Are marine protected areas as effective as they seem?
A global analysis of shallow reef MPAs suggests that less than 2% of global oceans may be protected by ecologically effective MPAs, falling short of the global goal of 30% by 2030.
World’s largest dam removal leads to rapid fish recolonization
The removal of four dams along the Klamath River in Oregon enabled Chinook salmon to rapidly recolonize nearly 90% of their historical range.
Balancing freshwater connectivity with invasive species spread
The dual threats of connectivity barriers and invasive species need to be considered simultaneously when planning for freshwater restoration.
Identifying key connections for migratory marine animals
A global assessment of migratory networks for over 100 species provides a baseline for managers and policymakers to use for improved transboundary cooperation.
Climate warming disproportionately impacts deep-sea connectivity
A global assessment of range shifts in the ocean under climate change shows that the deepest zones are likely to lose the highest amount of connectivity.
Marine reserve networks have outsized benefits for both reefs and fisheries
An analysis of coral groupers along the Great Barrier Reef shows that although marine reserves cover only 30% of reef habitat, they generate 50% of the larvae and almost half of the total fishery yield in the entire region.
Migration connects ecosystems through nutrient subsidies
As fish migrate into rivers, they bring valuable nutrients that filter across the environment and create a connected ecosystem that benefits multiple trophic levels.
Marine protections account for 10% of fish on coral reefs
Underwater surveys of fish at over 1,200 tropical reef sites reveal the extent to which protecting and connecting coral ecosystems is effective in conserving marine biodiversity.
Barriers to climate connectivity
Obligatory interactions between freshwater mussels and their fish hosts make maintaining river connectivity more challenging under future climate conditions.
Connectivity supports ecosystem resilience to regime shifts
Habitat connectivity for predatory fish along the Baltic Sea coast helps in part to prevent smaller prey fish from taking over bays and causing eutrophication.
Long term recovery for salmonids after dam removal
The removal of a century-old dam on Cedar River in Washington State benefited native salmonid populations and river connectivity up to 20 years later.
Dams and climate change interact to alter river connectivity
The combination of physical barriers and shifting climate conditions may cause some waterways to lose connectivity in significant ways.
Will current marine reserve networks still be effective under climate change?
Most current marine reserves were designed without accounting for climate change. A new study quantifies whether redesigned reserves might be more ready for the future.
Hydropower dams threaten Andes-to-Amazon river connectivity
A new report on the Andean Amazon region shows that dams are more prevalent and have a greater impact than previously reported, and are likely to disrupt connectivity even more in the future.
How will migratory fish adapt to climate change with dams in the way?
Fish that migrate from sea to freshwater may struggle to adapt to climate change, especially if intersystem connectivity is blocked.
Merging paradigms of connectivity in marine ecology
Linking larval and juvenile fish movement through environmental exposure can create simplified recommendations for connectivity.
The fate of of hydrologic connectivity in the American Southwest
The American Southwest, already known for its arid environment and scarcity of water sources, may be headed for even drier conditions. In new research coming out in PNAS, Jaeger et al. examine hydrological connectivity and [...]
Habitat connectivity impacts interactions between native and invasive species
While non-native species are commonly managed against by limiting population connectivity, management decisions can get complicated when a non-native species actually indirectly benefits a native one. In a recent in-depth study that spans three trophic [...]
Floodplain rehabilitation as a way to preserve migratory connectivity
For species that rely on river networks to migrate, changes in storm frequency, duration, intensity or temperature might have a major impact on whether enough water is available to migrate at all. Groups of [...]
Challenges to riparian connectivity
Rivers everywhere have been broken into pieces by dams, weirs, culverts, and bridges. This segmentation is likely to increase, posing significant challenges for river managers and conservationists. Two recent papers discuss some subtle, pervasive challenges [...]