The Science of Marine Reserves
In 2007, PISCO updated The Science of Marine Reserves , an educational booklet originally published in 2002. The booklet is now presented in three versions: a U.S. version in English and Spanish, an international version in English, and a Latin American and Caribbean version in English and Spanish. The booklets are accompanied by a 15-minute video first released in 2002.
These resources provide the latest scientific information about reserves in an understandable and accessible format. They are designed to be used by natural resource managers, government officials, scientists, and the interested public.
To download a PDF version of the U.S. booklet, international booklet, Latin American and Caribbean booklet, or 2002 booklet, please click on the links below. Accompanying links also allow you to download the booklet graphics and view the video by segment.
To receive your own hard copies of The Science of Marine Reserves booklets, please contact Kirsten Grorud-Colvert or Satie Airame .
Get the Booklets
International Version, 2007
US Version, 2007
Latin American & Caribbean Version, 2008
2002 Science of Marine Reserves Video
Video is available using the Flash plug-in from Adobe.com
Figures from the Science of Marine Reserves (2007 U.S. version, English)
Effects of marine reserves
Reserves around the world (5.11 MB)
(388 KB)
Temperate and tropical reserve effects, Lester et al. (443 MB)
Vermilion rockfish reproduction (567 KB)
Fish responses in marine reserves (539 KB)
Age at maturity (1.48 MB)
Biomass in Kenyan marine reserves (294 KB)
Seaweed in a New Zealand reserve (326 KB)
Adult spillover (600 KB)
Larval dispersal (424 KB)
Case Study: Dry Tortugas, Florida Keys, USA
Dry Tortugas National Park, map (780 KB)
Dry Tortugas percent changes (414 KB)
Case Study: Anacapa Island, California, USA
Anacapa Island Marine Reserve, map (838 KB)
Anacapa food web (3.7 MB)
Anacapa kelp forests (1.3 MB)
Case Study: Gulf of Maine, New England, USA
Gulf of Maine Fishery Closure Areas, map (822 KB)
Gulf of Maine fishing effort (3.1 MB)
Design considerations
Life cycle of bocaccio (3.71 MB)
Reserve size and home ranges (720 KB)
Network example (1.8 MB)
Marine reserve planning processes
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, Australia (180 KB)
California, USA (160 KB)
Apo and Sumilon Islands, Philippines (259 KB)
Figuras de La Ciencia de las Reserves Marinas (2007 versión para Estados Unidos, Español)
Efectos de las reservas marinas
Reservas marinas en el mundo (7.84 MB)
Efectos de las reservas marinas en todo el mundo, Lester et al. (428 KB)
Efectos de las reservas marinas templadas y tropicales, Lester et al. (453 MB)
Descendencia de rocotes bermejos (660 KB)
Respuestas de los peces en las reservas marinas (637 KB)
Edad de madurez (2.06 MB)
Biomasa de las reservas marinas de Kenia (324 KB )
Las algas de la reserva marina en Nueva Zelanda (357 KB )
Desplazamiento de adultos (548 KB)
Desplazamiento de larvas (449 KB)
Caso de estudio: Dry Tortugas, Florida, Estados Unidos
Parque Nacional Dry Tortugas, mapa (964 KB)
Cambio porcentual en las abundancias de Dry Tortugas ( 405 KB )
Caso de estudio: isla Anacapa, California, Estados Unidos
Reserva marina de Anacapa, mapa (1.04 MB)
Red alimenticia de Anacapa (2.43 MB)
Bosque de algas gigantes de Anacapa (1.56 MB)
Caso de estudio: golfo de Maine, Nueva Inglaterra, Estados Unidos
Áreas clausuradas a la pesca de fondo en el golfo de Maine, mapa (1.07 MB)
Esfuerzo pesquero en el golfo de Maine (4.2 MB)
Consideraciones de diseño
Ciclo de vida del rocote bocaccio (4.82 MB)
Tamaño de la reserva y rango de distribución de las especies (865 KB)
Ejemplo de una red de reservas ( 2.18 )
Planificacion de las reservas marinas
Parque Marino de la Gran Barrera de Coral, Australia (220 KB)
California, Estados Unidos (182 KB)
Islas Apo y Sumilon, Filipinas (293 KB)
Figures from the Science of Marine Reserves (2007 International version, English)
Effects of marine reserves
Reserves around the world (5.11 MB)
(388 KB)
Temperate and tropical reserve effects, Lester et al. (443 MB)
Coral trout reproduction (544 KB)
Fish responses in marine reserves (539 KB)
Age at maturity (1.48 MB)
Biomass in Kenyan marine reserves (294 KB)
Seaweed in a New Zealand reserve (326 KB)
Adult spillover (600 KB)
Larval dispersal (424 KB)
Case Study: Kisite Marine Park, Kenya
Kisite Marine National Park, map (801 KB)
Kisite changes in biomass (407 KB)
Case Study: Leigh Marine Reserve, New Zealand
Leigh Marine Reserve, map (584 KB)
Leigh kelp vs. barren coverage (488 KB)
Leigh sea urchin declines (382 KB)
Case Study: Torre Guaceto Marine Reserve, Italy
Torre Guaceto Marine Reserve, map (762 KB)
Torre Guaceto spillover (481 KB)
Design considerations
Life cycle of red emperor (2.58 MB)
Reserve size and home ranges (720 KB)
Network example (2.08 MB)
Marine reserve planning processes
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, Australia (180 KB)
California, USA (160 KB)
