Nuestro objetivo es desarrollar diversas publicaciones científicas que destaquen nuestro compromiso con la conservación de nuestros recursos marinos.
La mayoría de las publicaciones están disponibles gratuitamente en nuestro sitio web.
2025
Hernández-Delgado, Edwin A.; Fonseca-Miranda, Jaime S.; Mercado-Molina, Alex E.; Suleimán-Ramos, Samuel E.
Integrating 3D-Printed and Natural Staghorn Coral (Acropora cervicornis) Restoration Enhances Fish Assemblages and Their Ecological Functions Journal Article
In: Diversity, vol. 17, iss. 445, pp. 1-50, 2025.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: biodiversity, coral 3D printing, coral restoration, fish community, fishery target species, phylogenetic diversity, taxonomic distinctness, trophic functional groups
@article{Suleimán-Ramos2025,
title = {Integrating 3D-Printed and Natural Staghorn Coral (\textit{Acropora cervicornis}) Restoration Enhances Fish Assemblages and Their Ecological Functions},
author = {Hernández-Delgado, Edwin A. and Fonseca-Miranda, Jaime S. and Mercado-Molina, Alex E. and Suleimán-Ramos, Samuel E.},
editor = {Bert W. Hoeksema
},
url = {https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/17/7/445
https://sampr.org/diversity-17-00445-v2/},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.3390/d17070445},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-06-23},
urldate = {2025-06-23},
journal = {Diversity},
volume = {17},
issue = {445},
pages = {1-50},
abstract = {Coral restoration is essential for recovering depleted populations and reef ecological functions. However, its effect on enhancing fish assemblages remains understudied. This study investigated the integration of 3D-printed and natural Staghorn coral (Acropora cervicornis) out-planting to assess their role in enhancing benthic spatial complexity and attracting fish communities. Conducted between 2021 and 2023 at Culebra Island, Puerto Rico, we employed a before-after-control-impact (BACI) design to test four treatments: natural A. cervicornis, 3D-printed corals, mixed stands of 3D-printed and natural corals, and non-restored controls. Fish assemblages were monitored through stationary counts.
Results showed that integrating 3D-printed and natural corals enhanced fish assemblages and their ecological functions. Significant temporal changes in fish community structure and biodiversity metrics were observed, influenced by treatment and location. Herbivore abundance and biomass increased over time, especially in live coral and 3D-printed plots. Reefs with higher rugosity exhibited greater Scarid abundance and biomass post-restoration. Piscivore abundance also rose significantly over time, notably at Tampico site. Fishery-targeted species density and biomass increased, particularly in areas with live and 3D-printed coral out-plants. Fish assemblages became more complex and diverse post-restoration, especially at Tampico, which supported greater habitat complexity.
Before restoration, fish assemblages showed a disturbed status, with biomass k-dominance curves above abundance curves. Post-out-planting, this trend reversed. Control sites showed no significant changes. The study demonstrates that restoring fast-growing branching corals, alongside 3D-printed structures, leads to rapid increases in abundance and biomass of key fishery species, suggesting its potential role promoting faster ecosystem recovery and enhanced coral demographic performance.},
keywords = {biodiversity, coral 3D printing, coral restoration, fish community, fishery target species, phylogenetic diversity, taxonomic distinctness, trophic functional groups},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Coral restoration is essential for recovering depleted populations and reef ecological functions. However, its effect on enhancing fish assemblages remains understudied. This study investigated the integration of 3D-printed and natural Staghorn coral (Acropora cervicornis) out-planting to assess their role in enhancing benthic spatial complexity and attracting fish communities. Conducted between 2021 and 2023 at Culebra Island, Puerto Rico, we employed a before-after-control-impact (BACI) design to test four treatments: natural A. cervicornis, 3D-printed corals, mixed stands of 3D-printed and natural corals, and non-restored controls. Fish assemblages were monitored through stationary counts.
Results showed that integrating 3D-printed and natural corals enhanced fish assemblages and their ecological functions. Significant temporal changes in fish community structure and biodiversity metrics were observed, influenced by treatment and location. Herbivore abundance and biomass increased over time, especially in live coral and 3D-printed plots. Reefs with higher rugosity exhibited greater Scarid abundance and biomass post-restoration. Piscivore abundance also rose significantly over time, notably at Tampico site. Fishery-targeted species density and biomass increased, particularly in areas with live and 3D-printed coral out-plants. Fish assemblages became more complex and diverse post-restoration, especially at Tampico, which supported greater habitat complexity.
