CONSERVING THE BEAUTY OF THE WORLD’S REEF FISH ASSEMBLAGES.

McLean M.*, Mouillot D., Langlois J., Arif S., Bejarano S., Casajus C., Edgar G.J., Flandrin U., Guilhaumon F., Judah A.B., Loiseau N., MacNeil M.A., Maire E., Stuart-Smith R.D., & Mouquet N.* (2025). (* These authors contributed equally to this study)

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 122 (25) 2415931122, doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2415931122

Key message : Ecosystems provide critical services to human societies, the most well-known including food provisioning and coastal protection. However, ecosystems also provide cultural services that are essential to human well-being and economic livelihood. The aesthetic value of ecosystems creates an intimate connection between people and nature and supports tourism. We evaluated the distribution and drivers of the aesthetic value of fish assemblages on shallow reefs worldwide. We found that protected areas enhanced aesthetic value by harboring greater species richness and exceptionally beautiful species, which was strongest in tropical regions. We also found that aesthetic value was not related to countries’ level of wealth. Protected areas can therefore support fisheries, tourism, and human well-being simultaneously, and tropical, developing countries can benefit most.