Despite the recognised effectiveness of networks of Marine Protected Areas
(MPAs) as a biodiversity conservation instrument, nowadays MPA network design
frequently disregards the importance of connectivity patterns. In the case of
sedentary marine populations, connectivity stems not only from the stochastic
nature of the physical environment that affects early-life stages dispersal,
but also from the spawning stock attributes that affect the reproductive output
(e.g., passive eggs and larvae) and its survivorship. Early-life stages are
virtually impossible to track in the ocean. Therefore, numerical ocean current
simulations coupled to egg and larval Lagrangian transport models remain the
most common approach for the assessment of marine larval connectivity. Inferred
larval connectivity may be different depending on the type of connectivity
considered; consequently, the prioritisation of sites for marine populations'
conservation might also differ. Here, we introduce a framework for evaluating
and designing MPA networks based on the identification of connectivity hotspots
using graph theoretic analysis. We use as a case of study a network of
open-access areas and MPAs, off Mallorca Island (Spain), and test its
effectiveness for the protection of the painted comber Serranus scriba. Outputs
from network analysis are used to: (1) identify critical areas for improving
overall larval connectivity; (2) assess the impact of species' biological
parameters in network connectivity; and (3) explore alternative MPA
configurations to improve average network connectivity. Results demonstrate the
potential of graph theory to identify non-trivial egg/larval dispersal patterns
and emerging collective properties of the MPA network which are relevant for
increasing protection efficiency.Comment: 8 figures, 3 tables, 1 Supplementary material (including 4 table; 3
figures and supplementary methods