Conservation actions and ecological context: optimizing coral reef local management in the Dominican Republic

Over the past few decades, coral reef ecosystems have been lost at accelerated rates as a result of global climate change and local stressors. Local management schemes can help improve the condition of coral reefs by enhancing their ecosystem recovery capacity. Caribbean conservation efforts include mitigation of local anthropogenic stressors, and integrating social participation. Here, we analyzed the case of the Bayahibe reefs in the Southeastern (SE) Dominican Republic to identify conservation actions and illustrate a conceptual example of local seascape management. We assessed reef health indicators from 2011 to 2016. Overall, our results show increases in total fish biomass, in both commercial and herbivorous fishes. Mean live coral cover was 31% and fleshy macroalgae was 23% after multiple disturbances such as Hurricanes Sandy and Isaac (2012), Mathew (2016) and heat stress presented in the study area in 2015. We also described actions taken by stakeholders and government institutions, including the implementation of a policy declaring an area of 869,000 ha as a marine protected area (MPA), enhanced water quality treatment, local restrictions to vessel traffic, enforcement of fishing regulations, and the removal of invasive lionfish (Pterois spp.). In addition, a restoration program for the threatened staghorn coral (Acropora cervicornis) was established in 2011, and currently has eight coral nurseries and six outplanting sites. Considering the biology and ecology of these reefs, we observed good results for these indicators (live coral cover, fish biomass, and water quality) in contrast with severely degraded Caribbean reefs, suggesting that optimizing local management may be a useful example for improving reef condition. Our results provide an overview of trends in reef condition in the SE Dominican Republic and could support current strategies to better protect reefs in the region. Given that Caribbean coral reefs face extreme challenges from global climate change, management measures may improve reef conditions across the region but stronger policy processes and increased scientific knowledge are needed for the successful management of coral reefs.

Download Full-text

Ecosistemas coralinos del Parque Nacional Isla del Coco, Costa Rica: estructura y comparación 1987-2014

Revista de Biología Tropical ◽

10.15517/rbt.v64i1.23423 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 64 (1) ◽

pp. 153 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Juan José Alvarado ◽

Andrés Beita-Jiménez ◽

Sebastián Mena ◽

Cindy Fernández-García ◽

Ana Gloria Guzman-Mora ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Costa Rica ◽

Coral Reefs ◽

Coral Cover ◽

Iucn Red List ◽

Live Coral ◽

Large Populations ◽

Conservation Actions ◽

Carnivorous Species ◽

Commercial Value ◽

Study Sites

Isla del Coco has one of the most diverse and well-conserved coral reefs in Costa Rica. These reefs have been extensively studied since the 1980’s, however those studies focused mainly on coral coverage. The aim of this study is to evaluate the coral reefs of the island, not only by the coverage of the substrate but also the composition of fish, invertebrates and reef complexity. A total of 17 sites around the island were sampled in July 2013 and in February-March 2014. At each site, we evaluated three depths (4-8 m, 9-12 m and 13-16 m), where three 10m long transects were sampled. Turf algae was the predominant substrate cover with 38.18±5.58 %. The crustose calcareous algae (Order Corallinales) had a 28.12±5.85 % cover and live coral was 18.64±3.55 %, with Porites lobata as the main reef builder. A total of 18 taxa of macroinvertebrates were observed in the study sites, of which 56 % of the species were not abundant, 33 % were common, and the sea urchin Diadema mexicanum was the only dominant species. The density of lobsters of the genus Panulirus was 388±385 ind ha-1, which is the highest density reported in the Eastern Tropical Pacific. Also we observed high densities of the sea cucumber Isostichopus fuscus (550 ind ha-1), which has a high commercial value. We recorded 45 338 fish individuals, distributed in 93 species, with an average of 1.2±8.5 tn ha-1. From the total of species, 51 % were uncommon, 31 % common, 11 % predominant and 8 % occasional. The fish community at Isla del Coco is represented by a large number of carnivorous species, followed by top predators, herbivores and planktivorous species. According to the fish categories of the IUCN Red List, 16 % of species are in threatened categories and represent 25 % of the total sampled biomass. When comparing with studies carried out from 1987 to the present, the recovery in coral cover over time is evident, mainly due to: 1) a decrease in the pressure of the bioerosive action of D. mexicanum; and 2) the conservation actions that have been taken on the island. This has been translated in complex and more rugose reefs. Isla del Coco reefs are healthy, with functional and complex food webs; where species of high commercial value have large populations. The effectiveness of conservation and management activities in Isla del Coco has resulted in the recovery of the reef communities.

