Coastal oceanographic connectivity at the global scale: a dataset of pairwise probabilities and travel times derived from biophysical modeling

Abstract Ocean currents are fundamental drivers of marine biodiversity distribution, mediating the exchange of genetic material and individuals between populations. Their effect ranges from creating barriers that foster isolation to facilitating long-distance dispersal, which is crucial for species...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Jorge Assis, Eliza Fragkopoulou, Ester A. Serrão, Miguel B. Araújo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-05-01
Series:Scientific Data
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-025-05060-2
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850284461436960768
author Jorge Assis
Eliza Fragkopoulou
Ester A. Serrão
Miguel B. Araújo
author_facet Jorge Assis
Eliza Fragkopoulou
Ester A. Serrão
Miguel B. Araújo
author_sort Jorge Assis
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Ocean currents are fundamental drivers of marine biodiversity distribution, mediating the exchange of genetic material and individuals between populations. Their effect ranges from creating barriers that foster isolation to facilitating long-distance dispersal, which is crucial for species expansion and resilience in the face of climate change. Despite the significance of oceanographic connectivity, comprehensive global estimates remain elusive, hindering our understanding of species’ dispersal ecology and limiting the development of effective conservation strategies. We present the first dataset of connectivity estimates (including probability of connectivity and travel time) along the world’s coastlines. The dataset is derived from Lagrangian simulations of passive dispersal driven by 21 years of ocean current data and can be combined with species’ biological traits, including seasonality and duration of planktonic dispersal stages. Alongside, we provide coastalNet, an R package designed to streamline access, analysis, and visualization of connectivity estimates. The dataset provides a new benchmark for research in oceanographic connectivity, enabling a deeper exploration of the complex dynamics of coastal marine ecosystems and informing more effective conservation strategies.
format Article
id doaj-art-83897cc86638447faefc483f5b6cc2cb
institution OA Journals
issn 2052-4463
language English
publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
record_format Article
series Scientific Data
spelling doaj-art-83897cc86638447faefc483f5b6cc2cb2025-08-20T01:47:33ZengNature PortfolioScientific Data2052-44632025-05-011211810.1038/s41597-025-05060-2Coastal oceanographic connectivity at the global scale: a dataset of pairwise probabilities and travel times derived from biophysical modelingJorge Assis0Eliza Fragkopoulou1Ester A. Serrão2Miguel B. Araújo3Centre of Marine Sciences (CCMAR/CIMAR LA), Universidade do AlgarveCentre of Marine Sciences (CCMAR/CIMAR LA), Universidade do AlgarveCentre of Marine Sciences (CCMAR/CIMAR LA), Universidade do AlgarveDepartment of Biogeography and Global Change, National Museum of Natural Sciences, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)Abstract Ocean currents are fundamental drivers of marine biodiversity distribution, mediating the exchange of genetic material and individuals between populations. Their effect ranges from creating barriers that foster isolation to facilitating long-distance dispersal, which is crucial for species expansion and resilience in the face of climate change. Despite the significance of oceanographic connectivity, comprehensive global estimates remain elusive, hindering our understanding of species’ dispersal ecology and limiting the development of effective conservation strategies. We present the first dataset of connectivity estimates (including probability of connectivity and travel time) along the world’s coastlines. The dataset is derived from Lagrangian simulations of passive dispersal driven by 21 years of ocean current data and can be combined with species’ biological traits, including seasonality and duration of planktonic dispersal stages. Alongside, we provide coastalNet, an R package designed to streamline access, analysis, and visualization of connectivity estimates. The dataset provides a new benchmark for research in oceanographic connectivity, enabling a deeper exploration of the complex dynamics of coastal marine ecosystems and informing more effective conservation strategies.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-025-05060-2
spellingShingle Jorge Assis
Eliza Fragkopoulou
Ester A. Serrão
Miguel B. Araújo
Coastal oceanographic connectivity at the global scale: a dataset of pairwise probabilities and travel times derived from biophysical modeling
Scientific Data
title Coastal oceanographic connectivity at the global scale: a dataset of pairwise probabilities and travel times derived from biophysical modeling
title_full Coastal oceanographic connectivity at the global scale: a dataset of pairwise probabilities and travel times derived from biophysical modeling
title_fullStr Coastal oceanographic connectivity at the global scale: a dataset of pairwise probabilities and travel times derived from biophysical modeling
title_full_unstemmed Coastal oceanographic connectivity at the global scale: a dataset of pairwise probabilities and travel times derived from biophysical modeling
title_short Coastal oceanographic connectivity at the global scale: a dataset of pairwise probabilities and travel times derived from biophysical modeling
title_sort coastal oceanographic connectivity at the global scale a dataset of pairwise probabilities and travel times derived from biophysical modeling
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-025-05060-2
work_keys_str_mv AT jorgeassis coastaloceanographicconnectivityattheglobalscaleadatasetofpairwiseprobabilitiesandtraveltimesderivedfrombiophysicalmodeling
AT elizafragkopoulou coastaloceanographicconnectivityattheglobalscaleadatasetofpairwiseprobabilitiesandtraveltimesderivedfrombiophysicalmodeling
AT esteraserrao coastaloceanographicconnectivityattheglobalscaleadatasetofpairwiseprobabilitiesandtraveltimesderivedfrombiophysicalmodeling
AT miguelbaraujo coastaloceanographicconnectivityattheglobalscaleadatasetofpairwiseprobabilitiesandtraveltimesderivedfrombiophysicalmodeling