Watershed- and island wide-scale land cover changes in Puerto Rico (1930s–2004) and their potential effects on coral reef ecosystems

Ramos‐Scharrón, Carlos E.; Torres-Pulliza, Damaris; Hernández-Delgado, Edwin A.

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2014.11.016

Cited by 38 publications

(33 citation statements)

References 81 publications

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“…Findings in this study of a strong cross-shelf stress gradient on coral reefs is also consistent with the literature that suggests significant impacts of LBSP [69], eutrophication [70,71], sewage pollution [72], turbidity [73,74], sedimentation [75][76][77], and bioerosion [78] on coral reefs adjacent to sources of stress.…”

Section: Spatial Variation Patterns Of the Benthic Crrisupporting

confidence: 90%

Coral Reef Resilience Index for Novel Ecosystems: A Spatial Planning Tool for Managers and Decision Makers - A Case Study from Puerto Rico

Hernández-Delgado¹,

Barba-Herrera²,

Valcárcel³

et al. 2018

Corals in a Changing World

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Timely information is critical for coral reef managers and decision-makers to implement sustainable management measures. A Coral Reef Resilience Index (CRRI) was developed with a GIS-coupled decision-making tool applicable for Caribbean coral reef ecosystems. The CRRI is based on a five-point scale parameterized from the quantitative characterization of benthic assemblages. Separate subindices such as the Coral Index, the Threatened Species Index, and the Algal Index also provide specific information regarding targeted benthic components. This case study was based on assessments conducted in 2014 on 11 reef sites located across 3 geographic zones and 3 depth zones along the southwestern shelf of the island of Puerto Rico, Caribbean Sea. There was a significant spatial and bathymetric gradient (p < 0.05) in the distribution of CRRI values indicating higher degradation of inshore reefs. Mean global CRRI ranged from 2.78 to 3.17 across the shelf, ranking them as "fair." The Coral Index ranged from 2.60 to 3.76, ranking reefs from "poor" to "good," showing a general cross-shelf trend of improving conditions with increasing distance from pollution sources. Turbidity and ammonia were significantly correlated to CRRI scores. Multiple recommendations are provided based on coral reef conditions according to observed CRRI rankings.

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Section: Spatial Variation Patterns Of the Benthic Crrisupporting

confidence: 90%

Coral Reef Resilience Index for Novel Ecosystems: A Spatial Planning Tool for Managers and Decision Makers - A Case Study from Puerto Rico

Hernández-Delgado¹,

Barba-Herrera²,

Valcárcel³

et al. 2018

Corals in a Changing World

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“…This volatile compound oxidises to generate sulphuric acid in the atmosphere and has long been suggested to play a role in promoting condensation and cloud formation (Stefels et al 2007;Ayers and Cainey 2008). We remain uncertain how influential these processes are but the runoff, sediments and smoke that often results from deforestation and other land cover related processes can impact marine life, suggesting that emissions associated with these organisms would be affected (Abram et al 2003;Prouty et al 2014;Ramos-Scharrón et al 2015;Teneva et al 2016).…”

Section: Condensationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Forests, atmospheric water and an uncertain future: the new biology of the global water cycle

Sheil

2018

For. Ecosyst.

140

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Theory and evidence indicate that trees and other vegetation influence the atmospheric water-cycle in various ways. These influences are more important, more complex, and more poorly characterised than is widely realised. While there is little doubt that changes in tree cover will impact the water-cycle, the wider consequences remain difficult to predict as the underlying relationships and processes remain poorly characterised. Nonetheless, as forests are vulnerable to human activities, these linked aspects of the water-cycle are also at risk and the potential consequences of large scale forest loss are severe. Here, for non-specialist readers, I review our knowledge of the links between vegetation-cover and climate with a focus on forests and rain (precipitation). I highlight advances, uncertainties and research opportunities. There are significant shortcomings in our understanding of the atmospheric hydrological cycle and of its representation in climate models. A better understanding of the role of vegetation and tree-cover will reduce some of these shortcomings. I outline and illustrate various research themes where these advances may be found. These themes include the biology of evaporation, aerosols and atmospheric motion, as well as the processes that determine monsoons and diurnal precipitation cycles. A novel theory-the 'biotic pump'-suggests that evaporation and condensation can exert a major influence over atmospheric dynamics. This theory explains how high rainfall can be maintained within those continental land-masses that are sufficiently forested. Feedbacks within many of these processes can result in non-linear behaviours and the potential for dramatic changes as a result of forest loss (or gain): for example, switching from a wet to a dry local climate (or visa-versa). Much remains unknown and multiple research disciplines are needed to address this: forest scientists and other biologists have a major role to play. New ideas, methods and data offer opportunities to improve understanding. Expect surprises.

