A connectivity-based eco-regionalization method of the Mediterranean Sea

Ecoregionalization of the ocean is a necessary step for spatial management of marine resources. Previous ecoregionalization efforts were based either on the distribution of species or on the distribution of physical and biogeochemical properties. These approaches ignore the dispersal of species by o...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:PloS one 2014-11, Vol.9 (11), p.e111978-e111978
Main Authors: Berline, Léo, Rammou, Anna-Maria, Doglioli, Andrea, Molcard, Anne, Petrenko, Anne
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biodiversity and Ecology
Biogeochemistry
Biogeography
Biology and Life Sciences
Boundaries
Climate change
Clustering
Computer simulation
Connectivity
Conservation of Natural Resources - methods
Dispersal
Earth sciences
Ecology
Ecosystem
Environment and Society
Environmental Sciences
General circulation
Global Changes
Gyres
Habitats
Marine conservation
Marine pollution
Marine resources
Mathematical models
Mediterranean Sea
Models, Theoretical
Numerical simulations
Ocean circulation
Ocean models
Oceanic circulation
Oceanography
Oceans
Particle trajectories
Plankton
Plankton - physiology
Resource management
Spatial distribution
Taxonomy
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Ecoregionalization of the ocean is a necessary step for spatial management of marine resources. Previous ecoregionalization efforts were based either on the distribution of species or on the distribution of physical and biogeochemical properties. These approaches ignore the dispersal of species by oceanic circulation that can connect regions and isolates others. This dispersal effect can be quantified through connectivity that is the probability, or time of transport between distinct regions. Here a new regionalization method based on a connectivity approach is described and applied to the Mediterranean Sea. This method is based on an ensemble of Lagrangian particle numerical simulations using ocean model outputs at 1/12° resolution. The domain is divided into square subregions of 50 km size. Then particle trajectories are used to quantify the oceanographic distance between each subregions, here defined as the mean connection time. Finally the oceanographic distance matrix is used as a basis for a hierarchical clustering. 22 regions are retained and discussed together with a quantification of the stability of boundaries between regions. Identified regions are generally consistent with the general circulation with boundaries located along current jets or surrounding gyres patterns. Regions are discussed in the light of existing ecoregionalizations and available knowledge on plankton distributions. This objective method complements static regionalization approaches based on the environmental niche concept and can be applied to any oceanic region at any scale.
ISSN:1932-6203
1932-6203
DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0111978