eggs, larvae for benthic or pelagic species, and also juveniles for pelagic ones) and
aims at maximizing the spread and at expanding the distribution of the species over
the maximum geographical range (Cowen and Sponaugle, Annu Rev Mar Sci
1:443–466, 2009). Marine propagule dispersal relies basically on the environmental
dynamics, where turbulence, advection, and diffusion acting at different scales
determine the connections or separation of different (sub-) populations of both
benthic and pelagic taxa (Dubois et al., Glob Ecol Biogeogr 25:503–515, 2016).
The patterns of linkage or isolation, which determine the very development and
abundance of certain species in certain areas, are summarized under the concept of
connectivity. Two main concepts arise when dealing with the topic dynamics-ofpopulation: dispersal and connectivity. The former describes the mechanism
employed to disperse early life stages of the biological cycle (spores, eggs, larvae
for benthic or pelagic species, and also juveniles for pelagic ones) and aims at
maximizing the spread and at expanding the distribution of the species over the
maximum geographical range (Cowen and Sponaugle 2009). Marine propagule
dispersal relies basically on the environmental dynamics, where turbulence, advection, and diffusion acting at different scales determine the connections or separation
of different (sub-) populations of both benthic and pelagic taxa (Dubois et al. 2016).
The patterns of linkage or isolation, which determine the very development and
abundance of certain species in certain areas, are summarized under the concept of
connectivity.
Connectivity is the result of the interaction of the biological cycle of a species
with the dynamic conditions of the marine environment, acting differently according
to the size and the age of the propagule, and the scale of the physical phenomenon
involved. In fish species with pelagic larval stages, hydrodynamics is fundamental
for connecting populations (Cowen et al. 2006). Ocean currents condition the
plankton distribution through mesoscale and submesoscale processes that disperse
or retain live and inert particles, which are pivotal processes for surviving at early life
stages. The study of marine connectivity is essential for a comprehensive understanding of the dynamics of population of fish species, the management of fishing
resources in fisheries optimization (Falcini et al. 2015; Patti et al. 2018) as well as the
design of Marine Protected Areas (Andrello et al. 2013; Shanks et al. 2003; Rossi
et al. 2014). Beyond the exchange of organisms, the connectivity processes can also
influence ecological functions and ecosystem services, such as benthopelagic coupling and food web implications across latitudinal and longitudinal gradients, which
is often referred to as “functional connectivity” (Gerber et al. 2014). Physical barriers
and corridors are critical elements deeply affecting the feeding, reproduction,
spawning, and recruitment success of numerous migratory species (CIESM 2016),
and natural or anthropogenic alteration of these structures can seriously compromise
the presence and abundance of the involved species (e.g., the case of the Atlantic
bluefin tuna, Fromentin et al. 2013). The introduction and spread of alien species is a
typical example of artificial connectivity prompted by human activities (“impacts
connectivity”): ballast water and hull fouling in shipping traffic, aquaculture, and
civil structures (stepping stones) can act as artificial substrate capable to improve the
transfer of alien species to new habitats (CIESM 2016). Connectivity also works at
different time scales: Long-term (evolutionary) connectivity is, with the exception of
460
J. Garcia-Lafuente et al.
aims at maximizing the spread and at expanding the distribution of the species over
the maximum geographical range (Cowen and Sponaugle, Annu Rev Mar Sci
1:443–466, 2009). Marine propagule dispersal relies basically on the environmental
dynamics, where turbulence, advection, and diffusion acting at different scales
determine the connections or separation of different (sub-) populations of both
benthic and pelagic taxa (Dubois et al., Glob Ecol Biogeogr 25:503–515, 2016).
The patterns of linkage or isolation, which determine the very development and
abundance of certain species in certain areas, are summarized under the concept of
connectivity. Two main concepts arise when dealing with the topic dynamics-ofpopulation: dispersal and connectivity. The former describes the mechanism
employed to disperse early life stages of the biological cycle (spores, eggs, larvae
for benthic or pelagic species, and also juveniles for pelagic ones) and aims at
maximizing the spread and at expanding the distribution of the species over the
maximum geographical range (Cowen and Sponaugle 2009). Marine propagule
dispersal relies basically on the environmental dynamics, where turbulence, advection, and diffusion acting at different scales determine the connections or separation
of different (sub-) populations of both benthic and pelagic taxa (Dubois et al. 2016).
The patterns of linkage or isolation, which determine the very development and
abundance of certain species in certain areas, are summarized under the concept of
connectivity.
Connectivity is the result of the interaction of the biological cycle of a species
with the dynamic conditions of the marine environment, acting differently according
to the size and the age of the propagule, and the scale of the physical phenomenon
involved. In fish species with pelagic larval stages, hydrodynamics is fundamental
for connecting populations (Cowen et al. 2006). Ocean currents condition the
plankton distribution through mesoscale and submesoscale processes that disperse
or retain live and inert particles, which are pivotal processes for surviving at early life
stages. The study of marine connectivity is essential for a comprehensive understanding of the dynamics of population of fish species, the management of fishing
resources in fisheries optimization (Falcini et al. 2015; Patti et al. 2018) as well as the
design of Marine Protected Areas (Andrello et al. 2013; Shanks et al. 2003; Rossi
et al. 2014). Beyond the exchange of organisms, the connectivity processes can also
influence ecological functions and ecosystem services, such as benthopelagic coupling and food web implications across latitudinal and longitudinal gradients, which
is often referred to as “functional connectivity” (Gerber et al. 2014). Physical barriers
and corridors are critical elements deeply affecting the feeding, reproduction,
spawning, and recruitment success of numerous migratory species (CIESM 2016),
and natural or anthropogenic alteration of these structures can seriously compromise
the presence and abundance of the involved species (e.g., the case of the Atlantic
bluefin tuna, Fromentin et al. 2013). The introduction and spread of alien species is a
typical example of artificial connectivity prompted by human activities (“impacts
connectivity”): ballast water and hull fouling in shipping traffic, aquaculture, and
civil structures (stepping stones) can act as artificial substrate capable to improve the
transfer of alien species to new habitats (CIESM 2016). Connectivity also works at
different time scales: Long-term (evolutionary) connectivity is, with the exception of
460
J. Garcia-Lafuente et al.