Almany et al., 2009:

"Networks of no-take reserves are important for protecting coral reef biodiversity from climate change and other human impacts. Ensuring that reserve populations are connected to each other and non-reserve populations by larval dispersal allows for recovery from disturbance and is a key aspect of resilience. Thus, optimizing the location, size and spacing of reserves requires an understanding of larval dispersal. However, existing reserve networks have been designed with “representation” as a major goal; by representing inside reserves a large proportion of species or habitat types, biodiversity should be conserved. Without attention to reserve configuration and spacing, representation can result in widely-spaced reserves and decreased connectivity, especially if non-reserve areas are affected in ways that decrease larval dispersal. Furthermore, the lack of an integrated theory for optimizing the tradeoff between representation and connectivity has inhibited the incorporation of connectivity into reserve selection algorithms. This paper addresses these issues by (1) updating recommendations for the location, size and spacing of reserves based on emerging data on larval dispersal in corals and reef fishes, and on considerations for maintaining genetic diversity; (2) using a spatial analysis of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park to demonstrate that, although connectivity is likely maintained in this reserve network, there is a tradeoff between representation and connectivity; and (3) describing a framework for conceptualizing the tradeoff between representation and connectivity that expresses both in a common, demographically-meaningful currency, thus making optimization possible."

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Citation and/or URL

Almany, G.R., Connolly, S.R., Heath, D.D., Hogan, J.D., Jones, G.P., McCook, L.J., Mills, M., Pressey, R. & Williamson, D.H. 2009, Connectivity, biodiversity conservation, and the design of marine reserve networks for coral reefs, Coral Reefs, 28: 339-351

Spatial Coverage

 Great Barrier Reef-wide

Temporal Coverage

 2008

Update Frequency

 Not applicable

Other Information

 None