Luis Bernal, Y. Gonzales, Beatriz del Carmen Medina, René Ricardo Gómez
{"title":"Evaluación de la eficiencia de dos estructuras para jardines de coral de la especie Acropora cervicornis (Scleractinia: Acroporidae) en el Parque Nacional Portobelo","authors":"Luis Bernal, Y. Gonzales, Beatriz del Carmen Medina, René Ricardo Gómez","doi":"10.15517/rev.biol.trop..v71is1.54914","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.15517/rev.biol.trop..v71is1.54914","url":null,"abstract":"Introducción: En Panamá y el mundo, desde hace varios años, los arrecifes se han visto amenazados por acciones como el desarrollo costero, sedimentación, contaminación por entidades terrestres, que son las más frecuentes, dando lugar a la implementación de metodologías de restauración. \u0000Objetivo: Comparar la eficiencia de dos estructuras de jardines coralinos en el crecimiento de la especie Acropora cervicornis en Bahía Huertas, Parque Nacional Portobelo, Colón Panamá. \u0000Métodos: Se colocaron dos estructuras de tipo fijo, utilizando PVC junto con bases de concreto hidráulico, y dos estructuras tipo tendedero, utilizando PVC e hilo de nylon. Los fragmentos de coral que se colocaron en las estructuras provenían de Bahía Huertas e Isla Buenaventura. El crecimiento de los corales se determinó mediante el método de medición de crecimiento lineal y extensión tisular. \u0000Resultados: Se plantaron un total de 80 fragmentos de coral, lo que representa una extensión estimada de 9.71 m de coral en Bahía Huertas. Tras nueve meses de estudio, se estimó un total de 15.3 m de coral totalmente nuevo (1 525.6 cm), donde sólo el 4.6 % pertenecía a los fragmentos de la estructura de tipo fijo, mientras que el 95.4 % pertenecía a la estructura de tipo tendedero. \u0000Conclusiones: La estructura tipo tendedero fue la más eficiente y viable dentro del estudio, con mejor tasa de supervivencia y crecimiento en comparación con la estructura tipo fija, donde sí presentó una mortalidad del 45 %.","PeriodicalId":21368,"journal":{"name":"Revista De Biologia Tropical","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2023-05-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45435571","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Tatiana Villalobos-Cubero, Joan A. Kleypas, J. Alvarado, Jorge Cortés Núñez
{"title":"Percepción comunitaria sobre arrecifes coralinos en Golfo Dulce: bases para integración social en programas de restauración","authors":"Tatiana Villalobos-Cubero, Joan A. Kleypas, J. Alvarado, Jorge Cortés Núñez","doi":"10.15517/rev.biol.trop..v71is1.54862","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.15517/rev.biol.trop..v71is1.54862","url":null,"abstract":"Introducción: Enfrentar la acelerada degradación de arrecifes coralinos requiere una acción integrada en múltiples niveles sociales y ecológicos. A escala local se debe incluir la participación activa de los usuarios de los recursos. \u0000Objetivo: evaluar el conocimiento y percepción local sobre los arrecifes coralinos en Golfo Dulce, y así generar bases para la integración social en la restauración coralina. \u0000Métodos: se realizaron 183 entrevistas en siete comunidades costeras del Golfo Dulce entre septiembre del 2016 y marzo del 2017. Los entrevistados se clasificaron en: (1) Pesca artesanal (PA) = 57 entrevistados, (2) Turismo (T) = 62, y (3) Otros (O) = 64. La primera parte de la entrevista fue de conocimiento y se asignó una nota basada en respuestas correctas. Según la nota se clasificó como informado, información media o desinformado. La segunda parte se basó en escalas de percepción sobre: (I) visitación, (II) factores que dañan los arrecifes coralinos, (III) medidas de manejo y (IV) salud de recursos marinos en Golfo Dulce. \u0000Resultados: El grupo T tuvo el mayor porcentaje de entrevistados informados = 42 % y el grupo O de desinformados = 37 %. La segunda parte fue percepción, más del 50 % de PA y T consideran que la visita es frecuente. La sedimentación y contaminación por agroquímicos fueron identificados por más del 60 % de PA y T como la principal amenaza. El 35 % de PA y el 40 % de T perciben las boyas fijas como la mejor medida para el Golfo Dulce. La restricción de visitas fue la medida con menor aceptación. El 60 % de los entrevistados de PA y T consideran que los recursos marinos del golfo estarán peor que en la actualidad. \u0000Conclusiones: Los resultados confirman la importancia de conocer la percepción de los usuarios de los arrecifes coralinos al planificar procesos participativos, de educación e integración en la conservación y restauración de arrecifes coralinos.","PeriodicalId":21368,"journal":{"name":"Revista De Biologia Tropical","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2023-05-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42988659","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Claudia Padilla Souza, Eduardo Navarro Espinoza, Diego García Medrano, David González Vázquez, Sara Gutiérrez Plata, Eloy Ramírez Mata, Nuria Estrada Saldívar
