A systematic approach to planning, decision-making and management has become best-practice in conservation over the past two of decades. The field of ‘systematic conservation planning’ is concerned with identifying cost-effective places and actions to protect biological diversity. Past research has focused on static assessments. However, given the fact that biological diversity and processes that threaten its persistence vary in space and time, conservation assessments might need to be made in a dynamic context. In addition, we must explicitly account for the trade-offs associated with implementing conservation actions and investing in improved knowledge and learning to reduce uncertainty on where, how and when to act. The aim of this thesis was to develop novel approaches for accounting for both ecosystem dynamics and uncertainty in conservation planning. Ecosystems are generally treated as static in conservation planning despite many being spatially and temporally dynamic. For example, pelagic marine ecosystems are quite dynamic because ecological processes, such as eddies, that produce resources that many species depend on can be erratic. In chapter two we explored the issue of developing a system of fixed protected areas that consider the physical and biological dynamics typical of the pelagic realm. The approach was to maximize the representation of key fisheries species and species of conservation concern due to significant declines in their abundance, within a network of protected areas. We also ensured that protected area design reflected system dynamics and this was achieved by representing key oceanographic process (such as upwellings and eddies), and biological processes (such as the abundance of small pelagic fish) in protected areas. To account for the variability where these processes occur, we used time series data to find both predictable areas and anomalies, assuming that their past location was somewhat reflective of their future locations. Implementing conservation actions that are fixed in space and time are probably not the most effective strategy in ecosystems that are dynamic. This is because of the movements of particular species. For example, many species have distributions and abundances that change seasonally and might only require temporary management in particular areas. In chapter three, we tested the utility of three approaches to implementing fisheries closures to reduce bycatch in the South African Longline Fishery; 1) time closures, 2) permanent spatial closures and 3) episodic spatial closures. In chapter three, we identified these closures using an existing database containing catch and bycatch data from 1998 to 2005. There was variation where and when different species were caught as bycatch, and it was determined seasonal area closures were the best strategy. This was because it achieved the same conservation objectives for bycatch species as the other types of closures, but impacted less on the long-lining industry. While this result is intuitive, it demonstrated quantitatively, how much more effective moveable management can be. Decisions on where conservation actions are implemented are always based on incomplete knowledge about biological diversity. It is generally assumed that gathering more data is a good investment for conservation planning. However, data can take time and incur costs to collect and given habitat loss, there are both costs and benefits associated with different levels of investments in knowledge versus conservation implementation. In chapter four, the aim was to determine the return on investment from spending different amounts on survey data before undertaking a program of implementing new protected areas. We found that, after an investment of only US$100,000, there was little increase in the effectiveness of conservation actions, despite the full species dataset costing at least 25 times that amount. Surveying can take time because of expertise limitations, logistics and funding shortfalls. Biological diversity may be lost while data collection occurs conversely, not collecting enough data can lead to erroneous decisions. Additionally, resources spent on learning may be better spent on other actions. In chapter five, in a series of retrospective simulations, we compared the impact of spending different amounts of time collecting biological data prior to the implementation of new protected areas. The aim was to find the optimal survey period given the trade-off between gaining knowledge to improve conservation decisions while there is concurrent loss of habitat. We discovered that surveying beyond two years rarely increased the effectiveness of conservation decisions, despite a substantial increase in the knowledge of species distributions. Often there are choices between different actions and uncertainty as to which are the most effective. In chapter six, we discuss how the principles of adaptive management might be applied to conservation planning. Improving future management decisions through learning should be viewed as essential in all conservation plans but such learning is often included as a minor step, or is completely ignored. In this chapter we provide a brief overview of an adaptive framework for conservation planning and ideas for future research.

