Nuestro objetivo es desarrollar diversas publicaciones científicas que destaquen nuestro compromiso con la conservación de nuestros recursos marinos.
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2024
Hernández-Delgado, Edwin A.; Laureano, Ricardo
In: Sustainability, vol. 16, iss. 14, no. 5985, pp. 1-80, 2024.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Acropora palmata, Caribbean Coral Reefs, coral restoration, Fish Assemblages, fishery target species, geo-ecological functional group, taxonomic distinctness, trophic functional groups
@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}
}
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.
2023
I., Aponte-Marcano Patria; E., Suleimán-Ramos Samuel; E., Mercado-Molina Alex
Effectiveness of different nursery designs for the restoration of the threatened coral Acropora cervicornis in Culebra, Puerto Rico Journal Article
In: Conservation Evidence Journal, vol. 20, pp. 30-39, 2023, ISSN: 1758-2067.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Acropora cervicornis, Caribbean Coral Reefs, coral restoration, Puerto Rico
@article{Aponte-Marcano12023,
title = {Effectiveness of different nursery designs for the restoration of the threatened coral \textit{Acropora cervicornis} in Culebra, Puerto Rico},
author = {Aponte-Marcano Patria I. and Suleimán-Ramos Samuel E. and Mercado-Molina Alex E.},
url = {https://www.conservationevidence.com/individual-study/12254
https://sampr.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Effectiveness-of-different-nursery-designs-for-the-restoration-of-the-threatened-coral-Acropora-cervicornis-in-Culebra-Puerto-Rico.pdf},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.52201/CEJ20/PNCI5011},
issn = {1758-2067},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-09-01},
urldate = {2023-09-01},
journal = {Conservation Evidence Journal},
volume = {20},
pages = {30-39},
abstract = {The threatened staghorn coral Acropora cervicornis is an important reef-builder species in the Caribbean. Its ecological importance and critical status have prompted efforts to restore degraded populations. In this respect, nursery-based programmes have effectively propagated A. cervicornis and helped to increase population sizes. Despite many advances in low-cost coral nursery designs, there is still a need to increase productivity while reducing costs. This study evaluates A. cervicornis demographic performance in two propagation structures: floating trees (FT) and floating horizontal frames (HF). Two equal-sized fragments were collected from 50 healthy staghorn coral colonies. Each fragment was placed into an FT or HF design. Survival, growth, branching, and productivity were recorded for seven months. To address the cost-effectiveness of the coral propagation techniques, we compared the total cost of producing corals between the two designs. Survival was similar, with 91% and 92% of the coral fragments surviving in the FT and HF, respectively. Although colonies in HF nurseries grew faster and produced more branches than those in FT nurseries, these differences were not statistically significant. Likewise, productivity did not differ statistically between nursery designs despite fragments in HF nurseries being 1.5 times more productive than those in FT nurseries. Because of the similarity in demographic performance, the selection of nursery designs could be based solely on their cost-effectiveness. In this respect, the cost-effectiveness analysis shows that producing corals using HF costs about 70% less than FT. Thus, we conclude that floating horizontal frame (HF) nurseries are better for propagating A. cervicornis and accelerating coral restoration activities.},
keywords = {Acropora cervicornis, Caribbean Coral Reefs, coral restoration, Puerto Rico},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
The threatened staghorn coral Acropora cervicornis is an important reef-builder species in the Caribbean. Its ecological importance and critical status have prompted efforts to restore degraded populations. In this respect, nursery-based programmes have effectively propagated A. cervicornis and helped to increase population sizes. Despite many advances in low-cost coral nursery designs, there is still a need to increase productivity while reducing costs. This study evaluates A. cervicornis demographic performance in two propagation structures: floating trees (FT) and floating horizontal frames (HF). Two equal-sized fragments were collected from 50 healthy staghorn coral colonies. Each fragment was placed into an FT or HF design. Survival, growth, branching, and productivity were recorded for seven months. To address the cost-effectiveness of the coral propagation techniques, we compared the total cost of producing corals between the two designs. Survival was similar, with 91% and 92% of the coral fragments surviving in the FT and HF, respectively. Although colonies in HF nurseries grew faster and produced more branches than those in FT nurseries, these differences were not statistically significant. Likewise, productivity did not differ statistically between nursery designs despite fragments in HF nurseries being 1.5 times more productive than those in FT nurseries. Because of the similarity in demographic performance, the selection of nursery designs could be based solely on their cost-effectiveness. In this respect, the cost-effectiveness analysis shows that producing corals using HF costs about 70% less than FT. Thus, we conclude that floating horizontal frame (HF) nurseries are better for propagating A. cervicornis and accelerating coral restoration activities.
