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Efectos Combinados de Niveles de Protección y Variables Ambientales en Resoluciones Espaciales Diferentes Sobre Ensambles de Peces en un Área Marina Protegida
Author(s) -
CLAUDET JOACHIM,
GARCÍACHARTON JOSÉ ANTONIO,
LENFANT PHILIPPE
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
conservation biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.2
H-Index - 222
eISSN - 1523-1739
pISSN - 0888-8892
DOI - 10.1111/j.1523-1739.2010.01586.x
Subject(s) - seascape , marine protected area , habitat , transect , marine reserve , abundance (ecology) , geography , ecology , fishing , protected area , fishery , environmental science , biology
The links between species–environment relations and species’ responses to protection are unclear , but the objectives of marine protected areas (MPAs) are most likely to be achieved when those relations are known and inform MPA design . The components of a species’ habitat vary with the spatial resolution of the area considered . We characterized areas at two resolutions: 250 m 2 (transect) and approximately 30 , 000 m 2 (seascape) . We considered three categories of environmental variables: substrate type , bottom complexity , and depth . We sought to determine at which resolution habitat characteristics were a better predictor of abundance and species composition of fishes and whether the relations with environmental variables at either resolution affected species’ responses to protection . Habitat features accounted for a larger proportion of spatial variation in species composition and abundances than differences in protection status . This spatial variation was explained best by habitat characteristics at the seascape level than at the transect level . Species’ responses to protected areas were specific to particular seascape characteristics , primarily depth, and bottom complexity . Our method may be useful for prioritizing marine areas for protection , designing MPAs , and monitoring their effectiveness . It identified areas that provided natural shelter , areas acting as buffer zones , and areas where fish species were most responsive to protection . The identification of such areas is necessary for cost‐effective establishment and monitoring of MPAs .