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Biophysical Models Resolution Affects Coral Connectivity Estimates by Antoine Saint-Amand; Jonathan Lambrechts; Emmanuel Hanert is a Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology article available to read on EtoBox.

What is Biophysical Models Resolution Affects Coral Connectivity Estimates about?

Estimating connectivity between coral reefs is essential to inform reef conservation and restoration. Given the vastness of coral reef ecosystems, connectivity can only be simulated with biophysical models whose spatial resolution is often coarser than the reef scale. Here, we assess the impact of biophysical models resolution on connectivity estimates by comparing the outputs of five different setups of the same model with resolutions ranging from 250 m to 4 km. We show that increasing the model resolution around reefs yields more complex and less directional dispersal patterns. With a fine-resolution model, connectivity graphs have more connections but of weaker strength. The resulting community structure therefore shows larger clusters of well-connected reefs. Virtual larvae also tend to stay longer close to their source reef with a fine-resolution model, leading to an increased local retention and self-recruitment for species with a short pre-competency period. Overall, only about half of the reefs with the largest connectivity indicator values are similar for the finest and coarsest resolution models. Our results suggest that reef management recommendations should only be made

Who reads Biophysical Models Resolution Affects Coral Connectivity Estimates?

Author

Antoine Saint-Amand; Jonathan Lambrechts; Emmanuel Hanert

Publisher

Springer Science and Business Media LLC

Published

2023

Language

EN

Field

Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology (Life Sciences)