Influence of social, management and enforcement factors on the long-term ecological effects of marine sanctuaries

2003 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 388-407 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.F. Walmsley ◽  
A.T. White
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Fish Species ◽  
Coral Cover ◽  
Community Support ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
Ecological Effects ◽  
Hard Coral ◽  
Ecological Variables ◽  
Management Measures ◽  
Hard Coral Cover

Marine sanctuaries are increasingly being promoted as tools for conservation and fisheries management. This study investigates the effects of protection over 19 years on substrate composition and fish communities in four marine sanctuaries and corresponding non-sanctuary areas in the Philippines and examines the importance of community support, management measures and enforcement of regulations on these ecological effects. Between 1981 and 2000, substrate cover variables were measured using line transects with scuba and snorkel surveys, and fish censuses (identification to family level) were conducted using scuba within a 500 m2 area. Semi-structured interviews collected data on community support for the sanctuaries, and observations and interviews established management and enforcement aspects of the sanctuaries. Over time, all sanctuaries showed improvements, or maintenance of, ecological variables compared with pre-enforcement times, with maintenance of hard coral cover and average increases of 8.3% in fish species richness and 54.9% in fish abundance. In comparison, non-sanctuary areas showed maintenance of the status quo or declines in ecological variables. However hard coral cover, fish abundances and fish species richness showed significant declines as well as increases in sanctuary areas. Community, management and enforcement factors were significantly related to positive ecological trends in sanctuary areas; management and enforcement were related to a wider variety of ecological factors than community score. Community support was significantly related to an increase in hard coral cover in deep areas. Enforcement of regulations was significantly related to an increase in abundance of fishery target fish species in sanctuary areas, and simple management measures were significantly related to an increase in abundance of large predators. Supportive communities that voluntarily implemented sanctuary regulations, improved enforcement, and small discrete cohesive communities may have facilitated the process of building this community support. Well-enforced sanctuaries that showed an increase in abundance of target species may have contributed to the maintenance of fish yields in adjacent non-sanctuary areas. The effects of sanctuary implementation varied on a case-by-case basis, influenced by environmental, biological, physical and human factors. However, a combination of community support, management measures and enforcement of regulations contributed towards positive ecological trends in sanctuary areas.

scholarly journals New Scales to Guide the Assessment of Hard Coral Cover and Diversity in the Philippines

2020 ◽  
pp. 121-126
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Coral Cover ◽  
Rapid Identification ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
Hard Coral ◽  
Hard Coral Cover ◽  
Assessment Scales

Coral reefs supply vital ecosystem services to the Philippines. Safeguarding these services requires the rapid identification of reefs that provide most services, and identification is best made by measuring hard coral cover and diversity and using updated and locally relevant assessment scales on these measurements. The use of these assessment scales has advantages and is recommended to update and improve Philippine laws.

scholarly journals Reef Rugosity and Butterflyfish Community Structure in Punta Dumalag Marine Protected Area, Davao City

2018 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 2
Author(s):  
Samuel Herbert T. Mamora
Keyword(s):  
Community Structure ◽  
Fish Species ◽  
Protected Area ◽  
Marine Protected Area ◽  
Coral Cover ◽  
Structural Complexity ◽  
Correlation Coefficients ◽  
Hard Coral ◽  
Confounding Effect ◽  
Hard Coral Cover

This study investigated the rugosity and butterflyfish community structure in Punta Dumalag, Davao City in twelve transects distributed in three stations. The transects were laid parallel to the shore at a depth of five to six meters in three stations. Rugosity indices, percent hard coral cover, butterflyfish species richness, abundance, diversity, biomass and density across all sampling stations registered low values, which may be attributed to a combination of fishing pressure and a strong prolonged southeast monsoon. Correlation analysis between rugosity and butterflyfish abundance showed low correlation coefficients that were statistically not significant, which may be caused by the confounding effect of interactions among fish species, territorial activities by fish species affecting reef structural complexity and low sample size. Read full article here.

