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
Mercado-Molina, Alex E.; Suleimán-Ramos, Samuel E.
Outplants of the Threatened Coral Acropora cervicornis Promote Coral Recruitment in a Shallow-Water Coral Reef, Culebra, Puerto Rico Journal Article
In: Sustainability, vol. 15, iss. 24, no. 16548, pp. 1-13, 2023.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Acropora cervicornis, Caribbean, coral outplans, coral recruitment, coral reef degradation, coral reefs restauration
@article{Mercado-Molina2023,
title = {Outplants of the Threatened Coral \textit{Acropora cervicornis} Promote Coral Recruitment in a Shallow-Water Coral Reef, Culebra, Puerto Rico},
author = {Alex E. Mercado-Molina and Samuel E. Suleimán-Ramos },
url = {https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/24/16548
https://sampr.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Outplants-of-the-Threatened-Coral-Acropora-cervicornis-Promote-Coral-Recruitment-in-a-Shallow-Water-Coral-Reef-CulebraPuerto-Rico-sustainability-15-16548.pdf},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.3390/su152416548},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-12-05},
urldate = {2023-12-05},
journal = {Sustainability},
volume = {15},
number = {16548},
issue = {24},
pages = {1-13},
abstract = {The numerous socioeconomic and ecological challenges that coral reef degradation poses in the Greater Caribbean have led to a surge in restoration efforts. In this context, outplanting nursery-reared coral colonies has emerged as one of the most common strategies used to rejuvenate degraded reefs and reinstate critical ecosystem processes such as coral recruitment. However, the extent to which coral outplanting promotes the recruitment of coral species remains a subject of ongoing debate. This study tested the hypothesis that reintroducing the threatened coral Acropora cervicornis to a degraded coral reef promotes coral recruitment. To test our hypothesis, a series of recruitment
quadrats were established in an area populated with A. cervicornis outplants and in a reference location devoid of the coral. To further investigate the relationship between A. cervicornis and coral recruitment, an experiment was implemented in which half of the quadrats in the restored area received a coral outplant, while the other half were left undisturbed. After one year, all coral recruits located within the quadrats were counted and identified. It was found that in the restored area the mean recruit density exceeded that of the reference location by a factor of 2.15. Results also unveiled a positive association between coral recruitment and the presence of A. cervicornis. Specifically,
the mean recruit density in quadrats that received an A. cervicornis colony was 2.21 to 4.65-times higher than in the quadrats without coral outplants. This intriguing observation underscores the pivotal role of A. cervicornis in shaping the recruitment dynamics of corals within degraded reef areas, highlighting the potential of active coral outplanting to enhance the resilience of deteriorating coral reef ecosystems.},
keywords = {Acropora cervicornis, Caribbean, coral outplans, coral recruitment, coral reef degradation, coral reefs restauration},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
The numerous socioeconomic and ecological challenges that coral reef degradation poses in the Greater Caribbean have led to a surge in restoration efforts. In this context, outplanting nursery-reared coral colonies has emerged as one of the most common strategies used to rejuvenate degraded reefs and reinstate critical ecosystem processes such as coral recruitment. However, the extent to which coral outplanting promotes the recruitment of coral species remains a subject of ongoing debate. This study tested the hypothesis that reintroducing the threatened coral Acropora cervicornis to a degraded coral reef promotes coral recruitment. To test our hypothesis, a series of recruitment
quadrats were established in an area populated with A. cervicornis outplants and in a reference location devoid of the coral. To further investigate the relationship between A. cervicornis and coral recruitment, an experiment was implemented in which half of the quadrats in the restored area received a coral outplant, while the other half were left undisturbed. After one year, all coral recruits located within the quadrats were counted and identified. It was found that in the restored area the mean recruit density exceeded that of the reference location by a factor of 2.15. Results also unveiled a positive association between coral recruitment and the presence of A. cervicornis. Specifically,
the mean recruit density in quadrats that received an A. cervicornis colony was 2.21 to 4.65-times higher than in the quadrats without coral outplants. This intriguing observation underscores the pivotal role of A. cervicornis in shaping the recruitment dynamics of corals within degraded reef areas, highlighting the potential of active coral outplanting to enhance the resilience of deteriorating coral reef ecosystems.
quadrats were established in an area populated with A. cervicornis outplants and in a reference location devoid of the coral. To further investigate the relationship between A. cervicornis and coral recruitment, an experiment was implemented in which half of the quadrats in the restored area received a coral outplant, while the other half were left undisturbed. After one year, all coral recruits located within the quadrats were counted and identified. It was found that in the restored area the mean recruit density exceeded that of the reference location by a factor of 2.15. Results also unveiled a positive association between coral recruitment and the presence of A. cervicornis. Specifically,
the mean recruit density in quadrats that received an A. cervicornis colony was 2.21 to 4.65-times higher than in the quadrats without coral outplants. This intriguing observation underscores the pivotal role of A. cervicornis in shaping the recruitment dynamics of corals within degraded reef areas, highlighting the potential of active coral outplanting to enhance the resilience of deteriorating coral reef ecosystems.
2022
Hernández-Delgado, Edwin A.; Ortiz-Flores, María F.