Before restoration, fish assemblages showed a disturbed status, with biomass k-dominance curves above abundance curves. Post-out-planting, this trend reversed. Control sites showed no significant changes. The study demonstrates that restoring fast-growing branching corals, alongside 3D-printed structures, leads to rapid increases in abundance and biomass of key fishery species, suggesting its potential role promoting faster ecosystem recovery and enhanced coral demographic performance.
Results showed that integrating 3D-printed and natural corals enhanced fish assemblages and their ecological functions. Significant temporal changes in fish community structure and biodiversity metrics were observed, influenced by treatment and location. Herbivore abundance and biomass increased over time, especially in live coral and 3D-printed plots. Reefs with higher rugosity exhibited greater Scarid abundance and biomass post-restoration. Piscivore abundance also rose significantly over time, notably at Tampico site. Fishery-targeted species density and biomass increased, particularly in areas with live and 3D-printed coral out-plants. Fish assemblages became more complex and diverse post-restoration, especially at Tampico, which supported greater habitat complexity.
Before restoration, fish assemblages showed a disturbed status, with biomass k-dominance curves above abundance curves. Post-out-planting, this trend reversed. Control sites showed no significant changes. The study demonstrates that restoring fast-growing branching corals, alongside 3D-printed structures, leads to rapid increases in abundance and biomass of key fishery species, suggesting its potential role promoting faster ecosystem recovery and enhanced coral demographic performance.
2021
Cortés-Useche, Camilo; Hernández-Delgado, Edwin A.; Calle-Triviño, Johanna; Sellares Blasco, Rita; Galván, Victor; Arias-González, Jesús E.
Conservation actions and ecological context: optimizing coral reef local management in the Dominican Republic Journal Article
In: Peerj, vol. 9, no. e10925, pp. 1-28, 2021.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: biodiversity, Caribbean, Coastal health, coral reefs, coral restoration, Dominican Republic, Management, Marine protected area, Tropical coastal ecosystems, Water quality
@article{Cortés-Useche2021,
title = {Conservation actions and ecological context: optimizing coral reef local management in the Dominican Republic},
author = {Cortés-Useche, Camilo and Hernández-Delgado, Edwin A. and Calle-Triviño, Johanna and Sellares Blasco, Rita and Galván, Victor and Arias-González, Jesús E.},
editor = {Ida Kubiszewski and Jonathan Colville},
url = {https://peerj.com/articles/10925/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7953877/
https://sampr.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Conservation-actions-and-ecological-context-optimizing-coral-reef-local-management-in-the-Dominican-Republic-peerj-10925.pdf},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.10925},
year = {2021},
date = {2021-03-09},
urldate = {2021-03-09},
journal = {Peerj},
volume = {9},
number = { e10925},
pages = {1-28},
abstract = {Over the past few decades, coral reef ecosystems have been lost at accelerated rates as a result of global climate change and local stressors. Local management schemes can help improve the condition of coral reefs by enhancing their ecosystem recovery capacity. Caribbean conservation efforts include mitigation of local anthropogenic stressors, and integrating social participation. Here, we analyzed the case of the Bayahibe reefs in the Southeastern (SE) Dominican Republic to identify conservation actions and illustrate a conceptual example of local seascape management. We assessed reef health indicators from 2011 to 2016. Overall, our results show increases in total fish biomass, in both commercial and herbivorous fishes. Mean live coral cover was 31% and fleshy macroalgae was 23% after multiple disturbances such as Hurricanes Sandy and Isaac (2012), Mathew (2016) and heat stress presented in the study area in 2015. We also described actions taken by stakeholders and government institutions, including the implementation of a policy declaring an area of 869,000 ha as a marine protected area (MPA), enhanced water quality treatment, local restrictions to vessel traffic, enforcement of fishing regulations, and the removal of invasive lionfish (Pterois spp.). In addition, a restoration program for the threatened staghorn coral (Acropora cervicornis) was established in 2011, and currently has eight coral nurseries and six outplanting sites. Considering the biology and ecology of these reefs, we observed good results for these indicators (live coral cover, fish biomass, and water quality) in contrast with severely degraded Caribbean reefs, suggesting that optimizing local management may be a useful example for improving reef condition. Our results provide an overview of trends in reef condition in the SE Dominican Republic and could support current strategies to better protect reefs in the region. Given that Caribbean coral reefs face extreme challenges from global climate change, management measures may improve reef conditions across the region but stronger policy processes and increased scientific knowledge are needed for the successful management of coral reefs.},
