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Qu Y, Zeng X, Luo C, Zhang H, Liu Y, Wang J. Constructing wetland ecological corridor system based on hydrological connectivity with the goal of improving regional biodiversity. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 368:122074. [PMID: 39128341 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.122074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2024] [Revised: 07/16/2024] [Accepted: 07/30/2024] [Indexed: 08/13/2024]
Abstract
Hydrological connectivity is crucial for the healthy operation of wetland ecosystems. However, the current design of ecological corridors in wetland biodiversity networks is mostly based on species migration resistance, neglecting the important role of hydrological connectivity. How to incorporate hydrological connectivity into the wetland ecological corridor system (ECS) is still unclear. To answer the question, we proposed a framework for constructing a wetland ECS with the goal of improving conservation value of previously identified wetland biodiversity hotspots based on hydrological connectivity. In the proposed framework, we clarified the function-level-dimension of each corridor based on the dynamics of conservation value of biodiversity hotspots, the hierarchical classification of rivers and the dimension of hydrological connectivity. Then we determined the spatial distribution and functional zoning of the corridors by least cost model (LCM) using indicators that reflect wetland hydrological connectivity resistance, including water coverage, water use efficiency of vegetation, and land use suitability. The results are as follows: (1) to improve the overall hydrological connectivity and conservation value of biodiversity hotspots, 25 corridors should be constructed for vertical hydrological connectivity (with 3 for maintaining the status quo, 6 for improving and 16 for restoring connectivity) and 3 corridors should be constructed for lateral hydrological connectivity; (2) total area of all corridors are 11 km2, accounting for 6.79% of the study area (2.47% of core zone and 4.32% of buffer zone); (3) low suitability areas of hydrological vegetation gradient (HVG) are the most extensive, followed by low suitability areas of land use/cover change (LUCC) and the average fraction coverage of water surface (AFCW), accounting for 65.08%, 47.87% and 6.76% of the corridor coverage, respectively. The proposed framework of constructing wetland ECS in this study has the potential to provide the post-2020 global biodiversity framework and sustainable development goals with specific technical support and more targeted-control strategies for building a hydrological connected wetland biodiversity network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Qu
- National and Local Joint Laboratory of Wetland and Ecological Conservation, Institute of Natural Resources and Ecology, Heilongjiang Academy of Sciences, Harbin, 150040, China
| | - Xingyu Zeng
- National and Local Joint Laboratory of Wetland and Ecological Conservation, Institute of Natural Resources and Ecology, Heilongjiang Academy of Sciences, Harbin, 150040, China
| | - Chunyu Luo
- National and Local Joint Laboratory of Wetland and Ecological Conservation, Institute of Natural Resources and Ecology, Heilongjiang Academy of Sciences, Harbin, 150040, China
| | - Hongqiang Zhang
- National and Local Joint Laboratory of Wetland and Ecological Conservation, Institute of Natural Resources and Ecology, Heilongjiang Academy of Sciences, Harbin, 150040, China
| | - Yingnan Liu
- National and Local Joint Laboratory of Wetland and Ecological Conservation, Institute of Natural Resources and Ecology, Heilongjiang Academy of Sciences, Harbin, 150040, China.
| | - Jifeng Wang
- National and Local Joint Laboratory of Wetland and Ecological Conservation, Institute of Natural Resources and Ecology, Heilongjiang Academy of Sciences, Harbin, 150040, China.
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2
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McClanahan TR, Friedlander AM, Wickel J, Graham NAJ, Bruggemann JH, Guillaume MMM, Chabanet P, Porter S, Schleyer MH, Azali MK, Muthiga NA. Testing for concordance between predicted species richness, past prioritization, and marine protected area designations in the western Indian Ocean. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2024; 38:e14256. [PMID: 38545935 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.14256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Revised: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 07/24/2024]
Abstract
Scientific advances in environmental data coverage and machine learning algorithms have improved the ability to make large-scale predictions where data are missing. These advances allowed us to develop a spatially resolved proxy for predicting numbers of tropical nearshore marine taxa. A diverse marine environmental spatial database was used to model numbers of taxa from ∼1000 field sites, and the predictions were applied to all 7039 6.25-km2 reef cells in 9 ecoregions and 11 nations of the western Indian Ocean. Our proxy for total numbers of taxa was based on the positive correlation (r2 = 0.24) of numbers of taxa of hard corals and 5 highly diverse reef fish families. Environmental relationships indicated that the number of fish species was largely influenced by biomass, nearness to people, governance, connectivity, and productivity and that coral taxa were influenced mostly by physicochemical environmental variability. At spatial delineations of province, ecoregion, nation, and strength of spatial clustering, we compared areas of conservation priority based on our total species proxy with those identified in 3 previous priority-setting reports and with the protected area database. Our method identified 119 locations that fit 3 numbers of taxa (hard coral, fish, and their combination) and 4 spatial delineations (nation, ecoregion, province, and reef clustering) criteria. Previous publications on priority setting identified 91 priority locations of which 6 were identified by all reports. We identified 12 locations that fit our 12 criteria and corresponded with 3 previously identified locations, 65 that aligned with at least 1 past report, and 28 that were new locations. Only 34% of the 208 marine protected areas in this province overlapped with identified locations with high numbers of predicted taxa. Differences occurred because past priorities were frequently based on unquantified perceptions of remoteness and preselected priority taxa. Our environment-species proxy and modeling approach can be considered among other important criteria for making conservation decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim R McClanahan