scholarly journals STATUS TERUMBU KARANG DAN IKAN KARANG DI GILI MATRA, NUSA TENGGARA BARAT

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 14
Author(s):  
Eghbert Elvan Ampou ◽  
Suciadi Catur Nugroho ◽  
Nuryani Widagti
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Coral Reef ◽  
Coral Cover ◽  
Reef Fishes ◽  
Coral Mortality ◽  
Hard Coral ◽  
Mortality Index ◽  
Fish Group ◽  
Hard Coral Cover ◽  
Reef Condition

This study aims to identify the status of reef fishes and coral reefs in Gili Meno, Air, and Trawangan or Gili Matra waters. This area is part of the North Lombok Regency, West Nusa Tenggara Province. Field observation was conducted on September 2011 at 11 (eleven) diving points. The video-transect method was used for observing the coral reef condition, while reef fishes abundance was observed by using visual-census method. The parameter that used to determine the condition of coral reef in study location are the percentage of live hard coral cover and index of coral mortality. In general, the result shows that percentage of live hard coral cover in each diving point ranged from 4.4% - 37.2% and the Coral Mortality Index (IMK) ranged form 0.40-0.92. The values describe that the condition of coral reef at eleven diving points vary from fair until poor condition. Current status of coral reef condition showed an insignificant increase from bad to moderate during the period 2011 -2018. There were 23 families of reef fishes from 46 genera were found during the study consisting of 16 genera of target fish groups, 5 genera of indicator fish group, and 25 genera of major fish group. The water quality is still within the limits of environmental quality standards.   Keywords: Reef fish, coral reef, Mortality Index, water quality, Gili Matra

scholarly journals Great Barrier Reef Degradation, Sea Surface Temperatures, and Atmospheric CO2 Levels Collectively Exhibit a Stochastic Process with Memory

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allan Elnar ◽  
Christianlly Cena ◽  
Christopher Casenas Bernido ◽  
M. Victoria Carpio-Bernido
Keyword(s):  
Stochastic Process ◽  
Great Barrier Reef ◽  
Coral Cover ◽  
Sea Surface ◽  
Atmospheric Co2 ◽  
Sea Surface Temperatures ◽  
Barrier Reef ◽  
Hard Coral ◽  
Co2 Levels ◽  
Hard Coral Cover

Abstract Quantifying ecological memory could be done at several levels from the rate of physiological changes in an ecosystem all the way down to responses at the genetic level. One way of unlocking the information encoded in a collective environmental memory is to examine the recorded time-series data generated by different components of an ecosystem. In this paper, we probe into the case of the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) which is threatened by elevated sea surface temperatures (SST) and ocean acidification attributed to rising atmospheric CO 2 levels. Specifically, we investigate the interrelated dynamics between the degradation of the GBR, SST, and rising atmospheric CO 2 levels, by considering three datasets: (a) the mean percentage hard coral cover of the GBR from the archives of the Australian Institute of Marine Science; (b) SST close to the GBR from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; and (c) the Keeling curve for atmospheric CO 2 levels measured by the Mauna Loa Observatory. We show that fluctuating observables in these datasets have the same memory behavior described by a non-Markovian stochastic process. All three datasets show a good match between empirical and analytical mean square deviation. An explicit analytical form for the corresponding probability density function is obtained which obeys a modified diffusion equation with a time dependent diffusion coefficient. This study provides a new perspective on the similarities of and interaction between the GBR’s declining hard coral cover, SST, and rising atmospheric CO2 levels by putting all three systems into one unified framework indexed by a memory parameter μ and a characteristic frequency ν . The short-time dynamics of CO2 levels and SST fall in the superdiffusive regime, while the GBR exhibits hyperballistic fluctuation in percent coral cover with the highest values for μ and ν .

scholarly journals 11-yr of coral community dynamics in reefs around Dahab (Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea): the collapse of urchins and rise of macroalgae and cyanobacterial mats

