11th ICRS Abstract book - Nova Southeastern University
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11th ICRS Abstract book - Nova Southeastern University

11th ICRS Abstract book - Nova Southeastern University 11th ICRS Abstract book - Nova Southeastern University

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18.612 iMPACT OF hURRICANE rITA ON FOUR SHALLOW BANKS IN THE NORTHERN gULF OF mEXICO Martha ROBBART* 1 , Rich ARONSON 2 , William PRECHT 3 , Ken DESLARZES 4 1 PBS&J, Miami, FL, 2 Dauphin Island Sea Lab, Mobile, AL, 3 Battelle Institute, West Palm Beach, FL, 4 Geo-Marine Inc., Plano, TX Hurricane Rita, a Category 3 storm, passed within 90 km of several uncharacterized shallow banks in the Gulf of Mexico, including Sonnier, McGrail, Geyer, and Bright Banks; as well as the better-known East Flower Garden Bank. Hurricane-force winds extended 139 km, and tropical storm-force winds extended as far as 333 km from the center of the storm (National Hurricane Center 2007). MMS deemed it necessary to characterize the benthic habitats of these banks using diver and ROV methods across depths (22-27 m, 30-36.5 m, 45-50 m, 55-60 m), to gather baseline data and assess possible hurricane impacts. The study was conducted in April and May 2007, eighteen months after the passage of Hurricane Rita. Analysis of Similarity (ANOSIM) showed these banks were significantly dissimilar to each other based on their benthic communities (Global R = 0.54, P = 0.001). Algal-sponge communities dominated Sonnier, Geyer and Bright Banks, but unique species assemblages characterized each bank. Even though McGrail Bank was almost directly in the path of Hurricane Rita (1.6 km west), no obvious damage to the Stephanocoenia intersepta-dominated benthic assemblages at 45 m was documented. Unlike McGrail Bank, East Bank experienced noticeable hurricane damage to scleractinian corals, despite being 92 km away. Results of a wave model study hindcast waves of up to 13 m passing over the reef cap of Sonnier Bank (20 m at shallowest depth) with velocities up to 4 m/s along the substratum. Sonnier Bank exhibited vast areas of bedrock exposed eighteen months after the passage of the storm. Deeper banks may have experienced waves up to 26 m high but were not obviously impacted. Eighteen months after the passage of Hurricane Rita, Sonnier Bank benthic communities continued to recover. 18.613 Status And Conservation Of Coral Reefs in Costa Rica Jorge CORTÉS* 1 , Carlos JIMÉNEZ 1 , Ana FONSECA 1 , Juan ALVARADO 1 1 Centro de Investigación en Ciencias del Mar y Limnología (CIMAR), Universidad de Costa Rica, San Pedro, Costa Rica Costa Rica has coral communities and reefs on the Caribbean coast and on the Pacific side (coast and off-shore islands). Fringing and patch reefs, carbonate banks, and an incipient algal ridge are present along the southern section of the Caribbean coast. Coral communities, reefs and isolated coral colonies can be found along the Pacific of Costa Rica. Coral reefs have been seriously impacted in the last 30 years, mainly by sediments on the Caribbean coast and some Pacific reefs, and by El Niño warming events in the Pacific and in the Caribbean. Recovery has been recorded in some reefs, but it is slow. Monitoring is being carried out at three sites on the Caribbean and three on the Pacific coast. Funding is the main limiting factor for the continuity and expansion of the monitoring programs. In recent years it has been possible to monitor some of the reefs thanks to the funding by the STA-GCRMN node. The government of Costa Rica is aware of the importance of coral reefs and marine environments in general, and in recent years decrees have been implemented (or are in the process of approval) to protect them, but limited resources attend against their proper management and conservation. But more outreach to the general public and reef users is needed; again funding and personnel are scarce for these activities. We propose the organization of a national meeting on coral reefs with all the main actors, i.e., government, non-government organizations, tourist operators, fishers, local