Representation and Replication
To capture the complete array of biodiversity, MPAs should represent the full range of community types and conditions, as well as other functionally linked habitats such as sandy and rocky seabed, seagrass, mangrove, coastal, and riparian areas. Photos © Alex Dzierba
Representation and replication help to spread risk, in the event that a major lethal or sublethal disturbance occurs. To capture the complete array of biodiversity, MPAs should be selected to represent the full national or regional range of coral reefs, and should include other functionally linked habitats such as seabed, seagrass, mangrove, coastal, and riparian areas. If the biodiversity of a system is fully represented in multiple examples, the likelihood of losing all of it to an event is substantially decreased. Because this applies to any disturbance, it is a ‘no-regrets’ strategy when designing and delineating protected areas. In the case of fish spawning aggregations, protection of as many functional FSAs as possible is critical, given their susceptibility and importance to the fishery. For more information on incorporating this principle into MPA Design please refer to Resilient MPA section in the Coral Reef module of this toolkit.
Representation
Representation is about more than just habitats and species. Representation is about including the diversity of characteristics found in an area. There may be special physical features, latitudinal distributions, or energy regimes that should be considered. Neighboring habitats that are functionally linked to coral reefs by physical and ecological processes, including the transport of nutrients by currents or daily feeding migrations of reef species, are integral to the health and resilience of coral reefs and the fish that depend on them.
Some examples of what should be considered for representation are below:
- Reef fish spawning aggregations and other breeding grounds to maintain sustainability and health of the fishery and coral reef complex
- The full range of representative reef types to ensure that a complete array of biodiversity is protected
- The full gradient/range of environmental conditions that diminish with distance from shore (e.g., turbidity, salinity, and pollution)
- Prevailing winds and exposure to wave energy and oceanic water
- Oceanographic features, such as upwelling and strong currents, that ultimately influence differences in community structure and exposure to stressful conditions
Replication
Replication of distinct, representative habitats in MPA networks helps ensure that refugia for each community type remain after a catastrophic die-off. That will help maintain viable sources of larvae to seed the recovery of susceptible areas in times of stress. The suggested absolute minimum number of replicates of a particular habitat type is three. However, including more replicates should be a priority whenever possible. Protection of FSAs, and the replication of such management strategies, will depend on the location and seasonality of the spawning events. The most suitable management for a particular FSA will depend on the characteristics of the site, as well as the social and economic contexts.
Resources
R2 Training Manual Module 3 — Principles and Components of Resilience (download pdf, 333k)