Species diversity and status of key marine habitats in Cu Lao Cham Marine Protected Area, Quang Nam province

In recent years, several studies relating to assessments of marine biodiversity conducted in the Cu Lao Cham Marine Protected Area. However, the data and information from these studies have not been synthesized. This study was based on analyses of data and information from 22 sites of coral reefs, ten sites of rocky shores, five sites of seagrass beds, eight sites of Sargassum beds, and four sites on soft-bottom communities conducted in 1994, 2004, 2008, 2016 and 2017. A total of 976 species belonging to 223 families of 9 common groups (330 species corals, 277 species of fishes, 156 species mollusks, 91 species seaweeds, 71 species of polychaetes, 24 species crustaceans, 22 species of echinoderms and five species of seagrasses) were found. Coral reefs supported the highest number of species (779 species) compared to that of the soft- bottom (135 species), seagrass beds (124 species), and rocky shores (58 species). In general, most of the coral reefs and seagrass beds were not in good condition, with a low mean cover of hard corals (24,8 ± 15,7%) and of seagrasses (11,9 ± 11,6%). Densities of target macro-invertebrates and fishes with large sizes and high value were extremely low, giving exception of a high density of large fishes of fusiliers, snappers, emperors, rabbitfishes, queenfishes, barracuda) found at Bai Dau Tai, Bai Bac, Hon Mo, Hon Tai and the submerged reefs (Ran La, Ran Manh).

MAPEAMENTO GEOMORFOLÓGICO E SEDIMENTAR DE PALEOLINHAS DE COSTA NA PLATAFORMA CONTINENTAL SUL DE ALAGOAS (GEOMORPHOLOGICAL AND SEDIMENTARY MAPPING OF PALEO-LINES OF COAST IN THE CONTINENTAL PLATFORM SOUTH OF ALAGOAS)

RESUMO:O objetivo desse estudo é investigar as paleolinhas de costa presentes na plataforma continental sul de Alagoas. Devido à baixa contribuição de sedimentos continentais aportados pelos rios nesta plataforma continental, as feições de fundo formadas no último ciclo de variação do nível do mar não permitiram que estas fossem totalmente soterradas. Assim, para investigar essas feições foi elaborado um modelo batimétrico a partir das Folhas de Bordos da Diretoria de Hidrografia e Navegação (DHN) da Marinha do Brasil. Posteriormente foram identificadas e mapeadas as principais anomalias no relevo (elevação ou depressão). As principais feições identificadas na plataforma continental de Alagoas foram três conjuntos de arrecifes submersos alinhados e paralelos à linha de costa, identificados a -25m, -15m e -5m, e os paleovales de Maceió, Jequiá-Jacarecica e Coruripe que ficaram evidentes no modelo batimétrico. Com isso, concluímos que a origem dos paleovales está relacionada ao último máximo glacial quando os rios escavaram a plataforma continental, e a formação dos arrecifes indicam os períodos de estabilização do nível do mar que correspondem às antigas linhas de costa.Palavras-chave: Nível do Mar; Recifes; Sedimentos Marinhos; Vales Incisos; Zona Costeira. ABSTRACT:The objective of this study is to investigate the paleo coastlines present in the southern continental shelf of Alagoas. Due to the low contribution of continental sediments contributed by the rivers in this continental shelf, the bottom features formed in the last cycle of sea level variation, did not allow that they were completely buried. Thus, to investigate these features, a bathymetric model was elaborated from the Border Sheets of the Hydrographic and Navigation Department (DHN) of the Brazilian Navy. Subsequently, the main anomalies in the relief (elevation or depression) were identified and mapped. The main features identified in the continental shelf of Alagoas were three sets of submerged reefs aligned and parallel to the coastline were identified at -25m, -15m and -5m and the paleo valleys of Maceió, Jequiá-Jacarecica and Coruripe that were evident in the bathymetric model. We conclude that the origin of the paleo valleys is related to the last glacial maximum when the rivers excavated the continental shelf and the formation of the reefs indicate the periods of stabilization of the sea level that correspond to paleo coastlines.Keywords: Sea Level; Reefs; Marine Sediments; Incised Valleys; Coastal Zone.

