The Conservational State of Coastal Ecosystems on the Mexican Caribbean Coast: Environmental Guidelines for Their Management

Abstract

The accelerated rate of environmental degradation of the Mexican Caribbean coast is alarming. In this work, spatial analysis procedures were applied to study relationships among wave and wind climates, water quality, and environmental degradation of the principal coastal ecosystems. We found an increasing North-South gradient in the preservation state of the coastal ecosystems, related to the degree of anthropization of the coastline. In the north, all analysed stressors exert high pressure on coral reefs, seagrass meadows, mangroves, and dunes, and cause chronic coastline erosion. The coastal ecosystems of the central and southern regions are more mature and healthier, and the most significant stressor is reduced water quality. The north has been most hit by high-intensity hurricanes, the frequency of which has increased in the Mexican Caribbean over recent decades. The status of conservation of the ecosystems, added to the long-term intensification of environmental pressures, particularly high-intensity hurricanes, will induce further deterioration if a coordinated management scheme is not adopted by decision-makers. To ensure effective coordinated management, plans should be made on a regional scale using shared guidelines. Spatial analysis procedures aid in prioritizing and adapting the shared guidelines depending on the identified major stressors and the preservation state of each region in the Mexican Caribbean.

Seagrass Depth Distribution Mirrors Coastal Development in the Mexican Caribbean – An Automated Analysis of 800 Satellite Images

“…Stable isotopes (δ 15 N) indicate the assimilation of sewage by different organisms including T. testudinum (Carruthers et al, 2005;Pérez-Gómez et al, 2020). Based on a field survey data review, Guimarais et al (2021) also found a northward deterioration in the coastal ecosystem state, deduced from several metrics including the state of coral reefs and the presence of "climax" Thalassia testudinum habitats. However, data on the pattern of eutrophication along the coast was not very consistent, 124 samples at various locations over 1991 to 2018 did not show a clear north-south gradient (Guimarais et al, 2021) and were inconsistent even at local scales.…”

“…A reasonable estimate for the coverage of high LAI canopies (LAI > 3) is the average of 2017 and 2020, giving ∼40 km 2 in 900 km 2 of shallow coastal lagoon. Guimarais et al (2021) provided a figure of 576 km 2 of "seagrass meadows" in the Mexican Caribbean, which in our analysis is the area of estimated LAI greater than 0.7 (563 km 2 ). This is consistent with a presence-absence threshold for Thalassia testudinum since in mixed canopy other macrophytes may contribute around 0.5 to LAI (Supplementary Figure 1).…”

“…Based on a field survey data review, Guimarais et al (2021) also found a northward deterioration in the coastal ecosystem state, deduced from several metrics including the state of coral reefs and the presence of "climax" Thalassia testudinum habitats. However, data on the pattern of eutrophication along the coast was not very consistent, 124 samples at various locations over 1991 to 2018 did not show a clear north-south gradient (Guimarais et al, 2021) and were inconsistent even at local scales. Our in situ descriptions have confirmed higher sediment nutrient concentrations associated with locations characterised by the extended model (Figure 3C, See section "Leaf Area Index-Depth Regime").…”

“…Local fisheries are also active along the coast. The reef community of this area has been extensively studied (e.g., González-Barrios and Álvarez-Filip, 2018;Guimarais et al, 2021).…”

Identity Crisis: An Integrative Re-Evaluation of Typhlatya Shrimp within the Karst Aquifer of the Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico.

“…Typhlatya dzilamensis is not federally listed and yet was here found to be distinct from all other species, representing the only high salinity species with a habitat range restricted to coastal systems throughout the Peninsula. Thus, T. dzilamensis is an excellent candidate in need of evaluation, given its association with karst coastlines, which are particularly vulnerable to anthropogenic impacts and coastal development changes 68,72,73 . Lastly, the identification of two unknown species, which were 'rare' among our newly sequenced samples and in previously published data, warrants further study to better understand their distributions and population genetic structure.…”