associations and interested general public, to come to an agreement on the use of the reefs, and on the funding for research, monitoring, management, and conservation. Poster Mini-Symposium 18: Reef Status and Trends 18.614 Invertebrates, Communities And Reef Health in Airai, The Republic Of Palau Ann KITALONG* 1 1 The Environment, Inc., Koror, Palau During 2006 and 2007, Ngarabrekork, a women’s group, combined traditional ecological knowledge with standard scientific methodology to study distribution, densities and harvest rates of selected invertebrates at 3 fringing reefs in Airai. Standard replicate transect lines, mobile GPS tracking units and traditional harvesting techniques were used. Tridacna crocea and Tridacna maxima had similar shell lengths [mean size = 9.7 cm ± 0.58 (α = 0.05, n = 36)] at the western and eastern reefs [mean = 9.6 cm ± 0.34 (α = .05, n = 35)] but smaller lengths at the southern reefs [mean = 7.0 cm ± 0.09 (α= 0.05, n =33)]. Women selectively harvested clams with shell lengths equal or greater to 6.5 cm. The catch effort (clams/woman/hr) was higher at less accessible reefs [CPUE = 24.4±13.0 (α=0.05, n=4)] than more accessible reefs [CPUE = 3.7±3.9 (α=0.05, n=4)]. Tripneustes gratilla were more common on the southern reef [(CPUE = 47 ± 31(α = 0.05, n = 4)] with a smaller mean diameter [6.3 cm ±0.10 (α=0.05, n=233) than urchins on the western reefs [CPUE = 24.6±8.8 (α = 0.05, n = 7) ; mean diameter size = 7.6±0.22 (α=0.05, n=40)]. During April 2007, sea urchins were observed spawning. In June 2007, only empty tests [0.10 tests/m2; mean size = 6.0 cm ± 0.31 (α=0.05, n=24) were recorded along the eastern reefs. Actinopyga miliaris were more common at the eastern reef [CPUE = 41±32 (α=0.05, n=3); mean size = 11.65 cm ± 1.5 (α = 0.05, n = 20)]. Stichopus variegatus were more common along less accessible [CPUE= 47.3±19.9 (α = 0.05, n =3) ] than more accessible reefs (CPUE = 0.75±0.85(α=0.05, n=4)). Time allocation, reef health and management will be discussed. 18.615 Determination of the Environmental State of Health in Sacrificios Reef Using the AMBI Index Nayeli DOMÍNGUEZ CASTANEDO* 1 , Alejandro GRANADOS BARBA 2 , Vivianne SOLÍS WEISS 1 1 Laboratorio de Ecología y Biodiversidad de Invertebrados Marinos, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México, Mexico, 2 Unidad de Investigaciones de Ecologia de Pesquerias, Universidad Veracruzana, México, Mexico The AMBI (AZTI’s Marine Biotic Index) provides a “disturbance classification” of a site which represents the benthic community “health”. It is possible to determine the environmental state analizing the macrobenthos strcture because it responds fast to natural or anthropic impacts and it is unable to evade impacts and damage done to the water and sediment quality. Sacrificios Reef is part of the national park: Parque Nacional Sistema Arrecifal Veracruzano (PNSAV). In this place a protected area and a the most important economic harbor in Mexico meet . We evaluated here the environmental health state of the reef with the AMBI index using the macrofauna present in 4 transects (east, west, northeast and northwest) with an underwater suction device (13.22 dm3) in plain sand, seagrass beds and sand among coral reef patches. The AMBI values varied from 0.79 to 2.4. These values are relatively low in the AMBI scale (0-7) and show that the environmental conditions in the Sacrificios Reef vary from “Undisturbed” to “Slightly disturbed”, the dominant ecological groups being II and III. Those groups are composed by the species sensitive and indifferent to environmental stress. A negative correlation between the AMBI index and the sediment grain size was found. The highest values of the index were located to the north where the seagrass beds and patch reef are more extended. This zone is protected by the reef crest, there is low energy and finer sediments. This tool will allow us to know the environmental condition of the reef and act effectively to avoid damaging it. The AMBI has been shown to be a useful tool to assess the benthic environmental quality of the Sacrificios Reef. 417

