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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24.12.2012 Views

18.726 Status Of Near Shore Reefs in The Bahamas: Past And Present Impacts On Benthos And Fish Kathleen SEALEY* 1,2 , Nicolle CUSHION 1 , Vanessa NERO 3 , Kathleen SEMON 4 1 Biology, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 2 College of The Bahamas, Nassau, Bahamas, 3 Biscayne National Park, Miami, FL, 4 Smithsonian Marine Station, Fort Pierce, FL A decadal-long study of the near shore reefs on six islands throughout the Bahamian archipelago was completed to understand the variability and structure of these reef habitats most vulnerable to impacts of coastal development. Corals and other benthos existing in near shore habitats experience any negative impacts stemming from onshore development. Reefs occurring close to coastlines naturally face: 1) high sea surface temperatures of extremely shallow waters, 2) periodic high turbidity caused by heavy rainfall or storm events, and 3) high nutrient efflux from land-based detritus. Near shore reefs should therefore act as more sensitive indicators of impacts attributable to landbased sources of pollution and coastal development as they are inherently less sensitive to both acute and chronic stressors. Consequently, near shore fringing and patch reefs, as well as near shore hard bottom (hardbar) communities were mapped and evaluated for the islands of Guana Cay (Abacos), North Andros, South Andros, New Providence, Eleuthera, and Exuma. Multi-year surveys of benthos (coral and algae) as well as fish were analyzed looking at historial disturbances (hurricanes or major dredging events), current land use and rank of coastal impacts. The islands varied in location and size; there are island-specific reef species assemblages, and these unique assemblages are altered most significantly by recent hurricane events and major changes in coastal land use. Differences in near shore reef assemblages are seen both on a north-south as well as east-west gradient. A comparison of within vs. between island differences illustrated the importance of long-term environmental history of any given island system. Degraded (low diversity and abundance of benthos and fish) near shore reef habitats occur adjacent to islands with the most altered coastal zone, and appear to be particularly vulnerable to invasion of invasive species (such as Indo-Pacofic lionfish). 18.727 Biological Characterization Of Coral Reefs, Coral Communities And Associated Habitats Of The Northwestern Gulf Of Mexico G.P. SCHMAHL* 1 , Emma HICKERSON 1 , Douglas WEAVER 1 1 Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, Galveston, TX Rocky outcrops and hard-bottom banks are common on the continental shelf throughout the northwestern Gulf of Mexico (NWGOM). The biological communities associated with these features range from tropical coral reefs to coralline algae reefs, and deep coral habitats. The reefs and banks of the NWGOM were thoroughly studied in the 1970’s and 1980’s, and resulted in the first comprehensive classification of benthic communities associated with these features. Select sites in the NWGOM have been the focus of recent mapping, remotely operated vehicle (ROV) and submersible surveys, and biological sampling by the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary (FGBNMS). These recent efforts have identified the need to moderately revise the previous biological characterization scheme. A new habitat classification system is proposed that incorporates the new information. This update will include charts depicting the major biological zones within the FGBNMS, along with a description of each zone, including major habitat types, associated biological communities, and geomorphological descriptors. Representative high resolution images of each zone will also be presented. Poster Mini-Symposium 18: Reef Status and Trends 18.728 Impacts Of Non-Point Source Sewage Pollution in Elkhorn Coral (Acropora Palmata) Assemblages Of The Southwestern Puerto Rico Shelf. Edwin HERNANDEZ-DELGADO* 1 , Betzaida SANDOZ 2 , Michelle BONKOSKY 2 , Jose NORAT 2 , Hernando MATTEI 2 1 Biology, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico, 2 Environmental Health, University of Puerto Rico - Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico Non-point source sewage pollution is a major cause of concern, particularly near coral reefs and reef-associated communities. Sewage negative effects are typically associated to chronic eutrophication and water turbidity. These conditions can produce variable system-specific responses, as well as cascading direct and indirect effects that could result in major long-term phase shifts in coral reef benthic community structure. This study was aimed at documenting what is the actual ecological condition of eight coral reef communities located across a nonpoint source sewage pollution gradient along the southwestern Puerto Rico shelf. Emphasis was placed on shallow-water (

18.730 Community Structure Of Reef Fishes in A Tropical Upwelling Area, Gulf Of Papagayo, Pacific Costa Rica Helena MOLINA-UREÑA* 1 1 CIMAR / Biología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José 11501-2060, Costa Rica Gulf of Papagayo (GP), on the North Pacific coast of Costa Rica, displays a seasonal coastal upwelling during dry months. Between May 2005 and February 2006, 66 visual censuses were conducted at 7 rocky reefs, depths ranging 1.0-15 m (4 GP sites, 2 inside Culebra Bay, and an onshore site ~30 Km south). The 16,307 fishes identified increased previously reported species and families for the GP region 32%, to 99 and 37, respectively. Five families, Pomacentridae (4 spp), Haemulidae (2), Apogonidae (1), Clupeidae (1), Labridae (2), and Carangidae (1), accounted for ~ 80% of the fish. Fish assemblages were site-specific. Significant site-month interactions were found in diversity = 2.32 ± 0.37 SD, range 1.36 - 2.95), evenness (E = 0.81 ± 0.08, range 0.47 - 0.94), and species richness (S = 19 ± 6.2, range 7 - 32). A pinnacle reef was the richest site during upwelling months, while an onshore bay site consistently showed low richness (P

18.730<br />

Community Structure Of Reef Fishes in A Tropical Upwelling Area, Gulf Of<br />

Papagayo, Pacific Costa Rica<br />

Helena MOLINA-UREÑA* 1<br />

1 CIMAR / Biología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José 11501-2060, Costa Rica<br />

Gulf of Papagayo (GP), on the North Pacific coast of Costa Rica, displays a seasonal<br />

coastal upwelling during dry months. Between May 2005 and February 2006, 66 visual<br />

censuses were conducted at 7 rocky reefs, depths ranging 1.0-15 m (4 GP sites, 2 inside<br />

Culebra Bay, and an onshore site ~30 Km south). The 16,307 fishes identified increased<br />

previously reported species and families for the GP region 32%, to 99 and 37,<br />

respectively. Five families, Pomacentridae (4 spp), Haemulidae (2), Apogonidae (1),<br />

Clupeidae (1), Labridae (2), and Carangidae (1), accounted for ~ 80% of the fish. Fish<br />

assemblages were site-specific. Significant site-month interactions were found in<br />

diversity = 2.32 ± 0.37 SD, range 1.36 - 2.95), evenness (E = 0.81 ± 0.08, range 0.47 -<br />

0.94), and species richness (S = 19 ± 6.2, range 7 - 32). A pinnacle reef was the richest<br />

site during upwelling months, while an onshore bay site consistently showed low richness<br />

(P

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