Condición De Los Arrecifes De Coral Frente a Costas Con Asentamientos Humanos Y Aportes Terrígenos: El Caso Del Litoral Habanero, Cuba

Abstract

Se evaluó la condición de los arrecifes de coral del norte de las provincias habaneras (NW Cuba), área con influencia variable de asentamientos humanos y de aporte terrígeno, con la aplicación de indicadores biológicos del bentos de la metodología AGRRA: cubrimiento vivo de coral; densidad, diámetro máximo, mortalidad reciente y antigua, y reclutamiento de corales duros; densidad de erizos Diadema antillarum; y cubrimiento por macroalgas. Se muestrearon las comunidades de corales de 11 sitios de crestas arrecifales y 22 de arrecifes frontales durante el año 2004. Se calcularon los índices de heterogeneidad de Shannon y de equitatividad de Pielou. Se identificaron 33 especies de corales (mayores de 10). Hubo diferencias significativas entre sitios en los indicadores biológicos analizados que sugieren una marcada heterogeneidad en las condiciones medioambientales a lo largo de la zona de estudio. El cubrimiento medio de coral vivo en las crestas fue de 28% y en los arrecifes frontales, de 21%. La densidad media en las crestas fue de 9 colonias/10 m, mientras que en los arrecifes más profundos, 12 colonias/10 m. Se observaron poca mortalidad reciente y bajos porcentajes de corales enfermos. La mortalidad antigua se debe aparentemente a la acumulación histórica de afectaciones, tanto naturales como antrópicas. Los arrecifes estuvieron perturbados además por cubrimientos significativos de macroalgas carnosas aparentemente causados por una combinación de exceso de nutrientes e insuficiente herbivorismo. Se encontraron arrecifes en buenas condiciones posiblemente dado por cierto nivel de heterotrofía favorecido por enriquecimiento de materia orgánica particulada proveniente de tierra.Coral reef condition north of the Havanan provinces (NW Cuba), an area with variable influence from human settlements and runoff, was assessed using the AGRRA methodology’s benthic biological indicators: live coral cover, coral density, maximum colony diameter, old and recent coral mortality, coral recruitment, Diadema antillarum density, and macroalgae cover. Coral communities at 11 reef crest and 22 forereef sites were sampled during 2004. The Shannon heterogenety and Pielou evenness indices were calculated. A total of 33 species of coral, larger than 10 cm in maximum diameter, were identified. The biological indicators analyzed showed significant differences among sites, which suggest a marked heterogeneity in environmental conditions along the study area. The average live coral cover was 28% on crests, and 21% on forereefs. The average densities were 9 colonies/10 m in crests, and 12 colonies/10 m in the deeper sites. Little recent mortality and low diseased coral percentages were observed. Old mortality is apparently due to the historical accumulation of both natural and anthropogenic effects. Reefs were also perturbed by considerable fleshy macroalgal cover, apparently a consequence of both excess of nutrients and insufficient herbivory. Reefs in good condition were found possibly due to some level of heterotophy from organic matter enrichment derived from land sources.

Coral communities condition in varying wave exposure: the gulf of Cazones, Cuba

“…The mean live coral cover in C1 (~ 60 %) was higher than those reported for other reef crests through the Cuban archipelago, where the "healthiest" reef crests do not exceed 40 %, and a large number of them are less 10 %, revealing a critical state (González-Ferrer et al, 2007, Caballero, Alcolado, & Semidey, 2009Alcolado et al, 2009bAlcolado et al, , 2010. Apparently this location has experienced stable conditions for Acropora populations.…”

“…This suggests that C1 has been more resilient against natural disturbances causing high mortality to A. palmata. This species has experienced a significant regional decline as a result of storms, bleaching events, predation and epizootic diseases (Aronson & Precht, 2001 The mean live coral cover in C1 (~ 60 %) was higher than those reported for other reef crests through the Cuban archipelago, where the "healthiest" reef crests do not exceed 40 %, and a large number of them are less 10 %, revealing a critical state (González-Ferrer et al, 2007, Caballero, Alcolado, & Semidey, 2009Alcolado et al, 2009bAlcolado et al, , 2010. Apparently this location has experienced stable conditions for Acropora populations.…”

“…The weighed national average of live coral cover estimated by Alcolado et al (2009b) for years 2003 was 13.4 %. Finally, between 2007 fore reef sites from Western Cuba presented a mean coral cover of 15.6 % (Caballero, Alcolado, & Semidey, 2009;Perera et al, 2013).…”

“…The weighed national average of live coral cover estimated by Alcolado et al (2009b) for years 2003 was 13.4 %. Finally, between 2007 fore reef sites from Western Cuba presented a mean coral cover of 15.6 % (Caballero, Alcolado, & Semidey, 2009;Perera et al, 2013).Species richness and coral community composition were not related to wave exposure in fore-reef sites. Coral composition was very variable among locations and depths with no clear grouping in the ordination analysis.…”

Cobertura y estado de los arrecifes de coral e ictiofauna asociada en Playa Cacique e Isla Mamey, Portobelo, Colón

“…Los arrecifes más cercanos a la costa son los más vulnerables [22] ante perturbaciones por: tránsito marítimo, contaminación, sobrepesca y turismo [23]. También el incremento de las tasas de sedimento y nutrientes provenientes de la agricultura [24][25] han sido las causas principales de esta degradación mundial [2].…”