1. Spatial connectivity is an essential process to consider in the design and assessment of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). To help maintain and restore marine populations and communities MPAs should form ecologically coherent networks. How to estimate and implement connectivity in MPA design remains a challenge.
2. Here a new theoretical framework is presented based on biophysical modelling of organism dispersal, combined with a suite of tools to assess different aspects of connectivity that can be integrated in MPA design. As a demonstration, these tools are applied to an MPA network in the Baltic Sea (HELCOM MPA).
3. The tools are based on the connectivity matrix, which summarizes dispersal probabilities, averaged over many years, between all considered areas in the geographic target area. The biophysical model used to estimate connectivity included important biological traits that affect dispersal patterns where different trait combinations and habitat preferences will produce specific connectivity matrices representing different species.
4. Modelled connectivity matrices were used to assess local retention within individual MPAs, which offers indications about the adequacy of size when MPAs are considered in isolation. The connectivity matrix also provides information about source areas to individual MPAs, e.g. sources of larvae or pressures such as contaminants. How well several MPAs act as a network was assessed within a framework of eigenvalue perturbation theory (EPT). With EPT, the optimal MPA network with respect to connectivity can be identified. In addition, EPT can suggest optimal extensions of existing MPA networks to enhance connectivity. Finally, dispersal barriers can be identified based on the connectivity matrix, which may suggest boundaries for management units.
5. The assessment of connectivity for the HELCOM MPA are discussed in terms of possible improvements, but the tools presented here could be applied to any region.

中文翻译：

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海洋保护区的生态一致性：应用于波罗的海网络的新工具

1. 空间连通性是设计和评估海洋保护区（MPA）时必须考虑的基本过程。为了帮助维护和恢复海洋人口和社区，海洋保护区应形成生态上协调一致的网络。如何在MPA设计中估计和实现连接性仍然是一个挑战。
2. 在此，根据生物扩散的生物物理模型，提出了一个新的理论框架，并结合了一套工具，以评估可集成在MPA设计中的连通性的不同方面。作为演示，这些工具已应用于波罗的海的MPA网络（HELCOM MPA）。
3. 这些工具基于连通性矩阵，该矩阵总结了多年来在地理目标区域内所有考虑区域之间平均的扩散概率。用于估计连通性的生物物理模型包括影响扩散模式的重要生物特征，其中不同的特征组合和生境偏好将产生代表不同物种的特定连通性矩阵。
4. 建模的连接矩阵用于评估单个MPA中的局部保留，当单独考虑MPA时，这提供了有关大小是否足够的指示。连接矩阵还为单个MPA提供有关源区域的信息，例如幼虫或压力（例如污染物）的来源。在特征值微扰理论（EPT）的框架内评估了几种MPA作为网络的表现。使用EPT，可以确定关于连接性的最佳MPA网络。此外，EPT还可以建议对现有MPA网络进行最佳扩展，以增强连接性。最后，可以根据连通性矩阵确​​定分散障碍，这可以为管理单位建议边界。
5. 从可能的改进方面讨论了HELCOM MPA的连通性评估，但是此处介绍的工具可以应用于任何地区。