{"title":"El efecto de la poda de Acropora palmata como estrategia para la obtención de tejido vivo en acciones de restauración arrecifal","authors":"Claudia Padilla Souza, Eduardo Navarro Espinoza, Diego García Medrano, David González Vázquez, Sara Gutiérrez Plata, Eloy Ramírez Mata, Nuria Estrada Saldívar","doi":"10.15517/rev.biol.trop..v71is1.54910","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.15517/rev.biol.trop..v71is1.54910","url":null,"abstract":"Introducción: Los arrecifes de coral son ecosistemas altamente degradados, por lo que ha sido necesario implementar acciones de restauración activa para recuperar su estructura y funcionamiento. Se ha implementado la propagación clonal para obtener fragmentos pequeños (~ 10 cm) de las ramas distales de colonias donadoras de corales de la especie Acropora palmata, para posteriormente fijarlos en el sustrato arrecifal, simulando el efecto de dispersión que ocurre de manera natural en esta especie, a lo que en este trabajo se denomina “dispersión asistida”. Sin embargo, es necesario evaluar los efectos de esta técnica como son: la cantidad de fragmentos que se puede obtener de cada colonia, el periodo de recuperación de tejido de las colonias donadoras y los fragmentos sembrados. \u0000Objetivo: Evaluar el efecto de poda en las colonias donadoras estimando el porcentaje de tejido podado de colonias donadoras de A. palmata y su tasa de recuperación 30 meses después. \u0000Métodos: Se realizaron cuatro monitoreos: antes, inmediatamente después de la poda, un mes después de la siembra, y 30 meses después, en cuatro colonias de A. palmata localizadas en el Parque Nacional Costa Occidental de Isla Mujeres, Punta Cancún y Punta Nizuc en el Caribe mexicano. La modelación 3D basada en fotogrametría se realizó con el software Agisoft Metashape Pro, mientras que las métricas de área de superficie de tejido, extensión radial y apical se obtuvieron mediante el software CloudCompare. \u0000Resultados: Posterior a la colecta de fragmentos de las colonias, se observó que el material utilizado en la dispersión asistida representa menos del 12% del tejido vivo. Después de un mes, las colonias donadoras presentaban una recuperación del 5% con tejido nuevo recubriendo las áreas de corte. Las colonias donadoras perdieron, en promedio, 65% de tejido vivo tras el impacto de cuatro huracanes, y en un caso la colonia fue totalmente eliminada, pero con los fragmentos sembrados se pudo conservar el genotipo. \u0000Conclusiones: La dispersión asistida podría incrementar el tejido vivo de corales ramificados en intervalos de tiempo relativamente cortos, sin comprometer la integridad de la colonia donadora, si se poda menos del 12%.","PeriodicalId":21368,"journal":{"name":"Revista De Biologia Tropical","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2023-05-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48147432","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Alma Paola Rodríguez-Troncoso, J. Tortolero-Langarica, Pastora Contreras Medellín-López, Hazel María Canizales-Flores, E. Godínez-Domínguez, Amílcar Leví Cupul Magaña
{"title":"Evaluación de los indicadores demográficos de Pocillopora (Scleractinia: Pocilloporidae) en sitios insulares vs. costeros: implicaciones para un programa de restauración regional","authors":"Alma Paola Rodríguez-Troncoso, J. Tortolero-Langarica, Pastora Contreras Medellín-López, Hazel María Canizales-Flores, E. Godínez-Domínguez, Amílcar Leví Cupul Magaña","doi":"10.15517/rev.biol.trop..v71is1.54790","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.15517/rev.biol.trop..v71is1.54790","url":null,"abstract":"Introducción: El mantenimiento de las comunidades coralinas depende directamente de la capacidad de los individuos para crecer como colonia. Dado que el crecimiento forma la base de la estructura física del arrecife, determinar la tasa de crecimiento de las especies de corales constructores y su respuesta a las variaciones ambientales nos permitirá identificar su potencial particular para implementar estrategias de restauración más efectivas. \u0000Objetivo: Determinar