The passive transport and active movements of marine organisms between habitats and ecosystems, known as marine functional connectivity, play a critical role in the functioning of marine ecosystems. However, marine functional connectivity, particularly at large spatial scales, is often understudied, and consequently tends to be overlooked in marine ecosystem management and conservation. Here, we compile examples from diverse but complementary research fields to demonstrate the fundamental role of marine functional connectivity in essential ecosystem functions such as biological production, energy transfer, nutrient recycling, carbon storage and habitat formation. In addition, we use an expert knowledge‐based approach to explore its importance for marine ecosystem management, which identified a number of links between marine functional connectivity and the provision of key ecosystem services. Thus, we advocate for increased integration of marine functional connectivity metrics into conservation and management strategies to protect and restore critical marine ecosystem functions in this time of rapid global change.
- Marine Functional Connectivity Contributes to Ecosystem Functioning Across Multiple Scales
- Lucía López‐lópez - Instituto Español de OceanografíaKonstantina Agiadi - University of ViennaFrancisco R Barboza - Institute of the Estonian LanguageAndreu Blanco - Universidade de VigoFederica Costantini - University of BolognaAntonio Di FrancoCarolina Giraldo - IfremerKatell Guizien - Centre National de la Recherche ScientifiqueTamar Guy‐haim - Israel Oceanographic and Limnological ResearchCintia O Quintana - University of Southern DenmarkAudrey Darnaude - Université de Montpellier, MARBEC - MARine Biodiversity, Exploitation & ConservationMiguel Cabanellas‐reboredo - Instituto Español de OceanografíaAndrea Campos‐candela - University of BergenFábio L Matos - University of AveiroÁngel Pérez‐ruzafa - Universidad de MurciaAndreas Reul - Universidad de MálagaGil Rilov - Israel Oceanographic and Limnological ResearchVincent Rossi - Institut Méditerranéen d’OcéanologieEnrico Ser‐giacomi - Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyEster Serrao - University of AlgarveAnna M Sturrock - University of EssexSusanne Tanner - University of LisbonAnt TürkmenManuel Hidalgo - Instituto Español de Oceanografía
- Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, Vol.36(9)
- 99287578509311
- Université de Montpellier; MARBEC - MARine Biodiversity, Exploitation & Conservation
- English
- Journal article
- hal-05736223