Skip to Content

Resource hub

Meeting the MPA network design principles of representivity and adequacy: Developing species-area curves for habitats 2011

Abstract

JNCC is working with the UK Government to support the development of an ecologically coherent network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). The UK Government is committed to creating a UK-wide and well-managed ecologically coherent network of MPAs as a key element of its wider work to recover and conserve the richness of our marine environment and wildlife. There are seven network design principles which underpin this network: representativity, replication, viability, adequacy, connectivity, protection, and best-available evidence.

To meet the network design principle of representativity, JNCC and Natural England chose to use broad-scale habitats, also known as EUNIS level 3 habitat types, and the habitats of conservation importance (rare, threatened or declining in UK waters) to represent the range of biodiversity in UK waters.

The objectives of the work were as follows:

(1) to assess for which habitat types it was possible to fit species-area curves either directly or indirectly; and

(2) where data allow, to fit habitat-specific species-area curves to aid the development of habitat-specific conservation targets.

Resource type Publication

Topic category Oceans

Reference date 2011··

Citation
Rondinini, C. 2010. Meeting the MPA network design principles of representation and adequacy: developing species-area curves for habitats. JNCC Report No. 439, JNCC, Peterborough.

Lineage
Defra tasked JNCC and Natural England with providing detailed scientific advice on the design of the marine protected area (MPA) network and site selection in English inshore waters and offshore waters adjacent to England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Responsible organisation
Communications, JNCC publisher

Limitations on public access No limitations

Use constraints Available under the Open Government Licence 3.0

Metadata date 2020·05·19

Metadata point of contact
Communications, JNCC

Back to top