Sea fan corals provide a stable isotope baseline for assessing sewage pollution in the Mexican Caribbean

Baker, David M.; Jordán-Dahlgren, Eric; Maldonado, Miguel Angel; Harvell, C. Drew

doi:10.4319/lo.2010.55.5.2139

Cited by 68 publications

(38 citation statements)

References 37 publications

(63 reference statements)

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“…It is conceivable that because the underground cave system beneath Yal Ku Lagoon is not completely mapped, fissures away from my suspected source location may contribute nutrients along the transect. Although this hypothesis is compounded by the fact that a distance effect was recorded in 2010 and in previous studies (Baker et al 2010). As shoreline development continues along the Mayan Riviera (Murray 2007), the importance of each of these potential sources into the adjacent coastal ecosystem increases.…”

mentioning

confidence: 90%

“…Within my study region, Thalassia testudinum and Gorgonia ventalina isotopic ratios, phosphorus and nitrogen concentrations, as well as water quality of the underground cave system, indicate groundwater sources of nutrients and pollutants (Carruthers et al 2005, Mutchler et al 2007, Baker et al 2010, Metcalfe et al 2011. Previous research in Yal Ku Lagoon has documented decreasing δ 15 N of octocorals, and water column Enterococcus coliform bacteria, an organism indicative of human sewage, with increasing distance from the suspected lagoon spring source (Baker et al 2010).…”

Section: Study Systemmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The Yucatan Peninsula is characterized by karstic geology, where stream flow of pollutants directly into the water is uncommon and groundwater is conducted from inland into the nearshore environment through submarine groundwater discharge. While most resorts have on-site wastewater treatment, many residences lack proper sewage disposal methods (Pacheco et al 2001) and groundwater is commonly contaminated with pollutants indicative of human waste (Baker et al 2010, Metcalfe et al 2011 Yal Ku Lagoon is 300 meters in length and turns sharply east before continuing 300 meters to the ocean entrance ( Figure 1). Within my study region, Thalassia testudinum and Gorgonia ventalina isotopic ratios, phosphorus and nitrogen concentrations, as well as water quality of the underground cave system, indicate groundwater sources of nutrients and pollutants (Carruthers et al 2005, Mutchler et al 2007, Baker et al 2010, Metcalfe et al 2011.…”

Section: Study Systemmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…While most resorts have on-site wastewater treatment, many residences lack proper sewage disposal methods (Pacheco et al 2001) and groundwater is commonly contaminated with pollutants indicative of human waste (Baker et al 2010, Metcalfe et al 2011 Yal Ku Lagoon is 300 meters in length and turns sharply east before continuing 300 meters to the ocean entrance ( Figure 1). Within my study region, Thalassia testudinum and Gorgonia ventalina isotopic ratios, phosphorus and nitrogen concentrations, as well as water quality of the underground cave system, indicate groundwater sources of nutrients and pollutants (Carruthers et al 2005, Mutchler et al 2007, Baker et al 2010, Metcalfe et al 2011. Previous research in Yal Ku Lagoon has documented decreasing δ 15 N of octocorals, and water column Enterococcus coliform bacteria, an organism indicative of human sewage, with increasing distance from the suspected lagoon spring source (Baker et al 2010).…”

Section: Study Systemmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…I examined nitrogen, phosphorus and δ 15 N content of macroalgae in both an active and passive bioassay methodology to determine the impact nitrogen loading had on the benthic assemblages in a region where nitrogen impact had been recorded in octocorals (Baker et al 2010 …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Herbivore and Nutrient Impact on Primary Producer Assemblages in a Tropical Marine Environment

Lacey¹

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Globally, human populations are increasing and coastal ecosystems are becoming increasingly impacted by anthropogenic stressors. As eutrophication and exploitation of coastal resources increases, primary producer response to these drivers becomes a key indicator of ecosystem stability. Despite the importance of monitoring primary producers such as seagrasses and macroalgae, detailed studies on the response of these benthic habitat components to drivers remain relatively sparse.Utilizing a multi-faceted examination of turtle-seagrass and sea urchinmacroalgae consumer and nutrient dynamics, I elucidate the impact of these drivers in Akumal, Quintana Roo, Mexico. In Yal Ku Lagoon, macroalgae bioindicators signified high nutrient availability, which is important for further studies, but did not consistently follow published trends reflecting decreased δ 15 N content with distance from suspected source. In Akumal Bay, eutrophication and grazing by turtles and fishes combine to structure patches within the seagrass beds. Grazed seagrass patches had higher structural complexity and productivity than patches continually grazed by turtles and fishes.v Results from this study indicate that patch abandonment may follow giving-up density theory, the first to be recorded in the marine environment. As Diadema antillarum populations recover after their massive mortality thirty years ago, the role these echinoids will have in reducing macroalgae cover and altering ecosystem state remains to be clear.Although Diadema antillarum densities within the coral reef ecosystem were comparable to other regions within the Caribbean, the echinoid population in Akumal Bay was an insufficient driver to prevent dominance of a turf-algal-sediment (TAS) state. After a four year study, declining coral cover coupled with increased algal cover suggests that the TAS-dominated state is likely to persist over time despite echinoid recovery. Studies on macroalgal diversity and nutrients within this same region of echinoids indicated diversity and nutrient content of macroalgae increased, which may further increase the persistence of the algal-dominated state.This study provides valuable insight into the variable effects of herbivores and nutrients on primary producers within a tropical coastal ecosystem. Results from this work challenge many of the currently accepted theories on primary producer response to nutrients and herbivory while providing a framework for further studies into these dynamics.vi Significant differences between winter and summer ungrazed samples were assessed with a student's t-test. Significant differences between summer ungrazed and turtle grazed were assessed with student's t-test (t-test) or Mann-Whitney t-test (M-W), depending on normality of data from the small sample size. Samples sizes are summer, winter: ungrazed (4, 11), fish grazed (0, 0) and turtle grazed (0, 4An additional driver is through herbivore grazing disturbance. In the absence of herbivory, areas experiencing high nutrient loads would be expected to shif...

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confidence: 90%