Multi-Species Telemetry Quantifies Current and Future Efficacy of a Remote Marine Protected Area.

ABSTRACT: Large-scale marine protected areas (LSMPAs; > 1000 km²) provide important refuge for large mobile species, but most do not encompass species' ranges. To better understand current and future LSMPA value, we concurrently tracked nine species (seabirds, cetaceans, pelagic fishes, manta rays, reef sharks) at Palmyra Atoll and Kingman Reef (PKMPA) in the U.S. Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument. PKMPA and the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone encompassed 39% and 54% of species movements (n = 83; tracking duration range: 0.5-350 days), respectively. Species distribution models indicated 73% of PKMPA contained highly suitable habitat. Under two projected future scenarios (SSP 1-2.6, "Sustainability"; SSP 3-7.0, "Rocky Road"), strong sea surface temperature gradients initially

SUBMITTER: Gilmour ME 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11997735 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature