Projeto Conservação Recifal (PCR), Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
Departamento de Geologia, Universidade Federal Do Rio de Janeiro, Avenida Athos da, Silveira Ramos, 274 - Cidade Universitária da Universidade Federal Do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21941-916, Brazil.
Sci Rep. 2022 Jul 18;12(1):12232. doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-15990-1.
The establishment of multiple zones offering different protection levels within a Marine Protected Area (MPA) can minimize social conflicts while maintaining associated biodiversity benefits such as fish population replenishment. Parrotfishes are among one of the most ecologically important reef fishes; yet extremely overexploited worldwide. In this context, well-designed priority management areas allowing no fishing activity (no-take zones) could help recover fish species, such as parrotfishes, through a MPA zoning process. Here, we tested this hypothesis by identifying the spatial configuration of zones that maximize the recovery of endangered parrotfish species (Scarus trispinosus; Scarus zelindae; Sparisoma amplum; Sparisoma axillare; Sparisoma frondosum) at the largest MPA in Brazil protecting nearshore coral reefs (MPA Costa dos Corais). We used parrotfish distribution data to produce species distribution models (SDMs) and combined them with conservation planning tools to delineate priority zones following a systematic approach. Then, we contrasted priority zones against non-systematic, newly designed no-take zones based on managers' and stakeholders' perspectives. After mapping the predicted abundance of each species within both zones based upon field surveys, we found that priority zones were more effective than non-systematic ones for the protection of two out of the five species: Scarus trispinosus and Sparisoma amplum. Thus, we considered that designing systematic zones was particularly relevant for increased protection of the two parrotfish species facing the largest decline. The prioritization analyses also showed that priority areas for parrotfish conservation following a systematic approach were mostly located surrounding and within no-take zones delineated by local stakeholders. The spatial overlap between systematic and non-systematic zones was of 38%. Hence, our study reinforces the importance of considering scientific information and methods (e.g., spatial distribution data and prioritization analyses) as a complementary strategy along with local stakeholders' knowledge, for delineating and refining management zones within MPAs.
在海洋保护区（MPA）内建立多个提供不同保护水平的区域，可以最大限度地减少社会冲突，同时保持相关的生物多样性效益，如鱼类种群的补充。鹦嘴鱼是最具生态重要性的珊瑚礁鱼类之一；然而，在全球范围内被极度过度捕捞。在这种情况下，设计良好的优先管理区允许不进行任何捕捞活动（禁渔区），可以通过 MPA 分区过程帮助恢复鱼类物种，如鹦嘴鱼。在这里，我们通过确定最大限度地恢复濒危鹦嘴鱼物种（Scarus trispinosus; Scarus zelindae; Sparisoma amplum; Sparisoma axillare; Sparisoma frondosum）的区域空间配置来检验这一假设，这是巴西保护近岸珊瑚礁的最大 MPA（MPA Costa dos Corais）。我们使用鹦嘴鱼分布数据来制作物种分布模型（SDM），并结合保护规划工具，按照系统的方法划定优先区域。然后，我们根据管理者和利益相关者的观点，将优先区域与新设计的非系统禁渔区进行对比。在根据实地调查绘制出这两种区域内每个物种的预测丰度图之后，我们发现优先区域比非系统区域更能有效地保护其中的两种物种：Scarus trispinosus 和 Sparisoma amplum。因此，我们认为，设计系统区域对于保护面临最大下降风险的两种鹦嘴鱼物种特别重要。优先级分析还表明，按照系统方法进行鹦嘴鱼保护的优先区域主要位于当地利益相关者划定的禁渔区周围和内部。系统和非系统区域之间的空间重叠为 38%。因此，我们的研究强调了考虑科学信息和方法（例如，空间分布数据和优先级分析）作为与当地利益相关者知识相结合的补充策略的重要性，以划定和完善 MPA 内的管理区域。
