scholarly journals Conservation status of fish and marine invertebrate of rocky reefs and sandy substrates in two unprotected bays of the Papagayo Gulf, Costa Rica

2020 ◽  
Vol 68 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Keilor Enrique Cordero Umaña ◽  
Pilár Santidrián Tomillo
Keyword(s):  
Costa Rica ◽  
North Pacific ◽  
Coral Cover ◽  
Marine Invertebrate ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Trophic Group ◽  
Marine Biodiversity ◽  
Fish Biomass ◽  
Rocky Reefs ◽  
Marine Habitats

Introduction: North Pacific Costa Rica is generally considered rich in marine habitats and species. However, some areas are subject to fishing pressures that could degrade ecosystems. The Gulf of Papagayo comprises protected and unprotected areas with various degrees of impact. Objectives: Our aim was to evaluate the conservation status of fish and invertebrate communities in rocky reefs and sandy areas in two unprotected bays of the Gulf of Papagayo. Methods: The study was conducted at Cabuyal and Zapotillal Bays, south of Santa Rosa National Park. From December 2017 to April 2018, a total of thirty-five transects were done parallel to the coast at 3-10 m depth. We identified fish and invertebrate species and estimated biomass by trophic group in fish, and density in invertebrates. Results: We found a high number of species of fish (81) and invertebrates (70) in rocky reefs, which indicates a biodiverse ecosystem, but few species of fish in sandy areas.  Species composition differed between the two bays. Density of juvenile fishes was high in Zapotillal Bay, suggesting that the area could be important for recruitment and breeding.  Fish biomass was higher in sandy areas than in rocky reefs and all trophic groups had lower biomass than in other unprotected areas of the region. On average, reef fish biomass was 1.57 ± 0.67 (s.e.) t ha-1, similar to previous reports for Costa Rican North Pacific. By trophic group, piscivorous and planktivorous had the highest biomass in sandy areas and piscivorous and carnivorous in rocky reefs. Mean coral cover was low with 4.09 % ± 2.51 (s.e.), similar to previously reported for the region. Conclusions: Cabuyal and Zapotillal Bays in the Gulf of Papagayo are biodiverse in fish and invertebrates. However, the area may be impacted by local fisheries and other human activities, affecting fish and invertebrate populations, and coral formations. Our study fills some gaps in knowledge of marine biodiversity in the Gulf of Papagayo that can contribute to the conservation of marine life in North Pacific Costa Rica.

scholarly journals Checklist of invertebrates and conspicuous fishes in rocky reefs and Sargassum beds in the North Pacific of Costa Rica

2021 ◽  
Vol 69 (Suppl.2) ◽  
pp. S180-S193
Author(s):  
Alvin Suárez ◽  
Rafael Riosmena-Rodríguez ◽  
Jorge Cortés
Keyword(s):  
Costa Rica ◽  
Fish Species ◽  
North Pacific ◽  
Field Work ◽  
Marine Ecosystems ◽  
Marine Biodiversity ◽  
Underwater Visual Census ◽  
The North ◽  
Rocky Reefs ◽  
The North Pacific

Introduction: The marine biodiversity is well known in some areas and for some marine ecosystems of the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. The marine sector of Área de Conservación Guanacaste, in the North Pacific of the country, is a priority area for conservation of marine and coastal biodiversity. Objective: Our aim was to increase the knowledge of marine biodiversity in a conservation priority site in Costa Rica and in poorly or scarcely studied marine ecosystems, such as rocky reefs and Sargassum beds, respectively. Methods: The study was conducted in Bahía Salinas and Golfo de Santa Elena in 2013. In January, four rocky reefs were visited; while in February three rocky reefs and one Sargassum bed were visited. We identified the macroinvertebrates and conspicuous fish species through underwater visual census methods (timed swim and band transects). The mean density of each species was estimated through band transects method. Results: A total of 25 invertebrates and 34 fish species were identified. We found a high number of species of invertebrates (23) and fish species (33) in rocky reefs, but few species on Sargassum beds (eight invertebrates and ten fish species). Species composition differed between marine ecosystems. Conclusions: Our study further evidence the limited knowledge of invertebrates and fish communities in these marine ecosystems in the North Pacific of Costa Rica. Considerably more surveys and field work are required to support management decisions that are backed by sound scientific knowledge.

scholarly journals Avoiding conflicts and protecting coral reefs: customary management benefits marine habitats and fish biomass