Coral Reefs ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 39 (6) ◽  
pp. 1605-1618
Author(s):  
Miriam Reverter ◽  
Matthew Jackson ◽  
Nauras Daraghmeh ◽  
Christian von Mach ◽  
Nina Milton
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reef ◽  
Red Sea ◽  
Coral Cover ◽  
Negative Relationship ◽  
Gulf Of Aqaba ◽  
Benthic Fish ◽  
Hard Coral ◽  
Cyanobacterial Mats ◽  
Invertebrate Assemblages ◽  
Hard Coral Cover

AbstractCorals from the Gulf of Aqaba (northern Red Sea) are resilient to high temperatures and therefore this region is regarded as globally important for reef conservation. However, long-term dynamics of coral reef assemblages from the Gulf of Aqaba remain largely understudied. In this study, we analysed the change in benthic, fish and invertebrate assemblages of reefs around Dahab (South Sinai, Egypt) between 2009 and 2019. We also studied the individual trajectories of coral reef benthic categories, key invertebrate and fish species and their relationship. As site emerged as the main factor explaining the variability in coral reef communities, we identified three clusters of sites with similar assemblages. Both benthic, fish and invertebrate assemblages changed considerably at the three site clusters between 2009 and 2019. We found significant increases in fleshy macroalgae (~ 6 to 15%) and cyanobacterial mats (~ 6 to 12%) in all site clusters. Although not observing a significant reduction of hard coral cover, both macroalgae mat cover and cyanobacterial mat cover were significantly negatively related to hard coral cover and hard coral disease. Soft coral cover (mainly corals from the Xeniidae family) decreased significantly in two of the site clusters, their cover being negatively related to macroalgal and cyanobacterial cover. Significant declines in grazer urchins were observed at all site clusters, and a strong negative relationship was found with macroalgae and cyanobacterial mats cover, suggesting urchin decline as one of the main drivers behind algal increases. Different site clusters had different fish trajectories (butterflyfish, parrotfish, surgeonfish and predators), with only damselfish densities significantly decreasing at all sites. A significant decrease in damselfish densities was related to increases in cyanobacterial mats. These findings suggest that if macroalgae and cyanobacteria continue to increase, Dahab coral reefs could undergo degradation, and therefore, more studies are needed to elucidate the drivers behind these algal increases.

scholarly journals Early trajectories of benthic coral reef communities following the 2015/16 coral bleaching event at remote Aldabra Atoll, Seychelles

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Koester ◽  
Valentina Migani ◽  
Nancy Bunbury ◽  
Amanda Ford ◽  
Cheryl Sanchez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reef ◽  
Water Temperature ◽  
Coral Bleaching ◽  
Coral Cover ◽  
Bleaching Event ◽  
Hard Coral ◽  
Reef Communities ◽  
Remote Sites ◽  
Hard Coral Cover ◽  
Coral Reef Communities

Abstract Documenting post-bleaching trajectories of coral reef communities is crucial to understand their resilience to climate change. We investigated reef community changes following the 2015/16 bleaching event at Aldabra Atoll, where direct human impact is minimal. We combined benthic data collected pre- (2014) and post-bleaching (2016–2019) at 12 sites across three locations (lagoon, 2 m depth; seaward west and east, 5 and 15 m depth) with water temperature measurements. While seaward reefs experienced relative hard coral reductions of 51–62%, lagoonal coral loss was lower (− 34%), probably due to three-fold higher daily water temperature variability there. Between 2016 and 2019, hard coral cover did not change on deep reefs which remained dominated by turf algae and Halimeda, but absolute cover on shallow reefs increased annually by 1.3% (east), 2.3% (west) and 3.0% (lagoon), reaching, respectively, 54%, 68% and 93% of the pre-bleaching cover in 2019. Full recovery at the shallow seaward locations may take at least five more years, but remains uncertain for the deeper reefs. The expected increase in frequency and severity of coral bleaching events is likely to make even rapid recovery as observed in Aldabra’s lagoon too slow to prevent long-term reef degradation, even at remote sites.

