Status of Coral Reefs of the World 2000

Status of Coral Reefs of the World: 2000
STATUSOFTHECORAL REEFS
Most coral reefs in this region have undergone major changes in the last 30 years,
particularly during the 1980s. Some of these changes were caused by natural agents (i.e.
coral disease outbreaks, bleaching, ENSO events), but others are clearly related to human
impacts. There have been considerable losses of live coral cover in many reef areas and
recovery has occurred in only a few places. In contrast, marine algae are now very
abundant, and dominate many reef surfaces. Diseases of corals and other benthic animals
(gorgonians, sea urchins) appear to have increased dramatically and are now common on
Caribbean reefs. Mass mortalities of dominant species, such us the Acropora spp. in
Caribbean reefs, and other branching and foliose corals, have resulted in significant
changes to coral community composition in many shallow water reefs.
1970s 1980s 1990s
1st half 2nd half 1st half 2nd half 1st half 2nd half
A. Caribbean reef sites
• Cahuita (Costa Rica) ? ? 40%(1980) ? 10%(1993) 3%(1999)
• Kuna-Yala, San Blas (Panamá) ? ? 40%(1983) 22%(1988) 15%(1993) 13%(1997)
• SW Isla de San Andrés (Colombia) 75%* - ? ? ? ? 39%(1992) 26%(1999)
• NE Bahía de Chengue (Colombia) ? ? 53%(1985) ? 34%(1993) 35%(1999)
• Playa Caimán, Morrocoy (Venezuela) ? ? ? ? 43%(1995) 5%(1996)
B. Pacific reef sites
• Isla del Caño (Costa Rica) ? ? 33%(1984) 50%(1989) ? 10%(1999)
• Isla Gorgona (Colombia) ? 70%(1979) 15%(1983) 50%(1989) 78%(1995) 56%(1999)
• Isla Malpelo (Colombia) 65%(1972) ? ? ? ? 45%(1999)
• Ensenada de Utría (Colombia) ? ? ? 33%(1989) ? 33%(1996)
Comparisons of percent live coral cover over the last three decades at several reef localities of southern
tropical America clearly indicate the decline in many areas, particularly the Caribbean
(* calculated using a 36% of recent coral mortality estimated in 1992; ?, no data).
Brazil
There have been no coral reef monitoring programmes until now, thus there is little
information about the status and recent changes of the reefs. Most nearshore reefs show
clear signs of degradation and only those reefs in areas with low urban development are
still pristine. These include those in the northeastern Tamandaré area, around Camamu Bay
in the State of Bahia, and offshore reefs on the continental shelf. The only recent natural
disturbance was coral bleaching reported in 1993 in São Paulo, and the 1998 coral
bleaching in north Bahia and Abrolhos with low levels of coral mortality. Bleaching levels of
80% or more were reported in important species such us Agaricia agaricites, Mussismilia
hispida, and Porites astreoides.
Costa Rica
There is evidence of a dramatic reef decline at Cahuita Natural Park along the Caribbean
coast, which is the only site with long-term data. Live coral cover decreased from 40% in
the early 1980s to 10% in the mid 1990s. CARICOMP reported only 3% coral cover 1999,
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