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.
2023
Hernández-Delgado, Edwin A.
Long-Term Persistence of Propeller and Anchor Damage to Seagrass Canopy and Demersal Biodiversity in Puerto Rico Journal Article
In: Open Journal of Ecology, vol. 13, no. 10, pp. 671-710, 2023, ISSN: 2162-1993.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Benthic Faunal Communities, community trajectory, Ecological Disturbance, Fish Assemblages, Recreational Navigation, Seagrass Ecosystems
@article{Hernández-Delgado2023,
title = {Long-Term Persistence of Propeller and Anchor Damage to Seagrass Canopy and Demersal Biodiversity in Puerto Rico},
author = {Edwin A. Hernández-Delgado},
url = {https://www.scirp.org/journal/paperinformation?paperid=128458
https://sampr.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Long-Term-Persistence-of-Propeller-and-Anchor-Damage-to-Seagrass-Canopy-and-Demersal-Biodiversity-in-Puerto-Rico.pdf},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.4236/oje.2023.1310042},
issn = {2162-1993},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-10-24},
urldate = {2023-10-24},
journal = {Open Journal of Ecology},
volume = {13},
number = {10},
pages = {671-710},
abstract = {Seagrass ecosystems support high biodiversity and productivity and constitute critical links to adjacent ecosystems. However, there is a growing concern that increasing recreational navigation may affect its ecological processes and functions, which may affect its recreational and tourism values, compromising local economies and livelihoods. The long-term impacts (1996-2011) of recreational navigation on seagrass benthic community structure were assessed by addressing the question of whether long-term effects of recreational navigation had a significant impact on seagrass community structure and on its benthic faunal assemblages. Findings evidenced: 1) a consistent spatio-temporal gradient in the ecological conditions of seagrasses across the scoured areas, with increased percent seagrass cover, density and canopy height, and seagrass benthic biodiversity with increasing distance from disturbed areas; 2) a decline in percent seagrass cover, and an increased macroalgal and cyanobacterial percent cover through time around the disturbed areas; 3) a significant shift in seagrass assemblage biodiversity as a response to boating that followed the intermediate disturbance hypothesis; 4) an adverse effect on the spatial distribution and survival of multiple benthic invertebrate taxa; and 5) a significant decline in cnidarians, echinoids, ophiuroids, holothurians, and gastro-pods, and an increase in polychaetes, platyhelminths, and hermit crabs, particularly in areas exposed to boating. Spatio-temporal variation in seagrass community structure explained the observed variation in benthic faunal assemblages. The long-term consequences on ecosystem functions and management needs are discussed to foster the conservation of seagrasses.},
keywords = {Benthic Faunal Communities, community trajectory, Ecological Disturbance, Fish Assemblages, Recreational Navigation, Seagrass Ecosystems},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Seagrass ecosystems support high biodiversity and productivity and constitute critical links to adjacent ecosystems. However, there is a growing concern that increasing recreational navigation may affect its ecological processes and functions, which may affect its recreational and tourism values, compromising local economies and livelihoods. The long-term impacts (1996-2011) of recreational navigation on seagrass benthic community structure were assessed by addressing the question of whether long-term effects of recreational navigation had a significant impact on seagrass community structure and on its benthic faunal assemblages. Findings evidenced: 1) a consistent spatio-temporal gradient in the ecological conditions of seagrasses across the scoured areas, with increased percent seagrass cover, density and canopy height, and seagrass benthic biodiversity with increasing distance from disturbed areas; 2) a decline in percent seagrass cover, and an increased macroalgal and cyanobacterial percent cover through time around the disturbed areas; 3) a significant shift in seagrass assemblage biodiversity as a response to boating that followed the intermediate disturbance hypothesis; 4) an adverse effect on the spatial distribution and survival of multiple benthic invertebrate taxa; and 5) a significant decline in cnidarians, echinoids, ophiuroids, holothurians, and gastro-pods, and an increase in polychaetes, platyhelminths, and hermit crabs, particularly in areas exposed to boating. Spatio-temporal variation in seagrass community structure explained the observed variation in benthic faunal assemblages. The long-term consequences on ecosystem functions and management needs are discussed to foster the conservation of seagrasses.
2014
Hernández-Delgado, Edwin A.; González-Ramos, Carmen M.; Alejandro-Camis, Pedro J.