Apo and Sumilon Islands, Philippines (259 KB)
Figures from the Science of Marine Reserves (2008 Latin American & Caribbean version, English)
Effects of marine reserves
Reserves around the world (5.11 MB)
Reserves in Latin America and the Caribbean (814 KB)
Reserve effects worldwide, Lester et al. (388 KB)
Temperate and tropical reserve effects, Lester et al. (443 MB)
Gray snapper reproduction (558 KB)
Fish responses in marine reserves (539 KB)
Age at maturity (1.48 MB)
Biomass in Kenyan marine reserves (294 KB)
Seaweed in a New Zealand reserve (326 KB)
Adult spillover (600 KB)
Larval dispersal (424 KB)
Case studies: Jardines de la Reina, Cuba and Glover's Reef, Belize
Glover's Reef Marine Reserve and Jardines de la Reina Marine Reserve, map (1001 KB)
Glover's Reef and Jardines de la Reina changes in biomass (952 KB)
Case study: Las Cruces, Chile
Las Cruces Marine Reserve, map (998 KB)
Las Cruces snail egg production (971 KB)
Las Cruces snail and mussel abundance (2.45 MB)
Case study: Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park, Bahamas
Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park, map (857 KB)
Exuma grouper biomass (530 KB)
Exuma conch larvae abundance (1.25 MB)
Design considerations
Life cycle of gray snapper (2.88 MB)
Reserve size and home ranges (720 KB)
Network example (2.08 MB)
Marine reserve planning processes
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, Australia (180 KB)
Puerto Peñ asco, Gulf of California, Mexico (210 KB)
Apo and Sumilon Islands, Philippines (259 KB)
Figuras de La Ciencia de las Reserves Marinas (2008 versión para Latinoamérica y el Caribe, Español)
Efectos de las reservas marinas
Reservas marinas en el mundo (7.84 MB)
Reservas marinas en Latinoamérica y el Caribe (809 KB)
Efectos de las reservas marinas en todo el mundo, Lester et al. (428 KB)
Efectos de las reservas marinas templadas y tropicales, Lester et al. (453 MB)
Descendencia de pargos grises (575 KB)
Respuestas de los peces en las reservas marinas (637 KB)
Edad de madurez (2.06 MB)
Biomasa de las reservas marinas de Kenia (324 KB )
Las algas de la reserva marina en Nueva Zelanda (357 KB )
Desplazamiento de adultos (547 KB)
Desplazamiento de larvas (450 KB)
Casos de estudio: Jardines de la Reina, Cuba y Glover's Reef, Belice
Reserva Marina Glover’s Reef y Reserva Marina Jardines de la Reina, mapa (1.03 MB)
Cambios en la biomasa en Glover’s Reef y Jardines de la Reina (997 KB)
Caso de estudio: Las Cruces, Chile
Reserva Marina Las Cruces, mapa (999 KB)
Producción de huevos de caracol en Las Cruces (960 KB)
Abundancia de caracoles y mejillones en Las Cruces (2.47 MB)
Caso de estudio: Exuma Cays, Bahamas
Parque Terrestre y Marino Exuma Cays, mapa (867 KB)
Biomasa del mero en Exuma (530 KB)
Abundancia de las larvas de caracol en Exuma (1.31 MB)
Consideraciones de diseño
Ciclo de vida del pargo gris (2.91 MB)
Tamaño de la reserva y rango de distribución de las especies (865 KB)
Ejemplo de una red de reservas (2.19 MB )
Planificacion de las reservas marinas
Parque Marino de la Gran Barrera de Coral, Australia (220 KB)
Puerto Peñasco, golfo de California, México (212 KB)
Islas Apo y Sumilon, Filipinas (293 KB)
The Science of Marine Reserves booklet (2002)
Complete Booklet , 2,843 KB
Front Cover , 613 KB
Introduction , 488 KB
Marine Reserves Studied Around the World , 406 KB
Reserves Benefits Inside Their Boundaries , 770 KB
Reserves Benefits Outside Their Boundaries? , 698 KB
Design Considerations , 723 KB
Locating Reserves , 210 KB
How Do Marine Reserves Fit Into the Big Picture? , 232 KB
Selected References , 62 KB
Back Cover , 612 KB
Figures from Science of Marine Reserves booklet (2002 version)
All figures included in the booklet available for dissemination can be downloaded by clicking the links below. Photographs included in the booklet are not available for public distribution. While we encourage its use for educational purposes, the material is copyrighted by PISCO so we ask that you provide full credit when presenting these images.
Around the world
Reserves around the world
Benefits inside reserve boundaries
Reserve effects worldwide, Halpern 2003
Web of life
Anacapa inset
Reserve effects in Anacapa, Lafferty 2000
San Juan Islands inset
Reproduction potential of lingcod, Eisenhardt 2001
Benefits outside reserve boundaries
Spillover of adult fish in Merritt Island
Dispersal distance estimates, Kinlan and Gaines, 2003
Merritt Island inset
Record fish caught off Merritt Island
Georges Bank inset
NMFS scallop survey, 1998
Potential scallop settlement in closed area I
Potential scallop settlement in closed area II
Reserve design
Age at maturity for selected species
Life cycle of marine fishes
Santa Barbara Channel eddy, Nishimoto and Washburn
Sea surface tempurature map off California
Potential contribution to conservation
Potential contribution to fisheries
Possible reserve design options
Locating reserves
Three options for marine reserves in the Channel Islands
Three designs for marine reserves in the Channel Islands
