Network analysis of submarine canyon seascapes - implications for planning and biodiversity management

Abstract

Submarine canyons are distinct geomorphologic structures in the seascape and provide invaluable goods and services for environment and human well-being. The increasing anthropogenic pressure under the canyons ecosystems compromise their health and resilience. Population connectivity and habitat connectedness play a key role in the maintenance of ecosystems’ structure and functioning. In this presentation we will introduce a project to study connectivity in submarine canyons using spatially explicit network analysis based on the Graph Theory. Network analyses provide a dynamic perspective of communities’ distribution in fragmented habitats. Graphs networks can be used to investigate dispersal pathways and to identify stepping-stones linking distant populations or to infer the presence of dispersal barriers. In this project we propose to synthesize the current knowledge on species and habitat distributions to produce a global perception of their macroecology and connectivity. The knowledge generated by this project will provide scientific evidence to support decision-making in conservation and planning of marine protected areas networks in submarine canyons