A systematic review of the current state of marine functional connectivity research

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dc.contributor.authorTanner, S.E.
dc.contributor.authorSturrock, A.M.
dc.contributor.authorÖztürk, R.
dc.contributor.authorSmoliński, S.
dc.contributor.authorTerzi, Y.
dc.contributor.authorReis-Santos, P.
dc.contributor.authorBarboza, F.R.
dc.contributor.authorBlanco, A.
dc.contributor.authorBorsa, P.
dc.contributor.authorCastilho, R.
dc.contributor.authorCostantini, F.
dc.contributor.authorMuzaffer Feyzioğlu, A.
dc.contributor.authorGuizien, K.
dc.contributor.authorGuy-Haim, T.
dc.contributor.authorKaplan, D.M.
dc.contributor.authorKotta, J.
dc.contributor.authorLett, C.
dc.contributor.authorMartinho, F.
dc.contributor.authorNanninga, G.B.
dc.contributor.authorPérez-Ruzafa, Á.
dc.contributor.authoret al.
dc.date.issued2025
dc.description.abstractMarine functional connectivity underpins biodiversity and ecosystem functions, en suring resilience in marine and land–sea interface ecosystems. Research on this topic has ad vanced rapidly in recent decades, as reflected in the growing body of primary literature and the increasing number of reviews covering a variety of topics and methodologies. Here, we systematically extracted and analysed information from 215 reviews across the entire field to synthesize the current state of marine functional connectivity research, highlighting the main topics, methods, taxa, geographic areas, and future research priorities. Word co-occurrence and network analyses revealed imbalances in review topics, with certain habitats (e.g. coral reefs), taxa (e.g. fish), and geo graphic areas (e.g. North Atlantic) receiving disproportionate attention. These disparities likely arise from variations in funding, field site accessibility, public interest, and/or delays in adopting new concepts and methodologies. Research priorities were broadly grouped into 2 themes: (1) ‘Methods’, highlighting the need to integrate and advance sampling, modelling, and ana lysis techniques, and (2) ‘Ecology and Application’, stressing the need to understand connectivity drivers, particularly the impacts of climate change, and to integrate connectivity knowledge into marine conservation and management. There was also a third overarching theme emphasizing the importance of expanding spatial and temporal coverage of connectivity knowledge and data by embracing new technologies, growing collaborative networks and targeting understudied habitats, areas, and taxa. Tackling the identified research priorities will further improve our ability to quantify connectivity patterns and drivers, and facilitate efforts to actively apply this knowledge and data in marine management and conservation.
dc.identifier.citationMarine Ecology: Progress Series, 2025; 764:237-257
dc.identifier.doi10.3354/meps14888
dc.identifier.issn0171-8630
dc.identifier.issn1616-1599
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/2440/147009
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherInter-Research Science Publisher
dc.rights© The authors 2025. This article is Open Access under the Creative Commons by Attribution (CC-BY) 4.0 License, https://creativecommons.org/ licenses/by/4.0/deed.en. Use, distribution and reproduction are unrestricted provided the authors and original publication are credited, and indicate if changes were made
dc.source.urihttps://doi.org/10.3354/meps14888
dc.subjectMarine biodiversity; Dispersal; Movement; Umbrella review; Climate change; Conservation; Resource and ecosystem management
dc.titleA systematic review of the current state of marine functional connectivity research
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.publication-statusPublished

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