The benefits of heterogeneity in spatial prioritisation within coral reef environments

Coral reefs are highly vulnerable habitats, threatened by climate change and local anthropogenic impacts. Management is imperative, spatial prioritisation apportions the area of interest to inform investments scarce conservation resources. Spatially delineated planning units used make management decisions typically large enough contain significant natural variabilities, but ecological significance such variance seldom considered in decisions. On coral reefs, patchiness habitat quality within matters both ecologically functionally. Here, we show that considering within-planning unit influences location design reserve networks. Studying Timor-Leste, statistically model average cover. We compare priority areas for scenarios informed cover a baseline scenario with software Marxan. To further explain these differences, value including as metric prioritisation, created score. similarity between networks was only 57% protection, 44% restoration objectives. For objectives, inclusion improves benefit management. This project has shown novel way target restoration. These results demonstrate not mean (and, extension, reef condition) key criterion selecting marine actions, its must be improve efficiency actions