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“…Activities such as deforestation and construction of unpaved roads across steep slopes have resulted in increasing soil erosion rates and subsequent sediment delivery to adjacent coastal habitats (Sladek-Nowlis, Roberts, Smith & Siirila, 1997;MacDonald, Anderson, & Dietrich, 2007), with concomitant long-term impacts on adjacent coral reef ecosystems (Nemeth & Sladek-Nowlis, 2001;Ramos-Scharrón, Amador, & Herná ndez-Delgado, 2012;Ramos-Scharrón, Torres-Pulliza, & Herná ndez-Delgado, 2015). Increasing sedimentation is often linked to increasing turbidity and eutrophication (Meesters, Bak, Westmacott, Ridgley et al, 1998).…”

Section: Synergistic Impacts Of Local and Global-scale Factors In Cormentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These factors often create variable chronic anthropogenic stress gradients, usually negatively affecting water quality (Tomascik & Sander, 1985), coral growth rates (Tomascik, 1990), coral disease prevalence (Kaczmarsky, Draud & Williams, 2005;Smith, Nemeth, Blondeau, Calnan et al, 2008), partial colony mortality (Nugues & Roberts, 2003), and coral reef benthic community structure (Fabricius & McCorry, 2006). Current state of coral reef decline represents an increasing threat to coastal communities from climate change and sea level rise (Herná ndez-Delgado, 2015). As a consequence, the condition of coral reefs around Puerto Rico shows a large degree of spatio-temporal variability over the long term.…”

Section: Declining Coral Reef Ecosystems In Puerto Ricomentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Sea surface warming and ocean acidification can trigger bleaching and lower reef productivity (Anthony, Kline, Dí az-Pulido, Dove et al, 2008), lowering coral reef resilience (Anthony, Maynard, Dí az-Pulido, Mumby et al, 2011). Their projected synergistic impacts may result in a significant degradation of coastal water quality, ecosystem functions and benefits, in declining coastal resiliency and local economies, and in degraded community-based livelihoods (Herná ndez-Delgado, 2015). It has also been shown that different combinations of ubiquitous anthropogenic stressors (e.g., sedimentation, eutrophication, overfishing) can interactively influence natural community recovery from disturbance and may alter species compositions in the resulting community, with regime shifts from coral to macroalgal dominance (Gil, Goldenberg, Bach, Mills et al, 2016).…”

Section: Implications Of Environmental Stress On Coral Reef Conservatmentioning

confidence: 99%

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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

Medina-Muniz²,

Mattei

et al. 2017

EMSD

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Unsustainable land uses may result in poor watershed management, increased soil erosion, poorly-planned urban development, increased runoff, and sewage pollution, creating an environmental stress gradient across coastal coral reefs. This study was aimed at: 1) Evaluating water quality within and outside the Canal Luis Peña Natural Reserve (CLPNR), Culebra Island, Puerto Rico; 2) Determining if there was any significant environmental stress gradient associated to land-based non-point source pollution; and 3) Characterizing shallow-water coral reef communities across the gradient. Strong gradient impacts associated

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Watershed- and island wide-scale land cover changes in Puerto Rico (1930s–2004) and their potential effects on coral reef ecosystems

Cited by 38 publications

References 81 publications

Coral Reef Resilience Index for Novel Ecosystems: A Spatial Planning Tool for Managers and Decision Makers - A Case Study from Puerto Rico

Coral Reef Resilience Index for Novel Ecosystems: A Spatial Planning Tool for Managers and Decision Makers - A Case Study from Puerto Rico

Forests, atmospheric water and an uncertain future: the new biology of the global water cycle

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

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