Hernández-Delgado, Edwin A.
Climate change impacts on Caribbean coastal ecosystems Book Chapter
In: Bustos, Beatriz; Mauro, Salvatore Engel-Di; García-López, Gustavo; Milanez, Felipe; Ojeda., Diana (Ed.): Chapter 4, pp. 15, Routledge Handbook of Latin America and the Environment, London, 1st Edition, 2023, ISBN: 9780429344428.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Caribbean, Caribbean Coral Reefs, Climate change, Coastal spatial variability
@inbook{Hernández-Delgado2023b,
title = {Climate change impacts on Caribbean coastal ecosystems},
author = {Edwin A. Hernández-Delgado},
editor = {Beatriz Bustos and Salvatore Engel-Di Mauro and Gustavo García-López and Felipe Milanez and Diana Ojeda.},
url = {https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/edit/10.4324/9780429344428/routledge-handbook-latin-america-environment-beatriz-bustos-salvatore-engel-di-mauro-gustavo-garc%C3%ADa-l%C3%B3pez-felipe-milanez-diana-ojeda?refId=2d2078f6-0cea-4106-8795-391245abd2df&context=ubx
https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/edit/10.4324/9780429344428/routledge-handbook-latin-america-environment-beatriz-bustos-salvatore-engel-di-mauro-gustavo-garc%C3%ADa-l%C3%B3pez-felipe-milanez-diana-ojeda},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429344428},
isbn = {9780429344428},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-05-30},
urldate = {2023-05-30},
pages = {15},
publisher = { Routledge Handbook of Latin America and the Environment},
address = {London},
edition = {1st Edition},
chapter = {4},
abstract = {This chapter provides a review and discussion of the main ecological and environmental challenges of coastal ecosystems of the Wider Caribbean region in the context of Anthropogenic climate change. The topic was developed through an interdisciplinary ecological and socio-environmental perspective that includes the mutually influential relations of biophysical and social processes. It discusses the importance of natural disasters, threats, and risks from the lack of environmental sustainability and injustice, and land-use degradation patterns. It also addresses the question of how this combination of factors, in the context of still strong colonial policies, legacies and environmental injustice, has resulted in the increased degradation of coastal ecosystems and in increasing the vulnerability of both ecosystems and human communities to threats by climate change. Factors such as hurricane impacts, deforestation, air and water pollution, water scarcity, lack of food security and sovereignty, overfishing, and sea surface warming trends, massive coral bleaching, and mass coral mortalities are also addressed in the context of rapidly declining ecosystem and infrastructure resilience across the region. A conceptual model of potential climate change impacts is presented based on coastal ecosystems to provide a clear sense of the ecosystem trajectories, turning points, factors, and current issues confronting ecosystems and environments across the Wider Caribbean region.},
keywords = {Caribbean, Caribbean Coral Reefs, Climate change, Coastal spatial variability},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {inbook}
}
This chapter provides a review and discussion of the main ecological and environmental challenges of coastal ecosystems of the Wider Caribbean region in the context of Anthropogenic climate change. The topic was developed through an interdisciplinary ecological and socio-environmental perspective that includes the mutually influential relations of biophysical and social processes. It discusses the importance of natural disasters, threats, and risks from the lack of environmental sustainability and injustice, and land-use degradation patterns. It also addresses the question of how this combination of factors, in the context of still strong colonial policies, legacies and environmental injustice, has resulted in the increased degradation of coastal ecosystems and in increasing the vulnerability of both ecosystems and human communities to threats by climate change. Factors such as hurricane impacts, deforestation, air and water pollution, water scarcity, lack of food security and sovereignty, overfishing, and sea surface warming trends, massive coral bleaching, and mass coral mortalities are also addressed in the context of rapidly declining ecosystem and infrastructure resilience across the region. A conceptual model of potential climate change impacts is presented based on coastal ecosystems to provide a clear sense of the ecosystem trajectories, turning points, factors, and current issues confronting ecosystems and environments across the Wider Caribbean region.
