ecosystems on the planet;

最壯麗的生態系統之一。

they are also some of the most vulnerable.

它們同時也是最脆弱的。

But, how can we protect the reefs

我們該如何保護珊瑚礁

and the animals and plants who rely on them?

和與之相依的動、植物呢？

And how can we make sure our protected areas aren't hurting

而我們又如何讓保護區

the people who use the reefs to survive?

不會影響當地人的生存？

These are some of the big questions

對於現今的海洋保育生物學家而言

facing marine conservation biologists today.

這是個大哉問。

Let's take Fiji, for example.

我們用斐濟當作例子。

Fiji is series of islands in the South Pacific Ocean.

斐濟包含南太平洋上的一系列小島

To help balance the need for conservation and making a living,

為了均衡保育和經濟發展，

scientists had suggested that instead of one big park,

科學家建議：

which provides a lot of coverage for one reef system

與其在在珊瑚礁區 設立一個幅員遼闊的國家公園，

while leaving the rest unprotected,

而讓其他地方失去保障，

a better way is to create a system of protected areas

不如在整個珊瑚礁區，

nested together like pearls on a string.

設立一系列如珍珠般的小保留區。

This idea is called connectivity,

這個概念稱之為連結性

and this way, scientists can protect lots of different habitats

這讓科學家可以保障許多不同的棲地，

while not excluding people from their traditional fishing grounds.

也讓人民不會失去傳統漁場。

Now, the only way this string-of-pearls kind of reserve network is going to work

要使如珍珠項鍊般 的保護網順利運作，

is if each park is connected to other parks.

保留區間必須有所連結。

There are two main benefits to this.

這會帶來兩個好處。

First of all, insurance.

第一是保險。

If something bad happens to one park,

如果其中一區發生不幸事件，

say an oil spill

例如：漏油

or coral bleaching,

或是珊瑚白化，

then because that park is part of a system,

因為它只是整個系統中的一區，

it can be receded from other parks that escaped the event.

這可以藉由其它躲過一劫的保留區 降低對整個保護網的衝擊。

The second benefit is representation.

另外一個優點則是代表性。

By conserving many different areas,

藉由保障不同的地區，

scientists ensure that lots of different habitats get protected.

科學家得以保障不同的棲地。

This way, they can make sure all the different marine habitats in Fiji,

如此，他們可以確保斐濟所有的海洋棲地，

such as coral reefs,

例如：珊瑚礁、

man groves,

紅樹林、

and seagrass beds,

和海底海藻森林

are all represented.

都會納入保護。

This way we don't unduly settle any particular village

如此，就不需要因為限制捕魚

or group of people with the economic burden

帶給特定村莊或人民

of having their fishing grounds off limits.

經濟上的負擔。

By sharing the cost around the communities,

藉由平均分擔保育代價，

they can also share the benefits.

他們的利益也都被保障。

So if we agree that rather than one big park,

所以，如果我們同意用將

we should have lots of parks of different sizes

單一巨大的保留區 用許多大小不同的保留區取代，

and covering different habitats,

以保障不同棲地，

then scientists need to make sure

科學家必須確定

that those smaller parks are connected,

這些小保留必須能彼此交流。

because if they are not,

如果不能，

then they're probably not going to be self-sustaining.

它們可能無法自給自足。

But how do we know that?

但我們又如何確認？

That's where genetics and DNA come in.

這就要仰賴遺傳學和 DNA 研究。

By looking at how closely related the fish

藉由研究斐濟

in each one of these small reserves in Fiji are to each other,

各小保留區中魚類基因接近的程度，

scientists can figure out just how much migration

科學家可以瞭解牠們

is going on among the reserves within the system.

在不同保留區間交流的程度如何。

Now it is important to look at a variety of different species

觀察多樣化的物種也是很重要的。

because there is no guarantee

因為無人能擔保，

that what's going on with these guys

其中幾種物種的狀況，

is what's going on with these guys.

必然和另外幾種的相同。

But if we look closely and at enough species,

但藉由仔細觀察大量的物種，

we can see whether or not the necklace is working.

我們就能確定這個新的策略是否成功。

What scientists have found so far is that,

目前為止，科學家已經知道

in general, there's a fair amount of connectivity

在斐濟的小保留區之間

amongst the parks within Fiji.

有一定程度的交流。

But it's not just a big free-for-all;

但交流不一定輕鬆，

rather, it seems that, for some species,

事實上對有些物種而言

babies born in the far west are having a hard time

出生於西部的魚苗

making it to the islands in the far east.

需要費盡千辛萬苦才能抵達東部島嶼。

To help deal with that,

為應付這種情況，

conservation biologists are suggesting

保育生物學家建議：

that there are enough parks in both the east and the west

在東、西兩邊都建立足夠的小保留區

to keep the populations healthy.

以確保族群健全。

This isn't just in Fiji, either.

這並不止於斐濟，

Lessons about reserve connectivity can help across the world

這份保育連通性的經驗可以 幫助全世界各地區，

in places like Indonesia,

像是印度尼西亞、

Papua New Guinea,

巴布亞紐幾內亞、

and The Bahamas.

和巴哈馬。

Scientists are using a variety of tools

科學家利用不同的工具

to help understand how individual parks

幫助我們瞭解不同的保留區

can function together

如何一起達到保育目的，

so that their sum is greater than their whole.

以達到一加一大於二的效果。

And this way, we can keep the beautiful necklace

如此，我們就能用這 如珍珠項鍊般的保留區網絡，

that is our coral reefs intact.

保護珊瑚礁生態系的完整。