Download Full-text

Missing the Reef for the Corals: Unexpected Trends Between Coral Reef Condition and the Environment at the Ecosystem Scale

Frontiers in Marine Science ◽

10.3389/fmars.2021.727038 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Eric J. Hochberg ◽

Michelle M. Gierach

Keyword(s):

Coral Reef ◽

Coral Reefs ◽

Coral Cover ◽

Global Climate ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Current Understanding ◽

Goods And Services ◽

Public Data ◽

The Impact ◽

Reef Condition

It is incontrovertible that many coral reefs are in various stages of decline and may be unable to withstand the effects of global climate change, jeopardizing vital ecosystem goods and services to hundreds of millions of people around the world. An estimated 50% of the world's corals have already been lost, and those remaining may be lost by 2030 under the “business as usual” CO2 emissions scenario. However, the foundation of these predictions is a surprisingly sparse dataset, wherein ~0.01–0.1% of the world's reef area has been quantitatively surveyed. Further, the available data comprise observations at the 1–10 m scale, which are not evenly spaced across reefs, but often clustered in areas representing focused survey effort. This impedes modeling and predicting the impact of a changing environment at the ecosystem scale. Here we highlight deficiencies in our current understanding of the relationship between coral reefs and their environments. Specifically, we conduct a meta-analysis using estimates of coral cover from a variety of local surveys, quantitatively relating reef condition to a suite of biogeophysical forcing parameters. We find that readily available public data for coral cover exhibit unexpected trends (e.g., a positive correlation between coral cover and multi-year cumulative thermal stress), contrary to prevailing scientific expectations. We illustrate a significant gap in our current understanding, and thereby prediction, of coral reefs at the ecosystem scale that can only be remedied with uniform, high-density data across vast coral reef regions, such as that from remote sensing.

Download Full-text

MONITORING CORAL RECOVERY AT NEARSHORE CORAL REEFS IN PHANGNGA PROVINCE, THE ANDAMAN SEA FOLLOWING THE 2010 CORAL BLEACHING EVENT

Proceedings of International Conference "Managinag risks to coastal regions and communities in a changinag world" (EMECS'11 - SeaCoasts XXVI) ◽

10.31519/conferencearticle_5b1b936dde9b43.46989412 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Makamas Sutthacheep ◽

Thamasak Yeemin ◽

Sittiporn Pengsakun ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Coral Reef ◽

Coral Reefs ◽

Coral Bleaching ◽

Coral Cover ◽

Global Climate ◽

Andaman Sea ◽

Live Coral ◽

Bleaching Event ◽

Sea Star ◽

Coral Recovery

Mass bleaching and subsequent mortality of scleractinian corals in response to elevated seawater temperatures has been considered as one of the most impacts of global climate change. Three extensive coral bleaching events in the Andaman Sea were reported, in the years 1991, 1995 and 2010. Studies on survival of coral colonies, coral recruitment and community structure of coral reef associated macrofauna would predict the trends for coral recovery from the impacts of coral bleaching events. The present study aimed to examine the status of coral communities, density of coral recruits and coral reef associated macrofauna at nearshore coral reefs in Phangnga Province, the Andaman Sea following the 2010 coral bleaching event. The dead coral cover was high (>50%) while the live coral cover was in the range of 13-21%. There was high diversity of coral recruits on natural substrates. The average densities of macrobenthic fauna varied from 1.9 to 2.6 individuals.m-2, with significant differences among study sites. The dominant macrobenthic species were a soft coral (Lobophytum sp.), a sea star (Linckia laevigata) and a sea urchin (Echinostrephus molaris). Coral recovery at these coral reefs would be possible but local anthropogenic stressors must be overwhelmingly reduced in order to enhance coral reef resilience. The long-term monitoring programs in the Andaman Sea are required for decision makers to support their adaptive management approaches.

