Connectivity patterns among coral reef systems in the southern Gulf of Mexico

Abstract

This study simulated the connectivity patterns among 7 coral reef systems in the southern Gulf of Mexico. Two subgroups of reefs were considered: one near the mainland over the narrow western shelf, and the other over the wide Campeche Bank (CB). A particle-tracking module was coupled to a realistic simulation with the Hybrid Coordinate Ocean Model in order to study the transport and dispersion of particles in near surface waters. The simulation consisted of the launch of 100 passive particles (virtual larvae) from each reef, every 24 h over a 5 year period; it considered species lasting up to 35 d in the plankton and assumed no seasonality in reproduction. On the western shelf, connection was northwards from March to August, and southwards from September to February; over the CB edge, the connection was northwestwards throughout the year. Over the western shelf, reefs showed a strong degree of interconnectivity and high particle retention. Higher self-recruitment was most likely due to the passage of synoptic-scale atmospheric systems and their associated changes in wind and current direction. In contrast, CB reefs exhibited lower connectivity and less larval retention. Over the western edge of the Bank, connectivity was almost unidirectional because of the influence of the cyclonic gyre in the Campeche Bay, which causes particles to disperse over a wide area with low probabilities of selfrecruitment. The main connection pathway was the confluence zone between neritic and oceanic waters over the outer shelf of the Bank. Connection between the 2 groups of reefs was weak.

Morphometric patterns in Modern carbonate platforms can be applied to the ancient rock record: Similarities between Modern Alacranes Reef and Upper Palaeozoic platforms of the Barents Sea

“…5C). The eastern margin of Alacranes Reef faces the direction of dominant surface current, as reconstructed by Sanvicente-Añorve et al (2014) for this sector of the Gulf of Mexico (Fig. 8B).…”

The response of the Gulf of Mexico to wind and heat flux forcing: What has been learned in recent years?

“…In the western Campeche Bank, transports on the inner shelf are upcoast and on the middle shelf the transports are also upcoast but they decrease during October. Results from Sanvicente-Añorve et al (2014) suggest that, over the outer shelf of the western Campeche Bank, the current is downcoast during September and October and the rest of the year has variable direction. The need for observational studies in the Campeche Bank region is quite evident from the literature review.…”

“…Also, cross-shelf transports may carry contaminants coming from inland into the deep ocean, or from the deep ocean onto the shelf as happens when there are deep ocean oil-spills. Larvae are also transported from the shelf to the deep ocean or vice versa (Sanvicente-Añorve et al, 2014).…”

Analysis of Ocean Current Observations in the Northern Veracruz Coral Reef System, Mexico: 2007–12

“…Results from this study show that there is a high probability of occurrence of currents in both directions in any time of the year, which is important for the advection of lowsalinity and low-temperature waters from the NW shelves of the GoM into the VCRS, favoring the presence of lower surface temperatures and temperature inversions (Mateos-Jasso et al, 2012), as well as population connectivity, larval transport, and pollution dispersion (James, 2002;Pineda, Hare, and Sponaugle, 2007;Sanvicente-Añorve et al, 2014). These results may be important to develop better strategies to reduce the environmental impact of the new Port, which is planned to be located in the northern area of the NVCRS.…”

“…The VCRS is a region of great scientific interest for its high ecological diversity and its connectivity with other coral reef areas of the southern and western GoM (Sanvicente-Añorve et al, 2014), besides its importance for the touristic and economic sectors of the country; however, the VCRS is under strong pressure from the activities of the city and the Port of Veracruz and the discharge of several rivers. The city discharges polluted waters into the area, there is a project to extend the Port, and the discharging rivers carry an excess of sediments from the deforested areas upstream.…”