Tracking Over 30 Years of Coral Reef Infrastructure Degradation in Barbados

Abstract

Coral reefs face escalating threats from global and local stressors, with climate change exacerbating these challenges in the Caribbean. This study focuses on coral reef infrastructure in Barbados, where Lewis (2002) documented reef degradation in the 1990s. As 30 years have passed, we chose to determine the rate of change of reef infrastructure and quantify associated substrate presence along the western reefs of Barbados. Using satellite and geotagged imagery, we analyzed 19 reef structures from 2013 to 2023 along the western coast of Barbados, comparing them to Lewis's findings in 1950 and 1991. We also ground-truthed five sites previously categorized as highly degraded reefs to confirm reef structural integrity and substrate-type presence. We confirmed ongoing structural loss, averaging ~146.9 m2 annually across all sites. We identified four primary substrate types: coral, algae-covered substrate, rubble, and sand, with algae-covered substrate predominating and projected to persist. Our results underscore the urgency of monitoring and highlight the potential limitations of satellite assessment. This research enhances understanding of reef dynamics and offers a framework for identifying vulnerable areas, which are crucial for effective conservation efforts.