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Biological Sciences
University of Windsor
1047 Brandy Crest Road,
Port Carling, Ontario
Phone:1-705-764-3359
FAX: 1-705-764-3360
Email:sale@uwindsor.ca |
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What is connectivity and why is it important?
Populations of sedentary demersal marine species are connected by the exchange of larvae amongst them. The spatial scale of this connectivity depends on the duration of larval life, and on the effectiveness of the many factors that help disperse larvae, as well as on the pattern of distribution of local populations. Coral reef fishes, occupying notably patchy environments and with larval stages from 10 to more than 100 days in length, may be strongly interconnected over large distances, or their larvae may be sufficiently competent behaviorally that they avoid advection and recruit back to natal reefs. At present, we lack information on the spatial scale or extent of connectivity for most marine populations, and gaining this information is among the most critical research needs in marine ecology.
The extent of connectivity determines whether local populations function independently of one another, whether they function simply as separated sub-units of a large population with homogeneous demography, or whether (at intermediate levels of connectivity) they function as populations within a metapopulation. Since the special demographic properties of metapopulations buffer local populations from extinction, it is important to determine whether metapopulation principles apply to reef fishes. It is important both for our fundamental understanding of their demographic properties, and because we need better demographic information if we are to improve management. In particular, we need explicit estimates of the extent and scale of connectivity if we are to design Marine Protected Areas that will function effectively for conservation or for fisheries management. Our work in Mesoamerica is designed to develop the procedures that will permit accurate estimates of connectivity for reef fish species in that region. | | |