A systematic approach to planning, decision-making and management has become best-practice in conservation over the past two of decades. The field of ‘systematic conservation planning’ is concerned with identifying cost-effective places and actions to protect biological diversity. Past research has focused on static assessments. However, given the fact that biological diversity and processes that threaten its persistence vary in space and time, conservation assessments might need to be made in a dynamic context. In addition, we must explicitly account for the trade-offs associated with implementing conservation actions and investing in improved knowledge and learning to reduce uncertainty on where, how and when to act. The aim of this thesis was to develop novel approaches for accounting for both ecosystem dynamics and uncertainty in conservation planning. Ecosystems are generally treated as static in conservation planning despite many being spatially and temporally dynamic. For example, pelagic marine ecosystems are quite dynamic because ecological processes, such as eddies, that produce resources that many species depend on can be erratic. In chapter two we explored the issue of developing a system of fixed protected areas that consider the physical and biological dynamics typical of the pelagic realm. The approach was to maximize the representation of key fisheries species and species of conservation concern due to significant declines in their abundance, within a network of protected areas. We also ensured that protected area design reflected system dynamics and this was achieved by representing key oceanographic process (such as upwellings and eddies), and biological processes (such as the abundance of small pelagic fish) in protected areas. To account for the variability where these processes occur, we used time series data to find both predictable areas and anomalies, assuming that their past location was somewhat reflective of their future locations. Implementing conservation actions that are fixed in space and time are probably not the most effective strategy in ecosystems that are dynamic. This is because of the movements of particular species. For example, many species have distributions and abundances that change seasonally and might only require temporary management in particular areas. In chapter three, we tested the utility of three approaches to implementing fisheries closures to reduce bycatch in the South African Longline Fishery; 1) time closures, 2) permanent spatial closures and 3) episodic spatial closures. In chapter three, we identified these closures using an existing database containing catch and bycatch data from 1998 to 2005. There was variation where and when different species were caught as bycatch, and it was determined seasonal area closures were the best strategy. This was because it achieved the same conservation objectives for bycatch species as the other types of closures, but impacted less on the long-lining industry. While this result is intuitive, it demonstrated quantitatively, how much more effective moveable management can be. Decisions on where conservation actions are implemented are always based on incomplete knowledge about biological diversity. It is generally assumed that gathering more data is a good investment for conservation planning. However, data can take time and incur costs to collect and given habitat loss, there are both costs and benefits associated with different levels of investments in knowledge versus conservation implementation. In chapter four, the aim was to determine the return on investment from spending different amounts on survey data before undertaking a program of implementing new protected areas. We found that, after an investment of only US$100,000, there was little increase in the effectiveness of conservation actions, despite the full species dataset costing at least 25 times that amount. Surveying can take time because of expertise limitations, logistics and funding shortfalls. Biological diversity may be lost while data collection occurs conversely, not collecting enough data can lead to erroneous decisions. Additionally, resources spent on learning may be better spent on other actions. In chapter five, in a series of retrospective simulations, we compared the impact of spending different amounts of time collecting biological data prior to the implementation of new protected areas. The aim was to find the optimal survey period given the trade-off between gaining knowledge to improve conservation decisions while there is concurrent loss of habitat. We discovered that surveying beyond two years rarely increased the effectiveness of conservation decisions, despite a substantial increase in the knowledge of species distributions. Often there are choices between different actions and uncertainty as to which are the most effective. In chapter six, we discuss how the principles of adaptive management might be applied to conservation planning. Improving future management decisions through learning should be viewed as essential in all conservation plans but such learning is often included as a minor step, or is completely ignored. In this chapter we provide a brief overview of an adaptive framework for conservation planning and ideas for future research.