Oryx ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 46 (4) ◽  
pp. 486-494 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stuart J. Campbell ◽  
Joshua E. Cinner ◽  
Rizya L. Ardiwijaya ◽  
Shinta Pardede ◽  
Tasrif Kartawijaya ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reef ◽  
Reef Fish ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Coral Cover ◽  
Effective Means ◽  
Economic Conditions ◽  
Marine Resources ◽  
Fish Biomass ◽  
Marine Habitats ◽  
Customary Management

AbstractOne of the major goals of coral reef conservation is to determine the most effective means of managing marine resources in regions where economic conditions often limit the options available. For example, no-take fishing areas can be impractical in regions where people rely heavily on reef fish for food. In this study we test whether coral reef health differed among areas with varying management practices and socio-economic conditions on Pulau Weh in the Indonesian province of Aceh. Our results show that gear restrictions, in particular prohibiting the use of nets, were successful in minimizing habitat degradation and maintaining fish biomass despite ongoing access to the fishery. Reef fish biomass and hard-coral cover were two- to eight-fold higher at sites where fishing nets were prohibited. The guiding principle of the local customary management system, Panglima Laot, is to reduce conflict among community members over access to marine resources. Consequently, conservation benefits in Aceh have arisen from a customary system that lacks a specific environmental ethic or the means for strong resource-based management. Panglima Laot includes many of the features of successful institutions, such as clearly defined membership rights and the opportunity for resource users to be involved in making, enforcing and changing the rules. Such mechanisms to reduce conflict are the key to the success of marine resource management, particularly in settings that lack resources for enforcement.

scholarly journals Cuando la conservación no puede seguir el ritmo del desarrollo: Estado de salud de los ecosistemas coralinos del Pacífico Norte de Costa Rica

2018 ◽  
Vol 66 (1-1) ◽  
pp. 280 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan José Alvarado ◽  
Andrés Beita-Jiménez ◽  
Sebastián Mena ◽  
Cindy Fernández ◽  
Jorge Cortés ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Costa Rica ◽  
Coral Reefs ◽  
North Pacific ◽  
Coral Cover ◽  
Actual State ◽  
Live Coral ◽  
The North ◽  
Invasive Seaweed ◽  
Live Coral Cover ◽  
The North Pacific

Abstract: When conservation can keep up with development´s pace: Health status of coral ecosystems in the North Pacific of Costa Rica. Coral reefs are diverse and productive ecosystems, despite this, they are being threatened by human activities that enhance the detrimental impact of the natural phenomenon’s like Harmful Algal Blooms (HAB). The north Pacific of Costa Rica has been characterized as one of the best regions for the coral reefs development in the country. However, many of these ecosystems are being lost as a result of eutrophication, overfishing, invasive species and others impacts that affect the region. In the present study, live coral cover in the north Pacific was 5.0 ± 10.4(s.d.) %, with a domination in the ecosystems by turf algae. Twenty-six invertebrate taxa were registered in the region with the predominance of the sea urchin Diadema mexicanum. Ninety-four species of reef fish were identified. Snappers and some planktivores species were the groups with the highest frequency and abundance. The localities previously studied in the 1990 decade, presented a mean live coral cover between 40-50 %, whereby the actual state of the reef reflect a significant deterioration. This decline in coral cover is due to natural events like the El Niño, as well as the decrease in water quality in the region. In recent years, proliferations of the invasive seaweed Caulerpa sertularioides and high densities of bioerosive sea urchins have been reported, mainly associated with HAB events. Likewise, fish communities have low biomass, especially in the vicinity of fishing villages. The state of the reefs in the North Pacific is worrying and requires actions for its recovery and conservation, for which there must be better planning of the development of projects and activities on the coast. Rev. Biol. Trop. 66(Suppl. 1): S280-S308. Epub 2018 April 01. 

scholarly journals Identifying nearshore nursery habitats for sharks in the Eastern Tropical Pacific from fisheries landings and interviews

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juliana López-Angarita ◽  
Melany Villate ◽  
Juan Manuel Díaz ◽  
Juan C. Cubillos ◽  
Alexander Tilley
Keyword(s):  
Costa Rica ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Tropical Pacific ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Marine Biodiversity ◽  
Shark Species ◽  
Eastern Tropical Pacific ◽  
Small Scale Fisheries ◽  
Scalloped Hammerhead ◽  
Nursery Habitats