- Global Marine Programs, Wildlife Conservation Society, Bronx, New York, USA
| | - Alan M Friedlander
- Pristine Seas, National Geographic Society, Washington, DC, USA
- Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawai'i, Kāne'ohe, Hawaii, USA
| | | | | | - J Henrich Bruggemann
- UMR 9220 ENTROPIE, Université de La Réunion - IRD - CNRS - IFREMER - UNC, Saint Denis, France
- Laboratoire d'Excellence CORAIL, Perpignan, France
| | - Mireille M M Guillaume
- Laboratoire d'Excellence CORAIL, Perpignan, France
- UMR BOREA, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle - Sorbonne U - CNRS - IRD - UCN - UA, Paris, France
| | - P Chabanet
- UMR 9220 ENTROPIE, Université de La Réunion - IRD - CNRS - IFREMER - UNC, Saint Denis, France
- Laboratoire d'Excellence CORAIL, Perpignan, France
| | - Sean Porter
- Oceanographic Research Institute, Durban, South Africa
| | | | - M Kodia Azali
- Global Marine Programs, Wildlife Conservation Society, Bronx, New York, USA
| | - N A Muthiga
- Kenya Marine Program, Wildlife Conservation Society, Mombasa, Kenya
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3
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Peller T, Altermatt F. Invasive species drive cross-ecosystem effects worldwide. Nat Ecol Evol 2024; 8:1087-1097. [PMID: 38503866 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-024-02380-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024]
Abstract
Invasive species are pervasive around the world and have profound impacts on the ecosystem they invade. Invasive species, however, can also have impacts beyond the ecosystem they invade by altering the flow of non-living materials (for example, nutrients or chemicals) or movement of organisms across the boundaries of the invaded ecosystem. Cross-ecosystem interactions via spatial flows are ubiquitous in nature, for example, connecting forests and lakes, grasslands and rivers, and coral reefs and the deep ocean. Yet, we have a limited understanding of the cross-ecosystem impacts invasive species have relative to their local effects. By synthesizing emerging evidence, here we demonstrate the cross-ecosystem impacts of invasive species as a ubiquitous phenomenon that influences biodiversity and ecosystem functioning around the world. We identify three primary ways by which invasive species have cross-ecosystem effects: first, by altering the magnitude of spatial flows across ecosystem boundaries; second, by altering the quality of spatial flows; and third, by introducing novel spatial flows. Ultimately, the strong impacts invasive species can drive across ecosystem boundaries suggests the need for a paradigm shift in how we study and manage invasive species around the world, expanding from a local to a cross-ecosystem perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianna Peller
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.
- Department of Aquatic Ecology, Eawag: Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland.
| | - Florian Altermatt
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.
- Department of Aquatic Ecology, Eawag: Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland.
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4
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Goetze JS, Heithaus MR, MacNeil MA, Harvey E, Simpfendorfer CA, Heupel MR, Meekan M, Wilson S, Bond ME, Speed CW, Currey-Randall LM, Fisher R, Sherman CS, Kiszka JJ, Rees MJ, Udyawer V, Flowers KI, Clementi GM, Asher J, Beaufort O, Bernard ATF, Berumen ML, Bierwagen SL, Boslogo T, Brooks EJ, Brown JJ, Buddo D, Cáceres C, Casareto S, Charloo V, Cinner JE, Clua EEG, Cochran JEM, Cook N, D'Alberto BM, de Graaf M, Dornhege-Lazaroff MC, Fanovich L, Farabaugh NF, Fernando D, Ferreira CEL, Fields CYA, Flam AL, Floros C, Fourqurean V, Barcia LG, Garla R, Gastrich K, George L, Graham R, Hagan V, Hardenstine RS, Heck SM, Heithaus P, Henderson AC, Hertler H, Hueter RE, Johnson M, Jupiter SD, Kaimuddin M, Kasana D, Kelley M, Kessel ST, Kiilu B, Kyne F, Langlois T, Lawe J, Lédée EJI, Lindfield S, Maggs JQ, Manjaji-Matsumoto BM, Marshall A, Matich P, McCombs E, McLean D, Meggs L, Moore S, Mukherji S, Murray R, Newman SJ, O'Shea OR, Osuka KE, Papastamatiou YP, Perera N, Peterson BJ, Pina-Amargós F, Ponzo A, Prasetyo A, Quamar LMS, Quinlan JR, Razafindrakoto CF, Rolim FA, Ruiz-Abierno A, Ruiz H, Samoilys MA, Sala E, Sample WR, Schärer-Umpierre M, Schoen SN, Schlaff AM, Smith ANH, Sparks L, Stoffers T, Tanna A, Torres R, Travers MJ, Valentin-Albanese J, Warren JD, Watts AM, Wen CK, Whitman ER, Wirsing AJ, Zarza-González E, Chapman DD. Directed conservation of the world's reef sharks and rays. Nat Ecol Evol 2024; 8:1118-1128. [PMID: 38769434 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-024-02386-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
Many shark populations are in decline around the world, with severe ecological and economic consequences. Fisheries management and marine protected areas (MPAs) have both been heralded as solutions. However, the effectiveness of MPAs alone is questionable, particularly for globally threatened sharks and rays ('elasmobranchs'), with little known about how fisheries management and MPAs interact to conserve these species. Here we use a dedicated global survey of coral reef elasmobranchs to assess 66 fully protected areas embedded within a range of fisheries management regimes across 36 countries. We show that conservation benefits were primarily for reef-associated sharks, which were twice as abundant in fully protected areas compared with areas open to fishing. Conservation benefits were greatest in large protected areas that incorporate distinct reefs. However, the same benefits were not evident for rays or wide-ranging sharks that are both economically and ecologically important while also threatened with extinction. We show that conservation benefits from fully protected areas are close to doubled when embedded within areas of effective fisheries management, highlighting the importance of a mixed management approach of both effective fisheries management and well-designed fully protected areas to conserve tropical elasmobranch assemblages globally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordan S Goetze
- Marine Science Program, Biodiversity and Conservation Science, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
- School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
| | - Michael R Heithaus