keywords = {biodiversity, Caribbean, Coastal health, coral reefs, coral restoration, Dominican Republic, Management, Marine protected area, Tropical coastal ecosystems, Water quality},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Over the past few decades, coral reef ecosystems have been lost at accelerated rates as a result of global climate change and local stressors. Local management schemes can help improve the condition of coral reefs by enhancing their ecosystem recovery capacity. Caribbean conservation efforts include mitigation of local anthropogenic stressors, and integrating social participation. Here, we analyzed the case of the Bayahibe reefs in the Southeastern (SE) Dominican Republic to identify conservation actions and illustrate a conceptual example of local seascape management. We assessed reef health indicators from 2011 to 2016. Overall, our results show increases in total fish biomass, in both commercial and herbivorous fishes. Mean live coral cover was 31% and fleshy macroalgae was 23% after multiple disturbances such as Hurricanes Sandy and Isaac (2012), Mathew (2016) and heat stress presented in the study area in 2015. We also described actions taken by stakeholders and government institutions, including the implementation of a policy declaring an area of 869,000 ha as a marine protected area (MPA), enhanced water quality treatment, local restrictions to vessel traffic, enforcement of fishing regulations, and the removal of invasive lionfish (Pterois spp.). In addition, a restoration program for the threatened staghorn coral (Acropora cervicornis) was established in 2011, and currently has eight coral nurseries and six outplanting sites. Considering the biology and ecology of these reefs, we observed good results for these indicators (live coral cover, fish biomass, and water quality) in contrast with severely degraded Caribbean reefs, suggesting that optimizing local management may be a useful example for improving reef condition. Our results provide an overview of trends in reef condition in the SE Dominican Republic and could support current strategies to better protect reefs in the region. Given that Caribbean coral reefs face extreme challenges from global climate change, management measures may improve reef conditions across the region but stronger policy processes and increased scientific knowledge are needed for the successful management of coral reefs.
2019
Weil, E.; Hernández Delgado, Edwin A.; Gonzalez, M.; Williams, S.; Suleimán-Ramos, S.; Figuerola, M.; Metz-Estrella, T.
Spread of the new coral disease “SCTLD” into the Caribbean: implications for Puerto Rico. Journal Article
In: Reef Encounter, vol. 34, no. 1, pp. 38-43, 2019.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: biodiversity, biomass, Caribbean, communities, Coral, coral diseases, coral reefs, diversity, Puerto Rico, reef, reefs
@article{Weil2019,
title = {Spread of the new coral disease “SCTLD” into the Caribbean: implications for Puerto Rico.},
author = {Weil, E. and Hernández Delgado, Edwin A. and Gonzalez, M. and Williams, S. and Suleimán-Ramos, S. and Figuerola, M. and Metz-Estrella, T.},
url = {https://www.researchgate.net/publication/342477916_REEF_ENCOUNTER_Spread_of_the_new_coral_disease_SCTLD_into_the_Caribbean_implications_for_Puerto_Rico
https://www.agrra.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Weil-et-al.-2020-Reef-Encounter.pdf
https://sampr.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Spread-of-the-new-coral-disease-SCTLD-into-the-Caribbean-implications-for-Puerto-Rico.pdf
},
year = {2019},
date = {2019-12-01},
urldate = {2019-12-01},
journal = {Reef Encounter},
volume = {34},
number = {1},
pages = {38-43},
abstract = {The ongoing deterioration and significant decline in live coral cover and diversity in coral reef communities
worldwide is strongly associated with increasing water temperatures linked to Global Climate Change, aided by
anthropogenic activities (Harvell et al. 2004, 2007, 2009; Weil and Rogers 2011; Maynard et al. 2016; Woodley et al.
2016). In the Wider Caribbean, major community structure and function decline was marked by two region-wide,
concurrent, highly virulent disease epizootics in the early 1980’s. These events almost wiped out two foundational
scleractinian species (Acropora palmata and A. cervicornis), and the keystone sea urchin Diadema antillarum. White
band disease (WBD) affected the acroporids and was caused by a complex of vibrio bacteria (Gil-Agudelo et al. 2006).
