Connectivity and Management of Caribbean Coral Reefs

• Published in: Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) Vol. 278; no. 5342; pp. 1454 - 1457
• Main Author: Roberts, Callum M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Society for the Advancement of Science 21.11.1997; American Association for the Advancement of Science; The American Association for the Advancement of Science
• Subjects: Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied ecology; Biodiversity; Biological and medical sciences; Connectivity; Conservation, protection and management of environment and wildlife; Coral reef ecology; Coral reef ecosystems; Coral reefs; Fish; Fisheries management; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Individualized Instruction; Larvae; Larval development; Marine; Marine organisms; Marine resources; Networks; Ocean currents; Oceans; Overfishing; Parks, reserves, wildlife conservation. Endangered species: population survey and restocking; Population genetics; Protection and preservation; Recruitment; Wildlife management; Caribbean Sea; Caribbean area; ASW, Caribbean Sea; ASW, USA, Florida; Marine environment; Larva; Sea current; Coral reef; Environmental management; Food supply; Zooplankton; Animal passive transport; Environmental protection
• ISSN: 0036-8075; 1095-9203
• DOI: 10.1126/science.278.5342.1454

Surface current patterns were used to map dispersal routes of pelagic larvae from 18 coral reef sites in the Caribbean. The sites varied, both as sources and recipients of larvae, by an order of magnitude. It is likely that sites supplied copiously from "upstream" reef areas will be more resilient to recruitment overfishing, less susceptible to species loss, and less reliant on local management than places with little upstream reef. The mapping of connectivity patterns will enable the identification of beneficial management partnerships among nations and the design of networks of interdependent reserves.