Abstract
Inferring pathways used by organisms within ecosystems is essential to the design, management and evaluation of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). This study aimed to present a systematic review on the literature regarding the use of acoustic telemetry to monitor marine fish movement and its application on MPAs. Searches were conducted on electronic databases. The first studies using telemetry on marine fish date back to the 60’s, while application on MPAs only appeared 30 years later. However, over the last decade, studies in MPAs accounted for 20% of the overall acoustic telemetry publications on marine fish species. Recent technological development has had an important impact on those results. The number of studies inside MPAs followed the number of general studies and coverage areas of MPAs declared around the world, although frequency of studies did not match MPA coverage in some countries. Developed countries scored more studies, probably due to the relative high cost of acoustic telemetry. Studies in Brazilian MPAs are scarce, with only one study available on elasmobranchs. Brazil has recently increased its MPA coverage to 26%, so it is expected to increase the need for MPA effectiveness studies. Brazilian participation on global tracking networks may help filling this gap.
 Keywords: PRISMA statement, fish movement, remote monitoring, MPA effectiveness, tracking networks
Highlights
Movement is a key factor that shapes several aspects of fish behavior such as habitat use, home range size, reproduction and diel and seasonal activity patterns (e.g. Marshell et al, 2011; Lee et al, 2015; Di Lorenzo; Claudet & Guidetti, 2016; Gandra; Erzini & Abecasis, 2018) and influences the dynamics, structure and distribution patterns of fish populations
Articles were filtered for the quantitative analysis based on the following exclusion criteria: the study (I) addressed species other than fish, (II) were not conducted in already implemented or designated marine protected areas and (III) evaluated Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) effectiveness based on simulation models
Studies reporting the use of acoustic telemetry to monitor fish species inside MPAs (Search 2, n = 157) were first published in the 1990’s (Figure 2)
Summary
Movement is a key factor that shapes several aspects of fish behavior such as habitat use, home range size, reproduction and diel and seasonal activity patterns (e.g. Marshell et al, 2011; Lee et al, 2015; Di Lorenzo; Claudet & Guidetti, 2016; Gandra; Erzini & Abecasis, 2018) and influences the dynamics, structure and distribution patterns of fish populations. I.e. the remote measurement of biological variables, is a technology that allows gathering information on the biology and behaviour of the animals, including movement tracking, one of the most important preconditions for management decisions (Spedicato; Carbonara & Lembo, 2005). It involves placing electronic devices (“transmitters” or “tags”) on animals that auto-nomously transmit data to data logging or relay-receiving stations (Hussey et al, 2015). One important driver behind growth in marine animal tracking studies has been the need for distribution and movement data to inform conservation policy and management (Hays et al, 2019). One important field of study to assess those attributes is the remote monitoring of marine organisms, including fish
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