Caulerpa sertularioides, a green alga spreading aggressively over coral reef communities in Culebra Bay, North Pacific of Costa Rica

Fernández, Cindy; Cortés, Jorge

doi:10.1007/s00338-004-0440-8

Cited by 33 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…In Culebra Bay, the environmental conditions have deteriorated in recent years due to anthropogenic eutrophication (Fernández 2007, Fernández et al in prep.). This has resulted in invasions by Caulerpa sertularoides (Fernández & Cortés 2005, Fernández 2007) and phytoplankton proliferations (Jiménez 2007, Jiménez et al in prep.). As a consequence, live coral cover in the Bay has declined (Jiménez 2007, Bezy et al 2006, Cortés et al 2010.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reconstruction of Diadema mexicanum bioerosion impact on three Costa Rican Pacific coral reefs

Alvarado

Cortés

Reyes‐Bonilla³

2015

RBT

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El fenómeno de El Niño de 1982-83 produjo una alta mortalidad coralina (50-90%) en varias localidades del Pacífico Tropical Oriental, lo que en algunos arrecifes trajo como consecuencia una explosión en la poblaciones de erizos de mar, Diadema mexicanum, y por consiguiente un aumento en la bioerosión del basamento coralino. En Costa Rica, el impacto fue diferencial en tres localidades arrecifales, siendo mayor en la Isla del Coco, intermedio en la Isla del Caño, y menor en Bahía Culebra, con similares patrones en la presencia del erizo D. mexicanum. Con el fin de poder entender el papel histórico que desempeña este erizo de mar en el balance entre bioerosión y bioacreción, se reconstruyó el impacto bioerosivo basándose en patrones actuales de ingestión de carbonatos por parte del erizo, tasas de crecimiento y densidad del esqueleto coralino, y datos históricos de densidad poblacional del erizo y cobertura coralina. Los resultados de las reconstrucciones variaron dependiendo de la localidad. En la Isla del Coco, el efecto de los erizos de mar varío de un efecto negativo sobre el balance arrecifal de carbonatos a un efecto positivo, favoreciendo el reclutamiento coralino y la recuperación del arrecife. En la Isla del Caño, Diadema presentó un efecto neutro, al no tener una participación preponderante en el balance de carbonatos de esta isla. Mientras, que en Bahía Culebra, los efectos de los erizos de mar pasaron de tener un efecto positivo-neutro, a uno negativo, posiblemente asociado a un incremento en condiciones eutróficas de la bahía que están favoreciendo un incremento en la bioerosión del basamento coralino. El valor de este erizo en la dinámica arrecifal y su relación con la protección, sobrepesca, y manejo costero, posee una gran influencia en el balance de carbonatos en los arrecifes coralinos del Pacífico de Costa Rica.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reconstruction of Diadema mexicanum bioerosion impact on three Costa Rican Pacific coral reefs

Alvarado

Cortés

Reyes‐Bonilla³

2015

RBT

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“…Mason] has been previously mentioned by Setchell and Mason (1943). Two other species, already known from the Caribbean coast, have been recently reported also from the Pacific coast of Costa Rica (Caulerpa sertularioides (S.G. Gmelin) M. Howe; Fernández and Cortés (2005), and from Cocos Island (Dictyopteris delicatula J.V. Lamouroux; Fernández 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 91%

New records of benthic marine algae and Cyanobacteria for Costa Rica, and a comparison with other Central American countries

Bernecker

Wehrtmann

2009

Helgol Mar Res

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We present the results of an intensive sampling program carried out from 2000 to 2007 along both coasts of Costa Rica, Central America. The presence of 44 species of benthic marine algae is reported for the first time for Costa Rica. Most of the new records are Rhodophyta (27 spp.), followed by Chlorophyta (15 spp.), and Heterokontophyta, Phaeophycea (2 spp.). Overall, the currently known marine flora of Costa Rica is comprised of 446 benthic marine algae and 24 Cyanobacteria. This species number is an under estimation, and will increase when species of benthic marine algae from taxonomic groups where only limited information is available (e.g., microfilamentous benthic marine algae, Cyanobacteria) are included. The Caribbean coast harbors considerably more benthic marine algae (318 spp.) than the Pacific coast (190 spp.); such a trend has been observed in all neighboring countries. Compared to other Central American countries, Costa Rica has the highest number of reported benthic marine algae; however, Panama may have a similarly high diversity after unpublished results from a Rhodophyta survey (Wysor, unpublished) are included. Sixty-two species have been found along both the Pacific and Caribbean coasts of Costa Rica; we discuss this result in relation to the emergence of the Central American Isthmus.

