Conservation and management of connected tropical marine ecosystems in the Coral Triangle and the Pacific

Summary. This project will focus on advancing spatial planning for coral reef ecosystems with particular focus on combining different types of fluxes across the seascape. This work will combine land-sea fluxes, ontogenetic movement, and larval dispersal, and also has the potential to link to conservation objectives for climate change. In particular, the project aims to advance methods to represent, model, and incorporate into planning the different connectivity types, and it has particular focus on coral reefs in the Coral Triangle. The student will have the opportunity to work with marine conservation specialists and NGO partners to incorporate cutting-edge research into a management framework to enhance its feasibility and success.

Objectives. This project will enable the student to use connectivity modelling at different scales and data from field observations to assess the importance of incorporating connectivity into decisions about tropical marine ecosystem management. They will then have the opportunity to explore the extent to which the findings could be implemented as a conservation strategy in the Coral Triangle. Objectives could include:

1. How can estimates in land-based influences, ontogenetic connectivity between reefs and other coastal ecosystems, and propagule dispersal to identify priority areas for the conservation of coral reefs in the Coral Triangle?
2. What are the most important of these fluxes in changing where priority areas are situated?
3. Can a conservation framework designed to incorporate different types of ecologically relevant connectivity inform the Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries and Food Security (CTI-CFF)?

Impact of research. The role of connectivity in the management of coral reefs is currently limited in many marine conservation initiatives, though most recognise its importance. In multi-species systems, connectivity is important at various spatio-temporal scales to improve persistence and enhance sustainable fisheries, but most methods only address one type of connectivity. This research will evaluate trade-offs in managing any one of the three connectivity types (land-sea, ontogenetic movement, propagule dispersal) against managing all of them together and could present a case for ensuring sites that support a broad range of fluxes can be managed.

Project Site. The CTI-CFF is designed to protect economically valuable coral reef ecosystems from global and local stressors. This partnership involves six countries (the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Timor Leste, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands) and is instrumental in conserving the marine biodiversity of the Indo-Pacific region through the designation of Marine Protected Areas. At the moment, coral reefs are often managed separately from their associated marine ecosystems. The high biodiversity of corals, mangroves and seagrasses in the region and the regional political willingness to expand the MPA network make it an ideal location for this research.

Training. You will be supervised by Dr Maria Beger (lead) based at the School of Biology and a spatial analysis expert (TBA).  These are world-leaders in their fields with an excellent track record in training PhD students and publishing high impact research. The project offers the unique opportunity to develop an interdisciplinary knowledge base encompassing conservation science, marine ecology and ecosystem dynamics, and offers specialist training in:
• scientific programming skills for processing and visualising large datasets and manipulating large datasets for use in connectivity models;
• spatial planning techniques and the use of decision support software, e.g. Marxan.

You will also have access to a range of training workshops that cover technical and broader professional development skills and you will present your research at international scientific conferences. You will benefit from expertise within the School of Biology, and from being a member of the Priestley International Centre for Climate at the University of Leeds, a globally leading centre for climate research. The Centre convenes over 150 academics within the university, delivering excellent research to underpin global climate solutions. As part of the Centre you will benefit from bespoke training opportunities, visits from world leading researchers and a vibrant interdisciplinary cross-campus student environment. These experiences will put you in a strong position to pursue a successful career in conservation and quantitative ecology.