- Institute of Environment, Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, North Miami, FL, USA
| | - M Aaron MacNeil
- Ocean Frontier Institute, Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Euan Harvey
- School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Colin A Simpfendorfer
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Michelle R Heupel
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Mark Meekan
- The UWA Oceans Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Shaun Wilson
- Marine Science Program, Biodiversity and Conservation Science, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
- The UWA Oceans Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Mark E Bond
- Institute of Environment, Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, North Miami, FL, USA
| | - Conrad W Speed
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | | | - Rebecca Fisher
- The UWA Oceans Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - C Samantha Sherman
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jeremy J Kiszka
- Institute of Environment, Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, North Miami, FL, USA
| | - Matthew J Rees
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
- Centre for Sustainable Ecosystems Solutions, School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Vinay Udyawer
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia
| | - Kathryn I Flowers
- Institute of Environment, Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, North Miami, FL, USA
- Ray Biology and Conservation Program, Mote Marine Laboratory, Sarasota, FL, USA
| | - Gina M Clementi
- Institute of Environment, Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, North Miami, FL, USA
| | - Jacob Asher
- Department of Environmental Protection and Regeneration, Red Sea Global, AlRaidah Digital City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Anthony T F Bernard
- South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity, National Research Foundation, Makhanda, South Africa
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, Rhodes University, Makhanda, South Africa
| | - Michael L Berumen
- Red Sea Research Center, Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Stacy L Bierwagen
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Tracey Boslogo
- Papua New Guinea Wildlife Conservation Society, Kavieng, New Ireland Province, Papua New Guinea
| | - Edward J Brooks
- Cape Eleuthera Institute, Cape Eleuthera, Eleuthera, Bahamas
| | - J Jed Brown
- Center for Sustainable Development, College of Arts and Sciences, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Dayne Buddo
- Georgia Aquarium - Research and Conservation, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Camila Cáceres
- Institute of Environment, Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, North Miami, FL, USA
| | - Sara Casareto
- Institute of Environment, Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, North Miami, FL, USA
| | | | - Joshua E Cinner
- Thriving Oceans Research Hub, School of Geosciences, University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Eric E G Clua
- Paris Sciences Lettres, Centre de Recherche Insulaire et Observatoire de l'Environnement Opunohu Bay, Papetoai, French Polynesia
- LABEX CORAIL, Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes, Perpignan, France
| | - Jesse E M Cochran
- Red Sea Research Center, Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Neil Cook
- School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
- Environmental Research Institute Charlotteville, Charlotteville, Trinidad and Tobago
| | - Brooke M D'Alberto
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
- Oceans and Atmosphere, CSIRO, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Martin de Graaf
- Wageningen Marine Research, Wageningen University and Research, IJmuiden, the Netherlands
| | | | - Lanya Fanovich
- Environmental Research Institute Charlotteville, Charlotteville, Trinidad and Tobago
| | - Naomi F Farabaugh
- Institute of Environment, Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, North Miami, FL, USA
| | | | - Carlos Eduardo Leite Ferreira
- Reef Systems Ecology and Conservation Lab, Departamento de Biologia Marinha, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Candace Y A Fields
- Institute of Environment, Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, North Miami, FL, USA
- Cape Eleuthera Institute, Cape Eleuthera, Eleuthera, Bahamas
| | - Anna L Flam
- Marine Megafauna Foundation, Palm Beach, CA, USA
| | - Camilla Floros
- Oceanographic Research Institute, Durban, South Africa
- TRAFFIC International, Cambridge, UK
- Science Department, Georgia Jones-Ayers Middle School, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Virginia Fourqurean
- Institute of Environment, Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, North Miami, FL, USA
| | - Laura García Barcia
- Institute of Environment, Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, North Miami, FL, USA
| | - Ricardo Garla
- Centro de Biociências, Departmento de Botânica e Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal-RN, Brazil
- Beacon Development Department, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Kirk Gastrich
- Institute of Environment, Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, North Miami, FL, USA
| | - Lachlan George
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | | | - Valerie Hagan
- Sharks and Rays Conservation Program, Mote Marine Laboratory, Sarasota, FL, USA
| | - Royale S Hardenstine
- Department of Environmental Protection and Regeneration, Red Sea Global, AlRaidah Digital City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Red Sea Research Center, Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Stephen M Heck
- School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Patricia Heithaus
- Institute of Environment, Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, North Miami, FL, USA
| | - Aaron C Henderson
- The School for Field Studies, Center for Marine Resource Studies, South Caicos, Turks and Caicos Islands
| | - Heidi Hertler
- The School for Field Studies, Center for Marine Resource Studies, South Caicos, Turks and Caicos Islands
| | - Robert E Hueter
- Sharks and Rays Conservation Program, Mote Marine Laboratory, Sarasota, FL, USA
- OCEARCH, Park City, UT, USA
| | | | - Stacy D Jupiter
- Melanesia Program, Wildlife Conservation Society, Suva, Fiji
| | - Muslimin Kaimuddin
- Operation Wallacea, Spilsby, Lincolnshire, UK
- Wasage Divers, Wakatobi and Buton, Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia
