coastalNet, global estimates of coastal oceanographic connectivity

The coastalNet R package offers a suite of tools for the analysis of oceanographic connectivity and its implications for marine biodiversity. Developed to address the complex dynamics of how ocean currents influence the distribution, evolution, and conservation of marine species, coastalNet leverages high-resolution ocean current data, biophysical modeling, and graph theory to offer a comprehensive toolkit for marine ecology research.The integration of biophysical modeling with graph theory stands at the core of coastalNet's approach. By simulating the dispersal routes of marine species and applying graph theory, coastalNet identifies critical connectivity hubs and pathways, offering realistic estimates of population connectivity. This methodological innovation allows for a nuanced understanding of marine biodiversity dynamics, challenging simplistic predictive models and unveiling the complex relationships between ocean currents and genetic structuring across marine species distributions.