Since the first reserve selection algorithm was developed in the early 1980s, systematic approaches to reserve design have attracted widespread support due to their ability to identify repeatable and efficient solutions to conservation planning problems. Yet there has been limited application of these methods to the problem of designing reserve systems for biodiversity conservation in the marine environment. In my dissertation research, I apply systematic methods to examine four fundamental issues in marine reserve system design. These issues consider how conservation planning outcomes are influenced when design constraints such as spatial compactness, efficiency, economic costs and incremental reserve establishment are formulated as part of the reserve design problem. First, I consider the trade-offs between spatial design and cost efficiency. In particular, I examine how well marine reserve systems can satisfy the design requirement to minimise the degree of fragmentation whilst minimising reserve system cost. In this case cost refers to the number of sites required to achieve biodiversity conservation objectives. The second issue is the inefficiency of ad hoc marine reserve system design. In terrestrial systems, ad hoc reserve design has been shown to produce inefficient reserve systems, limiting opportunities to achieve conservation targets. I examine how efficiently South Australia’s existing marine reserves contribute to quantitative conservation targets and introduce a new measure of irreplaceability. This metric reflects the potential value of a site’s contribution to reservation goals, by assessing whether a site is selected more than could be expected from chance alone. Sites selected as often as would be expected by chance, fail to contribute to the design of efficient marine reserve systems and represent an opportunity cost. The third issue addresses the demands on reserve systems to achieve both conservation and socio-economic objectives. Options for the design of marine reserve systems, which achieve better economic outcomes for commercial users without compromising conservation targets, are examined using a cost function that serves to make trade–offs early in the design process. The fourth issue is one of shifting targets and incremental reserve design. The problem was most recently highlighted with the rezoning of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, where the amount of no-take areas increased from 5% to over 30% but the original zoning arrangements were left in place. The consequence this has on the efficiency of the final marine reserve system is examined when different starting targets are used as the base. Each issue is examined by formulating planning scenarios using data for South Australia’s state waters as a case study. The marine reserve systems are configured using the mathematical optimisation program MARXAN to examine the complex trade-offs of conservation planning problems. The program offers the flexibility to incorporate new approaches and developing theory in marine conservation into the formal statement of the reserve design problem. The results offer some important insights for the future of marine reserve system design. These include 1) efficient representation of biodiversity is only part of the reserve design problem, with small increases in reserve system cost reported as a trade-off for more spatially compact marine reserve systems, 2) despite spanning less than 4% of South Australian state waters, the existing ad hoc marine reserves presented considerable opportunity costs that did not improve even when conservation targets were increased. Hence ad hoc reserve selection is likely to constrain effective conservation of marine biodiversity by compromising the ability to select more suitable sites, 3) integrating conservation and socio-economic objectives presents opportunities to design representative, efficient and practical marine reserve systems that minimise potential loss to commercial users with only small increases to the areal extent of the reserve system and 4) incrementally changing target levels of reservation has a minor affect on the efficiency of the final reserve system, though is likely to influence which planning units are in the final reserve system.

LIMA FILHO, Joseilton Ferreira . Análise da efetividade de manejo de áreas marinhas protegidas: um estudo do Parque Estadual Marinho da Pedra da Risca do Meio. 2006. 