2022
Bayraktarov, Elisa; Hernández-Delgado, Edwin A.; Pizarro, Valeria; Montoya-Maya, Phanor H; Ruiz-Diaz, Claudia Patricia; Phinn, Stuart R; Roelfsema, Chris; Frías-Torres, Sarah
Joining global efforts to halt coral reef decline: a call for more diversity, equity, and inclusion at international scientific meetings Journal Article
In: Reef Ecounter, vol. 37, iss. 1, pp. 28-35, 2022, ISSN: 0225-27987.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Caribbean Coral Reefs, Coral Reef Decline, coral reefs, halt coral reef
@article{Bayraktarov2022,
title = {Joining global efforts to halt coral reef decline: a call for more diversity, equity, and inclusion at international scientific meetings },
author = {Elisa Bayraktarov and Edwin A. Hernández-Delgado and Valeria Pizarro and Phanor H Montoya-Maya and Claudia Patricia Ruiz-Diaz and Stuart R Phinn and Chris Roelfsema and Sarah Frías-Torres},
editor = {Rupert Ormond and Caroline Rogers Beatriz Casareto and Douglas Fenner and Edwin Hernandez-Delgado and Dennis Hubbard and Nicolas Pascal and William Precht and Silas Principe and Brian Rosen and Sue Wells},
url = {http://coralreefs.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Reef_Encounter_51_lores.pdf
https://sampr.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Joining-global-efforts-to-halt-coral-Reef_Encounter_51_lores.pdf},
issn = {0225-27987},
year = {2022},
date = {2022-06-01},
urldate = {2022-06-01},
journal = {Reef Ecounter},
volume = {37},
issue = {1},
pages = {28-35},
abstract = {Finding solutions to the global coral reef crisis will require active adaptive management, where scientific results on successes vs failures at local field sites are used to inform conservation interventions and natural resource management. Any scientific progress and solution-focused innovation starts with the exchange of knowledge. Scientific conferences can quickly disseminate major research findings and encourage public debates to push the boundaries of science.},
keywords = {Caribbean Coral Reefs, Coral Reef Decline, coral reefs, halt coral reef},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Finding solutions to the global coral reef crisis will require active adaptive management, where scientific results on successes vs failures at local field sites are used to inform conservation interventions and natural resource management. Any scientific progress and solution-focused innovation starts with the exchange of knowledge. Scientific conferences can quickly disseminate major research findings and encourage public debates to push the boundaries of science.
