Identification of a spatially efficient portfolio of priority conservation sites in marine and estuarine areas of Florida

Abstract

ABSTRACT1. A systematic conservation planning approach using benthic habitat and imperilled species data along with the site prioritization algorithm, MARXAN, was used to identify a spatially efficient portfolio of marine and estuarine sites around Florida with high biodiversity value.2. Ensuring the persistence of an adequate geographic representation of conservation targets in a particular area is a key goal of conservation. In this context, development and testing of different approaches to spatiallyexplicit marine conservation planning remains an important priority.3. This detailed case study serves as a test of existing approaches while also demonstrating some novel ways in which current methods can be tailored to fit the complexities of marine planning.4. The paper reports on investigations of the influence of varying several algorithm inputs on resulting portfolio scenarios including the conservation targets (species observations, habitat distribution, etc.) included, conservation target goals, and socio-economic factors.5. This study concluded that engaging stakeholders in the development of a site prioritization framework is a valuable strategy for identifying broadly accepted selection criteria; universal target representation approaches are more expedient to use as algorithm inputs, but may fall short in capturing the impact of historic exploitation patterns for some conservation targets; socio-economic factors are best considered subsequent to the identification of priority conservation sites when biodiversity value is the primary driver of site selection; and the influence of surrogate targets on portfolio selection should be thoroughly investigated to ensure unintended effects are avoided.6. The priority sites identified in this analysis can be used to guide allocation of limited conservation and management resources.

Integrated Land-Sea Conservation Planning: The Missing Links

“…In land-sea planning, costs are commonly integrated into cost-suitability indices developed for terrestrial and marine realms independently. Cost-suitability indices integrate economic, sociopolitical, and biological factors to preferentially select areas with higher long-term viability and avoid areas with high conservation costs (Geselbracht et al 2009, TNC 2005. Ideally, land-sea planning should consider costs in both realms simultaneously.…”

“…Approaches to exploring conservation alternatives are diverse, including decision support systems with input from experts and managers (Geselbracht et al 2009, TNC 2005, successive designs open for comment and revision (Fernandes et al 2005), interactive and participatory processes guided by decision support systems (Dunton 2009), and expert-driven processes supported by geographic information systems (Banks et al 1999, Enriquez-Andrade et al 2005. These approaches can consider land-sea linkages (e.g., Banks et al 1999, Kramer & Kramer 2002, TNC 2004.…”

Determination of priority nature conservation areas and human disturbances in the Yangtze River Basin, China

“…The SPF was set to 500 to ensure that every species would meet its target (Geselbracht et al, 2009). The BLM is a parameter that helps control Table 1 Index system used to evaluate human impact in the YRB.…”

Incorporating early life stages of fishes into estuarine spatial conservation planning

“…The main aim of this approach, which traditionally has been used for the design of protected areas in the marine and terrestrial realms, is to achieve biodiversity objectives while minimizing economic costs (Smith et al ., ; Watson et al ., ). Few studies have used the systematic conservation planning approach to identify priority areas for conservation in estuaries, and most of them are based on benthic macroinvertebrates and habitat types, which are assumed to be surrogates for all biodiversity (Neely and Zajac, ; Geselbracht et al ., ; Shokri and Gladstone , , ; Shokri et al ., ).…”