| | - Devanshi Kasana
- Institute of Environment, Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, North Miami, FL, USA
| | - Megan Kelley
- Institute of Environment, Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, North Miami, FL, USA
| | - Steven T Kessel
- Daniel P. Haerther Center for Conservation and Research, John G. Shedd Aquarium, Chicago, IL, USA
| | | | - Fabian Kyne
- University of the West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica
| | - Tim Langlois
- The UWA Oceans Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Jaedon Lawe
- Yardie Environmental Conservationists Limited, Kingston, Jamaica
| | - Elodie J I Lédée
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | | | - Jade Q Maggs
- National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, Auckland, New Zealand
| | | | - Andrea Marshall
- Marine Megafauna Foundation, West Palm, FL, USA
- Depto. Ecología e Hidrología, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | | | | | - Dianne McLean
- The UWA Oceans Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Llewelyn Meggs
- Yardie Environmental Conservationists Limited, Kingston, Jamaica
| | - Stephen Moore
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Sushmita Mukherji
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Ryan Murray
- Large Marine Vertebrates Research Institute Philippines, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, Philippines
- Met Eireann, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Stephen J Newman
- Western Australian Fisheries and Marine Research Laboratories, Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Government of Western Australia, Hillarys, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Owen R O'Shea
- Cape Eleuthera Institute, Cape Eleuthera, Eleuthera, Bahamas
- Centre for Ocean Research and Education, Gregory Town, Eleuthera, Bahamas
| | - Kennedy E Osuka
- CORDIO East Africa, Mombasa, Kenya
- Department of Earth, Oceans and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Yannis P Papastamatiou
- Institute of Environment, Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, North Miami, FL, USA
| | | | - Bradley J Peterson
- School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Fabián Pina-Amargós
- Blue Sanctuary-Avalon, Jardines de la Reina, Cuba
- Centro de Investigaciones Marinas, Universidad de La Habana, Habana, Cuba
| | - Alessandro Ponzo
- Large Marine Vertebrates Research Institute Philippines, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, Philippines
| | - Andhika Prasetyo
- Center for Fisheries Research, Ministry for Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Jakarta Utara, Indonesia
- Research Center for Conservation of Marine and Inland Water Resources, National Research and Innovation Agency, Bogor, Indonesia
| | - L M Sjamsul Quamar
- Fisheries Department, Universitas Dayanu Ikhsanuddin, Bau Bau, Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia
| | - Jessica R Quinlan
- Institute of Environment, Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, North Miami, FL, USA
| | | | - Fernanda A Rolim
- Marine Ecology and Conservation Laboratory, Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo, Santos, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | | | - Melita A Samoilys
- CORDIO East Africa, Mombasa, Kenya
- Department of Biology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Enric Sala
- Pristine Seas, National Geographic Society, Washington, DC, USA
| | - William R Sample
- Institute of Environment, Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, North Miami, FL, USA
| | | | - Sara N Schoen
- Institute of Environment, Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, North Miami, FL, USA
| | - Audrey M Schlaff
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Adam N H Smith
- School of Mathematical and Computational Sciences, Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand
| | | | - Twan Stoffers
- Aquaculture and Fisheries Group, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
- Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Rubén Torres
- Reef Check Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
| | - Michael J Travers
- Western Australian Fisheries and Marine Research Laboratories, Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Government of Western Australia, Hillarys, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Jasmine Valentin-Albanese
- School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
- Bergen County Technical Schools, Bergen County, NJ, USA
| | - Joseph D Warren
- School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Alexandra M Watts
- Marine Megafauna Foundation, Truckee, CA, USA
- Department of Natural Sciences, Faculty of Science Engineering, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK
| | - Colin K Wen
- Department of Life Science, Tunghai University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Elizabeth R Whitman
- Institute of Environment, Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, North Miami, FL, USA
| | - Aaron J Wirsing
- School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Esteban Zarza-González
- GIBEAM Research Group, Universidad del Sinú, Cartagena, Colombia
- Corales del Rosario and San Bernardo National Natural Park, Bolivar, Colombia
| | - Demian D Chapman
- Institute of Environment, Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, North Miami, FL, USA
- Sharks and Rays Conservation Program, Mote Marine Laboratory, Sarasota, FL, USA
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5
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McIlroy SE, Guibert I, Archana A, Chung WYH, Duffy JE, Gotama R, Hui J, Knowlton N, Leray M, Meyer C, Panagiotou G, Paulay G, Russell B, Thompson PD, Baker DM. Life goes on: Spatial heterogeneity promotes biodiversity in an urbanized coastal marine ecosystem. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2024; 30:e17248. [PMID: 38581126 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.17248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 02/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024]
Abstract