In: Revista Biologia Tropical, vol. Vol. 62, no. Supl.3, pp. 49-64, 2014, ISSN: 0034-7744.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Climate change, community trajectory, coral decline, coral recruitment, Mona Island, Puerto Rico, transitional state
@article{Hernández-Delgado2014f,
title = {Large-scale coral recruitment patterns on Mona Island, Puerto Rico: evidence of a transitional community trajectory after massive coral bleaching and mortality},
author = {Edwin A. Hernández-Delgado and Carmen M. González-Ramos and Pedro J. Alejandro-Camis},
url = {https://www.scielo.sa.cr/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0034-77442014000700012
https://revistas.ucr.ac.cr/index.php/rbt/article/view/15901
https://sampr.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Large-scale-coral-recruitment-patterns-on-Mona-Island-Puerto-Rico-evidence-of-a-transitional-community-trajectory-after-massive-coral-bleaching-and-mortality.pdf},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.15517/rbt.v62i0.15901},
issn = {0034-7744},
year = {2014},
date = {2014-09-01},
urldate = {2014-09-01},
journal = {Revista Biologia Tropical},
volume = {Vol. 62},
number = {Supl.3},
pages = {49-64},
abstract = {Coral reefs have largely declined across the northeastern Caribbean following the 2005 massive bleaching event. Climate change-related sea surface warming and coral disease outbreaks of a white plague-like syndrome and of yellow band disease (YBD) have caused significant coral decline affecting massive reef building species (i.e., Orbicella annularis species complex) which show no apparent signs of recovery through larval sexual recruitment. We addressed coral recruit densities across three spur and groove reef locations along the western shelf of remote Mona Island, Puerto Rico: Punta Capitán (PCA), Pasa de Las Carmelitas (PLC), and Las Carmelitas-South (LCS). Data were collected during November 2012 along 93 haphazard transects across three depth zones (<5m, 5-10m, 10-15m). A total of 32 coral species (9 octocorals, 1 hydrocoral, 22 scleractinians) were documented among the recruit community. Communities had low densities and dominance by short-lived brooder species seven years after the 2005 event. Mean coral recruit density ranged from 1.2 to 10.5/m2 at PCA, 6.3 to 7.2/m2 at LCS, 4.5 to 9.5/m2 at PLC. Differences in coral recruit community structure can be attributed to slight variation in percent macroalgal cover and composition as study sites had nearly similar benthic spatial heterogeneity. Dominance by ephemeral coral species was widespread. Recovery of largely declining massive reef-building species such as the O. annularis species complex was limited or non-existent. The lack of recovery could be the combined result of several mechanisms involving climate change, YBD disease, macroalgae, fishing, urchins and Mona Island’s reefs limited connectivity to other reef systems. There is also for rehabilitation of fish trophic structure, with emphasis in recovering herbivore guilds and depleted populations of D. antillarum. Failing to recognize the importance of ecosystem-based management and resilience rehabilitation may deem remote coral reefs recovery unlikely.},
keywords = {Climate change, community trajectory, coral decline, coral recruitment, Mona Island, Puerto Rico, transitional state},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Coral reefs have largely declined across the northeastern Caribbean following the 2005 massive bleaching event. Climate change-related sea surface warming and coral disease outbreaks of a white plague-like syndrome and of yellow band disease (YBD) have caused significant coral decline affecting massive reef building species (i.e., Orbicella annularis species complex) which show no apparent signs of recovery through larval sexual recruitment. We addressed coral recruit densities across three spur and groove reef locations along the western shelf of remote Mona Island, Puerto Rico: Punta Capitán (PCA), Pasa de Las Carmelitas (PLC), and Las Carmelitas-South (LCS). Data were collected during November 2012 along 93 haphazard transects across three depth zones (<5m, 5-10m, 10-15m). A total of 32 coral species (9 octocorals, 1 hydrocoral, 22 scleractinians) were documented among the recruit community. Communities had low densities and dominance by short-lived brooder species seven years after the 2005 event. Mean coral recruit density ranged from 1.2 to 10.5/m2 at PCA, 6.3 to 7.2/m2 at LCS, 4.5 to 9.5/m2 at PLC. Differences in coral recruit community structure can be attributed to slight variation in percent macroalgal cover and composition as study sites had nearly similar benthic spatial heterogeneity. Dominance by ephemeral coral species was widespread. Recovery of largely declining massive reef-building species such as the O. annularis species complex was limited or non-existent. The lack of recovery could be the combined result of several mechanisms involving climate change, YBD disease, macroalgae, fishing, urchins and Mona Island’s reefs limited connectivity to other reef systems. There is also for rehabilitation of fish trophic structure, with emphasis in recovering herbivore guilds and depleted populations of D. antillarum. Failing to recognize the importance of ecosystem-based management and resilience rehabilitation may deem remote coral reefs recovery unlikely.