2020
Gómez-Andújar, Nicolás X; Hernandez-Delgado, Edwin A
Spatial benthic community analysis of shallow coral reefs to support coastal management in Culebra Island, Puerto Rico. Journal Article
In: PeerJ, pp. 1-27, 2020.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Benthic community structure, Caribbean Coral Reefs, Coastal spatial variability, Ecosystem-based management, GIS, Mapping, Marine biology
@article{Gómez-Andújar2020,
title = {Spatial benthic community analysis of shallow coral reefs to support coastal management in Culebra Island, Puerto Rico.},
author = {Nicolás X Gómez-Andújar and Edwin A Hernandez-Delgado },
editor = {Gregory Verutes},
url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33088617/
https://sampr.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Spatial-benthic-community-analysis-of-shallow-coral-reefs-to-support-coastal-management-in-Culebra-Island-Puerto-Rico.pdf},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.10080},
year = {2020},
date = {2020-10-14},
urldate = {2020-10-14},
journal = {PeerJ},
pages = {1-27},
abstract = {Caribbean coral reefs provide essential ecosystem services to society, including fisheries, tourism and shoreline protection from coastal erosion. However, these reefs are also exhibiting major declining trends, leading to the evolution of novel ecosystems dominated by non-reef building taxa, with potentially altered ecological functions. In the search for effective management strategies, this study characterized coral reefs in front of a touristic beach which provides economic benefits to the surrounding coastal communities yet faces increasing anthropogenic pressures and conservation challenges. Haphazard photo-transects were used to address spatial variation patterns in the reef’s benthic community structure in eight locations. Statistically significant differences were found with increasing distance from the shoreline, reef rugosity, Diadema antillarum density, among reef locations, and as a function of recreational use. Nearshore reefs reflected higher percent macroalgal cover, likely due to increased exposure from both recreational activities and nearby unsustainable land-use practices. However, nearshore reefs still support a high abundance of the endangered reef-building coral Orbicella annularis, highlighting the need to conserve these natural shoreline protectors. There is an opportunity for local stakeholders and regulatory institutions to collaboratively implement sea-urchin propagation, restoration of endangered Acroporid coral populations, and zoning of recreational densities across reefs. Our results illustrate vulnerable reef hotspots where these management interventions are needed and recommend guidelines to address them.},
keywords = {Benthic community structure, Caribbean Coral Reefs, Coastal spatial variability, Ecosystem-based management, GIS, Mapping, Marine biology},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Caribbean coral reefs provide essential ecosystem services to society, including fisheries, tourism and shoreline protection from coastal erosion. However, these reefs are also exhibiting major declining trends, leading to the evolution of novel ecosystems dominated by non-reef building taxa, with potentially altered ecological functions. In the search for effective management strategies, this study characterized coral reefs in front of a touristic beach which provides economic benefits to the surrounding coastal communities yet faces increasing anthropogenic pressures and conservation challenges. Haphazard photo-transects were used to address spatial variation patterns in the reef’s benthic community structure in eight locations. Statistically significant differences were found with increasing distance from the shoreline, reef rugosity, Diadema antillarum density, among reef locations, and as a function of recreational use. Nearshore reefs reflected higher percent macroalgal cover, likely due to increased exposure from both recreational activities and nearby unsustainable land-use practices. However, nearshore reefs still support a high abundance of the endangered reef-building coral Orbicella annularis, highlighting the need to conserve these natural shoreline protectors. There is an opportunity for local stakeholders and regulatory institutions to collaboratively implement sea-urchin propagation, restoration of endangered Acroporid coral populations, and zoning of recreational densities across reefs. Our results illustrate vulnerable reef hotspots where these management interventions are needed and recommend guidelines to address them.
2019
Nieves-González, Aniel; Ruiz-Diaz, Claudia P.; Toledo-Hernández, Carlos; Ramírez-Lugo, Juan S.
