Cambios en las comunidades de peces de los arrecifes coralinos del Archipiélago Sabana-Camagüey, Cuba

Abstract

Changes in fish communities of coral reefs at Sabana-Camagüey Archipelago, Cuba. A comparison of fish community structure in the Sabana-Camagüey Archipelago (1988-1989 and 2000) using visual census surveys (eight belt transects 2x50 m in each site) suggests a notable decrease on species richness, and a two thirds reduction in fish density and biomass on coral reefs. This decrease in fish populations may be related to the alarming decrease of scleractinian coral cover, and an enormous proliferation of algae, which currently covers 70-80% of the hard substrate, impeding the recovery of corals and other benthic organisms. High coral mortalities occurred between the study periods, which correlate with the high temperatures caused by the ENSO events of 1995, 1997 and 1998. These events caused massive bleaching of corals and subsequent algae overgrowth. Evidence of nutrient enrichment from the inner lagoons and overfishing are also present. Collectively, these effects have provoked a marked degradation of reef habitats. These changes appear to have affected the availability of refuges and food for fishes, and may be constraining individual growth potential and population size. Rev. Biol. Trop. 55 (2): 537-547. Epub 2007 June, 29.

Diversidad de las comunidades de peces en dos áreas marinas protegidas del Caribe y su relación con el pez león

“…En el PNG se registró menor número de especies de peces que los inventariados en otros estudios (Cobián et al, 2011), lo cual pudiera estar relacionado con el tipo de metodología utilizada. En esta área tradicionalmente se han realizado transectos lineales, los cuales se reconocen como muy efectivos para evaluar la diversidad, al cubrir un área relativamente grande y considerarse más útil para los organismos móviles y con distribución parchada (Claro & García-Arteaga, 1994). El método estacionario es muy eficiente para determinar la frecuencia y abundancia relativa de los peces de manera rápida y con un mayor número de réplicas que le confieren alta confiabilidad estadística (Bohnsack & Bannerot, 1986).…”

Historical analysis of Cuban commercial fishing effort and the effects of management interventions on important reef fishes from 1960–2005

“…In addition, environmental changes may have contributed to the trends noted in these reef fish fisheries. For example, the degradation of coral reefs as result of coral bleaching and algal overgrowth during several ENSO events, may have negatively affected aspects of the life cycle of these reefassociated species (Alcolado, 2004;Claro et al, 2006). In the case of the mullets, fished largely in estuaries and coastal lagoons, river modifications may also have affected their abundance.…”

“…These include reduction of seagrass areas in some regions, such as the inner waters of the Archipelago Sabana-Camagüey (Alcolado et al, 1999), increases in coral bleaching and diseases associated with increases in water temperatures during ENSO events (Claro et al, 2006). Other factors may include damage to coastal marine habitats from various causes, such as pollution and other kinds of habitat degradation that have increased in recent years (Martínez, Montalvo, Miravet, Lugioyo, Loza and Pérez, unpublished report 2004;Claro, 2007).…”

“…The fishery of snappers and groupers in Cuba typically concentrated on seasonal spawning aggregations. In addition to fishing activities, habitat degradation has occurred in many near-shore areas over the last two decades (Claro et al, 2006).…”

Actividad alimentaria de los peces herbívoros y su impacto en arrecifes con diferente nivel de degradación antrópica

“…Esto fue observado en la región norte-central de Cuba, donde ha disminuido la abundancia de peces herbívoros de mediana y gran talla por efecto de la pesca no sostenible, coincidiendo con el blanqueamiento masivo de corales y el aumento de la cobertura de algas (Claro et al 2007).…”