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Topic

Monitoring Deep-Sea MPAs: Functional and Trait-Based Approaches for Adaptive Management in Changing Oceans

Department of Biology

Date & location

• Monday, March 31, 2025
• 10:00 A.M.
• Clearihue Building, Room B017

Examining Committee

Supervisory Committee

• Dr. Amanda Bates, Department of Biology, University of Victoria (Co-Supervisor)
• Dr. Cherisse Du Preez, Department of Biology, UVic (Co-Supervisor)
• Dr. Maria Ana Colaço, OKEANOS Institute, University of the Azores (Outside Member)

External Examiner

• Dr. Bárbara de Moura Neves, Research Scientist, Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Chair of Oral Examination

• Dr. Leslee Francis Pelton, Department of Curriculum and Instruction, UVic

Abstract

Changing ocean conditions are disrupting marine ecosystems, posing significant challenges for monitoring and managing biodiversity in remote, offshore marine protected areas (MPAs). Effective conservation depends on biological assessment tools that can overcome the logistical constraints of deep-sea monitoring while detecting long-term ecological changes. This thesis evaluates two possible approaches for assessing and monitoring species in offshore MPAs. First, I assess the feasibility of a functional-group monitoring approach, using cold-water corals and sponges (CWCS) in the Northeast Pacific as a case study. I analyze inter- and intra-seamount variability in depth-occupancy patterns using data extracted from remotely operated vehicle (ROV) transects performed by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (Chapter 2). Additionally, I identify potential indicator species that could be used to streamline long-term monitoring efforts. Second, I develop a species-level vulnerability framework using functional traits, with molluscs in the Azores Marine Park as a case study. I conduct a comprehensive literature review to determine which traits are most relevant for assessing vulnerability to climate change. Using species trait data from the FUN Azores Trait Database, I integrate oceanographic models to quantify species-specific exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity to ocean acidification and warming (Chapter 3). My findings show that while functional groups capture broad CWCS distribution patterns, species-level assessments remain necessary for detecting ecological changes and refining monitoring strategies in the NE Pacific. In the Azores, I find that bivalves in northern MPAs are particularly vulnerable due to their high sensitivity and low adaptive capacity, while cephalopods exhibit greater resilience to climate change. Together, these studies highlight the strengths and limitations of biological assessment tools for long-term deep-sea MPA monitoring, offering insights into their role in adaptive conservation strategies. By integrating functional-group and trait-based approaches, this thesis contributes to a more adaptive and effective conservation framework for managing marine species in a changing ocean.