AbstractThe Eastern Tropical Pacific (ETP) comprising the coasts of Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia and Ecuador, represents an area of high marine biodiversity that supports productive fisheries and acts as an important migratory corridor for many marine species. Despite its biological importance, the ETP is understudied and lacks sufficient data for science-based fisheries management and conservation decision-making. This study aims to consolidate understanding of the current and historical distribution of sharks and mobulid rays in the ETP. We used interviews of coastal community stakeholders to document traditional knowledge of shark and mobulid ray species and distributions. We also analysed small-scale fisheries landings data, where available, to quantify local exploitation patterns and the importance of sharks and rays in small-scale fisheries catches. All shark species landed in the dominant nearshore gillnet fishery show very low mean individuals weights (<5 kg), indicating that the fisheries are dominated by juveniles, captured. Aside from smooth-hounds (Mustelus spp.), the scalloped hammerhead shark, Sphyrna lewini, is the most frequently landed shark species in the region by weight and number, with peaks in abundance between April - July. From 132 interviews in 51 communities across the three countries, and landings data from two small-scale fisheries sites, we identified 41 sites in 12 broad geographical zones as important shark nursery habitats. Of these sites, 68% were associated closely with large mangrove systems of the ETP, highlighting the importance of this habitat for shark life history. No patterns were seen in the occurrence or distribution of mobulid rays in coastal areas. Marine protected areas and responsible fishing zones cover 37% of identified nursery habitats in the ETP, 30% in Costa Rica, 48% in Panama and 30% in Colombia. These findings provide an important benchmark of the conservation status of sharks in the ETP and allow for the prioritisation of research and policy-making.

scholarly journals Conservation Status of Marine Biodiversity in Oceania: An Analysis of Marine Species on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beth A. Polidoro ◽  
Cristiane T. Elfes ◽  
Jonnell C. Sanciangco ◽  
Helen Pippard ◽  
Kent E. Carpenter
Keyword(s):  
Threatened Species ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Extinction Risk ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Marine Species ◽  
Iucn Red List ◽  
Red List ◽  
Marine Biodiversity ◽  
Conservation Priorities ◽  
Conservation Action

Given the economic and cultural dependence on the marine environment in Oceania and a rapidly expanding human population, many marine species populations are in decline and may be vulnerable to extinction from a number of local and regional threats. IUCN Red List assessments, a widely used system for quantifying threats to species and assessing species extinction risk, have been completed for 1190 marine species in Oceania to date, including all known species of corals, mangroves, seagrasses, sea snakes, marine mammals, sea birds, sea turtles, sharks, and rays present in Oceania, plus all species in five important perciform fish groups. Many of the species in these groups are threatened by the modification or destruction of coastal habitats, overfishing from direct or indirect exploitation, pollution, and other ecological or environmental changes associated with climate change. Spatial analyses of threatened species highlight priority areas for both site- and species-specific conservation action. Although increased knowledge and use of newly available IUCN Red List assessments for marine species can greatly improve conservation priorities for marine species in Oceania, many important fish groups are still in urgent need of assessment.

scholarly journals Computer-Aided Drug Design (CADD) to De-Orphanize Marine Molecules: Finding Potential Therapeutic Agents for Neurodegenerative and Cardiovascular Diseases

Marine Drugs ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 53
Author(s):  
Laura Llorach-Pares ◽  
Alfons Nonell-Canals ◽  
Conxita Avila ◽  
Melchor Sanchez-Martinez
Keyword(s):  
Natural Products ◽  
Drug Design ◽  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Marine Invertebrate ◽  
In Silico Analysis ◽  
New Drugs ◽  
Computer Aided Drug Design ◽  
Marine Habitats ◽  
Computer Aided ◽  
Promising Line

Computer-aided drug design (CADD) techniques allow the identification of compounds capable of modulating protein functions in pathogenesis-related pathways, which is a promising line on drug discovery. Marine natural products (MNPs) are considered a rich source of bioactive compounds, as the oceans are home to much of the planet’s biodiversity. Biodiversity is directly related to chemodiversity, which can inspire new drug discoveries. Therefore, natural products (NPs) in general, and MNPs in particular, have been used for decades as a source of inspiration for the design of new drugs. However, NPs present both opportunities and challenges. These difficulties can be technical, such as the need to dive or trawl to collect the organisms possessing the compounds, or biological, due to their particular marine habitats and the fact that they can be uncultivable in the laboratory. For all these difficulties, the contributions of CADD can play a very relevant role in simplifying their study, since, for example, no biological sample is needed to carry out an in-silico analysis. Therefore, the amount of natural product that needs to be used in the entire preclinical and clinical study is significantly reduced. Here, we exemplify how this combination between CADD and MNPs can help unlock their therapeutic potential. In this study, using a set of marine invertebrate molecules, we elucidate their possible molecular targets and associated therapeutic potential, establishing a pipeline that can be replicated in future studies.

scholarly journals Aristolochia quiricoana (Aristolochiaceae), a new species from southern Costa Rica

