What is connectivity and why should you care?

Rob Toonen,Brian Bowen & ToBo Lab members

Associate Research ProfessorHawai'i Institute of Marine Biology

School of Ocean & Earth Science & Technology, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa

Maui OAT 2011

Con·nec·tiv·i·ty (noun) pl. con·nec·tiv·i·ties The quality or condition of being connected The ability to make and maintain a connection between

two or more points in a data network

What is "connectivity" anyway?

Communication between nerves or genes in your body

Exchange of migrants or the ability of individuals to move among locations

Biological connectivity

Applies equally to people – likelihood of travel is directly proportional to ease

Connectivity

An example from O‘ahu

An example from O‘ahu

An example from O‘ahu

So what?

Entire suite of biological processes such as resilience to disturbance, spread of invasive species or disease, sustainability of fisheries, conservation strategies, and local biodiversity all depend on connectivity

Rocky intertidal

All organisms are

patchily distributed

Giant Kelp forests

Coral Reefs

Tropical island chains

Forests & animals that live in them

Rocky intertidal

All organisms are

patchily distributed

Giant Kelp forests

• Terrestrial systems more obvious, but just as true in the sea

Coral Reefs

Rocky intertidal

All organisms are

patchily distributed

Giant Kelp forests

• Terrestrial systems more obvious, but just as true in the sea

• Difficulty of crossing barriers depends on species

• Bird versus tree snail

Coral Reefs

Rocky intertidal

All organisms are

patchily distributed

Giant Kelp forests

• Terrestrial systems more obvious, but just as true in the sea

• Difficulty of crossing barriers depends on species

• Bird versus tree snail

• The size & spacing of patches as well as the amount of exchange among them determines much of the basic biology of the system

Coral Reefs

Basic Life History in the Sea

Oceanic larvae

Adult phase

Basic Life History in the Sea

Oceanic larvae

Adult phase

Planktonic larval dispersal

Basic Life History in the Sea

Oceanic larvae

Site selection & metamorphosis

Adult phase

Planktonic larval dispersal

Basic Life History in the Sea

Oceanic larvae

Site selection & metamorphosis

Adult phase

Planktonic larval dispersal

Roughly 80% of all marine organisms (> 90,000 currently described species of vertebrates, invertebrates & algae) have a biphasic life cycle and produce planktonic propagules.

Thorson (1964)

Meta·mor·pho·sis – an abrupt developmental change in the form or structure of an animal from juvenile to adult

Comparing land and sea

Comparing land and sea

Terrestrial & FreshwaterMarine

Dis

pers

ive

Stag

eG

row

th &

F

eedi

ng S

tage

Coral

Triton snail

Feather duster wormSea Star

Crab

Sea UrchinSea Bream

Flounder

Kelp Zoospore

Despite importance of connectivity,

planktonic dispersal remains a

"black box"

Tracking Movements of Big Things

Tag

Satellite tags record and transmit data

Tagging a Tiger Shark

Tag

Tracking Movements of Small Things

5 inches

Crab

0.1 inches

Feather duster worm

1/100 of an inch

Sea Star

4/100 of an inch

DNA

Non-lethal tissue biopsy for DNA

Patterns of Connectivity

Closed

Patterns of Connectivity

Source-sink

Closed

Patterns of Connectivity

Stepping stone/isolation by distance

Source-sink

Closed

Patterns of Connectivity

Common larval pool

Open/well-mixed

Stepping stone/isolation by distance

Source-sink

Closed

Population connectivity

Population connectivity

Population connectivity

Population connectivity

Presence & magnitude of connectivity among sites

Using genetics to inform conservation and management

Presence & magnitude of connectivity among sites Space & time scales of exchange among

populations

Using genetics to inform conservation and management

Presence & magnitude of connectivity among sites Space & time scales of exchange among

populations What are ecologically appropriate scales for

management units?

