Science and management achieving connectivity, coherence and equivalence to ensure the health of estuarine fish communities

Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 109133 - 109133

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

Language: Английский

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Anthropogenic impacts on seagrass habitat connectivity: a model to explore potential links between human activity and marine invertebrate metapopulation persistence

FACETS, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 10, P. 1 - 15

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

Coastal ecosystems face numerous stressors from anthropogenic activities. Furthermore, local that directly impact ecological processes in one location can scale up to have indirect regional consequences. In the case of dispersing marine invertebrates, human activity may dispersal and survival rates, which then alter connectivity patterns metapopulation dynamics across seascape. Here, we developed a framework model persistence seagrass-associated invertebrates Salish Sea, focusing primarily on British Columbia, Canada. We combined biophysical with metrics habitat naturalness how activities potentially persistence. found reduce population region, although effect varied based location, dynamics, severity impacts modeled. The majority populations, however, remained persistent, suggesting there are robust redundant pathways maintain disturbances. This study highlights importance understanding together context could implications for future spatial planning effective management biodiversity.

Language: Английский

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Physical Connectivity in the Wider Caribbean Region

Geophysical Research Letters, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 52(8)

Published: April 1, 2025

Abstract Marine ecosystems in the wider Caribbean region (WCR) are biodiversity hotspots. They include coral reefs and provide critical societal benefits, yet climate change, pollution, overfishing threatening them. ecosystem protection restoration require understanding connectivity. Fish larvae actively exchanged across connected areas larval transport promotes replenishment of new healthy individuals after damaging events. Connectivity is dynamic modulated by variability, but its evaluation with traditional tools remains elusive over spatio‐temporal scales interest. Here machine learning helps exploring large‐scale connectivity WCR nearly three decades. ENSO exerts largest influence on overall connectivity, enhanced longitudinal El Niño years. By combining variability thermal stress metrics, it found that does not improve recovery potential WCR, striking contrast prior results for tropical Pacific.

Language: Английский

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Towards process-oriented management of tropical reefs in the anthropocene

Nature Sustainability, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 6(2), P. 148 - 157

Published: Nov. 14, 2022

Abstract Tropical reefs and the fish relying on them are under increasing pressure. Shallow-reef provide important ecological information in addition to sustaining fisheries, tourism more. Although empirical metrics of biomass widely used fisheries management, production—how much new is produced over time—are rarely estimated even though such production informs potential yields. Here we estimate standing (B), (P, rate accumulation) turnover (P/B ratio, replacement) for 1,979 tropical reef sites spanning 39 countries. On basis turnover, propose a conceptual framework that splits into three classes visualize socio-economic risk help guide spatial management interventions (for example, marine protected areas) optimize returns conservation efforts. At large scales, high was associated with human pressure low primary productivity, whereas productivity. Going beyond consider dynamic processes can better regional coral sustainable management.

Language: Английский

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Environmental DNA Epigenetics Accurately Predicts the Age of Cultured Fish Larvae

Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 15(2)

Published: Feb. 1, 2025

ABSTRACT While acquiring age information is crucial for efficient stock management and biodiversity conservation, traditional aging methods fail to offer a universal, non‐invasive, precise way of estimating wild animal's age. DNA methylation from tissue (tDNA) was recently proposed as method overcome these issues showed more accurate results than telomere‐length‐based assessments. Here, we used environmental (eDNA) the first time template estimation, focusing on larval phase (10–24 days post‐hatch) cultured Dicentrarchus labrax (seabass), species major economic conservation interest. Using third‐generation sequencing, were able directly detect various modification types (e.g., cytosine adenosine in all contexts) across whole genome using amplification‐free nanopore sequencing. However, sites only present mitogenome, which could be specific feature eDNA or consequence better protection within mitochondria. By considering qualitative quantitative about according an objective model selection framework, our epigenetic clock reached cross‐validated accuracy 2.6 (Median Absolute Error). Such performances are higher those previous clocks, notably adult seabass even when scaling MAE range, linked dynamic epigenome during early life stages. Overall, pilot study proposes new determine potential simultaneous assessments, although robust validation preliminary along with methodological developments needed before field applications can envisaged.