Download Full-text

MONITORING CORAL RECOVERY AT NEARSHORE CORAL REEFS IN PHANGNGA PROVINCE, THE ANDAMAN SEA FOLLOWING THE 2010 CORAL BLEACHING EVENT

Proceedings of International Conference "Managinag risks to coastal regions and communities in a changinag world" (EMECS'11 - SeaCoasts XXVI) ◽

10.21610/conferencearticle_58b4315bb3db6 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Makamas Sutthacheep ◽

Thamasak Yeemin ◽

Sittiporn Pengsakun ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Coral Reef ◽

Coral Reefs ◽

Coral Bleaching ◽

Coral Cover ◽

Global Climate ◽

Andaman Sea ◽

Live Coral ◽

Bleaching Event ◽

Sea Star ◽

Coral Recovery

Download Full-text

Coral reef condition in several dive points around Bunaken Island, North Sulawesi

AQUATIC SCIENCE & MANAGEMENT ◽

10.35800/jasm.0.0.2014.7306 ◽

2014 ◽

pp. 44

Author(s):

Robert Towoliu

Keyword(s):

Coral Reef ◽

Coral Cover ◽

Integrated Management ◽

Good Condition ◽

Live Coral ◽

Core Zone ◽

Integrated Management System ◽

North Sulawesi ◽

Live Coral Cover ◽

Reef Condition

In order to know the coral reef conditions at several diving points around Bunaken Island, three dive locations (Ron’s point, Lekuan, and Tawara) were chosen as representative locations receiving pressures from snorkeling and SCUBA diving activities, while core zone was representative of location for no diving and fishing activities. Results showed that location with diving activities had live coral cover ranging from 16.89% to 45.78% at 3 and 10m depths, with condition range of bad to moderate, while the location for no diving and fishing activities (core zone) had live coral cover of 55.03% at 3m and 58.15% at 10m, respectively, with good condition category. The present study indicated that the diving activities have affected the coral reef condition, so that a sustainable integrated management system is needed to use the marine ecotourism potency without degrading the coral reef condition in Bunaken Island. Untuk mengetahui kondisi terumbu karang di beberapa lokasi penyelaman di Pulau Bunaken, tiga lokasi penyelaman(Ron’s point, Lekuan, dan Tawara) dipilih mewakili lokasi dengan tekanan aktivitas penyelaman snorkeling maupun SCUBA, sedangkan satu lokasi lainnya yaitu zona inti dipilih mewakili lokasi tanpa aktivitas penyelaman maupun aktivitas penangkapan ikan. Hasil penelitian ini memperlihatkan bahwa lokasi dengan tekanan aktivitas penyelaman memiliki prosentase tutupan karang batu/hidup berkisar antara 16,89% - 45,78% pada kedalaman 3 dan 10m, dengan kategori kondisi terumbu karang buruk sampai cukup, sedangkan pada lokasi yang tidak memiliki aktivitas penyelaman memiliki prosentase tutupan karang batu/hidup sebesar 53,03% pada 3m dan 58,15% pada 10m dengan kategori kondisi terumbu karang adalah baik. Hasil penelitian ini mengindikasikan bahwa aktivitas penyelaman snorkeling maupun SCUBA berdampak pada kondisi terumbu karang di Pulau Bunaken, sehingga sangat diperlukan system pengelolaan yang terpadu dan berkesinambungan dalam memanfaatkan secara maksimal potensi ekowisata bahari tanpa merusak ekosistem terumbu karang di Pulau Bunaken.

Download Full-text

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

E3S Web of Conferences ◽

10.1051/e3sconf/202132403007 ◽

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.

Download Full-text

Crown-of-thorns starfish outbreak at Taiping Island (Itu Aba), Spratlys, South China Sea

Bulletin of Marine Science ◽

10.5343/bms.2021.0030 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Wei Khang Heng ◽

Ming-Jay Ho ◽

Chao-Yang Kuo ◽

Ya-Yi Huang ◽

Chia-Ying Ko ◽

...

