Massive bleaching of coral reefs induced by the 2010 ENSO, Puerto Cabello, Venezuela
El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) has generated global coral massive bleaching. The aim of this work was to evaluate the massive bleaching of coral reefs in Puerto Cabello, Venezuela derived from ENSO 2010. We evaluated the bleaching of reefs at five localities both at three and five meter depth....
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Vicerractoría Investigación
2012-06-01
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| Series: | Revista de Biología Tropical |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.scielo.sa.cr/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0034-77442012000200002&lng=en&tlng=en |
| _version_ | 1797708892024602624 |
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| author | Carlos del Mónaco Gerard Haiek Samuel Narciso Miguel Galindo |
| author_facet | Carlos del Mónaco Gerard Haiek Samuel Narciso Miguel Galindo |
| author_sort | Carlos del Mónaco |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) has generated global coral massive bleaching. The aim of this work was to evaluate the massive bleaching of coral reefs in Puerto Cabello, Venezuela derived from ENSO 2010. We evaluated the bleaching of reefs at five localities both at three and five meter depth. The coral cover and densities of colonies were estimated. We recorded living coral cover, number and diameter of bleached and nonbleached colonies of each coral species. The colonies were classified according to the proportion of bleached area. Satellite images (Modis Scar) were analyzed for chlorophyll-a concentration and temperature in August, September, October and November from 2008-2010. Precipitation, wind speed and air temperature information was evaluated in meteorological data for 2009 and 2010. A total of 58.3% of colonies, belonging to 11 hexacoral species, were affected and the greatest responses were observed in Colpophyllia natans, Montastraea annularis and Montastraea faveolata. The most affected localities were closer to the mainland and had a bleached proportion up to 62.73±36.55%, with the highest proportion of affected colonies, whereas the farthest locality showed 20.25±14.00% bleached and the smallest proportion. The salinity in situ varied between 30 and 33ppm and high levels of turbidity were observed. According to the satellite images, in 2010 the surface water temperatura reached 31ºC in August, September and October, and resulted higher than those registered in 2008 and 2009. Regionally, chlorophyll values were higher in 2010 than in 2008 and 2009. The meteorological data indicated that precipitation in November 2010 was three times higher than in November 2009. Massive coral bleaching occurred due to a three month period of high temperatures followed by one month of intense ENSO-associated precipitation. However, this latter factor was likely the trigger because of the bleaching gradient observed. Rev. Biol. Trop. 60 (2): 527-538. Epub 2012 June 01. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T06:28:18Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ad129a1c697243d396fcc733aa59dd40 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0034-7744 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T06:28:18Z |
| publishDate | 2012-06-01 |
| publisher | Vicerractoría Investigación |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Revista de Biología Tropical |
| spelling | doaj.art-ad129a1c697243d396fcc733aa59dd402023-09-03T01:47:10ZengVicerractoría InvestigaciónRevista de Biología Tropical0034-77442012-06-01602527538S0034-77442012000200002Massive bleaching of coral reefs induced by the 2010 ENSO, Puerto Cabello, VenezuelaCarlos del Mónaco0Gerard Haiek1Samuel Narciso2Miguel Galindo3Griffith UniversityUniversidad Central de VenezuelaFundación por la Defensa de la NaturalezaUniversidad Central de VenezuelaEl Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) has generated global coral massive bleaching. The aim of this work was to evaluate the massive bleaching of coral reefs in Puerto Cabello, Venezuela derived from ENSO 2010. We evaluated the bleaching of reefs at five localities both at three and five meter depth. The coral cover and densities of colonies were estimated. We recorded living coral cover, number and diameter of bleached and nonbleached colonies of each coral species. The colonies were classified according to the proportion of bleached area. Satellite images (Modis Scar) were analyzed for chlorophyll-a concentration and temperature in August, September, October and November from 2008-2010. Precipitation, wind speed and air temperature information was evaluated in meteorological data for 2009 and 2010. A total of 58.3% of colonies, belonging to 11 hexacoral species, were affected and the greatest responses were observed in Colpophyllia natans, Montastraea annularis and Montastraea faveolata. The most affected localities were closer to the mainland and had a bleached proportion up to 62.73±36.55%, with the highest proportion of affected colonies, whereas the farthest locality showed 20.25±14.00% bleached and the smallest proportion. The salinity in situ varied between 30 and 33ppm and high levels of turbidity were observed. According to the satellite images, in 2010 the surface water temperatura reached 31ºC in August, September and October, and resulted higher than those registered in 2008 and 2009. Regionally, chlorophyll values were higher in 2010 than in 2008 and 2009. The meteorological data indicated that precipitation in November 2010 was three times higher than in November 2009. Massive coral bleaching occurred due to a three month period of high temperatures followed by one month of intense ENSO-associated precipitation. However, this latter factor was likely the trigger because of the bleaching gradient observed. Rev. Biol. Trop. 60 (2): 527-538. Epub 2012 June 01.http://www.scielo.sa.cr/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0034-77442012000200002&lng=en&tlng=enENSOarrecifesblanqueamientoPuerto Cabello |
| spellingShingle | Carlos del Mónaco Gerard Haiek Samuel Narciso Miguel Galindo Massive bleaching of coral reefs induced by the 2010 ENSO, Puerto Cabello, Venezuela Revista de Biología Tropical ENSO arrecifes blanqueamiento Puerto Cabello |
| title | Massive bleaching of coral reefs induced by the 2010 ENSO, Puerto Cabello, Venezuela |
| title_full | Massive bleaching of coral reefs induced by the 2010 ENSO, Puerto Cabello, Venezuela |
| title_fullStr | Massive bleaching of coral reefs induced by the 2010 ENSO, Puerto Cabello, Venezuela |
| title_full_unstemmed | Massive bleaching of coral reefs induced by the 2010 ENSO, Puerto Cabello, Venezuela |
| title_short | Massive bleaching of coral reefs induced by the 2010 ENSO, Puerto Cabello, Venezuela |
| title_sort | massive bleaching of coral reefs induced by the 2010 enso puerto cabello venezuela |
| topic | ENSO arrecifes blanqueamiento Puerto Cabello |
| url | http://www.scielo.sa.cr/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0034-77442012000200002&lng=en&tlng=en |
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