Quantifying the reefscape transformation of a coastal Caribbean coral reef during a phase shift and the associated coastal landscape change

Rendis, Abigail Martínez; González, Gilberto Acosta; Hernández‐Stefanoni, José Luis; Arias‐González, Jesús Ernesto

doi:10.1111/maec.12334

Cited by 27 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…The overall conditions of coral reef communities in JR pointed to an ongoing phase shift from coral-to algae-dominated reef (Hughes et al, 2007). This sort of phase shift has been reported for the Caribbean region (e.g., Hughes, 1994;Martínez-Rendis et al, 2015) as a result of the synergy of stressors such as eutrophication, overfishing, elevated sea temperatures, and hurricanes. Our data indicated that local stressors (i.e., eutrophication and lack of herbivorous fish due to overfishing), exerted a rather small influence on the JR coral reefs due to the effective enforcement in the MPA.…”

Section: Cover and Diversity Patternsmentioning

confidence: 57%

Small-Scale Variability Dominates Benthic Coverage and Diversity Across the Jardines de La Reina, Cuba Coral Reef System

Hernández-Fernández

Zayas²,

Weber

et al. 2019

Front. Mar. Sci.

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Coral reefs are complex and biodiverse ecosystems that are undergoing significant change. Understanding reef composition and biodiversity at multiple spatial scales is necessary to track both large-scale and more subtle ecosystem changes. The Jardines de la Reina (JR) archipelago, located offshore of the island of Cuba, contains the largest marine protected area (MPA) in the Caribbean Sea but lacks multi-scale studies. In this contribution, we documented the diversity of scleractinian corals, octocorals, algae, and sponges across nested spatial scales spanning four orders of magnitude (10 1-10 5 m). In addition, we tested the hypothesis that species diversity followed a gradient along the ca. 200 km of reef tract. Across the archipelago, we examined benthic cover and species diversity within 255 photo-quadrats (25 × 25 cm) at 13 fore reef sites (two sampling locations per site, and 10 photo-quadrats per location). Small-scale (10 1 m) variability between photo-quadrats characterized the coral reef community structure in JR compared with local-(10 2 m) and mesoscale (10 4-10 5 m) variability. This finding suggests that biological processes (e.g., recruitment, competition) had primacy over hydrodynamics for driving the differences in reef community composition. However, the dominance of algae and low cover and diversity of scleractinian corals suggests the pervasive effects of global change on coral communities despite potential benefits provided by the MPA (e.g., oligotrophy and abundance of herbivores). There was no gradient of benthic community structure along the fore reef tract of JR; instead, a patchy distribution occurred in response to more subtle drivers acting at local scales. Overall, our multi-scale comparison was useful for differentiating the impacts of processes potentially impacting the JR reefs, thus providing important information to understand how reef communities are impacted by different environmental and anthropogenic stressors, and the potential benefits of MPAs.

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Section: Cover and Diversity Patternsmentioning

confidence: 57%

Small-Scale Variability Dominates Benthic Coverage and Diversity Across the Jardines de La Reina, Cuba Coral Reef System

Hernández-Fernández

Zayas²,

Weber

et al. 2019

Front. Mar. Sci.

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“…The reef system studied byHalford et al (2004) is isolated from the anthropogenic pressures posed along touristic coasts. These pressures affect the resilience and structure of reef communities(Arias-González et al, 2017;Bozec et al, 2008;Martínez-Rendis, Acosta González, Hernández-Stefanoni, & Arias González, 2016).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

A spatio‐temporal long‐term assessment on the ecological response of reef communities in a Caribbean marine protected area

