Ocean sprawl facilitates dispersal and connectivity of protected species

Henry, Lea-Anne; Mayorga Adame, Claudia G. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8707-9385; Fox, Alan D.; Polton, Jeff A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0131-5250; Ferris, Joseph S.; McLellan, Faron; McCabe, Chris; Kutti, Tina; Roberts, J. Murray. 2018 Ocean sprawl facilitates dispersal and connectivity of protected species. Scientific Reports, 8 (1). 10.1038/s41598-018-29575-4

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Abstract/Summary

Highly connected networks generally improve resilience in complex systems. We present a novel application of this paradigm and investigated the potential for anthropogenic structures in the ocean to enhance connectivity of a protected species threatened by human pressures and climate change. Biophysical dispersal models of a protected coral species simulated potential connectivity between oil and gas installations across the North Sea but also metapopulation outcomes for naturally occurring corals downstream. Network analyses illustrated how just a single generation of virtual larvae released from these installations could create a highly connected anthropogenic system, with larvae becoming competent to settle over a range of natural deep-sea, shelf and fjord coral ecosystems including a marine protected area. These results provide the first study showing that a system of anthropogenic structures can have international conservation significance by creating ecologically connected networks and by acting as stepping stones for cross-border interconnection to natural populations.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1038/s41598-018-29575-4
ISSN:	2045-2322
Date made live:	20 Aug 2018 13:52 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/520782

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