scholarly journals Current Ecological Status of Remote Coral Reefs of Clipperton Island, Tropical Eastern Pacific

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudia Pogoreutz ◽  
Eric E. G. Clua ◽  
JOSE DE JESUS ADOLFO TORTOLERO LANGARICA
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Coral Cover ◽  
Ecological Status ◽  
Parasite Prevalence ◽  
Coral Community ◽  
Eastern Pacific ◽  
Marine Biodiversity ◽  
Live Coral ◽  
Tropical Eastern Pacific ◽  
Live Coral Cover

Abstract Clipperton, an uninhabited and remote coral atoll from the Eastern Pacific, is an important steppingstone area that harbors a high marine biodiversity. Despite its biogeographic importance, little information on the ecological status of its coral reefs is available from the last decade. Herein, we characterized the benthic coral community and health status among four different shallow reef-zones (North to South) of Clipperton during the Tara Pacific expedition in 2018. The benthic composition and coverage percentage, as well as occurrence of a pink-spotted coral phenotype (trematodiasis infection) was assessed. Total live coral cover on Clipperton reefs was 66% (55-85%), differing between sites, with massive Porites and branching Pocillopora corals dominating the benthic community with an average 48% (32-66%), and 15% (3-21%), respectively. While Clipperton reefs exhibited significant live coral cover overall, the trematode infection was commonly observed, with a higher occurrence in massive corals (Porites 27%, and Pavona 31%). This observation is possibly related to the combined effects of previously heatwaves, and local inputs of guano-derived nutrients discharged during storms and hurricanes. These results demonstrates that even highly remote reefs supporting high coral cover can be subjected to local and global threats, including but not limited to parasite prevalence, likely in relation to natural disturbances such as thermal stress and tropical cyclones.

scholarly journals Status of Coral Reefs in the Water of Spermonde, Makassar, South Sulawesi

2021 ◽  
Vol 324 ◽  
pp. 03007
Author(s):  
Ni Wayan Purnama Sari ◽  
Rikoh Manogar Siringoringo ◽  
Muhammad Abrar ◽  
Risandi Dwirama Putra ◽  
Raden Sutiadi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reef ◽  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Coral Cover ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Live Coral ◽  
Health Index ◽  
Point Count ◽  
Live Coral Cover ◽  
Reef Health ◽  
Index Value

Observations of the condition of coral reefs have been carried out in Spermonde waters from 2015 to 2018. The method used in this observation uses Underwater Photo Transect (UPT), and the data obtained is analyzed using CPCe (Coral Point Count with Excel Extensions) software. The results show that the percentage of coral cover has increased from year to year. The percentage of live coral cover in 2015 was 19.64%, 23.60 in 2016, 23.72% in 2017, and 27.83% in 2018. The increase in live coral cover from year to year is thought to occur due to the availability of nutrients. or increasing public awareness, considering this location is one of the most famous tourist attractions in Makassar. Coral reef health index values can be used to classify coral reef health. Through the analysis of the coral reef health index, an index value of 4 was obtained, which means that the condition of the coral reefs is in the “moderate” category.

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 Analysis on the Live Coral Cover around Weizhou Island Using MODIS Data

Sensors ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (19) ◽  
pp. 4309
Author(s):  
Rongyong Huang ◽  
Huiya Zhang ◽  
Kefu Yu
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Human Activities ◽  
Coral Cover ◽  
Empirical Relationship ◽  
Environmental Parameters ◽  
Global Changes ◽  
Live Coral ◽  
Chl A ◽  
Live Coral Cover ◽  
Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer

Coral reefs are important as they can help to maintain ecological balance, biological resources, and species diversity on earth. However, they are globally threatened by human activities and climate change. As live coral cover (LCC) is regarded as an important measure of the health of coral reefs, analysis on LCC change associated with environmental parameters, such as chlorophyll-a concentration (Chl-a), sea surface temperature (SST), and photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), is of great value. Research on this front would help us comprehend the changes in coral reefs induced by human activities and global changes. Instead of using spasmodically in-field-measured environmental parameters, in this study, we chose to combine the successive Chl-a, SST, and PAR products of the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) with historic LCC records to establish an empirical relationship using nonlinear optimization. Thereafter, the established relationship was further used to discuss some possible developments of LCCs. According to the experiments, we concluded that the degradation of the LCC around Weizhou Island may be mainly caused by human-activity-caused eutrophication. Besides, we also showed that even if the Chl-a and the PAR can keep constant with current average levels, the corals around Weizhou Island may still be in a risk of disappearing between 2120–2140 as the SST continues to rise.