134 f. : Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Federal do Ceará, Pró-Reitoria de Pesquisa e Pós-Graduação, Programa Regional de Pós-Graduação em Desenvolvimento e Meio Ambiente-PRODEMA, Fortaleza-CE, 2006. / Submitted by guaracy araujo (guaraa3355@gmail.com) on 2016-04-28T19:51:27Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2006_dis_jflimafilho.pdf: 866498 bytes, checksum: 904e575c5968274b499ea9838f6ae909 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by guaracy araujo (guaraa3355@gmail.com) on 2016-04-28T19:51:59Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 2006_dis_jflimafilho.pdf: 866498 bytes, checksum: 904e575c5968274b499ea9838f6ae909 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-28T19:51:59Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2006_dis_jflimafilho.pdf: 866498 bytes, checksum: 904e575c5968274b499ea9838f6ae909 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006 / Created as a reaction to unlimited growth of modern society over environment, protected areas are nowadays distinctive components in a world-wide conservation strategy. Many kinds of threatened ecosystems are directly benefited by them, avoiding predatory uses of its extensions due to restrictions of behaviors imposed by their establishment. Amongst these, there are maritime areas. However, as well as terrestrial spaces, the mere creation of a marine protected area does not guarantee the environment preservation. The development of efficient administrative activities is really necessary, allowing the reach of its conservation objectives, whilst benefiting the largest possible number of society sectors. Aiming to analyze the effectiveness degree of Pedra da Risca do Meio Marine State Park handling, the only marine protected area of Ceará, it was established a methodology that analysis 24 variables distributed between 7 ambits. For each ambit, it was elaborated an evaluation matrix that allows a qualification of its handling effectiveness. Integrating all evaluated sector, it was possible to measure the marine protected area’s handling effectiveness. The analysis of Pedra da Risca do Meio Marine State Park handling effectiveness resulted in a 61.46% of its excellent level, being classified as a medium satisfactory handling. It was inferred, therefore, that although it possess the basic requirement of handling, this marine protected area still have structural and administrative gaps that make it difficult to establish efficient actions in local natural resources conservation. / Instituídas como uma reação limitante ao crescimento desmedido do homem sobre o ambiente natural, as áreas protegidas apresentam-se presentemente como um relevante componente nas estratégias de conservação ambiental mundial. Múltiplos tipos de ecossistemas ameaçados pela utilização predatória de suas extensões beneficiam-se diretamente da instituição de regras de condutas impostas pela criação de unidades de conservação, dentre estes, encontram-se as áreas marítimas. No entanto, assim como espaços terrestres, a mera implantação de uma área marinha protegida não garante a preservação do ambiente indicado. Deve-se primar pelo exercício de atividades administrativas eficientes que permitam que os objetivos de conservação do espaço sejam atingidos, de forma a beneficiar o maior número possível de setores da sociedade local. Visando analisar o grau de efetividade do manejo do Parque Estadual Marinho da Pedra da Risca do Meio, única unidade de conservação marinha do Estado do Ceará, construiu-se um instrumental metodológico baseado na análise de 24 variáveis, distribuídas entre 7 âmbitos. Para cada âmbito, foram elaboradas matrizes de avaliação que permitiram a classificação da efetividade do manejo de cada um destes e, ao integrá-los, da unidade de conservação em si. A contribuição inovadora deste estudo foi o desenvolvimento de uma metodologia que, embora apresente pontos em comum com metodologias anteriormente utilizadas, seja aplicada às áreas marinhas protegidas, unidades de conservação ainda carentes de estudos sobre eficiência de manejo. Desta forma, a análise do manejo do Parque Estadual Marinho da Pedra da Risca do Meio resultou em 61,46% do seu nível ótimo, classificando-o como possuidor de um manejo medianamente satisfatório. Inferiu-se, portanto, que apesar de possuir requisitos básicos de manejo de uma unidade de conservação essa área ainda apresenta lacunas estruturais e administrativas que dificultam o estabelecimento de ações eficazes na conservação dos recursos naturais locais.

There is currently worldwide pressure to establish Marine Protected Area (MPA) networks which are self-sustaining and will persistently protect habitats and species. In order for MPA networks to be effective, the species targeted for conservation must be able to disperse between protected areas and maintain a gene-flow necessary for population sustainability and persistence. This warrants new research on how to quantify and map faunal dispersal to ensure that protection will be effective and sustainable. Population genetic methods have merit, with the ability to track parentage and gene flow between areas directly. However the costs, quantity of samples, and time required to genetically quantify dispersal for multiple species make these approaches prohibitive as the only method of assessment, especially in relatively inaccessible offshore waters. Dispersal modelling is now becoming more accessible and may fulfil immediate needs in this field (although ground truthing will be necessary in the future). There have been very few dispersal modelling studies focussed on deep sea or offshore areas, predominantly due to the lack of high resolution hydrodynamic models with sufficient geographic extent away from shore. Current conclusions have been drawn based on shallow water coastal studies, informing offshore MPA network size and spacing. However the differences between these two environments may mean that dispersal abilities are not comparable. Deep water