11th ICRS Abstract book - Nova Southeastern University

23.938
Macrobenthic Diversity Reaction To Human Impact At MaceiÓ Coral Reefs,
Alagoas, Brazil.
Monica CORREIA* 1 , Hilda SOVIERZOSKI 1
1 Biodiversidade & Ecologia, Universidade Federal de Alagoas, Maceió - Alagoas, Brazil
The Brazilian coral reef is an important province because it has many endemic species of
corals, other invertebrates and macroalga. The fringing reefs are situated at different
depths on offshore zone and some others are near the beach line that is usually visited by
hundreds of people such as local collectors of sea-food, anchored boats and tourist
activities. In the State of Alagoas the coral reefs are abundant and in some areas the top
of the platform reef remains exposed during low tides, where different human impacts
occur, principally at urban sites. This study compared the macrobenthic diversity reaction
between five coral reefs on the coast of Maceió city with different human impacts. A
semi-quantitative estimation of live specimens abundance were observed and has been
applied to each station and consisted of an exhaustive compilation of visual records
achieved during five full low-tide periods from 2005 to 2007. The 50 taxa of
macrobenthic organisms observed included porifera, coral, echinodermata and
macroalgae. The Bray Curtis index and UPGMA were measured for data analysis. The
results showed that Jatiúca (50 spp) and Ponta Verde (50 spp) coral reefs were more
similar with 0.2 for cluster analysis and the impacts were few, only collectors of seafood.
The Pajuçara (48 spp) and Amores (47 spp) coral reefs were included in the same
cluster with 0.4 and 0.5, but anchored boats caused the human impact also. The different
aspect observed at the Piscina Natural (13 spp) coral reef with 0.8 for cluster analysis had
few species and the human impacts were caused by tourist activities and anchored boats.
These facts advise for stricter control on human impacts on the coral reefs that were
situated on the urban coast and prove that macrobenthic organisms can be useful data for
monitoring the coral reefs.
23.939
Post-Hurricane Rita Assessment Of Four Sensitive Banks in The Vicinity Of The
Flower Garden Banks, Gulf Of Mexico.
Donald DEIS 1 , Beth ZIMMER* 2 , Leslie DUNCAN 2
1 PBS&J, Jacksonville, FL, 2 PBS&J, Miami, FL
Hurricane Rita, a Category 3 storm, passed over the northwestern Gulf of Mexico, in the
vicinity of the Flower Garden Banks (83 km) on September 23, 2005. The 2005
hurricane season was the most active on record, fueled by record high sea-surface
temperatures in the Atlantic (National Climatic Data Center 2005); with eleven tropical
cyclones entering the Gulf of Mexico in 2005. Several shallow sensitive habitats within
the Gulf of Mexico were closer to the path of Hurricane Rita which passed within 1.6 km
of McGrail Bank, and 24 km to the west of Sonnier Bank. Hydrological models have
hindcast wave heights up to 20 m acting on these banks. This may have left some bank
caps exposed, even at 20-30 m depth. The implications for benthic community structure
could have been catastrophic, and MMS considered it critical to characterize the banks in
their post-hurricane state.
A study was performed to characterize and compare the benthic habitats of four banks
and document possible effects of hurricane damage. Diver and ROV video was taken at
four depth ranges to assess benthic cover to the lowest taxonomic level (20-25, 30-36.5,
45-50, 55-60m). Results show that Sonnier Bank, the only bank to the east of the storm
(24km) exhibited the least live cover at all depths (~2-30%) when compared to other
banks (~18-85%). Qualitative analysis of pre-hurricane video from 1996, 2002 and 2005
showed an apparent decline in Xestospongia colonies at Sonnier Bank, before the 2005
storm.
The four banks studied varied in their benthic community make up, even in close
proximity. This suggests that these unique habitats are truly sensitive, since nearest
neighbors may not be the source of recruitment. Relying on distant sources for biological
recruitment, these habitats act as islands, possessing unique features not found elsewhere.
Poster Mini-Symposium 23: Reef Management
23.940
Ecosystem-Based Management Of The Dongsha Marine National Park
Wei-Chien LAI* 1 , Chang-Po CHEN 2
1 Dongsha Marine National Park Headquarters, Taipei, Taiwan, 2 Research Center for
Biodiversity, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
Ecosystem-based management addresses equally the importance of conservation and
sustainable use of the given ecosystem. As 25 kilometer wide in diameter with a 2-kilometerwide
reef rim that encompassing an area of 500 square kilometer, Dongsha atoll is the only
fully-developed atoll in the Northern South China Sea, with Dongsha Island locating on the
northwestern of the lagoon. Thanks to the upwelling, the atoll is home to a variety of coral fish
and other diverse marine life. However, the abundant fishery resource also leads the Dongsha
Atoll to a drastic fate of damaged habitats from destructive fishery, which causes the
degradation of the whole ecosystem as well as its resilience to disturbances.
Guided by the Dongsha Atoll National Park Plan, we reviewed the Great Barrier Reef
Heritage’s 25-year strategic plan, U.S. Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Management
Plan, U.S. Northwestern Hawaiian Islands National Marine Sanctuary Management Plan Draft,
and the associated studies done by Taiwan’s researchers.
The proposed Dongsha Atoll National Park Strategic Plan Draft contains the introduction of the
Dongsha Atoll ecosystem and history of the park’s designation, the vision and principle of the
management, and the Dongsha Atoll National Park Action Plan. The Action Plan is illustrated
by 4 levels: 20 years of long term objectives, 5 years of short term objectives, 30 strategies, and
114 actions. In addition to the enforcement of reducing illegal fishery applications, the primary
actions to be undertaken are sea floor mapping, infrastructure completion on the island to deal
with its intrinsic shortage of fresh water and natural resource, launch of a marine station, and
the establishment of the Dongsha Eco-volunteer system.
23.941
Mitigating Nearshore Benthic Resources in Florida: Identifying Problems And Lessons
Learned From The Past
Greg WARD* 1 , Jessica CRAFT 1 , Erin HAGUE 1 , Angela DELANEY 1 , Stacy PREKEL 1
1 Marine Science & Biological Research, Coastal Planning & Engineering, Boca Raton, FL
Artificial reef (AR) construction has historically focused on fisheries enhancement and, more
recently, has advanced as a method to mitigate for the loss of benthic epifaunal habitat. A
variety of AR designs and materials have been used with varying degrees of success; however,
comparison of AR biotic assemblages is commonly made to nearby natural habitat and
equivalency is determined on a relative basis. Conclusions drawn from studies are, therefore,
typically relevant only on a local scale. In this study, the succession of biotic communities on
ARs from two regions in Florida, USA, are compared to the low-relief, natural hardbottom
habitat for which the ARs were meant to mitigate impairment. Among and between region
comparisons of AR biotic assemblages are examined for common successional themes. The
unique siting, materials, and physical structure of each of these ARs are discussed in relation to
project “success”, as dictated by the stated objectives, and also as a proxy for natural habitat.
Results indicate that, while project objectives may be fulfilled, the relief and structural
complexity of ARs often exceed that required to successfully mimic low relief habitat. The
increased rugosity of the created habitat often does not allow for the intermittent sand scouring
and smothering encountered by benthic epifauna, and can attract intermediate and large size fish
not typically found on natural, low relief hardbottom. These issues are addressed here, along
with suggested practices and guidance on how best to replace impacted nearshore benthic
resources, for future coastal construction projects based on lessons learned from the past.
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