A mathematical model of the interactions between Acropora cervicornis and its environment Journal Article
In: Ecological Modelling, vol. 406, pp. 7-22, 2019.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Acropora cervicornis, Caribbean Coral Reefs, coral reefs, dynamical system, Lyapunov stability
@article{P.Ruiz-Diaz2019,
title = {A mathematical model of the interactions between \textit{Acropora cervicornis} and its environment},
author = {Aniel Nieves-González and Claudia P. Ruiz-Diaz and Carlos Toledo-Hernández and Juan S. Ramírez-Lugo},
url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0304380019301413?via%3Dihub
},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2019.04.004},
year = {2019},
date = {2019-08-24},
urldate = {2019-08-24},
journal = {Ecological Modelling},
volume = {406},
pages = {7-22},
abstract = {Environmental factors associated with climate change such as increasing sea surface temperature (SST) and solar radiation (SR) have negatively impacted corals throughout their geographic ranges. One such coral, which has been seriously impacted by these stressors, is the staghorn coral Acropora cervicornis. To reduce the effects of such stressors, this coral utilizes fluorescent proteins (FPs) and melanin (M). These constitutive immune components quench reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced during thermal stress and absorb or reflect potentially damaging light. The synthesis of these components are, nonetheless, energetically costly. Hence, production of these protective compounds may be traded-off against other vital functions such as growth. In this study we develop a mathematical model, viz., a system of ordinary differential equations that simulates the growth of A. cervicornis branches under different regimes and combinations of SST and SR. The model assumes that polyps are the functional unit of the coral and that the concentration of FPs and M are inversely proportional to SST and SR intensity. To develop the model we use empirical (birth and mortality rate of polyps and the maximum number of polyps per unit area) and theoretical parameters (concentration of FPs, M produced, and trade-offs with growth). The model simulates how changes in FPs and M due to environmental changes affect the growth capacity of A. cervicornis. The model as well as its stability analysis show that polyp growth is affected by SR and SST. Hence, the model will help in understanding how corals will respond to future changes in climate.},
keywords = {Acropora cervicornis, Caribbean Coral Reefs, coral reefs, dynamical system, Lyapunov stability},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Environmental factors associated with climate change such as increasing sea surface temperature (SST) and solar radiation (SR) have negatively impacted corals throughout their geographic ranges. One such coral, which has been seriously impacted by these stressors, is the staghorn coral Acropora cervicornis. To reduce the effects of such stressors, this coral utilizes fluorescent proteins (FPs) and melanin (M). These constitutive immune components quench reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced during thermal stress and absorb or reflect potentially damaging light. The synthesis of these components are, nonetheless, energetically costly. Hence, production of these protective compounds may be traded-off against other vital functions such as growth. In this study we develop a mathematical model, viz., a system of ordinary differential equations that simulates the growth of A. cervicornis branches under different regimes and combinations of SST and SR. The model assumes that polyps are the functional unit of the coral and that the concentration of FPs and M are inversely proportional to SST and SR intensity. To develop the model we use empirical (birth and mortality rate of polyps and the maximum number of polyps per unit area) and theoretical parameters (concentration of FPs, M produced, and trade-offs with growth). The model simulates how changes in FPs and M due to environmental changes affect the growth capacity of A. cervicornis. The model as well as its stability analysis show that polyp growth is affected by SR and SST. Hence, the model will help in understanding how corals will respond to future changes in climate.
Precht, William F.; Aronson, Richard B.; Gardner, Toby A.; Gill, Jennifer A.; Hawkins, Julie P.; Hernández-Delgado, Edwin A.; Jaap, Walter C.; Mcclanahan, Tim R.; Mcfield, Melanie D.; Murdoch, Thaddeus J. T.; Nugues, Maggy M.; Roberts, Callum M.; Schelten, Christiane K.; Watkinson, Andrew R.; Côté, Isabelle M.