receives less influence from wind and weather, and the scales are vastly different in terms of a) the depth ranges covered, b) the planktonic larval durations (PLDs) of animals, and c) the geographic areas concerned as a consequence. Global hydrodynamic models with reasonable resolution are now becoming more accessible. With the outputs from these models, and freely available particle simulators, it is becoming more practical to undertake offshore deep water dispersal studies. This thesis aims to undertake an analysis of these accessible modelling tools within a deep sea context. The guidelines which are currently available to dispersal modellers are yet to encompass the needs of deep water modellers which may require some additional considerations given the extended depth range covered and the different hydrodynamic drivers away from the air/sea interface. Chapter 1 reviews the larval dispersal process, the factors which may affect dispersal success, and those which should be incorporated into future predictions of dispersal. The current methods for assessing larval dispersal are explored covering genetics, elemental tagging and modelling approaches with an extended look at modelling considerations. Existing marine conservation policy is also touched on in the context of connectivity and larval dispersal. Chapter 2 is designed to inform future deep sea modellers on how to parameterise and understand a dispersal model. As models appear as a ‘black box’ to the majority of users, sensitivity tests can offer a way of scaling model inputs and tempering expectations from model outputs. A commonly used model pairing (the HYCOM hydrodynamic model and the Connectivity Modeling System) is assessed, using parameters which link to the temporal and spatial scales of mixing in the modelled system: timestep of particle tracer, horizontal and vertical positioning of release points, release frequency of larvae, and temporal range of simulation. All parameters were shown to have a decreased sensitivity with depth, with patterns reflecting local watermass structure. Future studies observing similar hydrodynamic conditions seeking to optimise their model set up would be advised to stratify their model release locations with depth. A means to incorporate all sensitivity test results into optimal input parameters for future studies is demonstrated. Chapter 3 investigates whether dispersal models provide any advantage over a “sphere of influence” estimate based on average current speeds and PLDs: there is no use pursuing dispersal modelling if the outputs are too erroneous to provide any advantage over a back-of-the-envelope calculation. This chapter examines the outputs of two dispersal models driven by two different hydrodynamic models in order to observe the variability in prediction between models. This model comparison revealed a greater disparity between hydrodynamic model predictions than has been previously understood by ecologists. The two models compared (POLCOMS and HYCOM) may equally be considered as suitable to promote realism in the study region, but slight differences in resolution and numerical error handling resulted in dispersal predictions from which opposing conclusions can be drawn. This chapter therefore emphasises the necessity for model ground truthing before predictions can be trusted. Chapter 4 assimilates the findings of the previous chapters and applies their advice to a study of MPA network dispersal connectivity. Using the hydrodynamic model which performed best in chapter 3 (HYCOM), a simulation was undertaken for cold water coral (Lophelia pertusa (Linnaeus 1758)) larval dispersal between already established MPAs in the NE Atlantic. As larval characters have only been observed ex situ, dispersal was simulated using two null models (passive and active vertical migration) and averaged to provide an intermediate prediction. A method for assessing dispersal within MPAs and MPA networks is offered based on the intermediate prediction, as well as a network wide assessment of the difference in dispersal patterns for passive and active larvae. It was found that the existing network performs well at supplying larvae to non-networked sites, but performs poorly at supplying other MPAs. The ‘best’ MPAs were central to the network and facilitated the traverse of regional gaps in suitable habitat. The ‘worst’ MPAs were peripheral to the network and small in size. Network-wide passive and active dispersal matrices had no significant difference between them. However site specific variability in the effect of vertical migration was detected subject to variability in local topographic barriers to dispersal, only some of which could be surmounted with vertical migration. All chapters aim to inform future deep sea dispersal modellers, and encourage exploration of this tool in other contexts, as well as marine conservation. The thesis cautions against the transplantation of shallow water assumptions to deep water environments, and advocates region specific studies and mandatory ground truthing of predictions. An upcoming study will ground truth the findings of this thesis with both genetic and oceanographic data, allowing the accuracy of study results to be quantified.

