Dispersal connectivity and reserve selection for marine conservation

Kininmonth, Stuart, Beger, Maria, Bode, Michael, Peterson, Eric, Adams, Vanessa M., Dorfman, Dan, Brumbaugh, Daniel R., and Possingham, Hugh P. (2011) Dispersal connectivity and reserve selection for marine conservation. Ecological Modelling, 222 (7). pp. 1272-1282.

[img] PDF (Published version) - Published Version
Restricted to Repository staff only

View at Publisher Website: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolmodel.20...
 
73
1


Abstract

Although larval dispersal is crucial for the persistence of most marine populations, dispersal connectivity between sites is rarely considered in designing marine protected area networks. In particular the role of structural characteristics (known as topology) for the network of larval dispersal routes in the conservation of metapopulations has not been addressed. To determine reserve site configurations that provide highest persistence values with respect to their connectivity characteristics, we model nine connectivity topological models derived from graph theory in a demographic metapopulation model. We identify reserve site configurations that provide the highest persistence values for each of the metapopulation connectivity models. Except for the minimally connected and fully connected populations, we observed two general 'rules of thumb' for optimising the mean life time for all topological models: firstly place the majority of reserves, so that they are neighbours of each other, on the sites where the number of connections between the populations is highest (hub), secondly when the reserves have occupied the majority of the vertices in the hub, then select another area of high connectivity and repeat. If there are no suitable hubs remaining then distribute the remaining reserves to isolated locations optimising contact with non-reserved sites.

Item ID: 21179
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 1872-7026
Keywords: marine larvae dispersal, marine conservation planning, marine reserves, connectivity, marine metapopulation model
Date Deposited: 26 Mar 2012 04:54
FoR Codes: 05 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES > 0502 Environmental Science and Management > 050205 Environmental Management @ 100%
SEO Codes: 96 ENVIRONMENT > 9605 Ecosystem Assessment and Management > 960506 Ecosystem Assessment and Management of Fresh, Ground and Surface Water Environments @ 100%
Downloads: Total: 1
More Statistics

Actions (Repository Staff Only)

Item Control Page Item Control Page