Tropical marginal seas: priority regions for managing marine biodiversity and ecosystem function

Area of Science:

• Marine Biology
• Oceanography
• Conservation Science

Background:

• Tropical marginal seas (TMSs) host valuable and vulnerable biodiversity.
• These regions are critical for global marine conservation efforts.
• Rapid human population growth in these areas increases anthropogenic pressures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and synthesize knowledge on biodiversity in 11 TMSs.
• To analyze ecosystem functions, habitat interactions, and human impacts.
• To contrast management complexities across different TMSs.

Main Methods:

• Review of scientific literature on 11 Tropical Marginal Seas.
• Focus on three key ecosystems: coral reefs/atolls, deep benthic, and pelagic biomes.
• Synthesis and comparison of biodiversity, ecosystem function, and anthropogenic pressures.

Main Results:

• TMSs exhibit varying levels of human influence, from pristine to heavily exploited.
• Biodiversity, ecosystem function, and habitat interactions differ across TMSs.
• Most TMSs span multiple national jurisdictions, complicating management.

Conclusions:

• Effective management of TMSs is complex due to transboundary nature.
• Identifying ecologically significant areas using global criteria is a crucial first step.
• A structured, multinational approach is needed for TMS ecosystem management.