18.616 Coral Reefs in Costa Rican Caribbean: Enough Reason to Redesign Conservation Areas? Isabel CHACÓN-GÓMEZ* 1 1 Masters Degree Program on Marine Science, Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica, Puntarenas, Costa Rica Costa-Rica holds 0.28 % of the coral reefs on the whole world. In the Caribbean it is one of the smallest countries (51.100 km²) and some of the others, that are much bigger, for example Colombia (2.070.408 km²), hold a smaller percentage (0.20%) of the coral reefs of the world. That means that coral reefs are significant ecosystems in Costa-Rica in proportion with the rest of the country area. Although it is known to be a country full of biodiversity and it has such important marine ecosystems, there are still ecosystems which are not part of conservation plans, such as Marine Protected Areas-MPA. Therefore, agriculture, tourism, fishing and extraction of organisms are becoming threats for some coral reefs along the Costa-Rican Caribbean. With the aim of knowing the conservation status of those coral reefs in the Caribbean of the country, three reef points are going to be surveyed and ecologically compared by studying specially octocoral communities as indicators of the development capacity of those ecosystems under anthropogenic pressures. The reefs that are going to be surveyed are located in three zones with different management categories: Cahuita, a National Natural Park, where no agriculture is developed, fishing is forbidden and some of the tourism and sport activities are regulated. The second one is part of a Wild Life Reserve (Manzanillo), where just some fishing activities and tourism are allowed and the third one is close to Isla Uvita, which is near Limon, one of the most important seaports of Costa-Rica; there is no regulation on the anthropogenic activities. It is expected to find relevant differences between the conservation status of the reefs along the south portion of the Costa-Rican Caribbean, so that a new design of the MPA might be proposed based on the need of protect some important fragile ecosystems. 18.617 Large Daily Seawater Temperature Fluctuation in A Tropical Coral Reef I-Huan LEE* 1 , Yu-Huai WANG 2 , Fung-Chi KO 1 , Tung-Yung FAN 1 , Wei-Hsien WANG 1 1 Institute of Marine Biodiversity and Evolution, National Dong Hwa University, Taiwan, National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium,Taiwan, Pingtung, Taiwan, 2 Institute of Applied Marine Physics and Undersea Technology, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Taiwan, Kaohsiung, Taiwan Seawater temperature plays an important role in coral physiology and coral reef ecology. To understand the temperature variation from the sea surface to 30 m below sea level, where the deep reef exists in a tropical coral reef in Nanwan Bay, Southern Taiwan, temperature sensors were deployed at depths of 5, 10, 20, and 30 m to monitor temperature change. Seawater temperature measurements showed daily drops up to 8℃ and coherent fluctuations of temperature occurred at different depths. The intrusion of cold water lasted for 6 hours in a diurnal cycle. The daily source of cold water is likely the internal tidal flow propagating from the bay mouth where located at the northern tip of Luzon Strait. Seawater mixing due to bottom friction and tidal currents entrained the movement of the lower layer water upward and landward. Seawater temperature changes due to atmospheric force were less than 4℃. The effect of large daily temperature fluctuation on biology of corals and coral reefs is still under current study. Poster Mini-Symposium 18: Reef Status and Trends 18.618 Assessment Of Reef Area Loss And Implications On Scleractinian Sp. Diversity On Coral Reefs Affected By Terrace-Uplift; Aftermath Of The December 26th 2004 Earthquake, in Andaman Islands, India. Rajkumar RAJAN* 1 , Satyanarayana CHOWDULA 2 , Rajan PONAMKULAM 1 1 Zoological Survey of India, National Coral Reef Institute, Port Blair, Andaman Nicobar Islands, Port Blair, India, 