Publicaciones

@article{Suleimán-Ramos2025,

title = {Integrating 3D-Printed and Natural Staghorn Coral (\textit{Acropora cervicornis}) Restoration Enhances Fish Assemblages and Their Ecological Functions},

author = {Edwin A. Hernández-Delgado and Jaime S. Fonseca-Miranda and Alex E. Mercado-Molina

and Samuel E. Suleimán-Ramos},

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}

}

@article{Hernández-Delgado2024c,

title = {Bringing Back Reef Fish: Sustainable Impacts of Community-Based Restoration of Elkhorn Coral (\textit{Acropora palmata}) in Vega Baja, Puerto Rico (2008–2023)},

author = {Edwin A. Hernández-Delgado and Ricardo Laureano},

url = {https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/14/5985

https://sampr.org/sustainability-16-05985-v2/},

doi = { https://doi.org/10.3390/su16145985},

year  = {2024},

date = {2024-07-12},

urldate = {2024-07-12},

journal = {Sustainability},

volume = {16},

number = {5985},

issue = {14},

pages = {1-80},

abstract = {In response to the severe fragmentation of Elkhorn coral, Acropora palmata (Lamarck, 1816), stands caused by a major winter swell (“Holy Swell”) in March 2008, an emergency community-based low-tech restoration was initiated in Vega Baja, Puerto Rico. Over a 15-year period, coral demographic performance and fish assemblages were monitored across four restored and four control (non-restored) 100 m² plots. The restoration effort proved to be highly successful, leading to successful coral survival and growth, and to sustained recovery of fish assemblages, particularly herbivore guilds. Significantly increased abundance, biomass, and diversity were observed across all trophic functional groups, fishery target species, and geo-ecological functional groups in both restored and control plots. These positive outcomes were attributed to enhanced spatial complexity by long-term coral growth, “nutrient hotspots” within restored plots, the refugia effect from enhanced benthic spatial complexity, and the recovery of fish dispersal paths promoting spillover effects from restored to adjacent non-restored areas. Restoring herbivore guilds and geo-ecological functional groups played a crucial role in restoring vital ecological processes promoting reef ecosystem resilience. Recommendations include integrating fish assemblage recovery into coral restoration strategies, establishing natural coral nursery plots for future coral sourcing, and incorporating the concept of nursery seascapes for a holistic and ecosystem-based approach to restoration.},

keywords = {Acropora palmata, Caribbean Coral Reefs, coral restoration, Fish Assemblages, fishery target species, geo-ecological functional group, taxonomic distinctness, trophic functional groups},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}