Both human populations and marine biodiversity are concentrated along coastlines, with growing conservation interest in how these ecosystems can survive intense anthropogenic impacts. Tropical urban centres provide valuable research opportunities because these megacities are often adjacent to mega-diverse coral reef systems. The Pearl River Delta is a prime exemplar, as it encompasses one of the most densely populated and impacted regions in the world and is located just northwest of the Coral Triangle. However, the spatial and taxonomic complexity of this biodiversity, most of which is small, cryptic in habitat and poorly known, make comparative analyses challenging. We deployed standardized settlement structures at seven sites differing in the intensity of human impacts and used COI metabarcoding to characterize benthic biodiversity, with a focus on metazoans. We found a total of 7184 OTUs, with an average of 665 OTUs per sampling unit; these numbers exceed those observed in many previous studies using comparable methods, despite the location of our study in an urbanized environment. Beta diversity was also high, with 52% of the OTUs found at just one site. As expected, we found that the sites close to point sources of pollution had substantially lower diversity (44% less) relative to sites bathed in less polluted oceanic waters. However, the polluted sites contributed substantially to the total animal diversity of the region, with 25% of all OTUs occurring only within polluted sites. Further analysis of Arthropoda, Annelida and Mollusca showed that phylogenetic clustering within a site was common, suggesting that environmental filtering reduced biodiversity to a subset of lineages present within the region, a pattern that was most pronounced in polluted sites and for the Arthropoda. The water quality gradients surrounding the PRD highlight the unique role of in situ studies for understanding the impacts of complex urbanization pressures on biodiversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shelby E McIlroy
- School of Biological Sciences, The Swire Institute of Marine Science, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, P.R. China
- Simon F.S. Li Marine Science Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, P.R. China
| | - Isis Guibert
- School of Biological Sciences, The Swire Institute of Marine Science, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, P.R. China
| | - Anand Archana
- School of Biological Sciences, The Swire Institute of Marine Science, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, P.R. China
- San Francisco State University, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Wing Yi Haze Chung
- School of Biological Sciences, The Swire Institute of Marine Science, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, P.R. China
| | - J Emmett Duffy
- MarineGEO Program and Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, Edgewater, Maryland, USA
| | - Rinaldi Gotama
- School of Biological Sciences, The Swire Institute of Marine Science, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, P.R. China
- Indo Ocean Project, Banjar Adegan Kawan, Desa Ped, Bali, Indonesia
| | - Jerome Hui
- Simon F.S. Li Marine Science Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, P.R. China
| | - Nancy Knowlton
- National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Matthieu Leray
- MarineGEO Program and Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, Edgewater, Maryland, USA
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Smithsonian Institution, Panama City, Balboa, Ancon, Republic of Panama
| | - Chris Meyer
- National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Gianni Panagiotou
- Department of Microbiome Dynamics, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Hans-Knoell-Institute, Jena, Germany
- Friedrich Schiller University, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Jena, Germany
- Department of Medicine and State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Gustav Paulay
- Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Bayden Russell
- School of Biological Sciences, The Swire Institute of Marine Science, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, P.R. China
| | - Philip D Thompson
- School of Biological Sciences, The Swire Institute of Marine Science, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, P.R. China
| | - David M Baker
- School of Biological Sciences, The Swire Institute of Marine Science, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, P.R. China
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6
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Teichert N, Tabouret H, Lizé A, Daverat F, Acou A, Trancart T, Virag LS, Pécheyran C, Feunteun E, Carpentier A. Quantifying larval dispersal portfolio in seabass nurseries using otolith chemical signatures. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 196:106426. [PMID: 38442591 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2024.106426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2024] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
The temporal asynchronies in larvae production from different spawning areas are fundamental components for ensuring stability and resilience of marine metapopulations. Such a concept, named portfolio effect, supposes that diversifying larval dispersal histories should minimize the risk of recruitment failure by increasing the probability that at least some larvae successfully settle in nursery. Here, we used a reconstructive approach based on otolith chemistry to quantify the larval dispersal portfolio of the European seabass, Dicentrarchus labrax, across six estuarine nursery areas of the northeast Atlantic Ocean. The analysis of natal and trajectory signatures indicated that larvae hatch in distinct environments and then dispersed in water masses featured by contrasting chemical signatures. While some trace elements appeared affected by temporal changes (Mn and Sr), others varied spatially during the larval stage but remained poorly affected by temporal fluctuation and fish physiology (Ba, Cu, Rb and Zn). We then proposed two diversity metrics based on richness and variations of chemical signatures among populations to reflect spatio-temporal diversity in natal origins and larval trajectories (i.e., estimates of dispersal portfolio). Along the French coast, the diversity estimates were maximum in nurseries located at proximity of offshore spawning sites and featured by complex offshore hydrodynamic contexts, such as the Mont St-Michel bay. Finally, our findings indicate that the dispersal portfolio was positively related with the local abundance of seabass juveniles, supporting the assumption that heterogeneity in dispersal history contributes to promote recruitment success in nurseries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nils Teichert
- UMR 8067 BOREA (MNHN, CNRS, IRD, SU, UCN, UA), Laboratoire de Biologie des Organismes et Ecosystèmes Aquatiques, Paris, France; MNHN, Station Marine de Dinard, CRESCO, 35800, Dinard, France.
