Ecological criteria for evaluating candidate sites for marine reserves
Callum M. Roberts,Sandy J. Andelman,George M. Branch,Rodrigo H. Bustamante,Juan Carlos Castilla,Jenifer E. Dugan,Benjamin S. Halpern,Kevin D. Lafferty,Heather M. Leslie,Jane Lubchenco,Deborah A. McArdle,Hugh P. Possingham,Mary Ruckelshaus,Robert R. Warner +13 more
TLDR
In this article, a series of criteria that allow preliminary evaluation of candidate sites according to their relative biological values in advance of the application of socioeconomic criteria is developed to promote the development of reserve networks that will maintain biodiversity and ecosystem functioning at large scales.Abstract:
Several schemes have been developed to help select the locations of marine reserves. All of them combine social, economic, and biological criteria, and few offer any guidance as to how to prioritize among the criteria identified. This can imply that the relative weights given to different criteria are unimportant. Where two sites are of equal value ecologically; then socioeconomic criteria should dominate the choice of which should be protected. However, in many cases, socioeconomic criteria are given equal or greater weight than ecological considerations in the choice of sites. This can lead to selection of reserves with little biological value that fail to meet many of the desired objectives. To avoid such a possibility, we develop a series of criteria that allow preliminary evaluation of candidate sites according to their relative biological values in advance of the application of socioeconomic criteria. We include criteria that,. while not strictly biological, have a strong influence on the species present or ecological processes. Out scheme enables sites to be assessed according to their biodiversity, the processes which underpin that diversity, and the processes that support fisheries and provide a spectrum of other services important to people. Criteria that capture biodiversity values include biogeographic representation, habitat representation and heterogeneity, and presence of species or populations of special interest (e.g., threatened species). Criteria that capture sustainability of biodiversity and fishery values include the size of reserves necessary to protect viable habitats, presence of exploitable species, vulnerable life stages, connectivity among reserves, links among ecosystems, and provision of ecosystem services to people. Criteria measuring human and natural threats enable candidate sites to be eliminated from consideration if risks are too great, but also help prioritize among sites where threats can be mitigated by protection. While our criteria can be applied to the design of reserve networks, they also enable choice of single reserves to be made in the context of the attributes of existing protected areas. The overall goal of our scheme is to promote the development of reserve networks that will maintain biodiversity and ecosystem functioning at large scales. The values of eco-system goods and services for people ultimately depend on meeting this objective.read more
Citations
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Journal ArticleDOI
Critical science gaps impede use of no-take fishery reserves
Peter F. Sale,Robert K. Cowen,Bret S. Danilowicz,Geoffrey P. Jones,Jacob P. Kritzer,Kenyon C. Lindeman,Serge Planes,Nicholas Polunin,Garry R. Russ,Yvonne Sadovy,Robert S. Steneck +10 more
TL;DR: The science is reviewed, the most crucial gaps are identified, and ways to fill them are suggested so that a promising management tool can help meet the growing challenges faced by coastal marine fisheries.
Journal ArticleDOI
Designing marine reserve networks for both conservation and fisheries management
TL;DR: This work presents size, spacing, location, and configuration guidelines for designing networks that simultaneously can enhance biological conservation and reduce fishery costs or even increase fishery yields and profits.
Journal ArticleDOI
Plugging a hole in the ocean: the emerging science of marine reserves1
TL;DR: This paper aims to demonstrate the efforts towards in-situ applicability of EMMARM, as to provide real-time information about the response of the immune system to infectious disease and other infectious diseases.
Journal ArticleDOI
Marine reserves: size and age do matter
Joachim Claudet,Craig W. Osenberg,Lisandro Benedetti-Cecchi,Paolo Domenici,José-Antonio García-Charton,Angel Pérez-Ruzafa,Fabio Badalamenti,Just T. Bayle-Sempere,Alberto Brito,Fabio Bulleri,Jean-Michel Culioli,Mark Dimech,J.M. Falcón,Ivan Guala,Marco Milazzo,Julio Sánchez-Meca,Paul J. Somerfield,Ben Stobart,Frederic Vandeperre,Carlos Valle,Serge Planes +20 more
TL;DR: Using 58 datasets from 19 European marine reserves, it is shown that reserve size and age do matter: Increasing the size of the no-take zone increases the density of commercial fishes within the reserve compared with outside; whereas thesize of the buffer zone has the opposite effect.
Book ChapterDOI
Effects of climate -induced coral bleaching on coral -reef fishes — ecological and economic consequences
Morgan S. Pratchett,Philip L. Munday,Shaun K. Wilson,Nicholas A. J. Graham,Joshua E. Cinner,David R. Bellwood,Geoffrey P. Jones,Nicholas Polunin,Tim R. McClanahan +8 more
TL;DR: Urgent action on the fundamental causes of climate change and appropriate management of critical elements of habitat structure (coral cover and topographic complexity) are key to ensuring long-term persistence of coral-reef fishes.
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