有效的保护区网络中的海洋学连通性对于恢复和稳定海洋种群至关重要。然而,连通性的时间变化很少被认为是设计和评估海洋保护规划的标准。在这项研究中,定义了指标来表征发生的时间变异性,通量,以及地中海西北部地区的连通性频率。在气候年和2006-2020年之间的三年中,对被动粒子传输模型的运行提供的半理论估计的连接进行了测试,表明与气候年的偏差很大。这些指标允许比较四个区域连通性的时间变化,强调了由于它们的位置和中尺度流体动力学而导致的连通性差异,并确定了需要进一步调查的领域。这三个指标还表明,连通性的时间变异性受到粒子传输持续时间和深度的影响,尽管在比较区域的指标变化中未观察到一致的模式。前提是在参数化运输模型时将给出具体目标(即,焦点物种和时间段的选择),连通性的时间变异性指标有可能支持空间保护规划,优先保护海洋资源,并衡量海洋保护区的有效性,符合海洋管理的长期愿景。
Oceanographic connectivity in an effective network of protected areas is crucial for restoring and stabilising marine populations. However, temporal variability in connectivity is rarely considered as a criterion in designing and evaluating marine conservation planning. In this study, indicators were defined to characterise the temporal variability in occurrence, flux, and frequency of connectivity in a northwestern Mediterranean Sea area. Indicators were tested on semi-theoretically-estimated connections provided by the runs of a passive particle transport model in a climatological year and in three years between 2006-2020, showing large deviation from the climatological year. The indicators allowed comparing the temporal variability in connectivity of four zones, highlighted differences in connectivity due to their locations and the mesoscale
hydrodynamics, and identified areas that require further investigation. The three indicators also showed that the temporal variability in connectivity was influenced by the duration and depth of particle transport, although no consistent pattern was observed in the indicator variations of the compared zones. Provided that specific objectives will be given when parameterising transport models (i.e., selection of focus species and time period), indicators of temporal variability in connectivity have potential to support spatial conservation planning, prioritise the protection of marine resources, and measure the effectiveness of Marine Protected Areas, in line with a long-term vision of ocean management.