Scientific Studies in the Southwest Reef Corridor from the Gulf of Mexico

In this book, the reader will be able to find different studies on key components of reef ecosystems and associated environments, such as seagrasses and mangroves. Here we present an account of the little known submerged reefs, going through the description of the oceanographic conditions that prevail and shape this diversity of environments. Likewise, various contributions are included in the study of benthic macrofauna and fish, and even marine mammals and birds that share their habitat in this unique region, without forgetting the study of threats to corals, which are the main reef builders in the area, such as the diseases that affect them, or invasive species such as lionfish, and pollution from river and urban discharges. Given the strong impulse of human activities along the Reef Corridor, we hope that this book will serve to put on the table an important scientific contribution, which will provide up-to-date information that will contribute to making more accurate decisions about coastal development and marine of the southwest of the Gulf of Mexico. The

ESPONJAS Y CNIDARIOS (HYDROZOA Y ANTHOZOA) DEL ARRECIFE ORO VERDE; COBERTURA BENTÓNICA Y AFINIDAD FAUNÍSTICA CON SISTEMAS ARRECIFALES DE VERACRUZ, MÉXICO

RESUMEN. Durante el periodo junio-agosto de 2015, se realizaron muestreos en 12 puntos geográficos del arrecife Oro Verde para explorar las porciones norte, sur, centro, este y oeste, con la finalidad de registrar especies de esponjas, hidrocorales y antozoos, así como para estimar la cobertura de algas, esponjas, corales, gorgonias y de componentes abióticos (e. g., arena y pavimento) mediante fototransectos de 50 m de longitud. Con esta información se realizaron análisis de escalamiento multidimensional no métrico (NMDS) para explicar similitudes de las unidades de muestreo. Además, se comparó la composición de esponjas y corales del arrecife Oro Verde con los demás sistemas arrecifales de Veracruz a fin de determinar afinidades mediante el método NMDS; para explicar diferencias significativas entre grupos disimiles se utilizó la prueba de similitud ANOSIM. Se registraron un total de 37 especies del Phylum Porifera y 29 especies del Phylum Cnidaria. Las especies con mayor frecuencia en el arrecife fueron las esponjas Callyspongia armigera, Niphates erecta y Amphimedon compressa, y los corales Montastraea cavernosa, Porites astreoides, Siderastrea sidérea y Colpophyllia natans. En cuanto a cobertura, las algas filamentosas y frondosas fueron las más abundantes (49.4±7.7% y 20±9.7%, respectivamente); con respecto a los corales que presentaron baja cobertura (9.5±6.1%), se identificaron principalmente M. cavernosa, C. natans y S. siderea. La riqueza faunística y la cobertura bentónica se distribuyen de manera homogénea en el arrecife, dado que los lugares de muestreo manifestaron semejanzas en estos atributos comunitarios. La composición de esponjas del arrecife Oro Verde presentó mayor afinidad con los arrecifes aledaños y con los arrecifes sumergidos del sur de Veracruz; en cambio, en cuanto a la riqueza de corales, el arrecife Oro Verde es más semejante con los arrecifes colindantes. Las discrepancias con los demás arrecifes se atribuyen a la falta de inventarios completos (e. g., Tuxpan) y/o por presentar especies con limitada distribución.Sponges and cnidarians (Hydrozoa and Anthozoa) from Oro Verde reef; benthic coverage and faunal affinity with the reef systems of Veracruz, MexicoABSTRACT. Sampling was conducted in twelve geographical points of the Oro Verde reef during the June-August 2015 period, in-order-to record species of sponges, hydrocorals and anthozoans, and to estimate the coverage of algae, sponges, corals, sea fans and abiotic components (e.g., sand and pavement) using 50 m long photo transects. We explored the northern, southern, central, eastern and western section of the reef. Analysis of non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) was performed to explain similarities of the sampling units based on the information obtained. In addition, the composition of sponges and coral reefs from Oro Verde reef was compared with the other reef systems of Veracruz to determine affinities using the NMDS method. The similarity test ANOSIM was used to explain significant differences among dissimilar groups. A total of 37 species of Phylum Porifera and 29 species of Phylum Cnidaria were recorded. The most common species in the reef were the sponges Callyspongia armigera, Niphates erecta, and Amphimedon compressa, and the corals Montastraea cavernosa, Porites astreoides, Siderastrea siderea, Colpophyllia natans. Filamentous and frondose algae were the most abundant in coverage (49.4 ± 7.7% and 20 ± 9.7%, respectively), compared to reef corals that showed low coverage (9.5 ± 6.1%), which consisted mainly of M. cavernosa, C. natans and S. siderea. The faunal richness and the benthic coverage are distributed in a homogeneous way in the reef as sampling sites revealed similarities in these community attributes. The composition of sponges from Oro Verde reef presented higher affinity with the adjacent reefs and with the submerged reefs of southern of Veracruz. However, Oro Verde reef is more similar with neighboring reefs in species richness of corals. Discrepancies with the other reefs are attributed to the lack of complete inventories (e. g., Tuxpan) and / or by presenting species with limited distribution.