Non-Random Timing of Ecological Shifts on Caribbean Coral Reefs Suggests Regional Causes of Change Journal Article
In: Advance in Marine Biology, vol. 87, pp. 1-24, 2019.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Caribbean Coral Reefs, Coral, coral loss, macroalgal cover, macroalgal dominance, Marine biology
@article{Precht2020,
title = {Non-Random Timing of Ecological Shifts on Caribbean Coral Reefs Suggests Regional Causes of Change},
author = {William F. Precht and Richard B. Aronson and Toby A. Gardner and Jennifer A. Gill and Julie P. Hawkins and Edwin A. Hernández-Delgado and Walter C. Jaap and Tim R. Mcclanahan and Melanie D. Mcfield and Thaddeus J.T. Murdoch and Maggy M. Nugues and Callum M. Roberts and Christiane K. Schelten and Andrew R. Watkinson and Isabelle M. Côté},
editor = {Marine and Coastal Programs},
url = {https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/672121v1.full
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/333988887_NON-RANDOM_TIMING_OF_ECOLOGICAL_SHIFTS_ON_CARIBBEAN_CORAL_REEFS_SUGGESTS_REGIONAL_CAUSES_OF_CHANGE
https://sampr.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Non-random-Timing-of-Ecological-Shifts-on-Caribbean-Coral-Reefs-Suggests-Regional-Causes-of-Change.pdf},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.1101/672121},
year = {2019},
date = {2019-06-24},
urldate = {2019-06-24},
journal = {Advance in Marine Biology},
volume = {87},
pages = {1-24},
abstract = {Caribbean reefs have experienced unprecedented changes in the past four decades. Of great concern is the perceived widespread shift from coral to macroalgal dominance and the question of whether it represents a new, stable equilibrium for coral-reef communities. The primary causes of the shift -- grazing pressure (top-down), nutrient loading (bottom-up) or direct coral mortality (side-in) -- still remain somewhat controversial in the coral reef literature. We have attempted to tease out the relative importance of each of these causes. Four insights emerge from our analysis of an early regional dataset of information on the benthic composition of Caribbean reefs spanning the years 1977–2001. First, although three-quarters of reef sites have experienced coral declines concomitant with macroalgal increases, fewer than 10% of the more than 200 sites studied were dominated by macroalgae in 2001, by even the most conservative definition of dominance. Using relative dominance as the threshold, a total of 49 coral-to-macroalgae shifts were detected. This total represents ∼35% of all sites that were dominated by coral at the start of their monitoring periods. Four shifts (8.2%) occurred because of coral loss with no change in macroalgal cover, 15 (30.6%) occurred because of macroalgal gain without coral loss, and 30 (61.2%) occurred owing to concomitant coral decline and macroalgal increase. Second, the timing of shifts at the regional scale is most consistent with the side-in model of reef degradation, which invokes coral mortality as a precursor to macroalgal takeover, because more shifts occurred after regional coral-mortality events than expected by chance. Third, instantaneous observations taken at the start and end of the time-series for individual sites showed these reefs existed along a continuum of coral and macroalgal cover. The continuous, broadly negative relationship between coral and macroalgal cover suggests that in some cases coral-to-macroalgae phase shifts may be reversed by removing sources of perturbation or restoring critical components such as the herbivorous sea urchin Diadema antillarum to the system. The five instances in which macroalgal dominance was reversed corroborate the conclusion that macroalgal dominance is not a stable, alternative community state as has been commonly assumed. Fourth, the fact that the loss in regional coral cover and concomitant changes to the benthic community are related to punctuated, discrete events with known causes (i.e. coral disease and bleaching), lends credence to the hypothesis that coral reefs of the Caribbean have been under assault from climate-change-related maladies since the 1970s.},
keywords = {Caribbean Coral Reefs, Coral, coral loss, macroalgal cover, macroalgal dominance, Marine biology},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Caribbean reefs have experienced unprecedented changes in the past four decades. Of great concern is the perceived widespread shift from coral to macroalgal dominance and the question of whether it represents a new, stable equilibrium for coral-reef communities. The primary causes of the shift -- grazing pressure (top-down), nutrient loading (bottom-up) or direct coral mortality (side-in) -- still remain somewhat controversial in the coral reef literature. We have attempted to tease out the relative importance of each of these causes. Four insights emerge from our analysis of an early regional dataset of information on the benthic composition of Caribbean reefs spanning the years 1977–2001. First, although three-quarters of reef sites have experienced coral declines concomitant with macroalgal increases, fewer than 10% of the more than 200 sites studied were dominated by macroalgae in 2001, by even the most conservative definition of dominance. Using relative dominance as the threshold, a total of 49 coral-to-macroalgae shifts were detected. This total represents ∼35% of all sites that were dominated by coral at the start of their monitoring periods. Four shifts (8.2%) occurred because of coral loss with no change in macroalgal cover, 15 (30.6%) occurred because of macroalgal gain without coral loss, and 30 (61.2%) occurred owing to concomitant coral decline and macroalgal increase. Second, the timing of shifts at the regional scale is most consistent with the side-in model of reef degradation, which invokes coral mortality as a precursor to macroalgal takeover, because more shifts occurred after regional coral-mortality events than expected by chance. Third, instantaneous observations taken at the start and end of the time-series for individual sites showed these reefs existed along a continuum of coral and macroalgal cover. The continuous, broadly negative relationship between coral and macroalgal cover suggests that in some cases coral-to-macroalgae phase shifts may be reversed by removing sources of perturbation or restoring critical components such as the herbivorous sea urchin Diadema antillarum to the system. The five instances in which macroalgal dominance was reversed corroborate the conclusion that macroalgal dominance is not a stable, alternative community state as has been commonly assumed. Fourth, the fact that the loss in regional coral cover and concomitant changes to the benthic community are related to punctuated, discrete events with known causes (i.e. coral disease and bleaching), lends credence to the hypothesis that coral reefs of the Caribbean have been under assault from climate-change-related maladies since the 1970s.