2 Zoological Survey of India, General Non-Chordata Section, F. P. S Building, Indian Museum Complex, Kolkata, Kolkata, India Eleven fringing reefs in North Andaman Islands, devastated due to landmass uplift (~ 1 m) following the Earthquake on 26 December 2004 – off southern Sumatra coast, were surveyed for: (i) estimate of reef area loss (ii) Scleractinian sp. mortality, and (iii) diversity and percent cover on the existing reef slope and within the depth of 10 m. The uplift caused the reef crest and part of reef slope in these reefs to be totally exposed, with the estimated loss of 30% of reef area. Loss of reef area was found to be varied between reefs, arbitrated by the uplift and characteristic of reef morphology, and not in proportion to the total reef area (pre-earthquake) in each reef. LIT surveys revealed that exposed reef areas possessed high coral cover i.e., 89.8 ± 2.62%, (killed Scleractinians only), as against the 37.92 ± 21.83% in the unexposed/existing reef zones. The high variation in percent cover in the existing zones attributes to the variation in percentage of loss of area in each reef: reefs heavily impacted exhibited lower percent cover in the existing reef zones. Exposed areas showed higher diversity (Simpson 1/D = 2.33), in the heavily impacted reefs only; other exposed areas showed only species dominance. Existing reef zones obtained slightly lower indices (1/D = 1.75 ± 0.19), however with relatively high evenness (E = 0.53 ± 0.13). These analyses point out that, the reef cover lost - in proportion to the percentage of loss - manipulated overall species diversity and dominance in these reefs. Loss of dominant species cover (via the exposed areas) will be discernible in the restoration processes as existing reef zones do not exhibit similar species structure. Monitoring studies may, in this case, indicate the influence of other external stressors consequent to the uplift. 18.619 Present Condition Of Coral Reefs And Associated Ecosystems in The Nw Region Of Cuba Gaspar GONZALEZ* 1 , Fernando BRETOS 2 , Consuelo AGUILAR 1 , David GUGGENHEIM 3 , Ivet HERNÁNDEZ 1 , Yureidy CABRERA 1 , Noelis SUAREZ-MONTES 4 1 Centro de Investigaciones Marinas, University of Havana, Havana, Cuba, 2 Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies, Miami Beach, FL, 3 Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies, Washington, DC, 4 Establecimiento Pesquero de Los Arroyos, Pinar del Rio, Cuba The main goal of this research was to obtain updated information, which we combined with existent knowledge to prepare a sound ecological baseline for the region. Three sampling cruises were conducted in 2004 and 2006. We sampled a network of 68 fixed stations along a total shelf area of 4050 km 2 . At each station we measured main abiotic factors (temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen and pH) using a Hydrolab 4 probe. We made a qualitative and quantitative sampling of substrate type, seaweeds, seagrasses, invertebrates and fishes using visual census techniques. This information allowed us to obtain an estimation of the spatial distribution of biotopes and species assemblages at different scales, with emphasis on coral reefs and seagrass beds. We built a conceptual model for the spatial organization and connectivity of coastal ecosystems, with emphasis on coral reefs, seagrass beds and mangroves. The geographical position of the region suggests it plays an important role in regional ecological connectivity, an aspect we also include in our model. We conclude that coral reefs and associated ecosystems in the NW region of Cuba are well preserved in general terms, although overfishing is a generalized problem and coastal pollution is present in some places near highly populated areas. Tourism development in coastal areas is low and its present impact is negligible relative to the entire region. Oil and gas exploration in the adjacent oceanic Exclusive Economic Zone creates a potential threat to marine biodiversity in this region. 418

