Marine reserves have gained traction as a powerful area-based management tool for protecting marine resources. As a result, the number of scientific studies about the effects of marine reserves has more than doubled in the past decade. This evidence suggests that full protection inside no-take reserves can increase the numbers and sizes of marine plants and animals. However, as networks of marine reserves are established alongside human communities, diverse audiences are asking more complex questions about the collective impact reserves have on marine systems and how they may affect the people who live and use ocean resources nearby. Although natural and social scientists have long worked separately to answer these questions, a new focus on the integration of diverse disciplines has led to insights about the ecological, economic, and sociological effects of marine reserves. The session will address the effects marine reserves can have on human behavior and economics, the effects of humans on marine reserves, and the successes and challenges of no-take areas.