Abstract

Understanding ecologically relevant patterns of connectivity, defined as the extent to which populations in different parts of a species’ range are linked by the exchange of eggs, larvae, juveniles, or adults is an important factor for helping managers build ecological resilience into marine protected areas (MPAs). We used 19 microsatellite markers to explore patterns of connectivity in Caribbean spiny lobster Panulirus argus in nine MPAs in the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef (MBR), one MPA in Grand Banks of Nicaragua and one MPA in Panama. Sites outside of MPAs included: Long Key, Florida; Bimini Island, Bahamas; and Corn Island, Nicaragua. Significant levels of pairwise population differentiation were found among eight of the nine sampling sites in the MBR. Long Key Florida, South Water Caye MPA in Belize and Cayos Miskitos MPA in the Grand Banks of Nicaragua were not significantly different from any sites. The shared connectivity patterns suggest that MPAs in the MBR are well connected to Grand Banks of Nicaragua and the Florida Keys, however, connectivity is limited among MPAs within the MBR. Additional research is required to identify the environmental and ecological factors contributing to the limited connectivity of P. argus among MPAs in the MBR.

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