered if they haven’t explored 80% of the sea?

Question

– How do scientists know that a sea creature is extinct or endangered if they haven’t explored 80% of the sea?

In: 2

Answer 1

In addition to the other comments regarding surveys and scientific probabilities, you also bear in mind that most species have a specific habitat, or certain habitat parameters and requirements.

For example, let’s say there is a reef fish that needs a specific temperature range; a specific group of 3-5 plants it eats; and it needs a certain type of coral it lays its eggs in.

Now let’s say those types of reefs are deeply damaged somehow – the temperature of the water goes up. The plants die back. The coral becomes ‘bleached’. As the reef dies, so does our fish species.

So in general, my point is that marine life can’t just live anywhere. Most species have specific habitats and 95% of the ocean doesn’t offer the 5% critical to the species in question.