Premium
Selecting focal species for marine protected area network planning in the Scotia–Fundy region of Atlantic Canada
Author(s) -
King Marty C.,
Beazley Karen F.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
aquatic conservation: marine and freshwater ecosystems
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.95
H-Index - 77
eISSN - 1099-0755
pISSN - 1052-7613
DOI - 10.1002/aqc.682
Subject(s) - marine protected area , keystone species , habitat , fishery , ecology , geography , right whale , whale , biology
1. Focal species warrant conservation attention because they serve keystone, umbrella, indicator or flagship functions, and/or are sensitive or vulnerable to threats. 2. Defining critical habitat requirements for viable populations of focal species could provide important information for marine protected area (MPA) network design, as a complement to other considerations such as habitat representation. 3. A generally applicable approach for selecting focal species based on 20 characteristics that identify species as important in the community and/or susceptible to threats is presented with reference to the Scotia–Fundy region of Atlantic Canada. 4. Although a rigorous quantitative assessment of all local species against these characteristics is not included, several potential focal species are shown to possess many of the characteristics. 5. The North Atlantic right whale ( Eubalaena glacialis ) demonstrates flagship, umbrella and indicator characteristics, and is locally vulnerable to threats. Seasonally important feeding, nursery and socializing areas could be protected within a network of MPAs in the Scotia–Fundy region, which would concurrently protect sympatric species with smaller area requirements. 6. Cold‐water corals (i.e. Primnoa resedaeformis , Paragorgia arborea , Lophelia pertusa ) possess keystone, indicator and flagship characteristics and are sensitive and vulnerable to local threats; thus, areas of high coral density and/or diversity could be protected within an MPA network, which would also help protect associated species. 7. These examples illustrate how consideration of the characteristics can help identify focal species and how their life requisites may be applied to MPA network design. 8. Rigorous quantitative assessment of all local species is required to select a comprehensive suite of focal species, and further research is needed to fill data gaps and confirm underlying hypotheses. 9. Nonetheless, focal species considerations show promise as a complement to other approaches to MPA network design and thus warrant further exploration in the Scotia–Fundy region and elsewhere. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.