The Long and Winding Road of Coral Reef Recovery in the Anthropocene: A Case Study from Puerto Rico Journal Article
In: Diversity, vol. 14, iss. 804, pp. 1-25, 2022.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Assisted Recovery, Chlorophyll-a Concentration, Climate change, Coastal Urban Habitats, Community Participation, Coral Recruit Density, Coral Recruit Diversity, coral recruitment, Ecological Restoration, Environmental Conservation, Environmental Degradation, Environmental Tolerance, Fringing Reefs, Geographic Regions, Hurricane Impact, Hurricane-Decimated Reefs, Light Attenuation Kd490, Live Coral Cover, Long-term Implications, Macroalgae Abundance, Marginal Shallow Coral Reefs, Natural Recovery, NH3, Optical Brightness, PO4, Projected Climate Change, Puerto Rico, Sea Level Rise, Sea Surface Temperature Anomalies, Turbidity, Turf Algae Abundance, Water Quality Degradation
@article{Hernández-Delgado2022,
title = {The Long and Winding Road of Coral Reef Recovery in the Anthropocene: A Case Study from Puerto Rico},
author = {Edwin A. Hernández-Delgado and María F. Ortiz-Flores},
url = {https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/14/10/804
https://sampr.org/hernandez-ortiz-2022-coral-recruitment-pr-final/
},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.3390/d14100804},
year = {2022},
date = {2022-09-27},
journal = {Diversity},
volume = {14},
issue = {804},
pages = {1-25},
abstract = {The persistence and resilience of marginal shallow coral reefs at their limits of environmental tolerance have declined due to chronic environmental degradation and climate change. However, the consequences for the natural recovery ability of reefs after disturbance remain poorly understood. This study considered the potential for natural recovery through coral recruitment on fringing reefs across different geographic regions under contrasting environmental conditions in Puerto Rico. Reefs in areas with significant water quality degradation and more severe physical impacts of hurricanes were expected to have lower coral recruit density and diversity, and therefore less potential for recovery.
Sixteen reefs were assessed across three geographic regions. Degraded reefs sustained a lower percentage of live coral cover and had higher macroalgae and turf algae abundance. Locations affected by high PO₄, NH₃, and optical brightness concentrations, high turbidity, and high sea surface temperature anomalies, chlorophyll-a concentration, and light attenuation Kd490 evidenced significantly lower coral recruit density and diversity. Hurricane-decimated reefs also exhibited impoverished coral recruit assemblages.
Low coral recruitment could have important long-term implications under projected climate change and sea level rise, particularly in coastal urban habitats. There is a need to implement effective environmental conservation, ecological restoration, and community participation strategies that facilitate enhanced coral recruitment success and assisted recovery processes.},
keywords = {Assisted Recovery, Chlorophyll-a Concentration, Climate change, Coastal Urban Habitats, Community Participation, Coral Recruit Density, Coral Recruit Diversity, coral recruitment, Ecological Restoration, Environmental Conservation, Environmental Degradation, Environmental Tolerance, Fringing Reefs, Geographic Regions, Hurricane Impact, Hurricane-Decimated Reefs, Light Attenuation Kd490, Live Coral Cover, Long-term Implications, Macroalgae Abundance, Marginal Shallow Coral Reefs, Natural Recovery, NH3, Optical Brightness, PO4, Projected Climate Change, Puerto Rico, Sea Level Rise, Sea Surface Temperature Anomalies, Turbidity, Turf Algae Abundance, Water Quality Degradation},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
The persistence and resilience of marginal shallow coral reefs at their limits of environmental tolerance have declined due to chronic environmental degradation and climate change. However, the consequences for the natural recovery ability of reefs after disturbance remain poorly understood. This study considered the potential for natural recovery through coral recruitment on fringing reefs across different geographic regions under contrasting environmental conditions in Puerto Rico. Reefs in areas with significant water quality degradation and more severe physical impacts of hurricanes were expected to have lower coral recruit density and diversity, and therefore less potential for recovery.
Sixteen reefs were assessed across three geographic regions. Degraded reefs sustained a lower percentage of live coral cover and had higher macroalgae and turf algae abundance. Locations affected by high PO₄, NH₃, and optical brightness concentrations, high turbidity, and high sea surface temperature anomalies, chlorophyll-a concentration, and light attenuation Kd490 evidenced significantly lower coral recruit density and diversity. Hurricane-decimated reefs also exhibited impoverished coral recruit assemblages.
Low coral recruitment could have important long-term implications under projected climate change and sea level rise, particularly in coastal urban habitats. There is a need to implement effective environmental conservation, ecological restoration, and community participation strategies that facilitate enhanced coral recruitment success and assisted recovery processes.
Sixteen reefs were assessed across three geographic regions. Degraded reefs sustained a lower percentage of live coral cover and had higher macroalgae and turf algae abundance. Locations affected by high PO₄, NH₃, and optical brightness concentrations, high turbidity, and high sea surface temperature anomalies, chlorophyll-a concentration, and light attenuation Kd490 evidenced significantly lower coral recruit density and diversity. Hurricane-decimated reefs also exhibited impoverished coral recruit assemblages.
Low coral recruitment could have important long-term implications under projected climate change and sea level rise, particularly in coastal urban habitats. There is a need to implement effective environmental conservation, ecological restoration, and community participation strategies that facilitate enhanced coral recruitment success and assisted recovery processes.
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.