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| Aim To assess gaps in the representation of taxonomic, phylogenetic and functional
diversity among coastal fishes in Mediterranean marine-protected areas
(MPAs).
Location Mediterranean Sea.
Methods We first assessed gaps in the taxonomic representation of the 340
coastal fish species in Mediterranean MPAs, with representation targets (the
species range proportion to be covered by MPAs) set to be inversely proportional
to species’ range sizes. We then asked whether MPAs favoured representation
of phylogenetically and functionally more distinct species or whether
there was a tendency to favour less distinctive ones. We finally evaluated the
overall conservation effectiveness of the MPAs using a metric that integrates
species’ phylogenetic and functional relationships and targets achievement. The
effectiveness of the MPA system at protecting biodiversity was assessed by comparison
of its achievements against a null model obtained by siting current
MPAs at random over the study area.
Results Among the coastal fish species analysed, 16 species were not covered
by any MPA. All the remaining species only partially achieved the pre-defined
representation target. The current MPA system missed fewer species than
expected from siting MPAs at random. However, c. 70% of the species did not
achieve better protection in the current MPAs than expected from siting MPAs
at random. Functional and evolutionary distinctiveness were weakly correlated
with target achievement. The observed coverage of taxonomic, phylogenetic
and functional diversity was not different or lower than expected from siting
MPAs at random.
Main conclusions The Mediterranean MPA system falls short in meeting conservation
targets for coastal fish taxonomic diversity, phylogenetic diversity and
functional diversity. Mediterranean MPAs do not encompass more biodiversity
than expected by chance. This study reveals multiple ongoing challenges and
calls for regional collaboration for the extension of the Mediterranean system
of MPAs to meet international commitments and reduce the ongoing loss of
marine biodiversity | |
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