Marine reserves promote cycles in fish populations on ecological and evolutionary time scales
Abstract
Marine reserves, considered vital for marine biodiversity management, may not always stabilize fish populations as previously believed. Larger reserves can actually promote two types of population oscillations: rapid oscillations due to resource competition and slower oscillations characterized by long transients and regime shifts driven by natural selection. This has implications for reserve design and management, suggesting that smaller reserves may be more effective in stabilizing fish populations. Fisheries managers and policymakers can use this information to strike a balance between population stability and harvesting yields of fish. This study sheds light on the complex interplay of evolution, ecology, and human intervention in marine systems, informing our understanding of the impact of marine reserves on fish populations.
- Publication:
-
Proceedings of the National Academy of Science
- Pub Date:
- November 2023
- DOI:
- 10.1073/pnas.2307529120
- Bibcode:
- 2023PNAS..12007529C