Reserve Sizes Needed to Protect Coral Reef Fishes

Authored by Peter J Mumby, Nils C Krueck, Christelle Legrand, Gabby N Ahmadia, Estradivari, Alison Green, Geoffrey P Jones, Cynthia Riginos, Eric A Treml

Date Published: 2018

DOI: 10.1111/conl.12415

Sponsors: Australian Research Council (ARC)

Platforms: No platforms listed

Model Documentation: Other Narrative

Model Code URLs: Model code not found

Abstract

Marine reserves are a commonly applied conservation tool, but their size is often chosen based on considerations of socioeconomic rather than ecological impact. Here, we use a simple individual-based model together with the latest empirical information on home ranges, densities and schooling behaviour in 66 coral reef fishes to quantify the conservation effectiveness of various reserve sizes. We find that standard reserves with a diameter of 1-2 km can achieve partial protection (50\% of the maximum number of individuals) of 56\% of all simulated species. Partial protection of the most important fishery species, and of species with diverse functional roles, required 2-10 km wide reserves. Full protection of nearly all simulated species required 100 km wide reserves. Linear regressions based on the mean home range and density, and even just the maximum length, of fish species approximated these results reliably, and can therefore be used to support locally effective decision making.

Tags

connectivity Design networks Biodiversity Conservation scale Science Impacts Populations Areas Home-range Food-web Fisheries management Home range Dispersal distance Marine reserves Coral reefs Marine reserve network Marine protected areas: mpas Take marine reserves Move