thinking and managing outside the box coalescing connectivity networks to build region-wide resilience in coral reef ecosystems文档.pdfVIP

Coral Reefs (2009) 28:367–378 DOI 10.1007/s00338-009-0470-3 REVIEW Thinking and managing outside the box: coalescing connectivity networks to build region-wide resilience in coral reef ecosystems R. S. Steneck Æ C. B. Paris Æ S. N. Arnold Æ M. C. Ablan-Lagman Æ A. C. Alcala Æ M. J. Butler Æ L. J. McCook Æ G. R. Russ Æ P. F. Sale Received: 18 September 2008 / Accepted: 17 January 2009 / Published online: 14 February 2009 Springer-Verlag 2009 Abstract As the science of connectivity evolves, so too limit recruitment by more than 50%. For ‘‘demographic must the management of coral reefs. It is now clear that the connectivity’’ to contribute to the resilience of coral reefs, spatial scale of disturbances to coral reef ecosystems is it must function beyond the box of no-take reserves. Spe- larger and the scale of larval connectivity is smaller than cifically, it must improve nursery habitats on or near reefs previously thought. This poses a challenge to the current and enhance the reproductive output of ecologically focus of coral reef management, which often centers on the important species throughout coral reef ecosystems. Spe- establishment of no-take reserves (NTRs) that in practice cial protection of ecologically important species (e.g., are often too small, scattered, or have low stakeholder some herbivores in the Caribbean) and size-regulated compliance. Fished species are generally larger and more fisheries that capitalize on the benefits of NTRs and abundant in protected reserves, where their reproductive maintain critical ecological functions are examples of potential is often greater, yet documented demographic measures that coalesce marine reserve effects and improve benefits of these