e-obs Stories & Publications

@article{gilmour_multispecies_2025,

title = {Multi‐Species Telemetry Quantifies Current and Future Efficacy of a Remote Marine Protected Area},

author = {Morgan E. Gilmour and Kydd Pollock and Josh Adams and Barbara A. Block and Jennifer E. Caselle and Alex Filous and Alan M. Friedlander and Edward T. Game and Elliott L. Hazen and Marie Hill and Nick D. Holmes and Kevin D. Lafferty and Sara M. Maxwell and Douglas J. McCauley and Robert Schallert and Scott A. Shaffer and Nicholas H. Wolff and Alex Wegmann},

url = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/gcb.70138},

doi = {10.1111/gcb.70138},

issn = {1354-1013, 1365-2486},

year  = {2025},

date = {2025-04-01},

urldate = {2025-09-16},

journal = {Global Change Biology},

volume = {31},

number = {4},

pages = {e70138},

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\textendash350 days), respectively. Species distribution models indicated 73% of PKMPA contained highly suitable habitat. Under two projected future scenarios (SSP 1\textendash2.6, “Sustainability”; SSP 3\textendash7.0, “Rocky Road”), strong sea surface temperature gradients initially could cause abrupt oceanic change resulting in predicted habitat loss in 2040\textendash2050, followed by an equilibrium response and regained habitat by 2090\textendash2100. Current and future suitable habitats were available adjacent to PKMPA, suggesting that increased MPA size could enhance protection. Our three-tiered approach combining animal tracking with publicly available remote sensing data and future projected environmental scenarios could be used to design, study, and monitor protected areas throughout the world. Holistic approaches that encompass diverse species and habitat use can enhance assessments of protected area designs. Animal telemetry and remote sensing may be helpful for ascertaining the extent to which other MPAs protect large mobile species in the future.},

keywords = {CMIP6, GPS-tracking, marine spatial planning, movement ecology, pseudo-absence, satellite-tracking},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}