When developing strategies for protecting coral and symbiotic ecosystems, reef managers must consider the variety of living organisms and their habitats: the structure, composition, dynamics, and function of living systems acquired. Biodiversity losses are of special concern because these losses are permanent and require a proactive stance.

IMSG helps provide the knowledge base of the spatial organization of plants and animals along the genetic, organism, population, species, community, ecosystem, and seascape hierarchy levels. We develop tools that help forecast and model major threats such as habitat destruction, environmental changes, and overfishing. We provide critical guidance and oversight reef managers need in order to develop effective, proactive strategies.