ABSTRACT: Changes in ecological attributes as a result of anthropogenic activities and climatic forces can jeopardize biodiversity, so these potential impacts must be evaluated for conservation. Integrating the different components of a large ecosystem can, however, pose a methodological challenge. When evaluating the sensitivity of a system, the level of stress imposed by a threat and the system’s ability to deal with pressures ultimately define its actual condition. The objective of this study was to assemble a spatially explicit quantitative approach for evaluating the ecological vulnerability of 2 sea turtle species (Eretmochelys imbricata and Chelonia mydas). We used a method that combined the use of an open source planning tool (Conservation Action Planning) and spatial multicriteria analysis to determine the total cumulative ecological vulnerability to multiple threats for each species individually and for both species combined. The spatially explicit outputs were supported by hard data and expert knowledge, including the cumulative ecological vulnerability of each species to multiple threats. For each species, we identified areas in the Gulf of Mexico where individual threats have a potential impact and also determined high vulnerability locations. This spatially explicit approach is important when assessing ecological vulnerability and risk, it is versatile and easily reproducible for other organisms, and can be an important tool in supporting the conservation and management of endangered species.

中文翻译：

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墨西哥湾两种海龟物种的生态脆弱性：综合空间方法

摘要：人为活动和气候力量导致的生态属性变化会危害生物多样性，因此必须对这些潜在影响进行评估以进行保护。但是，整合大型生态系统的不同组成部分可能会带来方法上的挑战。在评估系统的敏感性时，威胁所施加的压力级别以及系统应对压力的能力最终决定了系统的实际状况。这项研究的目的是建立一种空间明确的定量方法，以评估两种海龟物种（Eretmochelys imbricata和Chelonia mydas）的生态脆弱性。）。我们使用了一种结合使用开源计划工具（保护行动计划）和空间多准则分析的方法来确定每种物种以及两种物种组合对多种威胁的总体累积生态脆弱性。明确的空间输出得到硬数据和专家知识的支持，包括每个物种对多种威胁的累积生态脆弱性。对于每种物种，我们确定了墨西哥湾中可能受到个别威胁影响的区域，并确定了高度脆弱的位置。在评估生态脆弱性和风险时，这种空间明确的方法非常重要，它具有通用性，对于其他生物也很容易复制，