Abstract
We integrated coral reef connectivity data for the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico into a conservation decision-making framework for designing a regional scale marine protected area (MPA) network that provides insight into ecological and political contexts. We used an ocean circulation model and regional coral reef data to simulate eight spawning events from 2008–2011, applying a maximum 30-day pelagic larval duration and 20% mortality rate. Coral larval dispersal patterns were analyzed between coral reefs across jurisdictional marine zones to identify spatial relationships between larval sources and destinations within countries and territories across the region. We applied our results in Marxan, a conservation planning software tool, to identify a regional coral reef MPA network design that meets conservation goals, minimizes underlying threats, and maintains coral reef connectivity. Our results suggest that approximately 77% of coral reefs identified as having a high regional connectivity value are not included in the existing MPA network. This research is unique because we quantify and report coral larval connectivity data by marine ecoregions and Exclusive Economic Zones (EZZ) and use this information to identify gaps in the current Caribbean-wide MPA network by integrating asymmetric connectivity information in Marxan to design a regional MPA network that includes important reef network connections. The identification of important reef connectivity metrics guides the selection of priority conservation areas and supports resilience at the whole system level into the future.
Highlights
The rapid decline in coral reef health [1,2,3,4] is prompting countries around the world to take actions to increase coral reef conservation and management
Building on previous Marxan marine connectivity studies [27,28,29], our research provides additional insight because: the analysis represents a synthesis of data over four years including multiple spawning events; 3) we quantify and report larval connectivity data by Exclusive Economic Zones (EZZ); and 4) we use the connectivity information in a systematic conservation planning program to design a regional marine protected area (MPA) network that includes important reef connections
Our results are summarized in the following products: Animation of the larval transport models, analysis of the larval dispersal and local retention by Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), analysis of centrality measures by reef unit, and a comparison of Marxan scenarios
Summary
The rapid decline in coral reef health [1,2,3,4] is prompting countries around the world to take actions to increase coral reef conservation and management. Coral reefs rely heavily on ocean currents that provide new recruits from near and far locations [8,9] These demographic linkages are a key ecological support system for coral reefs, and previous research suggests that reef connectivity has a strong influence on community-level biomass, population persistence, resilience, and species diversity [10]. These currents do not follow political boundaries and several studies suggest MPA networks rarely achieve their full potential because connectivity is typically not incorporated into a regional design process [11,12,13,14,15]. A key challenge in the MPA network design process is to identify the appropriate size, spacing, and location of MPAs in order to safeguard sufficient connectivity processes that will maintain a healthy functioning ecosystem while acting as a mutually replenishing network to facilitate the recovery of populations following a disturbance [10,16,17]
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