Old Dominion University ODU Digital Commons Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations Biological Sciences Summer 2018 Identifying Marine Key Biodiversity Areas in the Greater Caribbean Region Michael S. Harvey Old Dominion University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/biology_etds Part of the Biodiversity Commons, Biology Commons, and the Natural Resources and Conservation Commons Recommended Citation Harvey, Michael S.. "Identifying Marine Key Biodiversity Areas in the Greater Caribbean Region" (2018). Master of Science (MS), Thesis, Biological Sciences, Old Dominion University, DOI: 10.25777/45bp-0v85 https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/biology_etds/32 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Biological Sciences at ODU Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations by an authorized administrator of ODU Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. IDENTIFYING MARINE KEY BIODIVERSITY AREAS IN THE GREATER CARIBBEAN REGION by Michael S. Harvey B.A. May 2013, Old Dominion University A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of Old Dominion University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE BIOLOGY OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY August 2018 Approved by: Kent E. Carpenter (Advisor) Beth Polidoro (Member) Sara Maxwell (Member) ABSTRACT IDENTIFYING MARINE KEY BIODIVERSITY AREAS IN THE GREATER CARIBBEAN REGION Michael S. Harvey Old Dominion University, 2018 Advisor: Dr. Kent E. Carpenter Anthropocene biodiversity extinction rates are increasing, suggesting a possible sixth global mass extinction event. Biological conservation planners are consequently seeking ways to more effectively protect species at national, regional and global scales. In 2010, the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) issued a number of conservation goals (Aichi Targets), including the establishment of protected areas (PA) in terrestrial, freshwater and marine areas of eminent conservation concern by 2020 to reduce and eventually eliminate species’ extinctions, as well as preserve hotspots of biodiversity and dynamic ecosystems. While well- established, adequately enforced PAs increase the likelihood of preserving species and habitats most at risk of extirpation, traditional methods of choosing where to place PAs are frequently inadequate in targeting biodiversity most in need of conservation. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), therefore, formulated a set of criteria and thresholds using quantitative and transparent selection methods to iteratively identify sites where species and habitats are most urgently in need of protection. The identification of these Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) utilizes species-specific spatial occurrence and population data and species’ threat statuses, to locate areas where site-specific protection measures can effectively slow or halt the extinction of species. This study uses species-specific data provided on IUCN’s Red List website and other online data repositories to identify marine KBAs in the Greater Caribbean region using the newly refined, 2016 IUCN KBA criteria and thresholds in order to address the question of if these criteria are effective for marine environments and to understand how this process may improve PA site selection in the greater Caribbean region. Even though previous analyses have identified marine KBAs for threatened species, this study is one of the first attempts to identify KBAs for geographically restricted species in the marine environment. The identified KBAs provide logical starting points for local stakeholders and conservation specialists to verify KBA thresholds and boundaries using localized national and regional datasets. Furthermore, this study will identify significant data gaps in the knowledge of marine species’ occurrences that may prevent the full application of the KBA criteria to all marine species. iv Copyright, 2018, by Michael S. Harvey and Kent E. Carpenter, All Rights Reserved. v This thesis is dedicated to my daughter, Kortni Paige Harvey, who motivates me to be my best and makes my life infinitely complete and happy. Also to my dad, Steve Harvey, whose unyielding belief in me and faithful support makes it possible for me to pursue my dreams. vi ACKNOWLEDGMENTS None of the research contained within this thesis would be possible without the support and guidance of my advisor, Dr. Kent Carpenter. Thank you for letting me contribute to the research conducted in your labs and for providing me with opportunities to allow myself to succeed. Thank you to both of my other committee members, Drs. Beth Polidoro and Sara Maxwell, for sharing with me their knowledge and experience, as well as for the patience and guidance during the editing of this manuscript. Thank you Dr. Gina Ralph, whose valuable input, influence, expertise and advice made this thesis possible, and for tirelessly and patiently answering my numerous questions. Your kindness and generosity of spirit humbles and inspires me. Thank you to the innumerable experts and professionals who donated their time and knowledge to completing the extinction risk assessments for the species included in these analyses and to all of the ODU graduate students and interns that have contributed to the Global Marine Species Assessment lab over the years, especially C. Linardich, M. Comeros- Raynal, C. Gorman, A. Goodpastor and E. Stump. Thank you BirdLife International for sharing with me the spatial data for Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas in the Greater Caribbean study region. Special thanks to the main funding sources that allowed me the opportunity to complete my research: the Agency of French Development and MAVA, Fondation pour la Nature. vii NOMENCLATURE AOO Area of Occupancy CCRE Caribbean Coral Reef Ecosystem CBD Convention on Biological Diversity CR Critically Endangered DD Data Deficient EN Endangered EOO Extent of Occurrence GBIF Global Biodiversity Information Facility GC Greater Caribbean INVEMAR Institute of Marine and Coastal Research IUCN International Union for Conservation of Nature JTFBPA Joint Taskforce on Biodiversity and Protected Areas LC Least Concern NT Near Threatened OBIS Ocean Biodiversity Information System PA Protected Area RU Reproductive Unit STRI Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute VU Vulnerable WDPA World Database on Protected Areas viii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page LIST OF TABLES ................................................................................................................................. x LIST OF FIGURES .............................................................................................................................. xi Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................... 1 1.1. A CALL TO ACTION TO SAVE GLOBAL BIODIVERSITY .......................................................... 1 1.2. THE EVOLUTION OF IUCN’S KBA CRITERIA AND THRESHOLDS .......................................... 2 1.3. TOWARDS A GLOBAL STANDARD FOR THE IDENTIFICATION OF KEY BIODIVERSITY AREAS ................................................................................................................. 4 1.4. THE GREATER CARIBBEAN STUDY AREA ............................................................................ 6 1.5. APPLICATION OF THE STANDARD TO MARINE ECOSYSTEMS OF THE GREATER CARIBBEAN .......................................................................................................... 9 2. METHODS .................................................................................................................................. 11 2.1. ICUN RED LIST EXTINCTION RISK ASSESSMENT METHODOLOGY .................................... 11 2.2. IUCN GLOBAL STANDARD FOR THE IDENTIFICATION OF KEY BIODIVERSITY AREAS METHODOLOGY .................................................................................................... 13 2.3. STUDY AREA ...................................................................................................................... 16 2.4. COLLECTION AND ASSIMILATION OF DATA ...................................................................... 16 2.5. IDENTIFYING KEY BIODIVERSITY AREAS ........................................................................... 23 3. RESULTS ..................................................................................................................................... 26 3.1. EXISTING AREAS OF CONSERVATION IMPORTANCE WITHIN THE GREATER CARIBBEAN ................................................................................................ 26 3.2. IDENTIFICATION OF KBA SITES ......................................................................................... 27 ix Page 4. DISCUSSION ............................................................................................................................... 45 4.1. KBAS RELATIVE TO POLITICAL ENTITIES AND BIOGEOGRAPHY ........................................ 45 4.2. KBAS RELATIVE TO EXISTING PROTECTED AREAS ........................................................... 48 4.3. KBAS RELATIVE TO KBA CRITERIA ..................................................................................... 49 4.4. KBAS RELATIVE TO MARINE VERTEBRATE CLASSES ......................................................... 49 4.5. COMPARISON OF VARIOUS KBA ANALYSES ....................................................................