Integrating ecosystem connectivity into the design of marine protected area networks

Marine protected area (MPA) networks are commonly designated to achieve ecosystem-level conservation objectives. To design MPA networks capable of achieving such objectives, there has been a strong emphasis placed on the importance of incorporating connectivity into their design. Approaches to incorporate connectivity, however, have primarily been developed from a population-based, biotic perspective that overlooks the abiotic components of ecosystems. Ecological evidence suggests that ecosystem connectivity - the movement of materials, including organisms, detritus, and inorganic nutrients, between ecosystems - can be a fundamental driver of ecosystem dynamics, emphasizing the need for MPA network design strategies to adopt a broader, ecosystem-based perspective on connectivity. Here, we propose a conceptual framework for integrating ecosystem connectivity into the design of MPA networks, using the best available data. Through the application of our framework to a case study on the Pacific coast of Canada, we present the current state of knowledge regarding benthic ecosystem connectivity in temperate marine environments. We highlight potential interdependencies between benthic marine ecosystems, and present evidence-based rules of thumb for integrating ecosystem connectivity into the design of MPA networks. We discuss our findings in relation to Canada’s MPA network objectives and design guidelines.