18.612<br />

iMPACT OF hURRICANE rITA ON FOUR SHALLOW BANKS IN THE<br />

NORTHERN gULF OF mEXICO<br />

Martha ROBBART* 1 , Rich ARONSON 2 , William PRECHT 3 , Ken DESLARZES 4<br />

1 PBS&J, Miami, FL, 2 Dauphin Island Sea Lab, Mobile, AL, 3 Battelle Institute, West<br />

Palm Beach, FL, 4 Geo-Marine Inc., Plano, TX<br />

Hurricane Rita, a Category 3 storm, passed within 90 km of several uncharacterized<br />

shallow banks in the Gulf of Mexico, including Sonnier, McGrail, Geyer, and Bright<br />

Banks; as well as the better-known East Flower Garden Bank. Hurricane-force winds<br />

extended 139 km, and tropical storm-force winds extended as far as 333 km from the<br />

center of the storm (National Hurricane Center 2007). MMS deemed it necessary to<br />

characterize the benthic habitats of these banks using diver and ROV methods across<br />

depths (22-27 m, 30-36.5 m, 45-50 m, 55-60 m), to gather baseline data and assess<br />

possible hurricane impacts. The study was conducted in April and May 2007, eighteen<br />

months after the passage of Hurricane Rita. Analysis of Similarity (ANOSIM) showed<br />

these banks were significantly dissimilar to each other based on their benthic<br />

communities (Global R = 0.54, P = 0.001). Algal-sponge communities dominated<br />

Sonnier, Geyer and Bright Banks, but unique species assemblages characterized each<br />

bank. Even though McGrail Bank was almost directly in the path of Hurricane Rita (1.6<br />

km west), no obvious damage to the Stephanocoenia intersepta-dominated benthic<br />

assemblages at 45 m was documented. Unlike McGrail Bank, East Bank experienced<br />

noticeable hurricane damage to scleractinian corals, despite being 92 km away. Results of<br />

a wave model study hindcast waves of up to 13 m passing over the reef cap of Sonnier<br />

Bank (20 m at shallowest depth) with velocities up to 4 m/s along the substratum. Sonnier<br />

Bank exhibited vast areas of bedrock exposed eighteen months after the passage of the<br />

storm. Deeper banks may have experienced waves up to 26 m high but were not<br />

obviously impacted. Eighteen months after the passage of Hurricane Rita, Sonnier Bank<br />

benthic communities continued to recover.<br />

18.613<br />

Status And Conservation Of Coral Reefs in Costa Rica<br />

Jorge CORTÉS* 1 , Carlos JIMÉNEZ 1 , Ana FONSECA 1 , Juan ALVARADO 1<br />

1 Centro de Investigación en Ciencias del Mar y Limnología (CIMAR), Universidad de<br />

Costa Rica, San Pedro, Costa Rica<br />

Costa Rica has coral communities and reefs on the Caribbean coast and on the Pacific<br />

side (coast and off-shore islands). Fringing and patch reefs, carbonate banks, and an<br />

incipient algal ridge are present along the southern section of the Caribbean coast. Coral<br />

communities, reefs and isolated coral colonies can be found along the Pacific of Costa<br />

Rica. Coral reefs have been seriously impacted in the last 30 years, mainly by sediments<br />

on the Caribbean coast and some Pacific reefs, and by El Niño warming events in the<br />

Pacific and in the Caribbean. Recovery has been recorded in some reefs, but it is slow.<br />

Monitoring is being carried out at three sites on the Caribbean and three on the Pacific<br />

coast. Funding is the main limiting factor for the continuity and expansion of the<br />

monitoring programs. In recent years it has been possible to monitor some of the reefs<br />

thanks to the funding by the STA-GCRMN node. The government of Costa Rica is aware<br />

of the importance of coral reefs and marine environments in general, and in recent years<br />

decrees have been implemented (or are in the process of approval) to protect them, but<br />

limited resources attend against their proper management and conservation. But more<br />

outreach to the general public and reef users is needed; again funding and personnel are<br />

scarce for these activities. We propose the organization of a national meeting on coral<br />

reefs with all the main actors, i.e., government, non-government organizations, tourist<br />

operators, fishers, local associations and interested general public, to come to an<br />

agreement on the use of the reefs, and on the funding for research, monitoring,<br />

management, and conservation.<br />

Poster Mini-Symposium 18: Reef Status and Trends<br />

18.614<br />

Invertebrates, Communities And Reef Health in Airai, The Republic Of Palau<br />

Ann KITALONG* 1<br />

1 The Environment, Inc., Koror, Palau<br />

During 2006 and 2007, Ngarabrekork, a women’s group, combined traditional ecological<br />

knowledge with standard scientific methodology to study distribution, densities and harvest<br />

rates of selected invertebrates at 3 fringing reefs in Airai. Standard replicate transect lines,<br />

