TY - JOUR

T1 - Pollution exposure on marine protected areas

T2 - A global assessment

AU - Partelow, Stefan

AU - von Wehrden, Henrik

AU - Horn, Olga

PY - 2015/11/15

Y1 - 2015/11/15

N2 - Marine protected areas (MPAs) face many challenges in their aim to effectively conserve marine ecosystems. In this study we analyze the extent of pollution exposure on the global fleet of MPAs. This includes indicators for current and future pollution and the implications for regionally clustered groups of MPAs with similar biophysical characteristics. To cluster MPAs into characteristic signature groups, their bathymetry, baseline biodiversity, distance from shore, mean sea surface temperature and mean sea surface salinity were used. We assess the extent at which each signature group is facing exposure from multiple pollution types. MPA groups experience similar pollution exposure on a regional level. We highlight how the challenges that MPAs face can be addressed through governance at the appropriate scale and design considerations for integrated terrestrial and marine management approaches within regional level networks. Furthermore, we present diagnostic social-ecological indicators for addressing the challenges facing unsuccessful MPAs with practical applications.

AB - Marine protected areas (MPAs) face many challenges in their aim to effectively conserve marine ecosystems. In this study we analyze the extent of pollution exposure on the global fleet of MPAs. This includes indicators for current and future pollution and the implications for regionally clustered groups of MPAs with similar biophysical characteristics. To cluster MPAs into characteristic signature groups, their bathymetry, baseline biodiversity, distance from shore, mean sea surface temperature and mean sea surface salinity were used. We assess the extent at which each signature group is facing exposure from multiple pollution types. MPA groups experience similar pollution exposure on a regional level. We highlight how the challenges that MPAs face can be addressed through governance at the appropriate scale and design considerations for integrated terrestrial and marine management approaches within regional level networks. Furthermore, we present diagnostic social-ecological indicators for addressing the challenges facing unsuccessful MPAs with practical applications.

KW - Sustainability Science

KW - Climate change

KW - Conservation networks

KW - Geographical information system (GIS)

KW - Indicators

KW - Land-sea connectivity

KW - Sustainability

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84940118486&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2015.08.026

DO - 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2015.08.026

M3 - Journal articles

C2 - 26330016

AN - SCOPUS:84940118486

VL - 100

SP - 352

EP - 358

JO - Marine Pollution Bulletin

JF - Marine Pollution Bulletin

SN - 0025-326X

IS - 1

ER -