Distribution, diversity, and conservation of coral reefs and coral communities in the largest marine protected area of Pacific Panama (Coiba Island)

2004 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 111-121 ◽  
Author(s):  
HECTOR M. GUZMAN ◽  
CARLOS A. GUEVARA ◽  
ODALISCA BREEDY
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Protected Area ◽  
Marine Protected Area ◽  
Coral Cover ◽  
Scleractinian Corals ◽  
Live Coral ◽  
Marine Habitats ◽  
Live Coral Cover ◽  
Coral Communities

Sampling scale and lack of attention to taxa other than scleractinian corals have limited the capacity to protect coral reefs and coral communities in Pacific Panama. The distribution of coral habitats (live coral cover) and their species richness in the largest marine protected area of Panama, the Coiba National Park (270 125 ha), is described using quadrat transects and manta tows. The species richness of scleractinian corals and octocorals was lower in coral reefs than in coral communities, and a close relationship between richness and live coral cover was observed only in coral communities. The distribution of high live coral cover in coral communities overlapped with areas of high coral species richness. Average live coral cover in communities was 64%, compared to 28% in reefs, whereas algae cover was 30% and 49%, respectively. Twenty-two coral and 34 octocoral species were observed, many only now detected in Panama as endemic or new species. Analysis of satellite imagery showed 80% of terrestrial habitats were mostly primary forest, and coral reefs and coral communities covered 1700 ha, about 2% of marine habitats. Shallow marine environments (< 20 m) had up to 60% calcareous red algae cover (rhodolite beds). Based on the distribution of live coral cover and species richness, three conservation units were identified as priority, with the southern and northernmost sides of the marine protected area as the most significant. These three areas encompass most of the rare and endemic species or populations, as well as species previously regarded as endangered.

scholarly journals Penilaian Indeks Kesehatan Terumbu Karang di TWP Selat Bunga Laut, Kabupaten Kepulauan Mentawai

2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 71-80
Author(s):  
Suparno Suparno ◽  
Yempita Efendi ◽  
Arlius Arlius ◽  
Mas Eriza ◽  
Bukhari Bukhari ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Reef Fish ◽  
Coral Cover ◽  
Live Coral ◽  
Health Index ◽  
Visual Census ◽  
Live Coral Cover ◽  
Coral Fish ◽  
Coral Health ◽  
Index Value

Coral reefs condition in the protected marine area at Selat Bunga has decreased every year.  The health of coral reefs is represented by coral index health. The purpose of this study was to analyze the coral reefs health index based on the condition of live coral cover, resilience level and condition of coral fish. Retrieval of coral reefs data using the Under Photo Transect Method and coral fish data collection using the Under Water Visual Census. The results of research at 9 research stations found that the average cover of live coral ranged from 1.40 - 44.68%, fleshy seaweed ranged from 0.13% - 12.87%, rubble ranged from 1.73 - 39.40%, and average total reef fish biomass ranged from 8.93 - 253.23 kg/ha. Coral reef health index values range between 3-6. Coral reefs health index of 67% of research stations is 3. The coral health index value 3 is indicated by a low percent live coral cover, a high resilience rate, and a low reef fish biomass.Kondisi terumbu karang di Kawasan Konservasi Taman Wisata Perairan (TWP) Selat Bunga Laut  telah mengalami penurunan setiap tahun.  Indeks kesehatan karang adalah nilai yang mengambarkan kesehatan karang antar lokasi penelitian. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah menganalisis indeks kesehatan terumbu karang berdasarkan kondisi tutupan karang hidup,  tingkat resiliensi dan kondisi ikan karang.  Pengambilan data terumbu karang dengan metode Under Photo Transect dan pengambilan data ikan karang mengunakan Under Water Visual Census. Hasil penelitian di 9 stasiun penelitian didapatkan persen rata-rata tutupan karang hidup berkisar  1.40- 44.68 %, fleshy seaweed berkisar  0.13% - 12.87%, pecahan karang berkisar 1.73 –39.40 %, dan rata-rata total biomassa ikan karang berkisar 8.93 – 253.23 kg/ha. Nilai indeks kesehatan terumbu karang berkisar antara 3-6. Sebanyak  67% stasiun penelitian mempunyai indeks kesehatan terumbu karang dengan skala 3. Indeks kesehatan karang skala 3 ditunjukkan  oleh  persen tutupan karang  hidup yang rendah, tingkat resiliensi yang tinggi dan biomassa ikan yang rendah.