la tasa de crecimiento del coral constructor de arrecifes Pocillopora en todo el Pacífico Central Mexicano (PCM) y su relación con las fluctuaciones en las condiciones ambientales. \u0000Métodos: De agosto de 2019 a octubre de 2020, se monitorearon y trasplantaron un total de 153 fragmentos de coral ramificado del género Pocillopora como parte del programa de restauración en diferentes sitios de la PCM: Parque Nacional Islas Marietas y en la Caleta de Cuastecomates. Se calculó el crecimiento del coral (cm·año-1) y sobrevivencia (%), y se correlacionó con la temperatura, PAR y Kd490 para cada localidad. \u0000Resultados: Patrones similares en los parámetros examinados entre los fragmentos de coral fueron encontrados para todos los sitios, con un rango de sobrevivencia de 61.6 – 68 %, cuya mortalidad estuvo relacionada principalmente con huracanes y tormentas que afectaron la región. Sin embargo, la tasa de crecimiento oscila entre 2.0 – 8.0 cm·año-1, sin diferencias significativas entre localidades. Además, no se registraron diferencias en las condiciones ambientales entre las localidades. \u0000Conclusiones: Los corales ramificados del género Pocillopora presentan una tasa de crecimiento similar en sitios insulares y costeros de la PCM, por lo que se podría esperar que la implementación de un programa de restauración en toda esta región del Pacífico Mexicano sería potencialmente exitoso, ya que, las condiciones ambientales locales no son factores limitantes.","PeriodicalId":21368,"journal":{"name":"Revista De Biologia Tropical","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2023-05-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47885825","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
A. Rodríguez-Troncoso, J. J. A. Tortolero-Langarica, Raúl Padilla-Guzmán, L. D. Kelly-Gutiérrez, A. Cupul-Magaña
{"title":"Spatio-temporal variation in the growth of coral fragments of opportunity in the Eastern Tropical Pacific: implications for coral reef restoration","authors":"A. Rodríguez-Troncoso, J. J. A. Tortolero-Langarica, Raúl Padilla-Guzmán, L. D. Kelly-Gutiérrez, A. Cupul-Magaña","doi":"10.15517/rev.biol.trop..v71is1.54850","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.15517/rev.biol.trop..v71is1.54850","url":null,"abstract":"Introduction: Coral- reef communities are considered one of the most biodiverse, but also most threatened, marine ecosystems, and the accelerating loss of habitat over the past decades warrants active intervention. \u0000Objective: The present study demonstrates the successful implementation of a low-impact restoration technique in three Central Mexican Pacific degraded coral communities, using a protocol based on natural fragmentation (“fragments of opportunity”) of the branching coral Pocillopora spp., considered the most abundant and primary carbonate-producing coral species of the Eastern Tropical Pacific. \u0000Methods: The restoration program was implemented in two offshore and one inshore coraline areas. The relationships between seawater temperature and coral survival, growth, and attachment rate were assessed over one year, with 183 fragments monitored each month. \u0000Results: The mean coral growth rate was 3.3 ± 0.1 mm mo-1, with annual growth rates in length and width of 39.9 ± 14.2 and 36.5 ± 19.5 mm yr-1, respectively. Self-attachment efficiency was 78 % and the survival rate was high (84 %). The growth rate differed significantly among reefs. \u0000Conclusions: Upon monitoring directly fragmented corals over a year, growth rates were deemed high enough to merit active restoration in the region. However, our data show that structural and abiotic differences and seasonal variability must be considered overall in successful long-term coral community restoration initiatives in the eastern Pacific region.","PeriodicalId":21368,"journal":{"name":"Revista De Biologia Tropical","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2023-05-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44544863","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Benjamin R. Chomitz, J. Kleypas, J. Cortés, J. Alvarado