This thesis provides the first direct comparison between – and integration of – community-based and science-based approaches to the establishment of marine protected areas (MPAs). MPAs are one potentially effective conservation tool, but are being established very slowly. My research shows that community involvement in placing MPAs can help meet many ecological goals, although biophysical data improve the conservation value of sitings. To assess the need for MPAs in British Columbia (BC), Canada, I mapped stressors resulting from human activities. This produced a powerful rationale for MPAs: very little of the ocean, and almost none of the continental shelf of BC, lies beyond the reach of human stressors. My work helps reconcile differing perspectives about the efficacy of community-based vs. science-based MPA selection. I explored and analyzed these approaches, separately and together, in two areas in BC. First, I generated a community-based plan for MPA placement through partnerships with two First Nations (indigenous peoples) in BC. They offered strong support for spatial protection measures, and individuals nominated overlapping areas. Second, I applied a decision support tool (Marxan) to determine MPA placement under scientific precepts. Conservation planning usually lacks detailed ecological information but the Marxan approach was robust to some missing data; in such cases, it was best to use available abiotic and biotic data to ensure that both habitats and species were represented. Third, I integrated community-based and science-based approaches, to find that they verified and complemented each other. Indeed, an integration of the two was preferred by participants and also achieved all conservation objectives. Finally, I took a novel and pragmatic approach to ocean zoning. I used spatial data for thirteen commercial fisheries on Canada’s west coast to select areas where fishing should be permitted, rather than prohibiting fishing under a MPA paradigm. The results revealed that small reductions in fisheries yields, if judiciously selected, could allow creation of large unfished areas that embraced diverse biophysical regions and habitat types. Such a pragmatic approach could achieve remarkable conservation gains. / Science, Faculty of / Resources, Environment and Sustainability (IRES), Institute for / Graduate

Identifying the extent to which coral reef species are connected by dispersal is a fundamental challenge for developing marine conservation strategies. Many coral reef species are relatively sedentary as adults, yet have a pelagic larval phase where larvae can potentially be widely dispersed by ocean currents. This thesis focuses on the role of ocean currents in driving spatially explicit patterns of population connectivity among ecologically and commercially important coral reef species by combining research tools from population genetics, oceanography, and biophysical modeling. Despite the substantial differences among the life histories of each coral reef species in this thesis, some similarities in connectivity patterns were found among all species. The results of the kinship and genetic outlier analyses consistently found high levels of connectivity among distant populations separated by hundreds to thousands of kilometers. Despite the high levels of connectivity among distant populations, there was substantial variation in gene flow among the populations of each species. The findings of this thesis highlight the importance of international cooperation for the sustainable management of ecologically and commercially important coral reef species in the Caribbean. In conclusion, the findings of this thesis suggest that marine conservation strategies should conservatively plan for uncertainty, particularly since the many of ecological and physical drivers of connectivity among coral reef species in the Caribbean remain uncertain.

Coral reefs around the world are at risk from overexploitation and climate change, and coral reefs of the Red Sea are no exception. Science-based designation of marine protected areas (MPAs), within which human activities are restricted, has become a popular method for conserving biodiversity, restoring degraded habitats, and replenishing depleted populations. The aim of this project was to explore adaptable methods for designing locally-manageable MPAs for various conservation goals near Thuwal in the central Saudi Arabian Red Sea while allowing human activities to continue. First, the potential for using simple spatial habitat distribution metrics to aid in designing MPAs that are well-connected with larval supply was explored. Results showed that the degree of habitat patchiness may be positively correlated with realized dispersal distances, making it possible to space MPAs further apart in patchier habitats while still maintaining larval connectivity. However, this relationship requires further study and may be informative to MPA design only in the absence of spatially-explicit empirical dispersal data. Next, biological data was collected, and the spatial variation in biomass, trophic structure, biodiversity, and community assemblages on Thuwal reefs was analyzed in order to inform the process of prioritizing reefs for inclusion in MPA networks. Inshore and offshore reef community assemblages were found to be different and indicated relatively degraded inshore habitats. These trends were used to select species and benthic categories that would be important to conserve in a local MPA. The abundances of these “conservation features” were then modeled throughout the study area, and the decision support software “Marxan” was used to design MPA networks in Thuwal that included these features to achieve quantitative objectives. While achieving objectives relevant to fisheries concerns was relatively more challenging, results showed that it is possible to design a local MPA that achieves fisheries and biodiversity goals simultaneously. However, future work should focus on expanding the biological dataset and on acquiring socio-economic data in order to formulate a comprehensive local management plan.