2018
Pérez-Pagán, Birla Sofía; Mercado-Molina, Alex E.
Evaluation of the effectiveness of 3D-printed corals to attract coral reef fish at Tamarindo Reef, Culebra, Puerto Rico. Journal Article
In: Conservation Evidence, vol. 15, pp. 43-47, 2018, ISSN: 1758-2067.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: 3D-printed corals, Acropora cervicornis, Caribbean, Caribbean Coral Reefs, Caribbean Sea, Coastal Resilience, Conservation Biology, Coral, Coral Reef Ecology, Coral Reef Ecosystems, coral reefs
@article{Pérez-Pagán2018,
title = {Evaluation of the effectiveness of 3D-printed corals to attract coral reef fish at Tamarindo Reef, Culebra, Puerto Rico.},
author = {Birla Sofía Pérez-Pagán and Alex E. Mercado-Molina},
url = {https://www.conservationevidence.com/individual-study/6858
},
issn = {1758-2067},
year = {2018},
date = {2018-06-11},
urldate = {2018-06-11},
journal = {Conservation Evidence},
volume = {15},
pages = {43-47},
abstract = {The development of artificial corals using 3D-printing technology has been proposed as an alternative to aid the recovery of fish populations in degraded reefs. However, no study has empirically evaluated the potential of such artificial corals to attract fish to reef patches. We conducted an experiment to determine whether the number of fish associated with natural and 3D-printed corals differs significantly. The 3D-printed artificial corals mimicked the morphology of staghorn coral Acropora cervicornis, whose branches serve as habitat for many fish species. There is evidence indicating that fish abundance increases with habitat complexity, but no specific evidence relating to A. cervicornis. Therefore, we also investigated whether the structural complexity of both natural and artificial corals affected their effectiveness to attract fish. We found that the number of fish associated with artificial and natural corals was not significantly different. However, irrespective of coral type, fish were more abundant in corals with the highest levels of complexity. Our findings suggest that 3D-printed corals can serve as a complementary tool to improve the ecosystem function of degraded coral reefs.},
keywords = {3D-printed corals, Acropora cervicornis, Caribbean, Caribbean Coral Reefs, Caribbean Sea, Coastal Resilience, Conservation Biology, Coral, Coral Reef Ecology, Coral Reef Ecosystems, coral reefs},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
The development of artificial corals using 3D-printing technology has been proposed as an alternative to aid the recovery of fish populations in degraded reefs. However, no study has empirically evaluated the potential of such artificial corals to attract fish to reef patches. We conducted an experiment to determine whether the number of fish associated with natural and 3D-printed corals differs significantly. The 3D-printed artificial corals mimicked the morphology of staghorn coral Acropora cervicornis, whose branches serve as habitat for many fish species. There is evidence indicating that fish abundance increases with habitat complexity, but no specific evidence relating to A. cervicornis. Therefore, we also investigated whether the structural complexity of both natural and artificial corals affected their effectiveness to attract fish. We found that the number of fish associated with artificial and natural corals was not significantly different. However, irrespective of coral type, fish were more abundant in corals with the highest levels of complexity. Our findings suggest that 3D-printed corals can serve as a complementary tool to improve the ecosystem function of degraded coral reefs.