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
José Esteban Jiménez ◽  
Marco Cedeño-Fonseca ◽  
Mario A. Blanco
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Costa Rica ◽  
Buenos Aires ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Similar Species ◽  
New Taxon ◽  
Botanical Exploration ◽  
Floral Color ◽  
Morphological Distinction ◽  
A New Species

Background and Aims: Aristolochia is the largest genus in Aristolochiaceae and is widely distributed in the world. A recent synopsis of Aristolochia in Costa Rica recognized 19 species; nevertheless, recent botanical exploration in southwestern Costa Rica has revealed yet another new species of this genus. Methods: The new species resulted from fieldwork in Buenos Aires, Puntarenas Province. Specimens from several herbaria were examined, as well as the type material of the most morphologically similar species. Comments about its distribution, habitat, phenology, conservation status and morphological distinction from related species are provided.Key results: Aristolochia quiricoana, a member of Aristolochia series Thyrsicae, is described and illustrated from the southern Pacific region of Costa Rica, where it is apparently endemic. It is similar to A. ornithorhyncha, from which it is distinguished by its shorter pedicels, wider, oblong perigone limbs with a shorter appendix, and a different floral color pattern.Conclusions: The new taxon described here represents the 22nd species documented in Aristolochia series Thyrsicae, as well as the 20th species of the genus from Costa Rica.

scholarly journals Protecting the North Sea: New research for biodiversity recovery.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oceana ◽  
Helena Álvarez ◽  
Allison L. Perry ◽  
Jorge Blanco ◽  
Silvia Garcia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
North Sea ◽  
Marine Biodiversity ◽  
Legal Requirements ◽  
Marine Life ◽  
The North ◽  
Marine Habitats ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Face ◽  
The North Sea ◽  
New Research

To help fill gaps in knowledge about marine biodiversity in the North Sea, Oceana carried out two eight week research expeditions, in 2016 and 2017. Oceana’s surveys documented a wide range of habitats and species that are considered priorities for conservation, under national, EU, and international frameworks that recognise them as threatened and/or establish legal requirements for their protection.Oceana’s research has underscored the fact that much remains to be discovered about marine life on the seabed of the North Sea. Continued research is critical for informing efforts to recover biodiversity, an urgent priority in the face of the multiple, intense pressures facing the North Sea’s marine habitats and species.

scholarly journals Development of marine landscape maps for the Baltic Sea and the Kattegat using geophysical and hydrographical parameters

2007 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
pp. 61-64 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zyad K. Al-Hamdani ◽  
Johnny Reker ◽  
Jørgen O. Leth ◽  
Anu Reijonen ◽  
Aarno T. Kotilainen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Baltic Sea ◽  
Marine Environment ◽  
Leisure Activities ◽  
Biological Information ◽  
Marine Biodiversity ◽  
The European Union ◽  
The Baltic Sea ◽  
Marine Habitats ◽  
The Baltic ◽  
Bothnian Bay

The Baltic Sea is one of the largest brackish water bodies in the world (Segerstråle 1957) with a number of basins varying from almost fresh water in the northern part of the Bothnian Bay via the more brackish conditions in the southern part to the saline waters of the Kattegat. The Baltic Sea is subject to severe environmental degradation caused by commercial and leisure activities, including fisheries, dredging, tourism, coas t a l development and land-based pollution sources. This causes severe pressures on vulnerable marine habitats and natural re- sources, and a tool for aiding marine management is therefore strongly needed. The marine landscape concept presented by Roff &Taylor (2000) is based on the use of available broad-scale geological, physical and hydrographical data to prepare ecologically meaningful maps for areas with little or no biological information. The concept, which was elaborated by Day & Roff (2000) was applied in UK waters (Connor et al. 2006) before it was adopted by the BALANCE project described here. The aim of developing marine landscape maps is to characterise the marine environment of the Baltic Sea region (the Baltic Sea together with the Kattegat) using geophysical and hydrographical parameters. Such maps can be applied, for example, to an assessment of the Baltic-wide network of marine protected areas, and thus provide a sustainable ecosystem-based approach to the protection of the marine environment from human activities, and contribute to the conservation of marine biodiversity. The BALANCE project is based on transnational and cross-sectoral co-operation with participants from nine countries surrounding the Baltic Sea as well as Norway (Fig. 1), and is partially financed by the European Union through the BSR INTERREG IIIB programme.

Cystomyces costaricensis. [Descriptions of Fungi and Bacteria].

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. F. Cannon
Keyword(s):  
Costa Rica ◽  
Geographical Distribution ◽  
Conservation Status

Abstract A description is provided for Cystomyces costaricensis. Some information on its dispersal and transmission and conservation status is given, along with details of its geographical distribution (Costa Rica) and hosts (Lonchocarpus guatemalensis).

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