Using genetics to inform conservation and management

Fisheries Legacy:

• History of US commercial fishing

Fisheries Legacy:

• History of US commercial fishing

Fisheries Legacy:

• History of US commercial fishing

Fisheries Legacy:

• History of US commercial fishing

Fisheries Legacy:

• Serial depletion of local fisheries

Fisheries Legacy:

• Serial depletion of local fisheries

• Collapse of many major stocks worldwide• Surprising lack of recovery of depleted stocks (e.g., cod)

Fisheries Legacy:

• Serial depletion of local fisheries

• Collapse of many major stocks worldwide• Surprising lack of recovery of depleted stocks (e.g., cod)

• MSY management has failed repeatedly

Fisheries Legacy:

• Serial depletion of local fisheries

• Collapse of many major stocks worldwide• Surprising lack of recovery of depleted stocks (e.g., cod)

• MSY management has failed repeatedly

• New interest in Marine Reserves as an alternative strategy

• Change focus to system instead of single species

Ecosystem-based Management (EBM)

• Change focus to system instead of single species• Everything is connected and needs to be managed as an

integrated whole

Ecosystem-based Management (EBM)

Ecosystem-based Management (EBM)

• Change focus to system instead of single species• Everything is connected and needs to be managed as an

integrated whole • Considerable debate on how to accomplish EBM

• Maybe protect places instead of "ecosystems"

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)

Disproportionate value of BIG fish

Disproportionate value of BIG fish

A single 28lb fish = 212 2.4lb fish (513lbs total)

Exponential reproduction of BIG fish

Age/size of breeding fish

Num

ber

of o

ffsp

ring

Disproportionate value of BIG fish

Larvae of big fish grow nearly 3 times faster and can survive starvation for more than twice as long!

Same number of babies,BUT...

?

•How many reserves?

•How big?

•How far apart?

•Do they actually work?

?

Connectivity and ManagementPapahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument

Are these islands and atolls isolated? Do they spillover to MHI?

?

Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument

is still one of the largest MPAs in the world

NWHI Reef Images

Home to ~7000

endemic species, with ~25% of fish and 40% of corals found nowhere else on the planet

O‘ahu Reef Images

Alien ta‘ape & snowflake coral

Are reef fishes isolated by location?

Lau‘i Pala

Zebrasoma flavescens (Eble et al. 2009; in review)

Some are:

Hapu'upu'u

Epinephelus quernus (Rivera et al. 2004; 2011)

U'uMyripristis berndti (Craig et al. 2007)

KikakapuChaetodon fremblii (Craig et al. in prep,

Eble et al. 2009)

Most are not:

Are reef fishes isolated by location?

Lau‘i Pala

Zebrasoma flavescens (Eble et al. 2009; in review)

Some are:

Hapu'upu'u

Epinephelus quernus (Rivera et al. 2004; 2011)

Acanthurus nigrofuscus (Mai‘i‘i)

Range: Entire Indo-Pacific & Hawai‘i0 significant pair-wise differences

Restricted dispersal in endemics?Comparisons across Hawaiian Archipelago:

Jeff Eble et al., 2009

Zebrasoma flavescens (Lau‘i Pala)

Range: North Pacific5 significant pair-wise differences

Acanthurus nigrofuscus (Mai‘i‘i)

Range: Entire Indo-Pacific & Hawai‘i0 significant pair-wise differences

Restricted dispersal in endemicsComparisons across Hawaiian Archipelago:

Jeff Eble et al., 2009

Ctenochaetus strigosus (Kole)

Range: Hawaiian endemic17 significant pair-wise differences

Restricted dispersal in endemics

Jeff Eble et al., 2009

Zebrasoma flavescens (Lau‘i Pala)

Range: North Pacific5 significant pair-wise differences

Acanthurus nigrofuscus (Mai‘i‘i)

Range: Entire Indo-Pacific & Hawai‘i0 significant pair-wise differences

Comparisons across Hawaiian Archipelago:

Johnston Atoll

Population structure in invertebrates

A. Faucci, et al., in prep.

Vermetid gastropods

Kure (Kānemiloha‘i)Midway (Pihemanu)

Pearl & Hermes (Holoikauaua)

Laysan (Kauō)Lisianski (Papa‘āpoho)

Maro (Nalukākala)

Gardner (Pūhāhonu)

French Frigate Shoals(Mokupāpapa)

Necker (Mokumanamana)

Nihoa (Moku Manu)

Kaua‘i

O‘ahuMaui Nui

Hawai‘i

Spiny lobster (P. marginatus)No significant genetic structure thus far(Iacchei, O'Malley et al. in prep.)

