@article{fdi:010071244,
  title = {{P}elagic bioregionalisation using open-access data for better planning of marine protected area networks},
  author = {{R}oberson, {L}. {A}. and {L}agabrielle, {E}rwann and {L}ombard, {A}. {T}. and {S}ink, {K}. and {L}ivingstone, {T}. and {G}rantham, {H}. and {H}arris, {J}. {M}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{S}ystematic conservation planning ({SCP}) to design marine protected areas ({MPA}s) has traditionally focused on species distributions or benthic habitat features that drive the determination of conservation priorities. {P}elagic ecosystem protection is usually incidental because these ecosystems are often data poor and are difficult to visualize in a planning context. {P}elagic ecosystems, however, face increasing and cumulative impacts from threats such as overfishing and climate change, and a precautionary approach is required to protect both known and unknown biodiversity patterns and ecosystem processes. {D}ata-driven pelagic habitat classifications are important when planning for habitat protection in the absence of sufficient in-situ data. {I}n this study, we describe a method for creating a bioregional map of the upper-mixed layer of {S}outh {A}frica's pelagic realm. {W}e selected relevant variables and parameters that best reflect key ecosystem properties at broad, meso, and local scales. {W}e conducted a hierarchal cluster analysis using open-access sea surface temperature ({SST}), chlorophyll-a (chl-a), net primary productivity ({NPP}), mean sea level anomalies ({MSLA}), and seabed slope and depth data. {T}he resulting map delineates three bioregions subdivided into seven biozones and sixteen pelagic habitats within {S}outh {A}frica's continental {E}xclusive {E}conomic {Z}one ({EEZ}). {T}his habitat map was incorporated into {SCP} of a proposed expanded {MPA} network that includes offshore protected areas and meets {N}ational objectives. {T}he proposed network will increase protection of the pelagic realm (>30 m depth) of the {EEZ} from 0.002% to 6.0%. {W}e contend that bioregional analyses based on publicly available remote-sensing data are useful for identification of offshore habitats, especially when robust biological data are unavailable, as a framework for ecosystem reporting, and for inclusion in a systematic design for a representative offshore {MPA} network. {F}urther research should focus on modelling and mapping the permanence of pelagic habitats and different spatio-temporal scales of variability, validating habitat boundaries with biological data, and understanding the threats and efficacy of achieving pelagic protection through management mechanisms like {MPA}s.},
  keywords = {{H}abitat classification ; {H}ierarchal cluster analysis ; {B}iophysical surrogates ; {P}elagic habitats ; {O}ffshore {MPA}s ; {AFRIQUE} {DU} {SUD} ; {ATLANTIQUE} {SUD} ; {OCEAN} {INDIEN} ; {AGULHAS} {COURANT} {MARIN} ; {BENGUELA} {COURANT} {MARIN}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{O}cean and {C}oastal {M}anagement},
  volume = {148},
  numero = {},
  pages = {214--230},
  ISSN = {0964-5691},
  year = {2017},
  DOI = {10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2017.08.017},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010071244},
}