@article{fdi:010088433, title = {{T}he potential of marginal coastal nursery habitats for the conservation of a culturally important {C}aribbean marine species}, author = {{S}tieglitz, {T}homas and {D}ujon, {A}.{M}. and {P}eel, {J}.{R}. and {A}mice, {E}.}, editor = {}, language = {{ENG}}, abstract = {{A}im : {I}dentifying the potential of marginal habitats for species conservation is of key importance when their core high-quality habitats are under substantial disturbances and threats. {H}owever, there is currently a knowledge gap on how useful marine marginal habitats may be for conserving endangered marine species. {H}ere, we investigate the potential of groundwater-fed coastal areas for the conservation of the queen conch, an economically and culturally important marine gastropod. {L}ocation {T}he inlet of {X}el-{H}a, typical of groundwater-fed coastal areas widely distributed along the {Y}ucatan {P}eninsula coast in {M}exico and partially protected by a network of marine protected areas. {M}ethods : {W}e tracked 66 queen conchs ({L}obatus gigas) using acoustic telemetry over a period of 3.5 years. {W}e investigated for ontogenetic niche shift using a network analysis and by modelling their growth. {R}esults : {T}he queen conchs exhibited the same ontogenetic niche shift required to complete their life cycle in this marginal habitat as they do in offshore core habitats. {A} total of 33 individuals departed the inlet and migrated from shallow groundwater-affected nursery grounds to deeper marine habitats more suitable for breeding aggregation.{M}ain conclusions {A}s the broad-scale movement behaviour of queen conch in this inlet is similar to that observed on the overfished core habitats, our findings suggest that groundwater-fed coastal areas should be included in conservation planning for an effective management of this species within a network of marine protected areas.}, keywords = {{MEXIQUE} ; {QUINTANA} {ROO} ; {YUCATAN} ; {CARAIBES} {MER}}, booktitle = {}, journal = {{D}iversity and {D}istributions}, volume = {26}, numero = {5}, pages = {565--574}, ISSN = {1366-9516}, year = {2020}, DOI = {10.1111/ddi.13044}, URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010088433}, }