scholarly journals ABUNDANCE OF CORAL FISH SPECIES AND THE CONDITION OF CORAL REEFS IN THE WATERS OF THE TIKUS ISLAND, BENGKULU CITY

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 20-28
Author(s):  
Almaarif ◽  
Joko Samiaji ◽  
Thamrin Thamrin
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Reef Fish ◽  
Coral Cover ◽  
Survey Method ◽  
Marine Biota ◽  
Live Coral ◽  
Underwater Visual Census ◽  
Live Coral Cover ◽  
Close Relationship ◽  
Coral Fish

Coral reefs are one of the ecosystems that have ecological functions for marine life, one of which is reef fish. Coral fish are marine biota that live in association with coral reefs. This study aims to determine the abundance of reef fish, the condition of coral reefs and the relationship between abundance of reef fish and coral reefs. This research was conducted in June 2019 in the waters of Tikus Island, Bengkulu City. The method used is a survey method. Data collection on reef fish was carried out using the Underwater Visual Census (UVC) method and coral reefs condition data colletion is done using the Line Intercept Transect (LIT) method. The abundance of reef fish found at the study site averages in the abundant category. At station I, an abundance of reef fish was 2,18 ind/m2, at station II it was 4,18 ind/m2, and at station III it was 1,27 ind/m2. While the average condition of coral reefs at the study site is include in the medium category. At station I, the percentage of live coral cover was 39,30% or include in the medium category. At station II, the percentage of live coral cover was 50,94% or include in the good category. And at station III, the percentage of live coral cover was 46,32% or include in the medium category. Coral fish and coral reefs have a fairly close relationship. Reef fish use coral reefs as a place to find food, shelter and spawn or breed.

scholarly journals OVERVIEW OF THE SUCCESSFUL CORAL REEF MANAGEMENT IN INDONESIA

2010 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-41
Author(s):  
Suharsono
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reef ◽  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Coral Cover ◽  
Action Plan ◽  
Good Condition ◽  
Monitoring Program ◽  
Live Coral ◽  
Subsistence Level ◽  
Live Coral Cover ◽  
The World

Indonesia is the largest archipelagic country in the world, composed of 18,110 islands with a coastline of 108,900 km long, extending some 5000 km long and 2000 km wide located between Asia and Australia. Coral reefs have important meaning and value for the coastal communities in term of economic, social, and cultural conditions. About 1.5 million people are traditional fishermen who live in subsistence level and depend on their lives fully on coral reefs' resources. The Indonesian coral reef contributed 14% of the world, distributed unevenly from Sabang to Merauke with the highest concentration around Sulawesi and Maluku. The species richness and the biodiversity of the Indonesian corals amounted to 590 species belonging to 82 genera or about 80% of the currently existing coral species in the world. Monitoring program has been done from 1993 to 2010 and it shows the trend of improvement in the term of live coral cover. The condition of coral reefs in Indonesia taken from 84 locations and 1048 sites were 50.54% in excellent condition, 26.72% in good condition, 37.21% in fair condition, and 30.82% in bad condition. Improving trends in live coral cover across all project sites shows that the live coral covers has increased in all monitored sites across all project districts with average yearly live coral coverage increase is about 2-5%. The National Policy, Strategy, and Action Plan was established, with its main objective of managing the coral reef ecosystems based on the balance between conservation and utilization, and it was reflected in the Law No. 27 of 2007 concerning coastal management and small islands. The most remarkable result of the program is community awareness, namely the decrease of fishing activities shows that the destructive fishing activities in all project district are now non-existent of at a minimal level. A special text books on marine lives for elementary, secondary, and high school is the most widely adopted by local education service as a book of local content. Whereas institutional strengthening program constitutes the most difficult, energy and time consuming activities. It is due to the rivaly between the local institution and the lac of officials' and the communities' knowledge on the conservation based management principle.

scholarly journals EVALUATION OF COREMAP PHASE 2 IN THE EASTERN INDONESIA BASED ON THE CHANGES IN CORAL COVERAGE

2017 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-55 ◽  
Author(s):  
. Giyanto
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Coral Cover ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Live Coral ◽  
Phase 2 ◽  
Storm Damage ◽  
Eastern Indonesia ◽  
Live Coral Cover ◽  
The Government