mobile GPS tracking units and traditional harvesting techniques were used. Tridacna crocea<br />

and Tridacna maxima had similar shell lengths [mean size = 9.7 cm ± 0.58 (α = 0.05, n = 36)]<br />

at the western and eastern reefs [mean = 9.6 cm ± 0.34 (α = .05, n = 35)] but smaller lengths at<br />

the southern reefs [mean = 7.0 cm ± 0.09 (α= 0.05, n =33)]. Women selectively harvested<br />

clams with shell lengths equal or greater to 6.5 cm. The catch effort (clams/woman/hr) was<br />

higher at less accessible reefs [CPUE = 24.4±13.0 (α=0.05, n=4)] than more accessible reefs<br />

[CPUE = 3.7±3.9 (α=0.05, n=4)]. Tripneustes gratilla were more common on the southern reef<br />

[(CPUE = 47 ± 31(α = 0.05, n = 4)] with a smaller mean diameter [6.3 cm ±0.10 (α=0.05,<br />

n=233) than urchins on the western reefs [CPUE = 24.6±8.8 (α = 0.05, n = 7) ; mean diameter<br />

size = 7.6±0.22 (α=0.05, n=40)]. During April 2007, sea urchins were observed spawning. In<br />

June 2007, only empty tests [0.10 tests/m2; mean size = 6.0 cm ± 0.31 (α=0.05, n=24) were<br />

recorded along the eastern reefs. Actinopyga miliaris were more common at the eastern reef<br />

[CPUE = 41±32 (α=0.05, n=3); mean size = 11.65 cm ± 1.5 (α = 0.05, n = 20)]. Stichopus<br />

variegatus were more common along less accessible [CPUE= 47.3±19.9 (α = 0.05, n =3) ] than more<br />

accessible reefs (CPUE = 0.75±0.85(α=0.05, n=4)). Time allocation, reef health and management<br />

will be discussed.<br />

18.615<br />

Determination of the Environmental State of Health in Sacrificios Reef Using the AMBI<br />

Index<br />

Nayeli DOMÍNGUEZ CASTANEDO* 1 , Alejandro GRANADOS BARBA 2 , Vivianne SOLÍS<br />

WEISS 1<br />

1 Laboratorio de Ecología y Biodiversidad de Invertebrados Marinos, Instituto de Ciencias del<br />

Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México, Mexico, 2 Unidad de<br />

Investigaciones de Ecologia de Pesquerias, Universidad Veracruzana, México, Mexico<br />

The AMBI (AZTI’s Marine Biotic Index) provides a “disturbance classification” of a site which<br />

represents the benthic community “health”. It is possible to determine the environmental state<br />

analizing the macrobenthos strcture because it responds fast to natural or anthropic impacts and<br />

it is unable to evade impacts and damage done to the water and sediment quality.<br />

Sacrificios Reef is part of the national park: Parque Nacional Sistema Arrecifal Veracruzano<br />

(PNSAV). In this place a protected area and a the most important economic harbor in Mexico<br />

meet . We evaluated here the environmental health state of the reef with the AMBI index using<br />

the macrofauna present in 4 transects (east, west, northeast and northwest) with an underwater<br />

suction device (13.22 dm3) in plain sand, seagrass beds and sand among coral reef patches.<br />

The AMBI values varied from 0.79 to 2.4. These values are relatively low in the AMBI scale<br />

(0-7) and show that the environmental conditions in the Sacrificios Reef vary from<br />

“Undisturbed” to “Slightly disturbed”, the dominant ecological groups being II and III. Those<br />

groups are composed by the species sensitive and indifferent to environmental stress. A<br />

negative correlation between the AMBI index and the sediment grain size was found. The<br />

highest values of the index were located to the north where the seagrass beds and patch reef are<br />

more extended. This zone is protected by the reef crest, there is low energy and finer sediments.<br />

This tool will allow us to know the environmental condition of the reef and act effectively to<br />

avoid damaging it. The AMBI has been shown to be a useful tool to assess the benthic<br />

environmental quality of the Sacrificios Reef.<br />

417

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