| | - Hélène Tabouret
- Université de Pau et des Pays de l'Adour, E2S UPPA, CNRS, IPREM, Pau, France
| | - Anne Lizé
- UMR 8067 BOREA (MNHN, CNRS, IRD, SU, UCN, UA), Laboratoire de Biologie des Organismes et Ecosystèmes Aquatiques, Paris, France; MNHN, Station Marine de Dinard, CRESCO, 35800, Dinard, France; School of Life Sciences, University of Liverpool, L697ZB, Liverpool, UK
| | | | - Anthony Acou
- Centre d'expertise et de données PatriNat (OFB-MNHN-CNRS-IRD), Station marine de Dinard, CRESCO, 35800, Dinard, France; Pôle R&D OFB, INRAE, Institut Agro -UPPA MIAME (MIgrateurs AMphihalins dans leur Environnement), 35000, Rennes, France
| | - Thomas Trancart
- UMR 8067 BOREA (MNHN, CNRS, IRD, SU, UCN, UA), Laboratoire de Biologie des Organismes et Ecosystèmes Aquatiques, Paris, France; MNHN, Station Marine de Dinard, CRESCO, 35800, Dinard, France
| | | | | | - Eric Feunteun
- UMR 8067 BOREA (MNHN, CNRS, IRD, SU, UCN, UA), Laboratoire de Biologie des Organismes et Ecosystèmes Aquatiques, Paris, France; MNHN, Station Marine de Dinard, CRESCO, 35800, Dinard, France; CGEL, EPHE-PSL, 35800, Dinard, France
| | - Alexandre Carpentier
- Université de Rennes, UMR 8067 BOREA (MNHN, CNRS, IRD, SU, UCN, UA) Laboratoire de Biologie des Organismes et Ecosystèmes Aquatiques, Rennes, France
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7
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Olin AB, Bergström U, Bodin Ö, Sundblad G, Eriksson BK, Erlandsson M, Fredriksson R, Eklöf JS. Predation and spatial connectivity interact to shape ecosystem resilience to an ongoing regime shift. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1304. [PMID: 38347008 PMCID: PMC10861472 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45713-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Ecosystem regime shifts can have severe ecological and economic consequences, making it a top priority to understand how to make systems more resilient. Theory predicts that spatial connectivity and the local environment interact to shape resilience, but empirical studies are scarce. Here, we use >7000 fish samplings from the Baltic Sea coast to test this prediction in an ongoing, spatially propagating shift in dominance from predatory fish to an opportunistic mesopredator, with cascading effects throughout the food web. After controlling for the influence of other drivers (including increasing mesopredator densities), we find that predatory fish habitat connectivity increases resilience to the shift, but only when densities of fish-eating top predators (seals, cormorants) are low. Resilience also increases with temperature, likely through boosted predatory fish growth and recruitment. These findings confirm theoretical predictions that spatial connectivity and the local environment can together shape resilience to regime shifts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnes B Olin
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden.
- Department of Aquatic Resources, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Ulf Bergström
- Department of Aquatic Resources, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Örjan Bodin
- Stockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Göran Sundblad
- Department of Aquatic Resources, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Britas Klemens Eriksson
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Mårten Erlandsson
- Department of Aquatic Resources, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Ronny Fredriksson
- Department of Aquatic Resources, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Johan S Eklöf
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
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8
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Hernández-Andreu R, Félix-Hackradt FC, Schiavetti A, S Texeira JL, Hackradt CW. Marine protected areas are a useful tool to protect coral reef fishes but not representative to conserve their functional role. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 351:119656. [PMID: 38042082 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.119656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/04/2023]
Abstract
Anthropogenic actions have direct and indirect impacts on natural systems, leading to significant alterations in marine ecosystems worldwide. One of the most notable problems is species loss, as the disappearance of species from an area can compromise ecological functions. This is at the core of a severe biodiversity crisis. To address and reverse these processes, marine protected areas (MPAs) have been utilized as a crucial tool to mitigate species loss, increase biomass, and serve as a fisheries management tool. However, there is a lack of information assessing MPAs from the perspective of their contribution to maintaining ecological functions. In recent decades, functional diversity (FD) indices have been widely used to assess ecosystem functioning. In this paper, we conducted an assessment using a global database of reef fish abundance to analyze the effect of No-Take Zones (NTZ) on the FD and "true" diversity (TD) indices of tropical reef fish assemblages in seven tropical biogeographic regions. We found a significant protective effect for some indices, although these responses were dependent on the bioregion. At the bioregional level, NTZs included lower numbers of species and functional entities than open access areas. Consequently, the functional richness protected within these zones partially represented the functional diversity in each biogeographic province. However, smaller-scale functional diversity indices responded to NTZ protection depending on the bioregion. Therefore, these results reinforce that the assessed NTZs are responsive to the protection of functional diversity, although they are not sufficient for safeguarding ecosystem functions in tropical reefs. This highlights the importance of expanding the number of protection entities worldwide with management strategies focused on coral reef fish functionality, as well as effective local/regional assessments. Thus, a new paradigm is necessary in the planning and creation of MPAs to safeguard ecosystem functions, with a priority given to the protection of ecosystem functions and habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramón Hernández-Andreu
- Marine Ecology and Conservation Lab. Centre for Environmental Sciences, Universidade Federal do Sul da Bahia, Campus Sosígenes Costa, Rod. Joel Maers, BR 367, km 10, CEP: 45810-000, Porto Seguro, BA, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Conservação da Biodiversidade, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Rod Ilhéus/Itabuna Km-16 s/n, CEP: 45662-000, Ilhéus, BA, Brazil; Ethnoconservation and Protected Areas Laboratory, Department of Agrarian and Environmental Sciences, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Rod Ilhéus/Itabuna Km-16 s/n, CEP: 45662-000, Ilhéus, BA, Brazil.
