Connectivity corridor conservation: A conceptual model for the restoration of a changing Gulf of Mexico ecosystem

Abstract

The ability of the ocean to continue to sustain human society depends on adequate protections of its ecosystem function and services. Despite the establishment of marine protected areas, formal protection of critical connectivity corridors to link habitats and thereby maintain necessary demographic transitions in marine species under threat is now rare. Such protections are critical to future resilience of food webs as climate and ocean change continues. Here, we focus on the Gulf of Mexico to support an integrative, holistic approach to marine and coastal habitat restoration, rehabilitation, and conservation in an ecosystem context following the extensive environmental and living resource injuries from the Deepwater Horizon oil well blowout. Critically important physical, chemical, and biological connectivity processes drive nutrient transport from the nearshore, mid-waters, and even deep ocean into coastal terrestrial habitats, enhancing primary production and terrestrial species populations. The emerging scientific understanding of the nature, habitat specificity, locations, and directions of transport in connectivity processes can help build natural ecosystem capital through protecting flows from land to sea and from the sea to multiple coastal habitats. We expose a dire need for a new conservation imperative, recognizing that oceanic and coastal protected areas established around the reliance of individual species on critical habitats are insufficient without also conserving relevant connectivity corridors that service ontogenetic migration pathways and ecosystem-support processes. Such connectivity must be explicitly understood, protected, and often actively enhanced through restoration intervention to ensure the success of various site-specific conservation actions and be continually modified in anticipation of and in response to multiple impacts of changing climate.

The first baleen whale marine protected area proposed for Bryde's whales in the Beibu Gulf, China

“…Importantly, these areas could provide a refuge for many marine species and support active conservation and rehabilitation, such as coral reef recovery on Weizhou Island (Yu et al, 2019). We recommend that the waters within a 20‐km radius of Weizhou and Xieyang Islands should be designated as an MPA based on the highly suitable habitat in both the wet and dry seasons identified by our surveys (Figure 7), and the direction of migration to Hainan Island should be established as an important ecological corridor (Liu et al, 2021; Peterson et al, 2020). In accordance with the Regulation of the People's Republic of China on marine protected areas, a MSPA could be established with different zones for different functions.…”

Notas sobre los peces que ocupan los estuarios del estado de Veracruz, México

“…Al respecto se ha demostrado que también ocurren procesos de interconectividad entre los hábitats estuarinos con áreas de crianza del medio marino somero como los arrecifes de coral, que también son importantes tanto como ecosistemas de alta biodiversidad como para especies con funciones ecológicas trascendentes (Seitz et al 2014;Peterson et al 2020).…”

Representing causal knowledge in environmental policy interventions: Advantages and opportunities for qualitative influence diagram applications

“…Figure S1. Causal pathways between intervening to set a new production-system testing program for a demonstration watershed and nutrient concentrations in the Mississippi River, USA, based on discussion in Peterson et al (2011). Causal pathways are identified from the arcs that are boldface in blue.…”

“…From the Peterson et al (, Recommendation 4, p 53–56) discussion of agricultural changes in the upper MRW that might minimize excess nutrient export to the Gulf of Mexico, a QID describing the influence of the establishment of a network of demonstration watersheds on nutrient concentrations in the Mississippi River (MR) was developed (Supplemental Data Figure S1). The Peterson et al () report discusses a spectrum of intermediate and ultimately desirable outcomes from 2 interventions: 1) developing demonstration watersheds that pursue multifunctional agriculture and 2) changing incentives in the US Farm Bill (H.R. 2642; Pub.L.…”