{"title":"Change in the composition of fauna associated with Pocillopora spp. (Scleractinia, Pocilloporidae) following transplantation","authors":"Benjamin R. Chomitz, J. Kleypas, J. Cortés, J. Alvarado","doi":"10.15517/rev.biol.trop..v71is1.54882","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.15517/rev.biol.trop..v71is1.54882","url":null,"abstract":"Introduction: Associated fauna comprises most of the diversity of a coral reef and performs ecological functions essential to the reef’s survival. Since Pocillopora corals harbor an important associated fauna, reef restoration efforts are underway in Golfo Dulce, Costa Rica, to preserve them. \u0000Objective: To describe changes in cryptofauna and fish communities associated with Pocillopora colonies to better understand the succession of associated fauna following transplantation. \u0000Methods: An experimental patch of 30 nursery-grown Pocillopora colonies and a control patch containing no colonies were monitored for 8 months following transplantation in Golfo Dulce. Cryptofauna within each colony and fish within each patch were observed using SCUBA to quantify temporal changes in the abundance, diversity, and community structure of the colonies. \u0000Results: The abundance and diversity of cryptofauna increased throughout the experiment. Obligate symbiont decapods were the most abundant. The composition of the community of cryptofauna differed between periods with fish in the genus Scarus as the main contributor to any differences. The increase in abundance and diversity of cryptofauna and fish may reflect coral growth and the corresponding availability of space and environmental complexity in the experimental patch. The composition of the cryptofauna communities was generally consistent with other studies. However, a high density of decapod symbionts could suggest that without other Pocillopora colonies to move to, they may crowd together despite their aggressive tendencies. \u0000Conclusions: Pocillopora colonies will experience an increase in symbionts that could positively contribute to the health and survival of the coral following transplantation.","PeriodicalId":21368,"journal":{"name":"Revista De Biologia Tropical","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2023-05-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49160955","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Paola Santiago-Padua, Jeremy Velázquez-Alvarado, Arelys Del Mar López-Pérez, Julimar Nevárez-Mélendez, Lemuel E. Díaz-Druet, Samuel E. Suleimán-Ramos, A. Mercado-Molina
{"title":"Demographic and population response of the threatened coral Acropora cervicornis (Scleractinia, Acroporidae) to fireworm corallivory","authors":"Paola Santiago-Padua, Jeremy Velázquez-Alvarado, Arelys Del Mar López-Pérez, Julimar Nevárez-Mélendez, Lemuel E. Díaz-Druet, Samuel E. Suleimán-Ramos, A. Mercado-Molina","doi":"10.15517/rev.biol.trop..v71is1.54912","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.15517/rev.biol.trop..v71is1.54912","url":null,"abstract":"Introduction: The fireworm Hermodice carunculata is a widespread polychaete that can prey upon many coral species. However, few studies have examined the effect of fireworm predation on coral demographics during non-outbreak periods. \u0000Objective: To determine whether predation by H. carunculata compromised the growth, survival, and population performance of the threatened coral Acropora cervicornis. \u0000Methods: Nursery-reared coral fragments (n = 99) were fixed to the bottom of Punta Melones reef in the Island Municipality of Culebra, Puerto Rico. Predation activity and its demographic consequences on coral outplants were assessed from December 2020 to August 2022. Susceptibility to predation was compared between colonies collected directly from the reef and those originating from outside sources (e.g., coral nurseries). With the demographic data, simple size-based population matrix models were developed to 1) examine whether fireworm predation led to a significant decline in population growth rate (λ), 2) determine the demographic transition(s) that contribute the most to λ, and 3) determining the demographic transition(s) that accounted for differences in λ when comparing scenarios that considered either only predated colonies or both predated and non-predated outplants. \u0000Results: Predation increased over time, being more frequently observed in the area with the highest topographic relief and on colonies foreign to the study site. Outplants that were partially consumed grew significantly slower than non-predated colonies; however, predation did not threaten their survival. The likelihood of being attacked by the fireworm increased with branching complexity. The estimated λ for a scenario considering only those predated colonies was 0.99, whereas, for a scenario where both predated and non-predated colonies were considered, λ was 0.91. Population growth, under both scenarios, was mainly influenced by the probability of a large colony