| | - Fabiana C Félix-Hackradt
- Marine Ecology and Conservation Lab. Centre for Environmental Sciences, Universidade Federal do Sul da Bahia, Campus Sosígenes Costa, Rod. Joel Maers, BR 367, km 10, CEP: 45810-000, Porto Seguro, BA, Brazil
| | - Alexandre Schiavetti
- Ethnoconservation and Protected Areas Laboratory, Department of Agrarian and Environmental Sciences, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Rod Ilhéus/Itabuna Km-16 s/n, CEP: 45662-000, Ilhéus, BA, Brazil
| | - Jessyca L S Texeira
- Marine Ecology and Conservation Lab. Centre for Environmental Sciences, Universidade Federal do Sul da Bahia, Campus Sosígenes Costa, Rod. Joel Maers, BR 367, km 10, CEP: 45810-000, Porto Seguro, BA, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Conservação da Biodiversidade, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Rod Ilhéus/Itabuna Km-16 s/n, CEP: 45662-000, Ilhéus, BA, Brazil
| | - Carlos W Hackradt
- Marine Ecology and Conservation Lab. Centre for Environmental Sciences, Universidade Federal do Sul da Bahia, Campus Sosígenes Costa, Rod. Joel Maers, BR 367, km 10, CEP: 45810-000, Porto Seguro, BA, Brazil
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Randrianarivo M, Botosoamananto RL, Guilhaumon F, Penin L, Todinanahary G, Adjeroud M. Effects of Madagascar marine reserves on juvenile and adult coral abundance, and the implication for population regulation. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 190:106080. [PMID: 37422994 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2023.106080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023]
Abstract
Recruitment is a critical component in the dynamics of coral assemblages, and a key question is to determine the degree to which spatial heterogeneity of adults is influenced by pre-vs. post-settlement processes. We analyzed the density of juvenile and adult corals among 18 stations located at three regions around Madagascar, and examined the effects of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). Our survey did not detect a positive effect of MPAs on juveniles, except for Porites at the study scale. The MPA effect was more pronounced for adults, notably for Acropora, Montipora, Seriatopora, and Porites at the regional scale. For most dominant genera, densities of juveniles and adults were positively correlated at the study scale, and at least at one of the three regions. These outcomes suggest recruitment-limitation relationships for several coral taxa, although differences in post-settlement events may be sufficiently strong to distort the pattern established at settlement for other populations. The modest benefits of MPAs on the density of juvenile corals demonstrated here argue in favor of strengthening conservation measures more specifically focused to protect recruitment processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahery Randrianarivo
- Institut Halieutique et des Sciences Marines, Université de Toliara, Toliara, Madagascar; ENTROPIE, Université de La Réunion, IRD, CNRS, IFREMER, Université de la Nouvelle-Calédonie, La Réunion, France
| | - Radonirina Lebely Botosoamananto
- Institut Halieutique et des Sciences Marines, Université de Toliara, Toliara, Madagascar; ENTROPIE, Université de La Réunion, IRD, CNRS, IFREMER, Université de la Nouvelle-Calédonie, La Réunion, France
| | - François Guilhaumon
- ENTROPIE, Université de La Réunion, IRD, CNRS, IFREMER, Université de la Nouvelle-Calédonie, La Réunion, France
| | - Lucie Penin
- ENTROPIE, Université de La Réunion, IRD, CNRS, IFREMER, Université de la Nouvelle-Calédonie, La Réunion, France; Laboratoire d'Excellence "CORAIL", Paris, France
| | - Gildas Todinanahary
- Institut Halieutique et des Sciences Marines, Université de Toliara, Toliara, Madagascar
| | - Mehdi Adjeroud
- ENTROPIE, IRD, Université de la Réunion, CNRS, IFREMER, Université de la Nouvelle-Calédonie, Perpignan, France; Laboratoire d'Excellence "CORAIL", Paris, France; PSL Université Paris, UAR 3278, CRIOBE EPHE-UPVD-CNRS, Perpignan, France.
