Marine megavertebrate migrations connect the global ocean

Area of Science:

• Marine Biology
• Conservation Science
• Ecology

Background:

• Animal migrations are extensive, ubiquitous, and facing decline.
• Effective conservation of migratory species requires identifying interconnected sites.
• A gap exists between ecological research and policy-relevant information, hindering marine migrant conservation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize existing research and identify key sites and migratory networks for marine megafauna.
• To model the minimum extent of marine megafauna connectivity across global oceans.
• To provide a tool for policymakers to understand and manage migratory species within their jurisdictions.

Main Methods:

• Synthesized information from 1304 references.
• Identified 1787 critical sites for migratory species.
• Developed model migratory networks for 109 marine megafauna species.

Main Results:

• Mapped the minimum extent of marine megafauna connectivity across global oceans.
• Highlighted the importance of transboundary cooperation for conservation efforts.
• Created a free online system for policymakers.

Conclusions:

• Marine megafauna connectivity spans larger scales than current regional conservation structures.
• Transboundary cooperation is crucial for the effective conservation of declining migratory species.
• The online system facilitates efficient summarization of marine migrant use of jurisdictions.