Variability is the rule

Spiny lobster (P. marginatus)No significant genetic structure thus far(Iacchei, O'Malley et al. in prep.)

Hawaiian spinner dolphinBig Island different than rest of MHI(Andrews, et al. 2006, 2010)

Variability is the rule

Sea cucumbers (H. whitmaei & H. atra)Connection to Johnston, structure differs widely between the two species(Skillings, Bird, et al. 2010, in prep.)

Spiny lobster (P. marginatus)No significant genetic structure thus far(Iacchei, O'Malley et al. in prep.)

Hawaiian spinner dolphinBig Island different than rest of MHI(Andrews, et al. 2006, 2010)

Variability is the rule

Sea cucumbers (H. whitmaei & H. atra)Connection to Johnston, structure differs widely between the two species(Skillings, Bird, et al. 2010, in prep.)

Hermit crabs (Calcinus spp.) Structure varies widely among species(Baums, Godwin, et al. in prep.)

Spiny lobster (P. marginatus)No significant genetic structure thus far(Iacchei, O'Malley et al. in prep.)

Hawaiian spinner dolphinBig Island different than rest of MHI(Andrews, et al. 2006, 2010)

Variability is the rule

• Pick one species and study it in detail so we can apply that information to others

Exemplar species

• ‘opihi– 3 species:

• Black-foot, yellow-foot & ko‘ele

– State managed as a single stock

How well do exemplar species work?

• Life history– Free spawners –> 4d larval stage– Same larval biology in lab cultures

Similarities among ‘opihi species

Bird et al. (2007) Molecular Ecology 16:3173-3187

• Life history– Free spawners –> 4d larval stage– Same larval biology in lab cultures

• Ecological attributes– Grazers, wave swept coastal areas

• Live within meters, often on same rock

Similarities among ‘opihi species

Bird et al. (2007) Molecular Ecology 16:3173-3187

• Life history– Free spawners –> 4d larval stage– Same larval biology in lab cultures

• Ecological attributes– Grazers, wave swept coastal areas

• Live within meters, often on same rock

• Closely-related Hawaiian endemics– All predict that these animals should

have similar connectivity

Similarities among ‘opihi species

Bird et al. (2007) Molecular Ecology 16:3173-3187

W 160°W 160° W 155°W 155°

N 19°N 19°

N 25°N 25°Puha’honuPuha’honu

HawaiiHawaii250 km250 km

W 165°W 165°

NN

KauaiKauai

MolokaiMolokaiOahuOahu

MauiMaui

NihoaNihoa

MokupapapaMokupapapa MokumanamanaMokumanamana

Differences among ‘opihi - genetic breaks

Bird et al. (2007) Molecular Ecology 16:3173-3187

W 160°W 160° W 155°W 155°

N 19°N 19°

N 25°N 25°Puha’honuPuha’honu

HawaiiHawaii250 km250 km

W 165°W 165°

NN

KauaiKauai

MolokaiMolokaiOahuOahu

MauiMaui

NihoaNihoa

MokupapapaMokupapapa MokumanamanaMokumanamana

Differences among ‘opihi - genetic breaks

Bird et al. (2007) Molecular Ecology 16:3173-3187

W 160°W 160° W 155°W 155°

N 19°N 19°

N 25°N 25°Puha’honuPuha’honu

HawaiiHawaii250 km250 km

W 165°W 165°

NN

KauaiKauai

MolokaiMolokaiOahuOahu

MauiMaui

NihoaNihoa

MokupapapaMokupapapa MokumanamanaMokumanamana

Differences among ‘opihi - genetic breaks

Bird et al. (2007) Molecular Ecology 16:3173-3187

Johnston Atoll

N

C. Bird et al. 2007

Every species is different

Johnston Atoll

Every species is differentN

Faucci, et al. in prep.

