Describing the dynamics of recruits and juvenile scleractinian corals using 3d models: a case study from Cayo Mero reef, Morrocoy National Park, Venezuela
Understanding the dynamics of coral recruitment and post-settlement is fundamental to a better comprehension of coral reef dynamics and recovery. We studied the abundance and survivorship of coral recruits and juveniles together with benthic dynamics at a scale of months and centimeters in Playa Mer...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Museo Nacional de Historia Natural "Prof. Eugenio de Jesús Marcano"
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Novitates Caribaea |
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| Online Access: | https://novitatescaribaea.do/index.php/novitates/article/view/347 |
| _version_ | 1797348788128448512 |
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| author | Gloria Mariño-Briceño José Cappelletto Alfredo Ascanio Esteban Agudo-Adriani Aldo Cróquer |
| author_facet | Gloria Mariño-Briceño José Cappelletto Alfredo Ascanio Esteban Agudo-Adriani Aldo Cróquer |
| author_sort | Gloria Mariño-Briceño |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Understanding the dynamics of coral recruitment and post-settlement is fundamental to a better comprehension of coral reef dynamics and recovery. We studied the abundance and survivorship of coral recruits and juveniles together with benthic dynamics at a scale of months and centimeters in Playa Mero reef, a disturbed reef in Morrocoy National Park. For this, we used photogrammetry to monitor eight permanent 50x50 cm quadrats haphazardly deployed every 3–4 months over 18 months. Juveniles and recruits of Agaricia spp. were at least four times more abundant than reef builders such as Orbicella spp. A distance-based linear model showed that rugosity, macroalgae, coral cover, and sand were the most important benthic variables and predicted up to 46% of the spatial and temporal variation of recruit and juvenile corals. The mortality of juvenile corals was higher than net recruitment rates, and only a limited number of genera such as Agariciids, Colpophyllia, Porites, and Scolymia were observed as recruits. Using a logit model, we also found a positive relationship between the mean growth rate and survivorship of juvenile corals (Nagelkerke R2= 0.67). We concluded the lack of recruitment of large reef builders, and the rapid mortality of a limited number of juvenile species, might be a sign of a coral community's failure to increase coral cover. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T12:11:10Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d4988339c41843f59ce50c79c872fc50 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2071-9841 2079-0139 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T12:11:10Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | Museo Nacional de Historia Natural "Prof. Eugenio de Jesús Marcano" |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Novitates Caribaea |
| spelling | doaj.art-d4988339c41843f59ce50c79c872fc502024-01-22T23:38:36ZengMuseo Nacional de Historia Natural "Prof. Eugenio de Jesús Marcano"Novitates Caribaea2071-98412079-01392024-01-0123517310.33800/nc.vi23.347329Describing the dynamics of recruits and juvenile scleractinian corals using 3d models: a case study from Cayo Mero reef, Morrocoy National Park, VenezuelaGloria Mariño-Briceño0José Cappelletto1Alfredo Ascanio2Esteban Agudo-Adriani3Aldo Cróquer4Universidad Simón Bolívar, Caracas, VenezuelaUniversidad Simón Bolívar, Caracas, VenezuelaMiami University, Oxford, Ohio, U.S.A.University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, U.S.A.Universidad Simón Bolívar, Caracas, VenezuelaUnderstanding the dynamics of coral recruitment and post-settlement is fundamental to a better comprehension of coral reef dynamics and recovery. We studied the abundance and survivorship of coral recruits and juveniles together with benthic dynamics at a scale of months and centimeters in Playa Mero reef, a disturbed reef in Morrocoy National Park. For this, we used photogrammetry to monitor eight permanent 50x50 cm quadrats haphazardly deployed every 3–4 months over 18 months. Juveniles and recruits of Agaricia spp. were at least four times more abundant than reef builders such as Orbicella spp. A distance-based linear model showed that rugosity, macroalgae, coral cover, and sand were the most important benthic variables and predicted up to 46% of the spatial and temporal variation of recruit and juvenile corals. The mortality of juvenile corals was higher than net recruitment rates, and only a limited number of genera such as Agariciids, Colpophyllia, Porites, and Scolymia were observed as recruits. Using a logit model, we also found a positive relationship between the mean growth rate and survivorship of juvenile corals (Nagelkerke R2= 0.67). We concluded the lack of recruitment of large reef builders, and the rapid mortality of a limited number of juvenile species, might be a sign of a coral community's failure to increase coral cover.https://novitatescaribaea.do/index.php/novitates/article/view/347juvenile coralsdisturbed reefsphotogrammetrystructural complexitygrowth ratescaribbean |
| spellingShingle | Gloria Mariño-Briceño José Cappelletto Alfredo Ascanio Esteban Agudo-Adriani Aldo Cróquer Describing the dynamics of recruits and juvenile scleractinian corals using 3d models: a case study from Cayo Mero reef, Morrocoy National Park, Venezuela Novitates Caribaea juvenile corals disturbed reefs photogrammetry structural complexity growth rates caribbean |
| title | Describing the dynamics of recruits and juvenile scleractinian corals using 3d models: a case study from Cayo Mero reef, Morrocoy National Park, Venezuela |
| title_full | Describing the dynamics of recruits and juvenile scleractinian corals using 3d models: a case study from Cayo Mero reef, Morrocoy National Park, Venezuela |
| title_fullStr | Describing the dynamics of recruits and juvenile scleractinian corals using 3d models: a case study from Cayo Mero reef, Morrocoy National Park, Venezuela |
| title_full_unstemmed | Describing the dynamics of recruits and juvenile scleractinian corals using 3d models: a case study from Cayo Mero reef, Morrocoy National Park, Venezuela |
| title_short | Describing the dynamics of recruits and juvenile scleractinian corals using 3d models: a case study from Cayo Mero reef, Morrocoy National Park, Venezuela |
| title_sort | describing the dynamics of recruits and juvenile scleractinian corals using 3d models a case study from cayo mero reef morrocoy national park venezuela |
| topic | juvenile corals disturbed reefs photogrammetry structural complexity growth rates caribbean |
| url | https://novitatescaribaea.do/index.php/novitates/article/view/347 |
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