Spatial analyses of flagship species to empower marine conservation NGO research to inform policy.

许多海洋物种种群正受到开发利用、栖息地退化和气候变化的威胁。作为回应，许多政府正在采用海洋保护区作为一种管理工具，以减轻这些压力的一些影响。这种策略需要详细了解生境组成、物种分布和确定指标物种高密度地区和需要保护的生境。MCS和ZSL参与了TCI和菲律宾海洋保护区的监测和指定，这次创新实习将在埃克塞特大学（UoE）和这两个非政府组织之间建立伙伴关系，为迄今收集的数据提供建议、支持和分析。实习生Philip Doherty博士（PD）将利用他博士期间开发的一套分析工具（英国自然环境研究委员会资助），提供强有力的科学证据，为MPA指定的战略实施提供信息。PD将分享他在分析空间明确数据方面的经验和知识，以最大限度地发挥非政府组织合作伙伴收集的这些新颖和独特数据集的潜力。作为回报，非政府组织合作伙伴将分享宝贵的专业知识，以最有利的方式向利益相关者和决策者提供基于证据的结果，以实现保护目标。这种合作将为双方提供一种可持续的合作关系，并在实习期间为双方带来多重利益。《生物多样性公约爱知目标》的战略目标包括到2020年保护至少10%的沿海和海洋生态系统。最近，人们关注的焦点是指定偏远的超大海洋保护区（VLMPAs），这可以提供相当程度的保护。然而，为了通过指定海洋保护区实现爱知目标，可能需要多种海洋保护区类型的组合，包括较小的海洋保护区网络，特别是在使用更密集的地区。指定有效的海洋保护区将根据有关生境和养护重点物种的基线数据。利用遥测数据来描述大型海洋脊椎动物的运动，将有助于深入了解一个很大程度上未知的生命阶段的空间利用情况，并有助于了解已建立的海洋保护区边界的适宜性。对海洋保护区和保护区以外地区若干关键生境类型和指标物种的长期监测，将有助于对这些区域内的时空趋势进行强有力的调查，以确定风险领域，并提供经验数据，为社区和国家管理战略提供依据。该项目将提供一个引人注目的影响案例研究，并将对合作伙伴双方产生持续和持久的影响，为合作伙伴共同制定进一步的融资投标和项目提供机会。

Many populations of marine species are under threat from exploitation, habitat degradation and climate change. In response many governments are adopting the use of MPAs as a management tool to alleviate some of impacts of these pressures. Such strategies require detailed knowledge of habitat composition, species distribution, and identification of areas of high density of indicator species and habitats of conservation concern. MCS and ZSL have been involved in the monitoring and designation of MPAs in TCI and the Philippines and this Innovation Internship will create a partnership between the University of Exeter (UoE) and these two NGOs to advise, support and analyse the data collected to date. The intern, Dr Philip Doherty (PD), will utilise a suite of analytical tools developed during his PhD (Natural Environment Research Council UK funded), to provide robust scientific evidence that can inform the strategic implementation of MPA designation.PD will share his experience and knowledge of analysing spatially explicit data to maximise the potential of these novel and unique datasets collected by the NGO partners. In return, the NGO partners will share invaluable expertise on delivering evidence based results to stakeholders and policymakers in the most beneficial way to obtain conservation targets. This collaboration will provide a sustainable relationship with multiple benefits for both partners that extend beyond the duration of the Internship. The Convention for Biological Diversity Aichi Targets strategic goals includes the conservation of at least 10% of coastal and marine ecosystems by 2020. Recently there has been a focus on designating remote Very Large Marine Protected Areas (VLMPAs), which can offer substantial levels of protection. However, in order to achieve the Aichi Targets through MPA designation, likely a combination of MPA types, including networks of smaller MPAs will be needed, especially in more intensely used areas. The designation of effective MPAs will stem from baseline data on habitats and species of conservation concern. Using telemetry data to describe large marine vertebrate movement will provide insight into space-use of a largely unknown life stage and will allow for understanding of the suitability of the boundaries of established MPAs. Long-term monitoring of MPAs and areas outside protected areas on several key habitat types and indicator species will allow for robust investigation into spatial and temporal trends within these regions to identify areas of risk and provide empirical data that can feed into community and national management strategies.This project will provide a high profile impact case-study, and will result in on-going and long-lasting impact for both partners, providing the opportunity for partners to develop further funding bids and projects together.