surviving and remaining at the largest size. \u0000Conclusions: Although predation can negatively impact coral growth, the relatively high survival rate of predated colonies compensates for the adverse effects. Since survival is the demographic transition that contributes most to population growth, it could be concluded that under a non-outbreak scenario, fireworm predation may not be the primary cause of A. cervicornis population decline.","PeriodicalId":21368,"journal":{"name":"Revista De Biologia Tropical","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2023-05-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45915327","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pastora Gómez-Petersen, J. J. A. Tortolero-Langarica, A. Rodríguez-Troncoso, A. Cupul-Magaña, M. Ortiz, E. Ríos‐Jara, F. Rodríguez-Zaragoza
{"title":"Testing the effectiveness of natural and artificial substrates for coral reef restoration at Isla Isabel National Park, Mexico","authors":"Pastora Gómez-Petersen, J. J. A. Tortolero-Langarica, A. Rodríguez-Troncoso, A. Cupul-Magaña, M. Ortiz, E. Ríos‐Jara, F. Rodríguez-Zaragoza","doi":"10.15517/rev.biol.trop..v71is1.54738","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.15517/rev.biol.trop..v71is1.54738","url":null,"abstract":"Introduction: The branching coral Pocillopora is the main reef-building species in the Eastern Tropical Pacific (ETP) region. However, their populations have been threatened due to the intense effect of thermal-stress events in the last three decades. As a mitigating response, active restoration strategies have been developed. However, it has not been possible to establish specific protocols along the ETP’s reefs. \u0000Objective: To evaluate the efficiency of two different substrates (natural vs. artificial), through coral growth comparison (extension rate and tissue area) in three Pocillopora coral morphospecies within a year. \u0000Methods: Coral growth was estimated by two techniques: extension rate and tissue area of P. cf. verrucosa, P. cf. capitata, and P. cf. damicornis every three months during a year. \u0000Results: The extension rate and superficial area growth vary among the coral morphospecies P. cf. verrucosa (16.33 mm yr-1 and 168.49 mm2 yr-1), P. cf. capitata (16.25 mm yr-1 and 176.83 mm2 yr-1), and P. cf. damicornis (12.38 mm yr-1 and 87.62 mm2 yr-1). The data reveals that substrate type did not affect Pocillopora growth, yet there was an effect caused by seasonal changes. \u0000Conclusions: This study demonstrates that coral restoration can be implemented using both natural and artificial substrata, with no differences in coral growth. We recommend the implementation of coral reef restoration programs, highlighting the importance of initiate during the warm season due to optimal growth performance of P. cf. verrucosa and P. cf capitata species, which improves the effectiveness of management actions in Isla Isabel National Park.","PeriodicalId":21368,"journal":{"name":"Revista De Biologia Tropical","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2023-05-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48771763","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Benjamin R. Chomitz, J. Kleypas, J. Cortés, J. Alvarado
{"title":"Succession of the sessile benthic community at a coral reef restoration site.","authors":"Benjamin R. Chomitz, J. Kleypas, J. Cortés, J. Alvarado","doi":"10.15517/rev.biol.trop..v71is1.54881","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.15517/rev.biol.trop..v71is1.54881","url":null,"abstract":"Introduction: Ecosystem restoration facilitates ecological succession. When a coral reef experiences a disturbance, the community of sessile benthic organisms can follow a successional trajectory that favors the dominance of coral or a change of state to an ecosystem dominated by algae. \u0000Objective: To better understand the impact of coral transplants on succession of the sessile benthic community, this study \u0000Methods: To measure and monitor the coral cover (cm2) of Pocillopora spp., and the composition of the associated benthic community, experimental and control coral reef patches were established at the coral restoration site in Golfo Dulce, South Pacific Costa Rica. Thirty Pocillopora spp. colonies were attached to nails on the substrate in an experimental patch. The control coral patch contained nails with non-transplanted colonies. Both treatments were photographed monthly during a period of eight months. Changes in the coverage of coral and other sessile benthic organisms were