The Red Sea is valued for its biodiversity and the livelihoods it provides for many. It now faces overfishing, habitat degradation, and anthropogenic induced climate-change. Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) became a powerful management tool to protect vulnerable species and ecosystems, re-establish their balance, and enhance marine populations. For this, they need to be well designed and managed. There are 15 designated MPAs in the Red Sea but their level of enforcement is unclear. To design an MPA it is necessary to know if it will protect species of interest by considering their movement needs. In this thesis I aim at understanding fish movement in the Red Sea, specifically home range (HR) to inform MPA size designation. With not much empirical data available on HR for Red Sea fish, I used a Machine Learning (ML) classification model, trained with empirical literature HR measurements with Maximum Total Length (L Max), Aspect Ratio (AR) of the caudal fin, and Trophic Level as predictor variables. HR was classified into 5 categories: <.1 km, 0.1- 1.0 km, 2.0- 5.0 km, 5.0- 20 km, and >20 km. The model presents a 74.5% degree of accuracy. With it, I obtained the HR category for 337 Red Sea fish species. Having MPAs with a maximum linear dimension of at least 10km will meet the requirements of 90% of fish species evaluated in the model, which were small to medium size families (damselfishes, butterflyfishes, small wrasses, cardinalfishes, gobies and blennies). This percentage does not include larger species likely to move over much greater distances (10s, 100s or 1000s of km) (e.g., medium to large jacks, snappers,, groupers, sharks and rays). 60% of the Red Seas designated MPAs have the potential, if enforced as a No Take Area (NTA), to benefit more than 95% of reef fishes. However, larger MPAs will be required to protect more wide-ranging species. TRSP project in Al Wadj is proposing to close the entire SEZ to fishing. If they are successful in implementing and enforcing this fishing ban, TRSP will be the largest no take area in the Red Sea (~160 km long) that is likely to not only protect all of the species evaluated in the model, but also most wide-ranging species. Therefore, TRSP is not only likely to achieve and surpass its stated goal of increasing current fish biomass by 30%, but also to provide benefits to surrounding areas through the spillover of adults, juvenile and larvae to fished areas.

When movement ecology of target species is coupled with spatial management approaches, such as marine protected areas (MPAs), the results can establish effective conservation outcomes. Nevertheless, a knowledge gap persists regarding how many marine organisms use specific environments over long, continuous periods of time. Acoustic telemetry arrays and fine-scale positioning systems are quickly pervading the marine environment as they can monitor animal movements on a near continuous basis, filling in many previous unknowns on spatial use patterns. Further, coupling fine-scale movement patterns and benthic habitat data provides a spatial framework foundation essential to understanding the intricacies of how habitats can drive movement ecology, and how organisms might link adjacent habitats and resources through movement. The first chapter of this thesis quantified both the broad- and fine-scale movement patterns of yellowtail snapper Ocyurus chrysurus (n = 8) around Buck Island Reef National Monument (BIRNM), St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, an MPA managed by the National Park Service. High site fidelity and a clear affinity to the western shelf break characterized common broad-scale movements observed for this species. Two distinct contingents were detected by the positioning system suggesting individuals were using habitats in two unique, highly structured ways, however, this result requires further validation through an increased sample size. For the second chapter, I characterized the broad-scale movement ecology of horse-eye jack Caranx latus (n = 7), an understudied, but common predatory reef fish. Horse-eye jack are wide ranging, with most individuals visiting almost all receivers (n = 78) in the BIRNM array network. Comparatively, horse-eye jack made more frequent BIRNM boundary crossings into adjacent MPAs harboring various levels of protection. Taken together, these two case studies highlight how sympatric reef species differentially use space within BIRNM and highlight the necessity of evaluating MPA efficacy across species and over longer time scales. Constructing single species movement assessments is essential information, yet there is now a demonstrated need for community movement studies. The final chapter of this thesis highlights promising next steps for this project, including the proposal of a new hourly or sub hourly movement trajectory analysis, potentially capable of elucidating species interactions in near real-time. Together, this thesis not only fills data gaps on species deficient in ecological studies (horse-eye jack) but illuminates individuality in habitat and space use (yellowtail snapper), and how these analyses can be tied back in to developing stronger holistic community population assessments. With continued exploitation of marine environments and increasing anthropogenic demand of marine resources, the need for understanding processes driving species movements is essential in developing successful spatial management plans.