Recent dynamics and condition of coral reefs in the Colombian Caribbean
Long-term monitoring data provide a basis to recognize changes in coral reef communities and to implement appropriate management strategies. Unfortunately, coral reef dynamics have been poorly documented at any temporal scale in the Southern Caribbean. Through the "National Monitoring System of...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Universidad de Costa Rica
2010-05-01
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| Series: | Revista de Biología Tropical |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.scielo.sa.cr/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0034-77442010000500009&lng=en&tlng=en |
| _version_ | 1827164391462666240 |
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| author | Alberto Rodríguez-Ramírez María Catalina Reyes-Nivia Sven Zea Raúl Navas-Camacho Jaime Garzón-Ferreira Sonia Bejarano Pilar Herrón Carlos Orozco |
| author_facet | Alberto Rodríguez-Ramírez María Catalina Reyes-Nivia Sven Zea Raúl Navas-Camacho Jaime Garzón-Ferreira Sonia Bejarano Pilar Herrón Carlos Orozco |
| author_sort | Alberto Rodríguez-Ramírez |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Long-term monitoring data provide a basis to recognize changes in coral reef communities and to implement appropriate management strategies. Unfortunately, coral reef dynamics have been poorly documented at any temporal scale in the Southern Caribbean. Through the "National Monitoring System of Coral Reefs in Colombia" (Spanish acronym: SIMAC), we assessed 32 permanent plots at different depth levels in six reefs areas of the Colombian Caribbean from 1998 to 2004. Temporal trends in coral and algal cover were evaluated by repeated measures ANOVA. The model included the effect of depth levels (a fixed effect), monitoring plots (a random effect) as a nested factor within depths, and time (repeated factor). We found high spatial variability in major benthic components. Overall means indicated that algae were the most abundant biotic component in nearly all areas, ranging from 30.3% at Rosario to 53.3% at San Andrés. Live coral cover varied considerably from 10.1% at Santa Marta up to 43.5% at Urabá. Coral and algae cover per se are not always accurate reef indicators and therefore they need supplementary information. Temporal analyses suggested relative stability of coral and algal cover along the study but the causes for the observed trends were rarely identified. A significant decrease (p=0.042) in coral cover was only identified for some monitoring plots in Tayrona-time x plot (depth level) interaction, and importantly, few coral species explained this trend. Significant increase (p=0.005) in algal cover was observed over time for most plots in Rosario. Temporal trajectories in algal cover were influenced by depth-significant time x depth interaction-in San Andrés (increase, p=0.004) and Urabá (decrease, p=0.027). Algae trends were mainly explained by changes in algal turfs. Monitoring programs must focus on the mechanisms mediating the changes, in particular those concerning coral recovery and reef resilience in the current context of climate change. Rev. Biol. Trop. 58 (Suppl. 1): 107-131. Epub 2010 May 01. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T20:24:54Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e5f55aadb5e3435384cdb2efae54000c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0034-7744 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-03-21T01:15:51Z |
| publishDate | 2010-05-01 |
| publisher | Universidad de Costa Rica |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Revista de Biología Tropical |
| spelling | doaj.art-e5f55aadb5e3435384cdb2efae54000c2024-08-03T03:03:04ZengUniversidad de Costa RicaRevista de Biología Tropical0034-77442010-05-0158suppl 1107131S0034-77442010000500009Recent dynamics and condition of coral reefs in the Colombian CaribbeanAlberto Rodríguez-RamírezMaría Catalina Reyes-NiviaSven ZeaRaúl Navas-CamachoJaime Garzón-FerreiraSonia BejaranoPilar HerrónCarlos OrozcoLong-term monitoring data provide a basis to recognize changes in coral reef communities and to implement appropriate management strategies. Unfortunately, coral reef dynamics have been poorly documented at any temporal scale in the Southern Caribbean. Through the "National Monitoring System of Coral Reefs in Colombia" (Spanish acronym: SIMAC), we assessed 32 permanent plots at different depth levels in six reefs areas of the Colombian Caribbean from 1998 to 2004. Temporal trends in coral and algal cover were evaluated by repeated measures ANOVA. The model included the effect of depth levels (a fixed effect), monitoring plots (a random effect) as a nested factor within depths, and time (repeated factor). We found high spatial variability in major benthic components. Overall means indicated that algae were the most abundant biotic component in nearly all areas, ranging from 30.3% at Rosario to 53.3% at San Andrés. Live coral cover varied considerably from 10.1% at Santa Marta up to 43.5% at Urabá. Coral and algae cover per se are not always accurate reef indicators and therefore they need supplementary information. Temporal analyses suggested relative stability of coral and algal cover along the study but the causes for the observed trends were rarely identified. A significant decrease (p=0.042) in coral cover was only identified for some monitoring plots in Tayrona-time x plot (depth level) interaction, and importantly, few coral species explained this trend. Significant increase (p=0.005) in algal cover was observed over time for most plots in Rosario. Temporal trajectories in algal cover were influenced by depth-significant time x depth interaction-in San Andrés (increase, p=0.004) and Urabá (decrease, p=0.027). Algae trends were mainly explained by changes in algal turfs. Monitoring programs must focus on the mechanisms mediating the changes, in particular those concerning coral recovery and reef resilience in the current context of climate change. Rev. Biol. Trop. 58 (Suppl. 1): 107-131. Epub 2010 May 01.http://www.scielo.sa.cr/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0034-77442010000500009&lng=en&tlng=enMonitoreoarrecifes de coralcondicióndinámicaSIMACCaribe colombiano |
| spellingShingle | Alberto Rodríguez-Ramírez María Catalina Reyes-Nivia Sven Zea Raúl Navas-Camacho Jaime Garzón-Ferreira Sonia Bejarano Pilar Herrón Carlos Orozco Recent dynamics and condition of coral reefs in the Colombian Caribbean Revista de Biología Tropical Monitoreo arrecifes de coral condición dinámica SIMAC Caribe colombiano |
| title | Recent dynamics and condition of coral reefs in the Colombian Caribbean |
| title_full | Recent dynamics and condition of coral reefs in the Colombian Caribbean |
| title_fullStr | Recent dynamics and condition of coral reefs in the Colombian Caribbean |
| title_full_unstemmed | Recent dynamics and condition of coral reefs in the Colombian Caribbean |
| title_short | Recent dynamics and condition of coral reefs in the Colombian Caribbean |
| title_sort | recent dynamics and condition of coral reefs in the colombian caribbean |
| topic | Monitoreo arrecifes de coral condición dinámica SIMAC Caribe colombiano |
| url | http://www.scielo.sa.cr/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0034-77442010000500009&lng=en&tlng=en |
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