2014
Hernández-Delgado, Edwin A.; Suleimán-Ramos, Samuel E.
E.S.A. CORAL SPECIES LISTING: A ROADBLOCK TO COMMUNITY-BASED ENGAGEMENT IN CORAL REEF CONSERVATION AND REHABILITATION ACROSS THE U.S. CARIBBEAN? Journal Article
In: REEF ENCOUNTER, vol. 29, no. 1, pp. 11-15, 2014.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Acropora cervicornis, Caribbean Coral Reefs, coral reefs, CORAL SPECIES LISTING, Reef Restoration
@article{Hernández-Delgado2014bc,
title = {E.S.A. CORAL SPECIES LISTING: A ROADBLOCK TO COMMUNITY-BASED ENGAGEMENT IN CORAL REEF CONSERVATION AND REHABILITATION ACROSS THE U.S. CARIBBEAN?},
author = {Edwin A. Hernández-Delgado and Samuel E. Suleimán-Ramos},
url = {https://sampr.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/E_S_A_CORAL_SPECIES_LISTING_A_ROADBLOCK.pdf
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/265405995_ESA_coral_species_listing_a_roadblock_to_community-based_engagement_in_coral_reef_conservation_and_rehabilitation_across_the_US_Caribbean},
year = {2014},
date = {2014-02-27},
urldate = {2014-02-27},
journal = {REEF ENCOUNTER},
volume = {29},
number = {1},
pages = {11-15},
abstract = {Coral reef ecosystems have declined globally driven by multiple local-scale human stressors and large-scale climate change-related factors, which can produce a combination of acute, stochastic events, and longterm, slowly-evolving changes (Côté and Darling 2010, Hughes et al. 2013). Mounting evidence points to the wider Caribbean region as one of the most susceptible to rapid ecosystem resilience decline (Rogers and Miller 2006, Roff and Mumby 2012, Rogers 2013). This has often resulted in a long-term decline in percent live coral cover, species diversity and a widespread phase shift in benthic community structure (Hughes 1994, Miller et al. 2009, Edmunds 2013), with limited recovery ability (Hughes and Tanner 2000, Birkeland et al. 2013). It has also resulted in the demise of susceptible coral functional groups such as Atlantic acroporid corals (Bruckner and Hourigan 2000) and a major loss of coral reef ecosystem resilience, functions, benefits, services, and socio-economic value (Bellwood et al. 2004), including the ability to sustain fisheries (Pauley et al. 2002, Pauley and Zeller, 2014, Pratchett et al. 2014).},
keywords = {Acropora cervicornis, Caribbean Coral Reefs, coral reefs, CORAL SPECIES LISTING, Reef Restoration},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Coral reef ecosystems have declined globally driven by multiple local-scale human stressors and large-scale climate change-related factors, which can produce a combination of acute, stochastic events, and longterm, slowly-evolving changes (Côté and Darling 2010, Hughes et al. 2013). Mounting evidence points to the wider Caribbean region as one of the most susceptible to rapid ecosystem resilience decline (Rogers and Miller 2006, Roff and Mumby 2012, Rogers 2013). This has often resulted in a long-term decline in percent live coral cover, species diversity and a widespread phase shift in benthic community structure (Hughes 1994, Miller et al. 2009, Edmunds 2013), with limited recovery ability (Hughes and Tanner 2000, Birkeland et al. 2013). It has also resulted in the demise of susceptible coral functional groups such as Atlantic acroporid corals (Bruckner and Hourigan 2000) and a major loss of coral reef ecosystem resilience, functions, benefits, services, and socio-economic value (Bellwood et al. 2004), including the ability to sustain fisheries (Pauley et al. 2002, Pauley and Zeller, 2014, Pratchett et al. 2014).