By Nicolas LOISEAU (CNRS, MARBEC), bâtiment 22, Salle Louis Thaler au Campus Triolet, University of Montpellier, in the context of the Montpellier Ecology and Evolution Seminars (SEEM) of the LabEx CeMEB.
https://www.labex-cemeb.org/fr/benefits-and-conservation-paradox-marine-reserves
SUMMARY: Marine resources, mostly fishes, are declining at an alarming rate, with more than half of the oceanic area exploited by industrial fishing.
In response, marine protected areas (MPAs) have been established in an effort to conserve biodiversity and sustain fisheries. Yet, only 8% of the ocean is presently covered by MPAs and less than 2% by no-take MPAs. Marine protected areas are widely recognized as effective conservation tools supporting greater density and biomass of exploited species within their boundaries than nearby fished areas. Comparatively, the extent to which marine reserves support the different facets of biodiversity remains unclear.
We will discuss recent research findings on the impact of MPA on species diversity and composition, evolutionary potential of marine populations and dynamic ecological processes.
Recent publications
Loiseau, N., Thuiller, W., Stuart-Smith, R. D., Devictor, V., Edgar, G. J., Velez, L., ... & Mouillot, D. (2021). Maximizing regional biodiversity requires a mosaic of protection levels. PLoS biology, 19(5), e3001195. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3001195
Seguin, R., Mouillot, D., Cinner, J. E., Stuart Smith, R. D., Maire, E., Graham, N. A., ... & Loiseau, N. (2022). Towards process-oriented management of tropical reefs in the anthropocene. Nature Sustainability, 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41893-022-00981-x
Benestan, L., Loiseau, N., Guérin, P. E., Pérez‐Ruzafa, A., Forcada, A., Arcas, E., ... & Manel, S. (2022). Contrasting influence of seascape, space and marine reserves on genomic variation in multiple species. Ecography, e06127. https://doi.org/10.1111/ecog.06127