scholarly journals Cross-Shelf Differences in the Response of Herbivorous Fish Assemblages to Severe Environmental Disturbances

Diversity ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eva McClure ◽  
Laura Richardson ◽  
Alexia Graba-Landry ◽  
Zoe Loffler ◽  
Garry Russ ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fish Assemblages ◽  
Coral Cover ◽  
Herbivorous Fish ◽  
Total Biomass ◽  
Hard Coral ◽  
Inner Shelf ◽  
Environmental Disturbances ◽  
Local Conditions ◽  
Thermal Bleaching ◽  
Hard Coral Cover

Cross-shelf differences in coral reef benthic and fish assemblages are common, yet it is unknown whether these assemblages respond uniformly to environmental disturbances or whether local conditions result in differential responses of assemblages at different shelf positions. Here, we compare changes in the taxonomic and functional composition, and associated traits, of herbivorous reef fish assemblages across a continental shelf, five years before and six months after two severe cyclones and a thermal bleaching event that resulted in substantial and widespread loss of live hard coral cover. Each shelf position maintained a distinct taxonomic assemblage of fishes after disturbances, but the assemblages shared fewer species among shelf positions. There was a substantial loss of species richness following disturbances within each shelf position. Total biomass of the herbivorous fish assemblage increased after disturbances on mid- and outer-shelf reefs, but not on inner-shelf reefs. Using trait-based analyses, we found there was a loss of trait richness at each shelf position, but trait specialisation and originality increased on inner-shelf reefs. This study highlights the pervasiveness of extreme environmental disturbances on ecological assemblages. Whilst distinct cross-shelf assemblages can remain following environmental disturbances, assemblages have reduced richness and are potentially more vulnerable to chronic localised stresses.

The coral communities of Lord Howe Island

1995 ◽  
Vol 46 (2) ◽  
pp. 457 ◽  
Author(s):  
VJ Harriott ◽  
PL Harrison ◽  
SA Banks
Keyword(s):  
Coral Cover ◽  
Benthic Communities ◽  
Tropical Species ◽  
Hard Coral ◽  
Lord Howe Island ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
The Status ◽  
Coral Communities ◽  
Apparent Reduction ◽  
Hard Coral Cover

Lord Howe Island (31�33′S, 159�05′E) is surrounded by the southern-most coral reefs in the Pacific Ocean. The status of the benthic communities at Lord Howe Island was quantified in 1992-93 using replicated video-transects at 20 sites in the shallow reefal area (<20 m depth). The cover of hard coral was comparable with coral cover on some tropical reefs, ranging from less than 10% at some reef flat sites to greater than 40% cover at two seaward beach sites. The process of reef formation is apparently slow, and accretion of limestone is localized. A total of 59 scleractinian coral species were recorded during this study (including 19 new records), bringing the total number recorded at Lord Howe Island to 83. The coral communities contain a unique association of tropical species at their southern limits of distribution, and subtropical species which are rare or absent from the Great Barrier Reef. Many of the species that have been recorded from Lord Howe Island are rare, and may have resulted from chance recruitment of only a few larvae. There have been few major changes in the coral communities at Lord Howe Island in the past 16 years. At two inshore sites there was an apparent reduction in hard coral cover in the 1980s.

scholarly journals KONDISI TERUMBU KARANG PADA KAWASAN WISATA PANTAI MALALAYANG KOTA MANADO PROVINSI SULAWESI UTARA DENGAN MENGGUNAKAN METODE UNDERWATER PHOTO TRANSECT

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 44
Author(s):  
Devidson Daud ◽  
Joshian N. W. Schaduw ◽  
Chatrien Luzianna Sinjal ◽  
Janny D Kusen ◽  
Erli Y Kaligis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reef ◽  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Coral Cover ◽  
Computer Software ◽  
Digital Camera ◽  
Hard Coral ◽  
Software Technology ◽  
Technological Developments ◽  
Moderate Condition ◽  
Hard Coral Cover

