Sensitivity of marine protected area network connectivity to atmospheric variability
International efforts are underway to establish well-connected systems of marine protected areas (MPAs) covering at least 10% of the ocean by 2020. But the nature and dynamics of ocean ecosystem connectivity are poorly understood, with unresolved effects of climate variability. We used 40-year runs...
Published in: | Royal Society Open Science |
---|---|
Main Authors: | , , , |
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | unknown |
Published: |
2016
|
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://zenodo.org/record/4265071 https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.160494 |
id |
ftzenodo:oai:zenodo.org:4265071 |
---|---|
record_format |
openpolar |
spelling |
ftzenodo:oai:zenodo.org:4265071 2023-05-15T17:08:43+02:00 Sensitivity of marine protected area network connectivity to atmospheric variability Fox A Henry L-A Corne DW Roberts JM 2016-11-01 https://zenodo.org/record/4265071 https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.160494 unknown info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/EC/H2020/678760/ https://zenodo.org/communities/atlas https://zenodo.org/record/4265071 https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.160494 oai:zenodo.org:4265071 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode info:eu-repo/semantics/article publication-article 2016 ftzenodo https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.160494 2023-03-10T23:04:19Z International efforts are underway to establish well-connected systems of marine protected areas (MPAs) covering at least 10% of the ocean by 2020. But the nature and dynamics of ocean ecosystem connectivity are poorly understood, with unresolved effects of climate variability. We used 40-year runs of a particle tracking model to examine the sensitivity of an MPA network for habitat-forming cold-water corals in the northeast Atlantic to changes in larval dispersal driven by atmospheric cycles and larval behaviour. Trajectories of Lophelia pertusa larvae were strongly correlated to the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), the dominant pattern of interannual atmospheric circulation variability over the northeast Atlantic. Variability in trajectories significantly altered network connectivity and source–sink dynamics, with positive phase NAO conditions producing a well-connected but asymmetrical network connected from west to east. Negative phase NAO produced reduced connectivity, but notably some larvae tracked westwardflowing currents towards coral populations on the mid-Atlantic ridge. Graph theoretical metrics demonstrate critical roles played by seamounts and offshore banks in larval supply and maintaining connectivity across the network. Larval longevity and behaviour mediated dispersal and connectivity, with shorter lived and passive larvae associated with reduced connectivity. We conclude that the existing MPA network is vulnerable to atmospheric-driven changes in ocean circulation. Article in Journal/Newspaper Lophelia pertusa North Atlantic North Atlantic oscillation Northeast Atlantic Zenodo Mid-Atlantic Ridge Royal Society Open Science 3 11 160494 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Zenodo |
op_collection_id |
ftzenodo |
language |
unknown |
description |
International efforts are underway to establish well-connected systems of marine protected areas (MPAs) covering at least 10% of the ocean by 2020. But the nature and dynamics of ocean ecosystem connectivity are poorly understood, with unresolved effects of climate variability. We used 40-year runs of a particle tracking model to examine the sensitivity of an MPA network for habitat-forming cold-water corals in the northeast Atlantic to changes in larval dispersal driven by atmospheric cycles and larval behaviour. Trajectories of Lophelia pertusa larvae were strongly correlated to the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), the dominant pattern of interannual atmospheric circulation variability over the northeast Atlantic. Variability in trajectories significantly altered network connectivity and source–sink dynamics, with positive phase NAO conditions producing a well-connected but asymmetrical network connected from west to east. Negative phase NAO produced reduced connectivity, but notably some larvae tracked westwardflowing currents towards coral populations on the mid-Atlantic ridge. Graph theoretical metrics demonstrate critical roles played by seamounts and offshore banks in larval supply and maintaining connectivity across the network. Larval longevity and behaviour mediated dispersal and connectivity, with shorter lived and passive larvae associated with reduced connectivity. We conclude that the existing MPA network is vulnerable to atmospheric-driven changes in ocean circulation. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Fox A Henry L-A Corne DW Roberts JM |
spellingShingle |
Fox A Henry L-A Corne DW Roberts JM Sensitivity of marine protected area network connectivity to atmospheric variability |
author_facet |
Fox A Henry L-A Corne DW Roberts JM |
author_sort |
Fox A |
title |
Sensitivity of marine protected area network connectivity to atmospheric variability |
title_short |
Sensitivity of marine protected area network connectivity to atmospheric variability |
title_full |
Sensitivity of marine protected area network connectivity to atmospheric variability |
title_fullStr |
Sensitivity of marine protected area network connectivity to atmospheric variability |
title_full_unstemmed |
Sensitivity of marine protected area network connectivity to atmospheric variability |
title_sort |
sensitivity of marine protected area network connectivity to atmospheric variability |
publishDate |
2016 |
url |
https://zenodo.org/record/4265071 https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.160494 |
geographic |
Mid-Atlantic Ridge |
geographic_facet |
Mid-Atlantic Ridge |
genre |
Lophelia pertusa North Atlantic North Atlantic oscillation Northeast Atlantic |
genre_facet |
Lophelia pertusa North Atlantic North Atlantic oscillation Northeast Atlantic |
op_relation |
info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/EC/H2020/678760/ https://zenodo.org/communities/atlas https://zenodo.org/record/4265071 https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.160494 oai:zenodo.org:4265071 |
op_rights |
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.160494 |
container_title |
Royal Society Open Science |
container_volume |
3 |
container_issue |
11 |
container_start_page |
160494 |
_version_ |
1766064563915063296 |