Using Species-Area Relationships to Inform Baseline Conservation Targets for the Deep North East Atlantic

<div><p>Demands on the resources of the deep-sea have increased in recent years. Consequently, the need to create and implement a comprehensive network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) to help manage and protect these resources has become a global political priority. Efforts are currently underway to implement MPA networks in the deep North East Atlantic. To ensure these networks are effective, it is essential that baseline information be available to inform the conservation planning process. Using empirical data, we calculated conservation targets for sessile benthic invertebrates in the deep North East Atlantic for consideration during the planning process. We assessed Species-Area Relationships across two depth bands (200–1100 m and 1100–1800 m) and nine substrata. Conservation targets were predicted for each substratum within each depth band using z-values obtained from fitting a power model to the Species-Area Relationships of observed and estimated species richness (Chao1). Results suggest an MPA network incorporating 10% of the North East Atlantic’s deep-sea area would protect approximately 58% and 49% of sessile benthic species for the depth bands 200–1100 m and 1100–1800 m, respectively. Species richness was shown to vary with substratum type indicating that, along with depth, substratum information needs to be incorporated into the conservation planning process to ensure the most effective MPA network is implemented in the deep North East Atlantic.</p> </div

Mean (SE) number of species per m² in two depth bands of the NE Atlantic.

<p>Mean (SE) number of species per m² in two depth bands of the NE Atlantic.</p

Estimates of the conservation target size required to protect 75% and 90% of species within two depth bands of the NE Atlantic.

<p>Note: Estimates calculated using z-values from observed species richness (Sobs) and the Chao1 species richness estimator, and the equation Log A  =  Log S/z, where S  =  species and A  =  area <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0058941#pone.0058941-Desmet1" target="_blank">[7]</a>. Data are shown for all species.</p

Species accumulation curves for observed (Sobs) and estimated (Chao1) species richness in the NE Atlantic.

<p>Species accumulation curves (permuted, 100 runs) are shown for all data combined and per substratum type. Number of samples provided in <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0058941#pone-0058941-t001" target="_blank">Table 1</a> (n).</p

Mean (SE) number of species per m² on different substrata in the NE Atlantic.

<p>(A) 200–1100 m depth band and (B) 1100–1800 m depth band.</p

Estimates of the percentage of species protected for conservation targets of 10% and 30% in two depth bands of the NE Atlantic.

<p>Note: Estimates calculated using z-values from observed species richness (Sobs) and the Chao1 species richness estimator, and the equation LogS  =  LogA z, where S  =  species and A  =  area <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0058941#pone.0058941-Desmet1" target="_blank">[7]</a> . Data are shown for all species.</p

Relationship between genotypic diversity (G_o/G_e) and physical parameters in <i>Montastraea annularis</i> populations across the Caribbean.

<p>a) Colony Size; b) Hurricane Incidence; and c) Reef Slope. Higher genotypic diversity is associated with a) larger colony size; b) lower hurricane incidence; and c) gentler reef slope. n = 18 sites.</p

Clonal Structure of <i>Montastraea annularis</i> populations across the Caribbean.

<p>Based on the relationship between genotypic diversity and genotypic evenness, populations (n = 18) have been divided into 3 groups ranging from sexual to mostly asexual. Four of the five populations from Colombia are overlapping.</p

Physical parameters for 18 populations of <i>Montastraea annularis</i> across the Caribbean.

a<p>Reef abbreviations provided in <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0053283#pone-0053283-t001" target="_blank">Table 1</a>.</p>b<p>Number of hurricanes to pass a location between 1863 and 2004.</p>c<p>Exposure values of 10⁻²³ are effectively zero.</p>d<p>Mean±SE.</p

Results of linear mixed effects models testing the effects of physical parameters on genotypic diversity (G_o/G_e) in 18 populations of <i>Montastraea annularis</i> across the Caribbean.

a<p>Degrees of freedom.</p>b<p>Associated probability.</p>*<p>Significant at p<0.05.</p