Unsustainable Land Use, Sediment-Laden Runoff, and Chronic Raw Sewage Offset the Benefits of Coral Reef Ecosystems in a No-Take Marine Protected Area

Hernández-Delgado, Edwin A.; Medina-Muniz, Jeiger L.; Mattei, Hernando; Norat-Ramirez, Jose

doi:10.5296/emsd.v6i2.10687

Cited by 9 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 91 publications

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“…Moreover, recruitment patterns following hurricanes and other major types of disturbances (i.e., recurrent mass bleaching and coral mortality events) have resulted in long‐term shifts that favor ephemeral species in contrast to dominance by typical large‐sized, persistent species (Loubersac et al 1988, Hernández et al 2014 b ). Recurrent runoff events in Puerto Rico have had long‐term, persistent effects on fringing coral reef assemblages (Hernández‐Delgado et al 2017, Otaño‐Cruz et al 2017, 2019), producing novel ecosystems. These runoff events increase the vulnerability of shallow coastal reef assemblages to future storm events.…”

Section: Immediate Effects To Coastal and Marine Ecosystemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For example, over decadal time spans, warming ocean temperature and its effects on water quality via sediment dynamics have had a larger impact on the near‐shore marine systems than have the intensity or frequency of hurricanes, including direct and indirect mechanisms of action (Hernandez‐Delgado 2015). Long‐term dynamics of coral reefs are also significantly influenced by land‐based sources of pollution (Sladek Nowlis et al 1997, Bonkosky et al 2009, Hernández‐Delgado et al 2010, 2017, Otaño‐Cruz et al 2017, 2019) and by long‐term alterations in land‐use patterns (Ramos‐Scharrón et al 2012, 2015). In this broader context, the long‐term response of marine systems to hurricanes must be interpreted carefully by fully considering the confounding effects of persistent anthropogenic influences such as warming seas, bleaching events, pollution, and sedimentation.…”

Section: Long‐term Responses In the Coastal And Marine Zonementioning

confidence: 99%

“…For instance, any meaningful hydromodification, alteration in land use at the watershed scale, or modification of water quality of streams and rivers due to land‐based source pollution can result in altered terrestrial‐marine connectivity. This can potentially result from altered flows of water, nutrients, and energy to estuarine and coastal habitats, increasing coastal vulnerability to potential turbid, sediment‐laden, and nutrient‐loaded pulse runoff events, which could lead to chronic degradation of adjacent coral reef ecosystems (Ennis et al 2016, Hernández‐Delgado et al 2017, Otaño‐Cruz et al 2017, 2019).…”

Section: Long‐term Responses In the Coastal And Marine Zonementioning

confidence: 99%

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Resistance, resilience, and vulnerability of social‐ecological systems to hurricanes in Puerto Rico

2020

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Subject to hurricane disturbance for millennia, natural ecosystems of Puerto Rico exhibit clear patterns of resistance (e.g., many tree species have little immediate storm-related mortality) and resilience (e.g., leaf litterfall and stream chemistry returned to pre-hurricane levels in as little as five years). Contemporaneous studies of near-shore areas also suggested no long-term impacts of hurricanes; however, anthropogenic effects (coral bleaching, sedimentation) dominate the long-term condition of marine systems in Puerto Rico, many of which have slowly evolved into novel ecosystems. A key characteristic of novel marine ecosystems is their long-term loss of benefits and resilience, coupled to declining biodiversity and loss of structural or functional redundancy, signaling increased vulnerability to subsequent hurricanes. Human systems are also strongly affected by cyclonic storms, as evidenced by the recent impacts of Hurricanes Irma and Maria in the Caribbean. The lack of short-term recovery from disturbance by coral reef ecosystems, coupled with an increasing recurrence of anthropogenic impacts, increasing hurricane frequency or severity, and sea-level rise, may have irreversible long-term socioeconomic consequences for coastal socialecological systems and for community livelihoods. A comprehensive social-ecological understanding of hurricane effects in Puerto Rico is lacking in part because hurricane effects on human populations are not comprehensively followed. Although some studies suggest a path forward, finding effective methods to link measurements of storm intensity to the diverse components of tropical social-ecological systems remains a challenge.