Coral reefs are coastal ecosystems with the highest level of diversity with around one million species worldwide. Corals are invertebrates belonging to the Phylum Coelenterate (hollow animals) or Cnidaria. The Underwater Photo Transect (UPT) method is a method that utilizes technological developments, both digital camera technology and computer software technology. Capturing data in the field in the form of underwater photos carried out by shooting using a Canon G-16 camera equipped with a waterproof protector (housing). In this study it can be seen that the percentage of hard corals at point 1 is in the medium category, point 2 is in the medium category, and point 3 is in the bad category with the percentage of hard coral cover as follows: point 1 (one) 29.75%, point 2 (two) 31.16%, and point 3 (three) 24.26%, of the three points can represent the overall condition of the coral reefs in Malalayang Beach which is in moderate condition with a percentage of 28.39%.Keywords: Malalayang Beach, Coral Reef, UPT, CPCe

scholarly journals PERBANDINGAN TUTUPAN KARANG KERAS SEBELUM, SAAT DAN SESUDAH PEMUTIHAN KARANG DI PERAIRAN KRUENG RAYA, ACEH BESAR

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 739-745
Author(s):  
Maria Ulfah ◽  
Chyndy Yolanda ◽  
Sofyatuddin Karina ◽  
Syahrul Purnawan ◽  
Sri Agustina
Keyword(s):  
Mortality Rate ◽  
Data Collection ◽  
Coral Bleaching ◽  
Coral Cover ◽  
Coral Mortality ◽  
Hard Coral ◽  
Average Percentage ◽  
Mortality Index ◽  
Hard Coral Cover

ABSTRAKPenelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui tutupan karang keras pada waktu sebelum (tahun 2015) saat (2016) dan sesudah pemutihan karang (2017) di Krueng Raya, Aceh Besar. Penelitian ini dilakukan pada bulan April 2017 di Krueng Raya, Aceh Besar. Pengambilan data dilakukan di 3 stasiun pengamatan menggunakan metode PIT (Point Intercept Transect) yang meliputi: Benteng Inong Balee, Ahmad Rhang Manyang, dan Lhok Mee. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan persentase rata - rata tutupan karang keras tahun 2015 sebesar 52,83% berkategori baik, tahun 2016 sebesar 32,43% berkategori sedang dan tahun pada tahun 2017 persentase tutupan karang keras menjadi 22,90% dan masuk ke dalam kategori rusak. Terdapat sebanyak 16 genus karang (2015), 18 genus karang (2016) dan 8 genus karang 8 (2017). Indeks Mortalitas (IM) tahun 2015 berkisar antara 0,02-0,20 (tingkat kematian karang yang rendah), tahun 2016 berkisar antara 0,13-0,49 (kematian karang rendah), tahun 2017 berkisar antara 0,63-0,79 (tingkat kematian karang tinggi). Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa persentase tutupan karang keras mengalami penurunan hingga mencapai ±50% yang diakibatkan oleh pemutihan karang pada Perairan Krueng Raya Aceh Besar. ABSTRACTThe aim of this study was to determine hard coral cover at the time before (2015), during (2016) and after coral bleaching (2017) in Krueng Raya, Aceh besar. This study was conducted on April 2017 in Krueng Raya, Aceh Besar. Data collection was carried out at 3 observation stations using the PIT (Point Intercept Transect) method which included : Fort Inong Balee, Ahmad Rhang Manyang, and Lhok Mee. The results showed that the average percentage of hard coral cover in 2017 was 22.90% (bad category), it was lower than in 2016 32.43% (medium category) and in 2015 was 52.83% (good category). There were found 16 genera of coral (2015), 18 genera of coral (2016), and 8 genera of coral (2017). Mortality Index (MI) in 2015 ranged between 0.02-0.20 (low coral mortality rate), in 2016 ranged between 0.13-0.49 (low coral mortality rate), in 2017 ranged between 0.63-0.79 (high coral mortality rate). The results of this study indicate that the percentage of hard coral cover has decreased to reach 50% due to coral bleaching in the waters of Krueng Raya Aceh Besar.

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