11th ICRS Abstract book - Nova Southeastern University

18.767
Characterization Of A Terrigenous Reef At Southwestern Gulf Of Mexico
Horacio PÉREZ-ESPAÑA* 1 , Jacobo SANTANDER MONSALVO 1 , Sarahi GÓMEZ
VILLADA 2 , Miguel Ángel LOZANO ABURTO 1 , Jezahel Virgilio MIRANDA
ZACARÍAS 3 , Juan Manuel VARGAS HERNÁNDEZ 4 , Maribel DAMIÁN
VELÁZQUEZ 4 , Sachiko HAYASAKA RAMÍREZ 1
1 Centro de Ecología y Pesquerías, Universidad Veracruzana, Boca del Río, Mexico,
2 Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, México, Mexico, 3 Centro de Ecología y
Pesquerías, Universidad Veracruzana, Boca del Rio, Mexico, 4 Facultad de Biología,
Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa, Mexico
The Veracruz Reef System (VRS) is a Marine Protected Area (MPA) experiencing high
sedimentation rates and high human impacts, including strong fishing activity, high
vessel traffic from the largest harbor on the Mexican Gulf coast which is located within
this MPA, and the waste water of the city (around one million habitants), which final
destination is the area adjacent to the reefs. Reefs were characterized using video
transects for the reef coverage, visual censuses for adults and juveniles fish abundance as
well as size, quadrants for coral recruitment, transects for coral diseases and
echinoderms, and tube traps for sedimentation rates. Eight reefs from the VRS where
studied at two different depths. Coral coverage was 20% average; this value showed
differences among reefs and depths. Turf was the most abundant component (26%). A
total a 109 fish species where found, with a high dominance of Coryphopterus personatus
which represent 49% of abundance. Deep zones have a higher abundance and density. No
clear pattern of sizes per reef or depth was found. Recently three new fish species have
been described. Twenty-six juvenile fish species were found, with a higher abundance
and richness during the warm season. Fourteen coral species were recorded during the
recruitment study, with Agaricia and Siderastrea being the most abundant genus. Eight
diseases were identified, and contrary to the expected, the reef with the higher number of
diseases was not the closer to the city or the river. Twelve echinoderm species were
found, with a high dominance of the sea urchin Echinometra viridis which represent 75%
of the total abundance. Sedimentation rates were really high, with values higher than
2000 gr/m2/day. The highest rates of sedimentation were during winter. It is significant
because there are plans to build a larger harbor within the reef zones.
18.768
The Presence Of Deep-Coral Reefs (40 – 120 M) in Hawaii
Anthony MONTGOMERY* 1 , John ROONEY 2 , Richard PYLE 3 , Raymond BOLAND 2 ,
Frank PARRISH 2 , Heather SPALDING 4 , Ken LONGNECKER 3 , Brian POPP 5
1 Hawaii Deaprtment of Land and Natural Resources, Hawaii Division of Aquatic
Resources, Honolulu, HI, 2 NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, Honolulu, HI,
3 Bishop Museum, Honolulu, HI, 4 Botany, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI,
5 Geology and Geophysics, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI
Limited understanding exists of Hawaii’s deep-coral reef communities through studies of
black coral, fish biodiversity surveys, and ongoing mapping efforts. However, many
researchers are unaware of the existence of deep-coral reefs, so they are typically not
included in reef assessment and monitoring programs. They are likewise not usually
included in management related reports on the status and health of coral reefs or general
overviews of coral reef science. Most studies of coral reef development and coral reef
ecology do not include deep-coral reefs. Although limited, previous work has opened a
window into this understudied environment and may change the way scientists view coral
reefs in general. The true extent and distribution of deep-coral reef habitats in the
Hawaiian Islands is still largely unknown.
In 2004, a deep-coral reef in the southern Auau Channel, Maui was discovered at 75
meters. Although previous research has shown the presence of deep scleractinian corals
in the channel, the distribution was unknown. In 2005, intermediate deep reefs (~40 m)
on Niihau, Kauai, and Oahu were also discovered. In addition, deep-water algae surveys
revealed large numbers and diversity of scleractinian corals as well as a high biodiversity
and role of algae in the same areas. Most recently in December 2007, researchers were
able to begin mapping and studying the presence of deep-coral reefs in the Auau
Channel, but also surprisingly found large areas of deep-coral reefs (50- 80 m) off Kauai.
As more information becomes available, researchers are realizing the spatial extent of
deep-coral reefs is wider then previously thought. A wider presence of deep-coral reefs
in Hawaii may suggest even a larger, more important role of deep-coral reefs to the
broader coral reef ecosystem. This paper will summarize previous and new information
on the existence of these unique, understudied habitats.
Poster Mini-Symposium 18: Reef Status and Trends
18.769
Differential Susceptibilities Among Coral Species To Recurrent (1998, 2002, 2005 And
2006) Coral Bleaching Phenomenon in The Gulf Of Mannar And Palk Bay, Southeast
Coast Of India.
Kannan JAYAKUMAR* 1 , Arumugam Kuppusamy KUMARAGURU 2
1 Centre for Marine and Coastal Studies, School of Energy, Environment and Natural Resources,
Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai, India, 2 Centre for Marine and Coastal Studies, Madurai
Kamaraj University, Madurai, India
Coral bleaching is a stress condition in reef corals that involves a breakdown of the symbiotic
relationship between the corals and the unicellular algae (zooxanthellae). The symptoms of
bleaching include a gradual loss of color when zooxanthellae are expelled from the coral tissue,
leaving coral skeleton turn to white in colour. Corals can be affected in large scale during mass
bleaching events such as the one that occurred in 1998. The mass bleaching events recorded
during 1998, 2002, 2005 and 2006 in the reefs of the Gulf of Mannar and Palk Bay have been
triggered primarily by anomaly in water temperature. The extent of the impact of coral
bleaching and their recovery during the subsequent periods were studied using Permanent Line
Intercept transects in the 21 islands of the Gulf of Mannar and the adjacent Palk Bay.
Differences among the species in their suceptibility to disturbance like coral bleaching is critical
aspect of community dynamics since it has a significant effect on the community strucuture and
species diversity. Studies on the susceptibility of coral species to the the bleaching phenomenon
were carried out during the four incidences of bleaching around the 21 islands of the Gulf of
Mannar and the adjacent Palk Bay. The study concluded that corals which belong to the
families Acroporidae, Poritidae, Faviidae and Pocilloporidae showed different levels of
responses during the four bleaching events in both the Gulf of Mannar and Palk Bay.
18.770
The Corals Of Akumal, Riviera Maya, Mexico.
Daniel TORRUCO* 1 , Alicia GONZÁLEZ 2
1 Recursos del Mar, Centro de Investigaciòn y Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico
Nacional, Mérida, Mexico, 2 Recursos del Mar, Centro de Investigación y Estudios Avanzados
del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mérida, Mexico
Corals data in the reef of Akumal, Quintana Roo in 11 depths from 1 as 50 m were
quantitatively surveyed in june 2007. A total of 38 species, with a density of 7.02 org/m2 were
identified . The greater species richness was presented in the depth of 35 m (13 species). The
Shannon-Wiener’s index diversity value show a pick at 31 m. The similarity analysis was
formed 4 groups of similar depths; and their species form a assemblaje of three groups. In
relationship to the ordination by the biplot analysis, the corals species show relationships with
bigger than 15 m. Neither pattern is related directly with the gradient of depth and it is probable
that the components that originate the presented patterns are the own characteristics of the
substrate.
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