Connectivity of the network of Lophelia pertusa reefs in Scottish Marine Protected Areas

Alan Foxa,b,

David Corneb and

J Murray Robertsa a. CMBB, Heriot-Watt University b. MACS, Heriot-Watt University

Cold-water coral, Lophelia pertusa

Lophelia pertusa reef

Lophelia pertusa in UK and Irish shelf seas. Source: emodnet.

Lophelia pertusa larvae

Lophelia pertusa embryos and larvae. (From Larsson et al. (2014)). Larval age: A=6; B=7; C= 14; D= 22; E = 28; F–G= 44; H=57 days. Bar = 100 μm.

lifespan

Vertical speed

Start to settle

Modelled larval release. Wyville Thomson Ridge and East Mingulay.

Modelled distribution of larvae

Modelled distribution of larvae

Modelled distribution of larvae

Modelled distribution of larvae

Modelled distribution of larvae

Lophelia pertusa connectivity map

Inter-annual variability – North Sea

larvae NAO

North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO)

Figures from Prof. David B Stephenson, University of Exeter. http://www1.secam.ex.ac.uk/cat/NAO

Inter-annual variability – west coast

Label Protected area name ADS Anton Dohrn Seamount BMP Belgica Mound Province SAC DM Darwin Mounds EM East Mingulay ERB East Rockall Bank FSSB Faroe-Shetland Sponge Belt GM Galicia Mounds HB Hatton Bank HMP Hovland Mound Province NWPB North-West Porcupine Bank NWRB North West Rockall Bank PBC Porcupine Bank Canyon RBS Rosemary Bank Seamount SERB South-East Rockall Bank SWPB South-West Porcupine Bank TR Tisler Reef WTR Wyville Thomson Ridge

Prioritising for protection

Other connectivity projects at Heriot-Watt

• INSITE — Appraisal of Network Connectivity between North Sea subsea oil and gas platforms. HW, NOC Liverpool, BMT Cordah

• ATLAS — A Trans-Atlantic assessment and deep-water ecosystem-based spatial management plan for Europe (http://eu-atlas.org/). 25 Partners across Europe and N America.

Acknowledgements

- Sponsors and hosts

Daphne Jackson Trust Supervisors – J Murray Roberts, David Corne Advisor – Mike Heath, Strathclyde University Sarah Wakelin – NOC Liverpool – POLCOMS hydrodynamic model Mikael Dahl – University of Tromsø Ann Larsson, Susanna Strömberg – University of Gothenburg