The Diadema mass mortality had all the trademark characteristics of a virulent, transmissible, bacterial or viral
infection, but the putative pathogen (pathogens) was never identified (Lessios 2016). Populations of both acroporids
and sea urchins suffered over 95% mortalities throughout the wider Caribbean (Gladfelter 1982; Lessios et al. 1984a,b;
Aronson and Precht 2001; Lessios 2016), followed by a cascade of ecological consequences (significant loss of live
coral cover, primary productivity, spatial complexity, biodiversity and fecundity; loss of ecological functions, increase
in algal cover and biomass, etc.), ending in a shift from coral- to algal-dominated communities and the loss of
ecological services to other tropical marine communities and to human beings (Aronson and Precht 2001; Weil and
Rogers 2011). Several other disease-induced mass mortalities of other cnidarians, as well as of massive, plate and
nodular reef-building genera, have in the last 30 years resulted in additional loss of biomass, diversity and live coral
cover on many Caribbean reefs (Miller et al. 2009; Weil et al. 2009a; Weil and Rogers 2011; Bastidas et al. 2011; Weil
et al. 2017). },
keywords = {biodiversity, biomass, Caribbean, communities, Coral, coral diseases, coral reefs, diversity, Puerto Rico, reef, reefs},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
The ongoing deterioration and significant decline in live coral cover and diversity in coral reef communities
worldwide is strongly associated with increasing water temperatures linked to Global Climate Change, aided by
anthropogenic activities (Harvell et al. 2004, 2007, 2009; Weil and Rogers 2011; Maynard et al. 2016; Woodley et al.
2016). In the Wider Caribbean, major community structure and function decline was marked by two region-wide,
concurrent, highly virulent disease epizootics in the early 1980’s. These events almost wiped out two foundational
scleractinian species (Acropora palmata and A. cervicornis), and the keystone sea urchin Diadema antillarum. White
band disease (WBD) affected the acroporids and was caused by a complex of vibrio bacteria (Gil-Agudelo et al. 2006).
The Diadema mass mortality had all the trademark characteristics of a virulent, transmissible, bacterial or viral
infection, but the putative pathogen (pathogens) was never identified (Lessios 2016). Populations of both acroporids
and sea urchins suffered over 95% mortalities throughout the wider Caribbean (Gladfelter 1982; Lessios et al. 1984a,b;
Aronson and Precht 2001; Lessios 2016), followed by a cascade of ecological consequences (significant loss of live
coral cover, primary productivity, spatial complexity, biodiversity and fecundity; loss of ecological functions, increase
in algal cover and biomass, etc.), ending in a shift from coral- to algal-dominated communities and the loss of
ecological services to other tropical marine communities and to human beings (Aronson and Precht 2001; Weil and
Rogers 2011). Several other disease-induced mass mortalities of other cnidarians, as well as of massive, plate and
nodular reef-building genera, have in the last 30 years resulted in additional loss of biomass, diversity and live coral
cover on many Caribbean reefs (Miller et al. 2009; Weil et al. 2009a; Weil and Rogers 2011; Bastidas et al. 2011; Weil
et al. 2017).
worldwide is strongly associated with increasing water temperatures linked to Global Climate Change, aided by
anthropogenic activities (Harvell et al. 2004, 2007, 2009; Weil and Rogers 2011; Maynard et al. 2016; Woodley et al.
2016). In the Wider Caribbean, major community structure and function decline was marked by two region-wide,
concurrent, highly virulent disease epizootics in the early 1980’s. These events almost wiped out two foundational
scleractinian species (Acropora palmata and A. cervicornis), and the keystone sea urchin Diadema antillarum. White
band disease (WBD) affected the acroporids and was caused by a complex of vibrio bacteria (Gil-Agudelo et al. 2006).
The Diadema mass mortality had all the trademark characteristics of a virulent, transmissible, bacterial or viral
infection, but the putative pathogen (pathogens) was never identified (Lessios 2016). Populations of both acroporids
and sea urchins suffered over 95% mortalities throughout the wider Caribbean (Gladfelter 1982; Lessios et al. 1984a,b;
Aronson and Precht 2001; Lessios 2016), followed by a cascade of ecological consequences (significant loss of live
coral cover, primary productivity, spatial complexity, biodiversity and fecundity; loss of ecological functions, increase
in algal cover and biomass, etc.), ending in a shift from coral- to algal-dominated communities and the loss of
ecological services to other tropical marine communities and to human beings (Aronson and Precht 2001; Weil and
Rogers 2011). Several other disease-induced mass mortalities of other cnidarians, as well as of massive, plate and
nodular reef-building genera, have in the last 30 years resulted in additional loss of biomass, diversity and live coral
cover on many Caribbean reefs (Miller et al. 2009; Weil et al. 2009a; Weil and Rogers 2011; Bastidas et al. 2011; Weil
et al. 2017).
