Selecting zones in a marine park: early systematic planning improves cost-efficiency; combining habitat and biotic data improves effectiveness

摘要: Abstract Systematic planning, using algorithm tools, can improve biodiversity representation in ‘no-take’ zones a marine park while reducing costs of meeting conservation targets. The current zoning plan for the 870 km 2 Solitary Islands Marine Park (SIMP), designed without provides an example to compare efficiency scenarios that include or ignore existing scheme and assess utility habitat and/or biotic data planning. Marxan was used categories selection fish species 3 sanctuary zones: 1) clean slate; 2) building on zones; 3) (2002 zone plan). Three target levels were considered (10%, 20% 30% habitats zones). use combined compared with results obtained each dataset separately. clean-slate option most cost-efficient. Extending achieve equivalent required more area longer boundaries. For both these scenarios, large cross-shelf at widest part SIMP important requirement achieving representation. Neither nor reef assemblages fully represented plan. Fish features effective than alone selecting areas known have high values SIMP. isolation too spatially constrained systematic planning this scale.