Integrating Regulating Ecosystem Services in Marine Conservation Planning

Abstract

Traditionally protected areas are designed to support the conservation of threatened species, habitats, and biodiversity. To also properly safeguard ecosystem functioning and services, protected area siting should consider more dimensions when moving towards the 30% protection targets. All species are not equal in terms of the ecosystem services they deliver, and e.g., carbon sequestration studies have focused on few species and habitats. The present study identifies key areas important for the conservation of regulating ecosystem service supply, by also considering species-specific traits such as size, lifespan, and growth form. We used an extensive data set covering over 170,000 observations of underwater marine diversity including algae, macrophytes and fauna, to produce maps on the spatial distribution of regulating services, including bioremediation and filtration/sequestration/storage/accumulation of wastes and nutrients by algae, macrophytes and fauna, control of erosion and flooding, oxygen production and carbon sequestration and storage. We further identified key ecosystem service areas and optimal areas for increasing the protection of ecosystem services. The current marine protected area network covers only 24% of the service supply of the investigated services on average, but already with one well-targeted percentage point increase the service features covered would almost triple. The identified key ecosystem service areas and expansion candidates highlight the critical role of shallow coastal ecosystems and adjacent reef areas in supporting ecosystem service supply. The identified key areas are likely important for cultural services, with much of the human pressures focused close to shore, highlighting the need for further investigations into trade-offs between services and protected areas.