Language: Английский

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In situ estimation of active dispersal abilities in reef fish early life stages using tracking technologies

Methods in Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: March 14, 2025

Abstract Most reef fishes possess an early pelagic stage that ensures the crucial role of maintaining connectivity between distant populations, as movements older demersal stages are generally restricted. While classically considered passive, numerous studies show most larvae largely influence dispersion scale and settlement rate by actively swimming horizontally/vertically in oriented way during their phase. Laboratory measurements active dispersal skills differ from natural behaviors individuals observed divers manually annotating depth bearing every 30 s, while carrying a low‐speed flowmeter to estimate average speed. Here, we improved this protocol through use electronic measurement devices achieve enhanced feasibility, replicability, efficiency, safety. Bearing could be precisely measured at high frequencies using logger fixed on optimized diving tray, which allowed us reduce tracking duration 10 5 min, track more individuals. It also permitted studying situ temporal dynamics vertical speed direction changes. All further steps, including data entry, sensor calibration, circular statistics 3D reconstruction (Madwick filter), were automated within interactive pipelines, enabling obtain results 3 h after dives fieldwork. We conducted trackings for diversified set species (32 per ocean) developments Caribbean (Guadeloupe), before being routinely applied Indian Ocean (Maldives) with majority successfully carried out (74%) despite offshore conditions. High individual orientation accuracy, combined great swimming/sinking abilities possibly dependent depth/current, suggests larvae/juveniles can swim correlated random‐walk (CRW). This occurs even when cues too scarce consistent among species/zones emerge (biased CRW), marking difference behavior coastal environment. Although biophysical models ease development informed conservation strategies large spatial scales, comparisons genetic demonstrate only incorporating realistic yield comparable outputs. Our methodological advances overcome various obstacles preventing parameters necessary models, not fishes, but any small organism aquatic habitat.

Language: Английский

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Global patterns and drivers of fish reproductive potential on coral reefs

Nature Communications, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 15(1)

Published: July 19, 2024

Abstract Fish fecundity scales hyperallometrically with body mass, meaning larger females produce disproportionately more eggs than smaller ones. We explore this relationship beyond the species-level to estimate “reproductive potential” of 1633 coral reef sites distributed globally. find that, at site-level, reproductive potential assemblage biomass, but a median exponent species-level. Across all families, modelled is greater in fully protected versus fished sites. This difference most pronounced for important fisheries family, Serranidae. When comparing scenario where 30% are randomly current protection scenario, we an increase and particularly Such results point possible ecological benefits 30 × global conservation target showcase management options promote sustainability population replenishment.

Language: Английский

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Incorporating Genetic Measures of Connectivity and Adaptation in Marine Spatial Planning for Corals

Coral reefs of the world, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 7 - 33

Published: Jan. 1, 2022

Language: Английский

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Advancing research in marine functional connectivity for improved policy and management

Marine Ecology Progress Series, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 731, P. 1 - 8

Published: Feb. 8, 2024

Marine functional connectivity (MFC) refers to the dynamic spatial exchange of biomass, individuals, genes, and energy via collective movements all marine organisms during their lifetimes. In addition controlling distribution resilience biodiversity exploited stocks, MFC plays a key role in structure functioning ecosystems, at sea land-sea interface. As ecosystems species face climate change unprecedented multiple anthropogenic pressures, rapid action is needed comprehend patterns changes order anticipate fates ocean services humanity. Despite many advances techniques measure or infer species’ distributions dynamics, significant progress still necessary. A full understanding requires better knowledge relationships between communities habitats, quantification fluxes matter energy, capacity forecast how provided by may change. The 17 papers this Theme Section showcase range approaches scales applied contemporary studies encompass diversity taxa investigated worldwide. innovative presented here advance science pave way enrich current MFC’s ecosystem functioning, flag can be protect resources manage littoral habitats.

Language: Английский

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Testing for concordance between predicted species richness, past prioritization, and marine protected area designations in the western Indian Ocean

Conservation Biology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 38(4)

Published: March 28, 2024

Scientific advances in environmental data coverage and machine learning algorithms have improved the ability to make large-scale predictions where are missing. These allowed us develop a spatially resolved proxy for predicting numbers of tropical nearshore marine taxa. A diverse spatial database was used model taxa from ∼1000 field sites, were applied all 7039 6.25-km

Language: Английский

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