11th ICRS Abstract book - Nova Southeastern University

18.734
Impacts Of Coastal Development On Ecosystem Structure And Function Of
Yucatan Coral Reefs, Mexico
Yves-Marie BOZEC* 1 , Gilberto ACOSTA-GONZÁLEZ 1 , Enrique NÚÑEZ-LARA 1 ,
Jesús Ernesto ARIAS-GONZÁLEZ 1
1 Lab. Ecología de Ecosistemas de Arrecifes Coralinos, CINVESTAV-Unidad Mérida,
Mexico, Mérida, Yucatan, Mexico
Improved reef management requires the development of ecosystem-based approaches to
understand how disturbances affect the structure, function and resilience of coral reefs.
Here we report the results of a multi-site comparative analysis of coral reef structure and
function along a disturbance gradient of coastal development in the Yucatan Peninsula
(Mexico). From north to south, the 400 km-long Caribbean coast of Yucatan can be
divided into three zones: (1) the Riviera Maya, with heavy tourist development; (2) the
Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, a protected area; (3) the Costa Maya, with relatively little
development. Previous benthic surveys and fish counts (4 reef sites in each zone) were
used to assess ecosystem metrics and functional components of the reef habitat and fish
community. Results showed considerable changes in the structure of coral reefs along the
disturbance gradient. Reefs in the Riviera Maya displayed an algal-dominated state with,
in some places, a very low coral cover and low levels of fish biomass and diversity. From
north to south, macroalgal cover decreased progressively, and highest coral cover was
observed inside and south to the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve. In Costa Maya reefs,
habitat structure exhibited a more balanced equilibrium between macroalgae, corals and
free space. As a result, massive tourism-driven coastal development is likely to have
caused a coral-to-algal phase shift in northern Yucatan reefs. Functional redundancy (i.e.,
the number of taxonomically distinct species that exhibit similar ecological functions)
increased in southern regions, suggesting a different functioning of reefs exposed to low
levels of coastal development. We stress that functional redundancy may be central for
coral reefs to resist phase shifts, and that assessing key functional components of reef
ecosystems should improve the management of coral reef resilience.
18.735
Recovery Of Tsunami Affected Coral Reefs At Mu Koh Phi Phi And Mu Koh Surin,
The Andaman Sea
Chaipichit SAENGHAISUK* 1 , Rattika PETTONGMA 1 , Kacharat
PHORMKHUNATHON 1 , Bancha LAWANG 1 , Thamasak YEEMIN 1
1 Biology, Marine Biodiversity Research Group, Bangkok, Thailand
The 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami caused severe damage of certain reef sites, especially
those located in Mu Koh Phi Phi and Mu Koh Surin, the Andaman Sea. The present study
aims to investigate recovery processes of the tsunami affected coral reefs. There was
increase in live coral covers at the study sites of Mu Koh Phi Phi. Coral recruits of
Montipora spp., Echinophyllia spp., Porites spp., and Acropora spp. were obviously
observed. Live coral covers of the severe affected reef sites of Mu Koh Surin, especially
those located in channels between islands which lie in east-west direction such as channel
between South Surin Island and Torinla Island, were unchanged. However densities of
juvenile coral colonies on natural substrates seemed to be increasing. The dominant
juvenile colonies were Acropora spp., Pocillopora spp. and Porites spp. The settlement
plate experiments showed that there was much variation of coral recruitment rates, the
highest at Ao Maeyai and the lowest at Ao Jak. The main groups of coral recruits on
settlement plates were Porites, Acropora and Pocillopora. The present study explains
natural recovery trends at certain affected reefs. Coral larval supply from some reefs in
the area could encourage coral recovery. Certain reef sites which had suffered high
impacts should be closed to assist natural recovery without human interference. If the
affected coral reefs are appropriately managed, coral recovery could be observed in a few
years.
