Our very own Dr. Alejandro Vagelli was featured in a National Geographic article by Adam Cruise regarding the current state of the Banggai cardinalfish (Pterapogon kauderni) which is highly endangered and endemic to Indonesia (there are a few invasive populations in other tropical areas due to humans putting them there). The fate of the Banggai cardinalfish it to be determined shortly at the CITES 2016 convention which will take place in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Dr. Vagelli will be traveling to the convention to help support the proposal for the much needed protection of this beautiful and very popular marine fish.
Additionally, Dr. Vagelli was the lead consultant for getting this species listed in the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and on the IUCN red list.
Marine Field Ecology Course – Rutgers University 