COREMAP (Coral Reef Rehabilitation and Management Program) is a long-term program initiated by the Government of Indonesia to enhance the welfare of the coastal communities by protecting, rehabilitating, and achieving sustainable use of the Indonesian coral reefs and their associated ecosystems. COREMAP is three phases planned program. The first phase was launched in 1998 and finished in 2004. Phase 2 began in 2006 and ended in 2011. The last phase has started since the end of 2014 and will finish in 2019. One of the performance indicators of COREMAP phase 2 (COREMAP 2) was a significant improvement of live coral cover in 80% of all sampling sites. The aims of this study are to find out and evaluate the trend of live coral cover during COREMAP 2. Annual monitoring of coral reefs was conducted in all sites of COREMAP 2 in the eastern Indonesia. Those sites were: Pangkep, Selayar, Buton, Wakatobi, Sikka, Biak Numfor and Raja Ampat. Permanent transects were applied at each site. Life-form of benthic data including hard corals was collected using the Line Intercept Transect (LIT) method and surveyed using SCUBA diving equipment. The result indicates that all sites, except Biak Numfor, demonstrate improvement in live coral cover during COREMAP 2. In contrast, live coral cover in Biak Numfor shows a decline due primarily to storm damage, destruction by bombs, some bleaching, and predation by Acanthaster planci. An increase in live coral covers in six out of seven sites during COREMAP 2indicates that the activities of COREMAP 2 (e.g. public awareness, community-based MCS, alternative livelihood) has a positive impact on the management of coral reefs in the Eastern of Indonesia.

scholarly journals Characterizing the spatial distribution of coral reefs in the South-Central Coast region of Viet Nam using Planetscope imagery

PeerJ ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. e12413
Author(s):  
Khanh V. Nguyen ◽  
Vinh C. Duong ◽  
Kinh T. Kieu ◽  
Thuong V. Tran ◽  
Cho-ying Huang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Distribution ◽  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Coral Cover ◽  
Viet Nam ◽  
Live Coral ◽  
The South ◽  
Central Coast ◽  
South Central ◽  
Live Coral Cover ◽  
Coast Region

This study aims to understand the spatial distribution of coral reefs in the central region of Viet Nam. We classified live coral cover in Son Tra Peninsula (ST) and Cu Lao Cham Island (CLC) in the South-Central Coast Region of Viet Nam using the Maximum Likelihood Classifier on 3 m Planetscope imagery. Confusion matrices and the accuracy of the classifier were assessed using field data (1,543 and 1,560 photographs in ST and CLC, respectively). The results showed that the reef’s width ranged from 30 to 300 m across the study site, and we were able to detect live coral cover across a depth gradient of 2 to 6 m below the sea surface. The overall accuracies of the classifier (the Kappa coefficient) were 76.78% (0.76) and 78.08% (0.78) for ST and CLC, respectively. We found that 60.25% of coral reefs in ST were unhealthy and the live coral cover was less than 50%, while 25.75% and 11.46% of those in CLC were in good and excellent conditions, respectively. This study demonstrates the feasibility of utilizing Planetscope imagery to monitor shallow coral reefs of small islands at a high spatial resolution of 3 m. The results of this study provide valuable information for coral reef protection and conservation.

scholarly journals Assessing the Resilience Potential of Inshore and Offshore Coral Communities in the Western Gulf of Thailand

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (11) ◽  
pp. 408 ◽  
Author(s):  
Makamas Sutthacheep ◽  
Charernmee Chamchoy ◽  
Sittiporn Pengsakun ◽  
Wanlaya Klinthong ◽  
Thamasak Yeemin
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Coral Bleaching ◽  
Coral Cover ◽  
Live Coral ◽  
Gulf Of Thailand ◽  
Juvenile Corals ◽  
Live Coral Cover ◽  
Coral Communities ◽  
Study Sites ◽  
Offshore Reef

Coral reefs in the Gulf of Thailand have experienced severe coral bleaching events and anthropogenic disturbances during the last two decades. This study assessed the resilience potential of coral communities at Ko Losin offshore reef sites and Mu Ko Chumphon nearshore coral reefs, in the south of Thailand, by conducting field surveys on the live coral cover, hard substratum composition and diversity and density of juvenile corals. Most study sites had higher percentages of live coral cover compared to dead coral cover. Some inshore and offshore reef sites showed low resilience to coral bleaching events. The total densities of juvenile corals at the study sites were in the range of 0.89–3.73 colonies/m2. The density of the juvenile corals at most reef sites was not dependent on the live coral cover of adult colonies in a reef, particularly for the Acropora communities. We suggest that Ko Losin should be established as a marine protected area, and Mu Ko Chumphon National Park should implement its management plans properly to enhance coral recovery and promote marine ecotourism. Other measures, such as shading, should be also applied at some coral reefs during bleaching periods.

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