Poster Mini-Symposium 18: Reef Status and Trends
18.736
Coral Community Structures Of Shallow Reefs And Pinnacles At Kood Island, The
Eastern Gulf Of Thailand
Jamrearn BUARUANG* 1 , Makamas SUTTHACHEEP 1 , Paulwatt NUCLEAR 2 , Danai
SAMBUNRUANG 1 , Chaipichit SANGHAISUK 1 , Thamasak YEEMIN 1
1 Department of Biology, Faculty Of Science, Ramkhamhaeng University, Bangkok, Thailand,
2 Department of Science, Rajamankala Institute of Technology, Bangkok Technical Campus,
Bangkok, Thailand
There are many shallow coral reefs and coral community on pinnacles around Kood Island and
its vicinity where are located at the borderline between Thailand and Cambodia, in the eastern
part of the Gulf of Thailand. Changing land use practices on Kood Island have resulted in inputs
of sediment into the nearshore water. The present study provides data at the initial phase of an
ecological monitoring program with special emphasis on a new discovered scleractinian coral
community on pinnacles. The surveys at eight study sites of shallow reefs around Kood Island,
Raad Island and Mai Si Lek Island show that live coral cover ranges from 2.6 to 62.4%. The
dominant coral species were Porites lutea and Diploastrea heliopora. Structure of a new
discovered scleractinian coral community, about 100 m. from shoreline of Ao Phak Waeng,
Kood Island was studied in details and first reported. The coral community was 8 – 10 m. in
depth and is well developed in good condition on rocky and sandy substrates. Live coral cover
was 62.6% while dead coral covered only 1.2%. The most dominant coral was also a massive
coral, Porites lutea. Other abundant corals found in the area were Porites rus, Astreopora
myriophthalma, Pavona decussata, Hydnophora exesa, Diploastrea heliopora and Echinopora
lamellosa. The dominant macrofuana were giant clams, boring bivalves and a sea urchin
(Diadema setosum). It is expected that there are several undiscovered coral communities around
Kood Island and its vicinity. Surveys, mapping additional coral reef areas and long-term
monitoring programs are required.
18.737
Demographic Comparison Of The Threatened Coral Species, Acropora Palmata, in The
Eastern Caribbean.
K. Lindsey KRAMER* 1 , Dana E. WILLIAMS 2,3 , Margaret W. MILLER 4 , Chantele BÉGIN 5 ,
Jessica FRY 5 , Abel VALDIVIA 2,3
1 Pacific Island Network Inventory and Monitoring Program (PACN I&M), National Park
Service (NPS), Kailua-Kona, HI, 2 Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Science
(CIMAS), University of Miami, Miami, FL, 3 Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC),
National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Miami, 4 Southeast
Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC), National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA), Miami, FL, 5 Seamester, Sarasota, FL
Elkhorn coral, Acropora palmata, once served as a critical structural framework builder on
coral reefs, providing protective habitat for most other reef organisms. In the past 30 years,
disease, hurricanes, and other stressors have driven dramatic population declines of A. palmata
throughout the Caribbean. In 2005 and 2006, we established 22 fixed monitoring plots in
Curacao, Tortola, Bequai (Saint Vincent Grenadines), and Antigua. In areas where A. palmata
was present, we randomly established three 7m radius permanent survey plots, and within in
each plot, 12-15 colonies were randomly selected for tagging and specific monitoring according
to a standardized protocol currently implemented in Florida and Puerto Rico. Each tagged
colony has been measured annually and examined for signs of disease, predation, bleaching,
fragmentation, and other threats. Additionally in Curacao, total colony abundance (recruitment
and loss) within each survey plot was determined annually. Preliminary analysis suggests that
three-spotted damselfish (Stegastes planifrons) and associated colony ‘chimney’ formation
were present at low levels in Antigua and Bequai (20%). Colonies with damselfish territories tended to be
spatially clustered. White pox (WPx) was more commonly observed in Curacao, affecting 22%
of tagged colonies in 2006, compared to 3-5% of colonies in other regions. Notably, colonies in
Curacao with WPx often had both active and healing lesions. The corallivorous gastropod,
Coralliophila abbreviata, and associated feeding scars were present in all regions, but were
more common in Antigua, affecting 24% of tagged colonies, compared to 11-15% in other
regions. In 2006 at all sites, colonies experienced a moderate level of fragmentation; more than
20% of all tagged colonies showed signs of fragmenting at least one branch. Annual
monitoring at all sites will continue as funding allows.
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