Abstract Nature reserves are often implemented to restore the condition of habitats, protect populations of harvested species and to protect, as well as enhance, ecological functions. It is, however, not clear whether and how the spatial context of reserves influences their capacity to promote this ecosystem multifunctionality. We measured how the spatial context of no-take marine reserves and the condition of ecosystems combine to structure animal assemblages and modify rates of two key ecological functions (herbivory, carrion scavenging) in mangrove forests in the Moreton Bay Marine Park, Queensland, Australia. Fish diversity and the abundance of harvested fish species were highest inside reserves, and in mangrove forests nearer to the open ocean and moderate-sized seagrass meadows, and far from coral reefs. The rates of both ecological functions were, however, not elevated inside reserves. The highest rates of carrion scavenging occurred in mangrove forests that were open to fishing, far from the open ocean, and near both large seagrass meadows and coral reefs. Herbivory was highest in mangrove forests that were close to both large seagrass meadows and coral reefs, and with abundant pneumatophores and low mangrove tree canopy cover. We therefore found positive effects of reserves on animal assemblages, but not on ecological functions, and show that ecosystem multifunctionality is not always tightly linked with biodiversity. The results of this study highlight the importance of quantitative conservation goals, and in integrating data on both the ecological condition and spatial context of ecosystems when prioritizing conservation to maximise both biodiversity and ecosystem multifunctionality.

中文翻译：

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在生态系统多功能性保护中将生态系统条件和景观环境联系起来

摘要 自然保护区的实施通常是为了恢复栖息地条件、保护捕捞物种的种群以及保护和增强生态功能。然而，尚不清楚保护区的空间环境是否以及如何影响其促进这种生态系统多功能性的能力。我们在澳大利亚昆士兰州摩顿湾海洋公园的红树林中测量了禁捕海洋保护区的空间背景和生态系统条件如何结合来构建动物组合并改变两个关键生态功能（食草、腐肉清除）的速率。鱼类多样性和捕捞鱼类的丰度在保护区内最高，在靠近公海和中等大小的海草草地、远离珊瑚礁的红树林中。然而，两种生态功能的比率在保护区内并未升高。腐肉清除率最高的地区是开放捕鱼的红树林，远离开阔的海洋，靠近大型海草草地和珊瑚礁。草食性在靠近大型海草草地和珊瑚礁的红树林中最高，并且具有丰富的气管和低红树林树冠覆盖。因此，我们发现保护区对动物组合的积极影响，但对生态功能没有影响，并表明生态系统的多功能性并不总是与生物多样性密切相关。这项研究的结果强调了数量保护目标的重要性，