measured from the images and compared over time between the experimental and control patches. \u0000Results: The coral transplants experienced bleaching events in August through September 2019 and January through February 2020. The first bleaching event possibly due to sedimentation, and the second to high temperatures. By the end of the experiment, 83 % of the colonies had survived. The live colonies grew significantly following transplantation; > 67 % of their initial coverage area after eight months. In the experimental patch, the areas of Pocillopora spp., coralline crustose algae (CCA), and cyanobacteria increased while the area of algal turf decreased. The increase in coral coverage and CCA, and decrease in algal turf in the experimental patch could be due to herbivores attracted to transplants. The increase in cyanobacteria in the experimental patch could be the result of higher temperatures and may have been a factor in the death of colonies. \u0000Conclusions: The transplantation of Pocillopora spp. colonies in Golfo Dulce changed the early successional trajectory of the sessile benthic community to favor the dominance of coral dominance in the experimental patch. These results may be useful in informing expectations for future restoration efforts.","PeriodicalId":21368,"journal":{"name":"Revista De Biologia Tropical","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2023-05-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44287543","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Laura C. Arango-Carvajal, L. I. Quan-Young, Adrián Villegas-Jiménez, A. Banaszak
{"title":"Settlement and post-settlement survival of Orbicella annularis and Orbicella faveolata (Scleractinia: Merulinidae) on substrates with coatings","authors":"Laura C. Arango-Carvajal, L. I. Quan-Young, Adrián Villegas-Jiménez, A. Banaszak","doi":"10.15517/rev.biol.trop..v71is1.54864","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.15517/rev.biol.trop..v71is1.54864","url":null,"abstract":"Introduction: One of the main bottlenecks in restoration projects based on sexual reproduction is post-settlement survival, mainly due to competition for substrate with fleshy algae and predation. Therefore, substrates of different shapes and materials have been created and tested, seeking to optimize these processes with attractive surfaces for the larvae and structures where the recruits are protected from predation, and competition is reduced. \u0000Objective: To improve settlement and post-settlement survival of two important Caribbean reef-building corals, using different coatings on substrates. \u0000Methods: To determine whether substrate coatings properties are favourable to larval settlement in Orbicella annularis, and O. faveolata, collected in Puerto Morelos, Mexican Caribbean, we evaluated their settlement for three weeks on six coatings with a combination of properties. Each coating was designed to provide a combination of two out of three properties: 1) water repellence (hydrophobicity), 2) phosphorescence-based colour, and 3) mineral-enriched surface chemistry. In a separate experiment larvae settlement was tested using coatings with a single property. Finally, we determined the post-settlement survival of O. annularis and O. faveolata on the different coatings for seven weeks. \u0000Results: The combination of high hydrophobicity and light blue phosphorescent microparticles and high hydrophobicity and red-orange phosphorescent microparticles resulted in a higher settlement of O. annularis and O. faveolata when compared with other coatings (30.8 - 66.7 % higher). No significant differences were found in the number of larval settled when the water-repellence and the phosphorescence-based were evaluated independently. Post-settlement survival time on substrates was low, with a maximum of 34 days after settlement for O. annularis and 42 days for O. faveolata. \u0000Conclusions: In terms of the larval settlement, the combination of the coatings properties appears to play an essential role in the choice of microhabitat for both O. annularis and O. faveolata. But individually these properties did not generate an advantage in the larval settlement. Moreover, some chemical components associated with the coatings may be counterproductive to the survival of the polyps over time.","PeriodicalId":21368,"journal":{"name":"Revista De Biologia Tropical","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2023-05-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45682522","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}