Keyword(s):

South China Sea ◽

Coral Reefs ◽

South China ◽

Coral Cover ◽

Significant Decline ◽

Live Coral ◽

Sea Stars ◽

China Sea ◽

Regional Collaboration ◽

First Time

Outbreak of crown-of-thorns sea stars, Acanthaster cf. solaris, were documented in coral reefs around Taiping Island, Spratlys for the first time. The outbreak might be thereason for the significant decline in live coral cover in 2021. Comprehensive monitoring through regional collaboration is needed.

Download Full-text

Ecological State of Coral Reefs for Conservation and Developmental Planning in Pandan Island, Puerto Princesa City, Philippines

IAMURE International Journal of Ecology and Conservation ◽

10.7718/ijec.v1i1.139 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 1 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Joel G. Becira ◽

Benjamin J. Gonzales ◽

Honorio B. Pagliawan

Keyword(s):

Coral Reefs ◽

Reef Fish ◽

Fish Species ◽

Coral Cover ◽

Sustainable Use ◽

Resource Assessment ◽

Live Coral ◽

Commercial Fish ◽

Pinna Nobilis ◽

Commercially Important

In Palawan, Philippines, Honda Bay is fast becoming a target recreational site for curious domestic and foreign visitors. The general objectives of this resource assessment are to gather information regarding status of the marine resources in Pandan Island, and to provide recommendations for their sustainable use. Assessment was done using line intercept transect (LIT), fish visual census (FVC) and an imaginary transect belt for coral cover, fish, and macro-invertebrates, respectively. Average live coral cover around Pandan Island can be categorized as good (57%), with stations 7 and 1 and 2 categorized as excellent (76-100%) and fair (26-50%) conditions, respectively. Some 178 fish species were recorded in Pandan Island waters of which seven (7) highly target and 29 common commercial fish species were found. The estimated total reef fish biomass around Pandan Island is 588 mt/ km2. A total of eight macro invertebrate (shells, etc.) species belonging to five families was found around Pandan Island. The study concluded that of these eight species, six are commercially important,Tridacnacro cea(taklobo), Tridacnasquamosa (taklobo), Hippopusporcellanus(taklobo), Trochusniloticus(topshell), Pinna nobilis (tarab), and Bohadschiamarmota (sea cucumber). Five of these species the T. crocea, T. squamosa, H. porcellanus, P. nobilis, and T. niloticus are listed as endangered species by International Union for Conservation of Nature. Keywords - target species, macro-invertebrates, coral cover, coral reefs, reef fish, conservation

Download Full-text

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

Revista de Biología Tropical ◽

10.15517/rbt.v66i1.33300 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 66 (1-1) ◽

pp. 280 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

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.

Download Full-text

The gut microbiome stability of a butterflyfish is disrupted on severely degraded Caribbean coral reefs

10.1101/2020.09.21.306712 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Friederike Clever ◽

Jade M. Sourisse ◽

Richard F. Preziosi ◽

Jonathan A. Eisen ◽

E. Catalina Rodriguez Guerra ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Coral Reefs ◽

Gut Microbiome ◽

Habitat Degradation ◽

Coral Cover ◽

Live Coral ◽

Ecological Communities ◽

Core Microbiome ◽

Habitat Gradient ◽

Fermentative Bacteria ◽

Fish Gut

AbstractEnvironmental degradation has the potential to alter key mutualisms that underline the structure and function of ecological communities. While it is well recognized that the global loss of coral reefs alters fish communities, the effects of habitat degradation on microbial communities associated with fishes remain largely unknown despite their fundamental roles in host nutrition and immunity. Using a gradient of reef degradation, we show that the gut microbiome of a facultative, coral-feeding butterflyfish (Chaetodon capistratus) is significantly more variable among individuals at degraded reefs with very low live coral cover (~0%) than reefs with higher coral cover (~30%), mirroring a known pattern of microbial imbalance observed in immunodeficient humans and other stressed or diseased animals. We demonstrate that fish gut microbiomes on severely degraded reefs have a lower abundance of Endozoicomonas and a higher diversity of anaerobic fermentative bacteria, which suggests a broader and less coral dominated diet. The observed shifts in fish gut bacterial communities across the habitat gradient extend to a small set of potentially beneficial host associated bacteria (i.e., the core microbiome) suggesting essential fish-microbiome interactions are vulnerable to severe coral degradation.

Download Full-text