Skillings et al. 2010

Johnston Atoll

N

P. Simion, C. Bird et al. in prep.

Every species is different

Johnston Atoll

N

K. Andrews et al. 2006, 2010

Every species is different

Johnston Atoll

N

J. Schultz et al.

2010

Every species is different

Johnston Atoll

N

Every species is different

M. Timmers, et al. 2010

Johnston Atoll

N

Great – now what??

Stacked single species patterns of connectivity from 27 species across the Hawaiian Archipelago (Toonen et al. 2011)

14 / 20

12 / 21

16 / 24

10 / 18

At Least 4 Major Barriers to Dispersal(preliminary results from 27 species; ~ 30 species to go)

8 / 19

Toonen et al. 2011

Dispersal models based on ocean currents

Treml et al. (2008)

Predicted breaks from ocean current models

14 / 20

12 / 21

16 / 24

10 / 18

8 / 19

Toonen et al. 2011

Ocean current predictions do not really match the connectivity data

Most recruitment is local

Bird et al. 2007; Polato et al. 2010; Rivera et al. 2011; Faucci et al. in review; Concepcion et al. in review.

Direction of Exchange appears primarily to the NW rather than SE

Bird et al. 2007; Toonen et al. 2010; Skillings et al. 2011; Eble et al. in review

3 – 30X

Central NWHI

O‘ahu

Hawai‘i

Far NWHI

Maui Nui

Kaua‘iNi‘ihau

Management Implications: primary population boundaries

Take home message

• EBM is similar in concept to Hawaiian Ahupua'a system

Take home message

• EBM is similar in concept to Hawaiian Ahupua'a system• MPAs are not about stopping fishing – save the big fish

that are left so we can all have more in the future

Take home message

• EBM is similar in concept to Hawaiian Ahupua'a system• MPAs are not about stopping fishing – save the big fish

that are left so we can all have more in the future• Management is about people and compliance, not the

critters we are trying to "manage"

Take home message

• EBM is similar in concept to Hawaiian Ahupua'a system• MPAs are not about stopping fishing – save the big fish

that are left so we can all have more in the future• Management is about people and compliance, not the

critters we are trying to "manage"• We have to look after our own back yards - conserve our

local reefs today or they will all look like Waikīkī tomorrow

PMNM Waikīkī

Our Sincere Thanks to:Our Sincere Thanks to:

OP-05-03 OP-05-03

• Funding provided by: NSF DEB#99-75287, OCE#04-54873, OCE#06-23678, OCE#09-29031, National Marine Sanctuaries NWHICRER-HIMB partnership (MOA-2005-008/6882), Sea Grant, National Parks, USFWS, NOS, NMFS, PIFSC, CRED, PSD, West-Pac, HCRI.

• We thank all the members of the ToBo Lab, the UH Dive Safety Program, J. Leong, S. Karl, S. Godwin, R. Kosaki, A. Wilhelm, H. Johnson, M. Pai, D. Carter, C. Kane, C. Meyer, D. Smith, C. Kelley, D. Minton, P. Reath, J. Zardus, D. Croswell, B. Holland, M. Stat, X. Pochon, M. Rivera, E. Brown, M. Ramsay, J. Maragos, S. White, L. Eldredge, H. Bollick, S. Coles, W. Walsh, B. Carmen, I. Williams, A. Friedlander, J. Randall, S. Cotton, A. Montgomery, S. Pooley, M. Seki, J. Zamzow, E. DeMartini, J. Polovina, R. Humphreys, D. Kobayashi, F. Parrish, R. Moffitt, G. DiNardo, J. O’Malley, R. Brainard, J. Kenyon, K. Schultz, M. Duarte, H. Kawelo, E. Fielding, L. Basch, A. Alexander, C. Musberger, D. White, K. Tenggardjaja, Y. Papastamatiou, K. Gorospe, B. Wainwright, S. Daley, M. Crepeau, A. Eggers, & the HIMB EPSCoR Genetics Facility for their invaluable assistance.