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10
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Muenzel D, Critchell K, Cox C, Campbell SJ, Jakub R, Suherfian W, Sara L, Chollett I, Treml EA, Beger M. Integrating larval connectivity into the marine conservation decision-making process across spatial scales. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2023; 37:e14038. [PMID: 36478610 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.14038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2022] [Revised: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/01/2022] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Larval dispersal connectivity is typically integrated into spatial conservation decisions at regional or national scales, but implementing agencies struggle with translating these methods to local scales. We used larval dispersal connectivity at regional (hundreds of kilometers) and local (tens of kilometers) scales to aid in design of networks of no-take reserves in Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia. We used Marxan with Connectivity informed by biophysical larval dispersal models and remotely sensed coral reef habitat data to design marine reserve networks for 4 commercially important reef species across the region. We complemented regional spatial prioritization with decision trees that combined network-based connectivity metrics and habitat quality to design reserve boundaries locally. Decision trees were used in consensus-based workshops with stakeholders to qualitatively assess site desirability, and Marxan was used to identify areas for subsequent network expansion. Priority areas for protection and expected benefits differed among species, with little overlap in reserve network solutions. Because reef quality varied considerably across reefs, we suggest reef degradation must inform the interpretation of larval dispersal patterns and the conservation benefits achievable from protecting reefs. Our methods can be readily applied by conservation practitioners, in this region and elsewhere, to integrate connectivity data across multiple spatial scales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominic Muenzel
- School of Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Kay Critchell
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Centre for Integrative Ecology, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | | | | | - Raymond Jakub
- Rare, Arlington, Virginia, USA
- Rare Indonesia, Kota Bogor, Indonesia
| | | | - La Sara
- Department of Aquatic Resources Management, Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science, Haluoleo University, Kendari, Indonesia
| | | | - Eric A Treml
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Centre for Integrative Ecology, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Maria Beger
- School of Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
- Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
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11
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Novi L, Bracco A. Machine learning prediction of connectivity, biodiversity and resilience in the Coral Triangle. Commun Biol 2022; 5:1359. [PMID: 36496519 PMCID: PMC9741626 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-04330-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Even optimistic climate scenarios predict catastrophic consequences for coral reef ecosystems by 2100. Understanding how reef connectivity, biodiversity and resilience are shaped by climate variability would improve chances to establish sustainable management practices. In this regard, ecoregionalization and connectivity are pivotal to designating effective marine protected areas. Here, machine learning algorithms and physical intuition are applied to sea surface temperature anomaly data over a twenty-four-year period to extract ecoregions and assess connectivity and bleaching recovery potential in the Coral Triangle and surrounding oceans. Furthermore, the impacts of the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) on biodiversity and resilience are quantified. We find that resilience is higher for reefs north of the Equator and that the extraordinary biodiversity of the Coral Triangle is dynamic in time and space, and benefits from ENSO. The large-scale exchange of genetic material is enhanced between the Indian Ocean and the Coral Triangle during La Niña years, and between the Coral Triangle and the central Pacific in neutral conditions. Through machine learning the outstanding biodiversity of the Coral Triangle, its evolution and the increase of species richness are contextualized through geological times, while offering new hope for monitoring its future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lyuba Novi
- grid.213917.f0000 0001 2097 4943School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences and Program in Ocean Science & Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332 USA
| | - Annalisa Bracco
- grid.213917.f0000 0001 2097 4943School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences and Program in Ocean Science & Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332 USA
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12
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A contemporary baseline of Madagascar's coral assemblages: Reefs with high coral diversity, abundance, and function associated with marine protected areas. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0275017. [PMID: 36264983 PMCID: PMC9584525 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0275017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Madagascar is a major hotspot of biodiversity in the Western Indian Ocean, but, as in many other regions, coral reefs surrounding the island confront large-scale disturbances and human-induced local stressors. Conservation actions have been implemented with encouraging results for fisheries, though their benefit on coral assemblages has never been rigorously addressed. In this context, we analyzed the multiscale spatial variation of the composition, generic richness, abundance, life history strategies, and cover of coral assemblages among 18 stations placed at three regions around the island. The potential influences of marine protected areas (MPAs), algal cover, substrate rugosity, herbivorous fish biomass, and geographic location were also analyzed. Our results highlight the marked spatial variability, with variation at either or both regional and local scales for all coral descriptors. The northeast coastal region of Masoala was characterized by the high abundance of coral colonies, most notably of the competitive Acropora and Pocillopora genera and stress-tolerant taxa at several stations. The southwest station of Salary Nord was distinguished by lower abundances, with depauperate populations of competitive taxa. On the northwest coast, Nosy-Be was characterized by higher diversity and abundance as well as by high coral cover (~42-70%) recorded at unfished stations. Results clearly underline the positive effects of MPAs on all but one of the coral descriptors, particularly at Nosy-Be where the highest contrast between fished and unfished stations was observed. Biomass of herbivorous fishes, crustose coralline algae cover, and substrate rugosity were also positively related to several coral descriptors. The occurrence of reefs with high diversity, abundance, and cover of corals, including the competitive Acropora, is a major finding of this study. Our results strongly support the implementation of locally managed marine areas with strong involvement by primary users, particularly to assist in management in countries with reduced logistic and human resources such as Madagascar.
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