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“…Sánchez-Noguera reporta coberturas promedio de coral vivo que oscilan entre 1 y 4 %, acompañadas por un aumento significativo en la cobertura de macroalgas. Esta mortandad coralina deja espacio disponible para el asentamiento de otras especies invasoras de rápido crecimiento como el alga invasora C. sertularioides (Fernández, & Cortés, 2005;Fernández-García, 2007;Fernández-García et al, 2012), que modificó por completo el sistema, inclusive transformándolo en un nuevo ecosistema (praderas de Caulerpa). A su vez, la alta disponibilidad de otras algas favoreció el desarrollo de organismos herbívoros, que rápidamente por su acción de alimentación fueron bioerosionando el basamento coralino (Alvarado et al, 2012a(Alvarado et al, , 2016a.…”

Section: Macroinvertebrados Móvilesunclassified

“…Sobre el sustrato coralino muerto se propicia el desarrollo de tapetes algales ("turf"), lo que probablemente favorece el crecimiento explosivo de poblaciones de erizos de mar que, a su vez, incrementó su impacto bioerosivo sobre los arrecifes (Alvarado, Cortés, & Reyes-Bonilla, 2012a). Por otro lado, el deterioro de la calidad del agua marina facilita también al alga invasiva Caulerpa sertularioides, que sobrecrece los corales y modifica el fondo marino (Fernández, & Cortés 2005;Fernández-García et al, 2012).…”

unclassified

Cuando la conservación no puede seguir el ritmo del desarrollo: Estado de salud de los ecosistemas coralinos del Pacífico Norte de Costa Rica

Barrientos

Beita-Jiménez

Mena

et al. 2018

RBT

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When conservation can keep up with development´s pace: Health status of coral ecosystems in the North Pacific of Costa Rica. Coral reefs are diverse and productive ecosystems, despite this, they are being threatened by human activities that enhance the detrimental impact of the natural phenomenon's like Harmful Algal Blooms (HAB). The north Pacific of Costa Rica has been characterized as one of the best regions for the coral reefs development in the country. However, many of these ecosystems are being lost as a result of eutrophication, overfishing, invasive species and others impacts that affect the region. In the present study, live coral cover in the north Pacific was 5.0 ± 10.4(s.d.) %, with a domination in the ecosystems by turf algae. Twenty-six invertebrate taxa were registered in the region with the predominance of the sea urchin Diadema mexicanum. Ninety-four species of reef fish were identified. Snappers and some planktivores species were the groups with the highest frequency and abundance. The localities previously studied in the 1990 decade, presented a mean live coral cover between 40-50 %, whereby the actual state of the reef reflect a significant deterioration. This decline in coral cover is due to natural events like the El Niño, as well as the decrease in water quality in the region. In recent years, proliferations of the invasive seaweed Caulerpa sertularioides and high densities of bioerosive sea urchins have been reported, mainly associated with HAB events. Likewise, fish communities have low biomass, especially in the vicinity of fishing villages. The state of the reefs in the North Pacific is worrying and requires actions for its recovery and conservation, for which there must be better planning of the development of projects and activities on the coast. Rev. Biol. Trop. 66(Suppl. 1): S280-S308. Epub 2018 April 01.

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Caulerpa sertularioides, a green alga spreading aggressively over coral reef communities in Culebra Bay, North Pacific of Costa Rica

Cited by 33 publications

References 3 publications

Reconstruction of <i>Diadema mexicanum</i> bioerosion impact on three Costa Rican Pacific coral reefs

Reconstruction of <i>Diadema mexicanum</i> bioerosion impact on three Costa Rican Pacific coral reefs

New records of benthic marine algae and Cyanobacteria for Costa Rica, and a comparison with other Central American countries

Cuando la conservación no puede seguir el ritmo del desarrollo: Estado de salud de los ecosistemas coralinos del Pacífico Norte de Costa Rica

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