Martínez‐Rendis

Acosta‐González²,

Arias‐González

2019

Aquatic Conservation

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Coral reef biodiversity is rapidly decreasing as a result of the loss of coral cover, which modifies the structure and functioning of the ecosystem. Understanding how coral reef communities respond in space and over the long term is essential in order to implement management strategies and reduce the effects of biodiversity loss on coral reefs. Fish, coral, and algae communities were used as indicators to evaluate changes in coral reef systems. The variation of these communities was studied in a marine protected area composed of three management zones in Cozumel Coral Reef National Park in Quintana Roo, Mexico, over a period of 11 years (2004–2014). The following parameters were monitored annually: (i) total fish density; (ii) fish trophic group densities; (iii) species richness and three fish diversity indices; (iv) relative scleractinian coral cover; and (v) relative macroalgae cover. In the years in which coastal development, such as the construction of a marina, took place, an increase in the abundance of territorial herbivorous and planktivorous fish was observed. As the coral recovered, macrocarnivores and sessile benthic invertivores were re‐established, whereas scraper herbivores showed no changes in the period of study in any of the three management zones. Coral cover recovery showed rapid phase‐shift reversal (phase‐shift, macroalgae dominance over coral) in the three zones. Even though the fish density and coral cover recovered, the diversity indices of each fish trophic group exhibited a reduction in the three management zones over time.

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“…δ 15 N signatures for D. antillarum in Mahahual suggest a different carbon source USE. These signatures are also likely the result of anthropogenic nitrogen inputs, as this site has a high eutrophication, being an area with elevated touristic demand (Martínez-Rendis et al, 2016; Arias-González et al, 2017). Furthermore, possible nitrogen fixation by anaerobic bacteria as an important factor in the variation of available sources of food.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Mahahual (18°42′16.96″N 87°42.619′W) is located in the northern part of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System (MBRS) in the state of Quintana Roo. Mahahual is a former fishing village but during the last two decades has undergone reef degradation due to anthropogenic impact (Martínez-Rendis et al, 2016). It has a narrow reef lagoon (230–450 m).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sargassumblooms in the Caribbean alter the trophic structure of the sea urchinDiadema antillarum

Cabañillas-Terán

Arana

Ruiz-Zárate

et al. 2019

PeerJ

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The arrival of large masses of drifting Sargassum since 2011 has caused changes in the natural dynamics of Caribbean coastal ecosystems. In the summer of 2015, unprecedented and massive mats of S. fluitans and S. natans have been observed throughout the Mexican Caribbean including exceptional accumulations ashore. This study uses stable isotopes to assess the impact of Sargassum blooms on the trophic dynamics of the Diadema antillarum sea urchin, a keystone herbivore on many Caribbean reefs. Bayesian models were used to estimate the variations in the relative proportions of carbon and nitrogen of assimilated algal resources. At three lagoon reef sites, the niche breadth of D. antillarum was analysed and compared under massive influx of drifting Sargassum spp. vs. no influx of Sargassum blooms. The effects of the leachates generated by the decomposition of Sargassum led to hypoxic conditions on these reefs and reduced the taxonomic diversity of macroalgal food sources available to D. antillarum. Our trophic data support the hypothesis that processes of assimilation of carbon and nitrogen were modified under Sargassum effect. Isotopic signatures of macroalgae associated with the reef sites exhibited significantly lower values of δ15N altering the natural herbivory of D. antillarum. The Stable Isotopes Analysis in R (SIAR) indicated that, under the influence of Sargassum blooms, certain algal resources (Dictyota, Halimeda and Udotea) were more assimilated due to a reduction in available algal resources. Despite being an abundant available resource, pelagic Sargassum was a negligible contributor to sea urchin diet. The Stable Isotope Bayesian Ellipses in R (SIBER) analysis displayed differences between sites, and suggests a reduction in trophic niche breadth, particularly in a protected reef lagoon. Our findings reveal that Sargassum blooms caused changes in trophic characteristics of D. antillarum with a negative impact by hypoxic conditions. These dynamics, coupled with the increase in organic matter in an oligotrophic system could lead to reduce coral reef ecosystem function.

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Quantifying the reefscape transformation of a coastal Caribbean coral reef during a phase shift and the associated coastal landscape change

Cited by 27 publications

References 32 publications

Small-Scale Variability Dominates Benthic Coverage and Diversity Across the Jardines de La Reina, Cuba Coral Reef System

Small-Scale Variability Dominates Benthic Coverage and Diversity Across the Jardines de La Reina, Cuba Coral Reef System

A spatio‐temporal long‐term assessment on the ecological response of reef communities in a Caribbean marine protected area

Sargassumblooms in the Caribbean alter the trophic structure of the sea urchinDiadema antillarum

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