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Section: Immediate Effects To Coastal and Marine Ecosystemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Long‐term Responses In the Coastal And Marine Zonementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Long‐term Responses In the Coastal And Marine Zonementioning

confidence: 99%

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Resistance, resilience, and vulnerability of social‐ecological systems to hurricanes in Puerto Rico

2020

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“…Flamenco’s historical decline in live coral cover, from 64% in 1986 (±18.2 95% CI) to 14% (±7.2 95% CI) in 2013 (E. Hernández-Delgado, 2013, personal observations), suggests it is transitioning into a coral-depleted, novel reef. However, this historical data is limited to two spatially clustered sites and does not reflect the site’s recent increases in recreational uses and adjacent coastal development ( Hernández-Delgado et al, 2017 ). Therefore, the first objective was to analyze a comprehensive benthic community structure baseline of eight fringing, barrier, and shoreline reefs, and assess how these vary to local anthropogenic stressors.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial benthic community analysis of shallow coral reefs to support coastal management in Culebra Island, Puerto Rico

Gómez-Andújar

Hernández-Delgado

2020

PeerJ

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Caribbean coral reefs provide essential ecosystem services to society, including fisheries, tourism and shoreline protection from coastal erosion. However, these reefs are also exhibiting major declining trends, leading to the evolution of novel ecosystems dominated by non-reef building taxa, with potentially altered ecological functions. In the search for effective management strategies, this study characterized coral reefs in front of a touristic beach which provides economic benefits to the surrounding coastal communities yet faces increasing anthropogenic pressures and conservation challenges. Haphazard photo-transects were used to address spatial variation patterns in the reef’s benthic community structure in eight locations. Statistically significant differences were found with increasing distance from the shoreline, reef rugosity, Diadema antillarum density, among reef locations, and as a function of recreational use. Nearshore reefs reflected higher percent macroalgal cover, likely due to increased exposure from both recreational activities and nearby unsustainable land-use practices. However, nearshore reefs still support a high abundance of the endangered reef-building coral Orbicella annularis, highlighting the need to conserve these natural shoreline protectors. There is an opportunity for local stakeholders and regulatory institutions to collaboratively implement sea-urchin propagation, restoration of endangered Acroporid coral populations, and zoning of recreational densities across reefs. Our results illustrate vulnerable reef hotspots where these management interventions are needed and recommend guidelines to address them.

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“…Flamenco's historical decline in live coral cover, from 64% in 1986 (±18.2 95% CI) to 14% (±7.2 95%CI) in 2013 (E Hernández-Delgado, 2013, unpublished data), suggests it is transitioning into a coraldepleted, novel reef. However, this historical data is limited to two spatially clustered sites and does not reflect the site's recent increases in recreational uses and adjacent coastal development (Hernández-Delgado et al, 2017). Therefore, the first objective was to analyze a comprehensive benthic community structure baseline of eight fringing, barrier, and shoreline reefs, and assess how these vary to local anthropogenic stressors.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Peer Review #1 of "Spatial benthic community analysis of shallow coral reefs to support coastal management in Culebra Island, Puerto Rico (v0.1)"

2020

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Caribbean coral reefs provide essential ecosystem services to society, including fisheries, tourism, and shoreline protection from coastal erosion. However, these reefs are also exhibiting major declining trends, leading to the evolution of novel ecosystems dominated by non-reef building taxa, with potentially altered ecological functions. In the search for effective management strategies, this study characterized coral reefs in front of a touristic beach which provides economic benefits to the surrounding coastal communities yet faces increasing anthropogenic pressures and conservation challenges. Randomized photo-transects were used to address spatial variation patterns in the reef's benthic community structure in eight locations. Statistically significant differences were found with increasing distance from the shoreline, reef rugosity, Diadema antillarum density, among reef locations, and as a function of recreational use. Nearshore reefs reflected higher percent macroalgal cover, likely due to increased exposure from both recreational activities and nearby unsustainable land-use practices. However, nearshore reefs still support a high abundance of the endangered reef-building coral Orbicella annularis, highlighting the need to conserve these natural shoreline protectors. There is an opportunity for local stakeholders and regulatory institutions to collaboratively implement seaurchin propagation, restoration of endangered Acroporid coral populations, and zoning of recreational densities across reefs. Our results illustrate vulnerable reef hotspots where these management interventions are needed and recommend guidelines to address them.

show abstract

Unsustainable Land Use, Sediment-Laden Runoff, and Chronic Raw Sewage Offset the Benefits of Coral Reef Ecosystems in a No-Take Marine Protected Area

Cited by 9 publications

References 91 publications

Resistance, resilience, and vulnerability of social‐ecological systems to hurricanes in Puerto Rico

Resistance, resilience, and vulnerability of social‐ecological systems to hurricanes in Puerto Rico

Spatial benthic community analysis of shallow coral reefs to support coastal management in Culebra Island, Puerto Rico

Peer Review #1 of "Spatial benthic community analysis of shallow coral reefs to support coastal management in Culebra Island, Puerto Rico (v0.1)"

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