Benefits and conservation paradox of Marine Reserves

Nicolas loiseau

UMR MARBEC, CNRS, Montpellier (France)

nicolas.loiseau@cnrs.fr

Link to seminar: https://umontpellier-fr.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN__iCKH6stTfaKQa4DsSFiKg

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:

          1. 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 

        2. 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

        3. 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

Watch previous seminars on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrX4IsZ8WIFcDa0ZmC7rcQg