Trophic group responses to marine reserve protection in temperate and tropical reefs: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Year: 2026
Type: review
Study designs: Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis
Abstract: Marine reserves impact not only exploited species but also other groups, highlighting broader ecological effects within marine communities. While some of these effects are well documented, comprehensive assessments of overall reserve impacts on functional guilds and community structure remain limited. Our systematic review and meta-analyses used structural metrics to test global patterns across 138 tropical and temperate reef reserves, covering seven fish and invertebrate trophic groups and 11 macroalgae and coral morphological groups (99 studies, 679 response-ratio values). In tropical reserves, herbivorous fish presented the highest positive response, followed by carnivores. Potential indirect negative effects may result from predatory fish reducing herbivorous invertebrates and herbivorous fish decreasing macroalgae. Coral cover was higher inside reserves, while algal cover declined. In temperate reserves, herbivorous invertebrate declines did not appear to consistently affect macroalgae, indicating context-dependent outcomes. These results suggest both direct and indirect effects of protection, contributing to valuable insights for ecosystem-based management.
Source: npj Ocean Sustainability
Language: English
Subfield: Ecology
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,090
Awards: G1483381719, Centro de Investigação e Desenvolvimento em Matemática e Aplicações, G200995606, G216912602, G2219685250, Centro de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental, Centro de Ciências do Mar do Algarve, G3069120617, Centro de Estudos do Ambiente e do Mar, G3929736893, G4090066734, G4656370892, Centro de Ciências do Mar do Algarve, Movimentos, hotspots de connectividade e dinâmicas eco-evolutivas: proteção do papel funcional dos peixes costeiros predadores, G6912052472, Centro de Ciências do Mar do Algarve, G6997658380, G7073480566, G7318643082, Are Portuguese Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) really effective? An identification of indicators for an ecosystems-based approach., Centro de Estudos do Ambiente e do Mar, G8193937343, Centro de Estudos do Ambiente e do Mar, G8758477748
OpenAlex ID: W7124729779