Pink sea fans (Eunicella verrucosa) as indicators of the spatial efficacy of Marine Protected Areas in southwest UK coastal waters
Pink sea fans (Eunicella verrucosa) as indicators of the spatial efficacy of Marine Protected Areas in southwest UK coastal waters
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DOI：
10.1016/j.marpol.2015.10.010
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发表时间：
2016-02
期刊：
影响因子：
3.8
通讯作者：
S. Pikesley;B. Godley;H. Latham;P. Richardson;Laura M. Robson;J. Solandt;C. Trundle;C. Wood;M. Witt
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
S. Pikesley;B. Godley;H. Latham;P. Richardson;Laura M. Robson;J. Solandt;C. Trundle;C. Wood;M. Witt
在全球范围内，越来越多的人认识到需要确定和建立海洋保护区（MPAs）的综合和相互联系的系统。为了获得最佳做法，需要根据多种标准对这些网络进行规划和评估。然而，建立一个健全的证据基础来支持决策过程是复杂的，在技术和后勤方面也具有挑战性。最近的研究表明，将“公民科学”数据纳入主流科学分析是有用的，特别是在需要大规模空间分布模式的情况下。在英国沃茨，粉红海扇（Eunicella verrucosa）是一种受国家保护的缓慢生长的冷水珊瑚，是珊瑚礁特征的代表物种，为许多其他固着物种提供栖息地。但是，该鱼种易受物理冲击和失去适当底层的伤害，而且很可能极易受到底拖渔具的伤害。在这项研究中，从志愿者为基础的海洋调查计划（“海洋”）的数据进行了分析，目的是描述整个英国西南沿海沃茨的粉红色海扇殖民地的空间分布和相对丰度。粉红色的海扇和现存的英国南部MPA网络之间的一致性的报道，和目前的威胁，从底拖齿轮（BTG）粉红色的海扇为主的珊瑚礁，历史上缺乏保护，定量评估。这一分析表明，这种和其他底栖物种的保护已经增加了以前的“开放获取”的海洋保护区的管理。尽管如此，粉红色的海扇栖息地及其宿主珊瑚礁系统的区域存在于英国西南海域现存的保护区之外，因此可能受到底拖渔业的威胁。这项分析展示了组织良好的公民科学数据收集的实用性，并强调了这些努力如何有助于为生物多样性的大规模模式提供知识。
Globally, the need to identify and establish integrated and connected systems of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) is becoming increasingly recognised. For best practice, these networks need to be planned and assessed against multiple criteria. However, building a sound evidence base to support decision-making processes is complex, as well as fiscally and logistically challenging. Recent studies have demonstrated the utility of integrating ‘citizen science’ data into mainstream scientific analysis, particularly where broad-scale spatial patterns of distribution are required. In UK waters, the pink sea fan (Eunicella verrucosa) is a nationally protected slow growing, cold-water coral, and is a representative species of reef features that provide habitat for many other sessile species. However, this species is vulnerable to physical impact and loss of suitable substratum, and is likely highly vulnerable to bottom-towed fishing gears. In this study, data from a volunteer-based marine survey programme (‘Seasearch’) are analysed with the aim of describing the spatial distribution and relative abundance of pink sea fan colonies throughout southwest UK coastal waters. The congruence between pink sea fans and the extant southern UK MPA network is reported, and the current threat from Bottom-Towed Gear (BTG) to pink sea fan dominated reefs, that have historically lacked protection, is quantitatively assessed. This analysis reveals that protection of this and other benthic species has been increased by management of previously ‘open access’ MPAs. Nonetheless, areas of pink sea fan habitat and their host reef systems exist outside extant protected areas in southwest UK seas, and as such are potentially at risk from bottom-towed fisheries. This analysis demonstrates the utility of well-organised citizen science data collection and highlights how such efforts can help inform knowledge on broad scale patterns of biodiversity.