Genetic connectivity and diversity as a tool to assess the effectiveness of Marine Protected Areas.

The design and management of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and MPA networks should take into account the spatial distribution patterns and connectivity among populations of the target species, as a key element in biological conservation. Connectivity is the exchange of individuals among populations through the passive transport and/or active movement of individuals at whatever life stage. Well-connected and highly diverse populations are more resilient to natural and anthropogenic environmental impacts. In the context of MPA monitoring, genetic analyses are considered a powerful tool for assessing population diversity and connectivity patterns at different temporal and spatial scales. In this poster presentation the guidelines to apply genetic analyses as a monitoring tool for MPAs are presented. Two case studies in which genetics tools were used to assess connectivity patterns between protected and unprotected areas in the Western Mediterranean Sea were provided. In these case studies, two widely distributed intertidal limpets, Patella rustica and Patella caerulea, and a commercially renowned coastal fish, the saddled sea bream Oblada melanura, were considered. The results of these studies provide MPA managers with good examples on how to apply these guidelines and obtain the information needed to address specific species conservation issues.