Abstract

The reef crests of the Jardines de la Reina National Park (JRNP) are largely formed by Acropora palmata, but colonies of A. cervicornis and the hybrid A. prolifera are also present. This study shows spatial distribution of colonies, thickets and live fragments of these species in the fore reefs. Snorkeling was used to perform the direct observations. The maximum diameter of 4,399 colonies of A. palmata was measured and the health of 3,546 colonies was evaluated. The same was done to 168 colonies of A. cervicornis and 104 colonies of A. prolifera. The influence of the location and marine currents on a number of living colonies of A. palmata was analyzed. For such purpose, reef crests were divided into segments of 500 m. The marine park was divided into two sectors: East and West. The Caballones Channel was used as the reference dividing line. The park was also divided into five reserve zones. We counted 7,276 live colonies of Acropora spp. 1.4% was A. prolifera, 3.5% A. cervicornis and 95.1% A. palmata. There were 104 thickets of A. palmata, ranging from eight to 12 colonies, and 3,495 fragments; 0.6% was A. cervicornis and the rest A. palmata (99.4%). In the East sector, 263 colonies (3.8% of the total), six thickets (5.8%) and 32 fragments (1%) of A. palmate were recorded. In the same sector, there were 11 fragments (50%) of A.cervicornis and two (2%) colonies of A. prolifera. Health of A. palmata was evaluated as good and not so good in the study area. Health of A. cervicornis was critical and health of A. prolifera was good in all five reserve zones. There was a significant increase in the number of colonies from east to west (Χ2 = 11.5, gl = 3.0, p = 0.009). This corroborates the existence of an important abundance differences between the eastern and the western region of the JRNP. A negative relationship was observed between the number of colonies and the distance from the channel (Χ2 = 65.0, df = 3.0, p < 0.001). The influence of the channel, for the live colonies of A. palmata is greater within the first 2,000 m. It then decreases until approximately 6,000 m, and no significant increase beyond. The orientation of the reef crests significantly influenced the abundance of the colonies (Χ2 = 15.5, df = 2.9, p = 0.001). The results presented here provide a baseline for future research on the status of the populations of Acropora spp., considering that there has been a certain recovery of the species A. palmata during the last 10–16 years. Given the current status of the populations of Acropora spp., conservation actions focusing A. cervicornis should be prioritized.

Highlights

  • The Jardines de la Reina Archipelago, established as the Jardines de la Reina National Park (JRNP) by the Executive Committee of the Council of Ministers of Cuba in 2010 (6803/2010), has marine and terrestrial ecosystems of high ecological values

  • Study area The distribution and health of colonies, thickets and live fragments of A. palmata, A. cervicornis and A. prolifera were studied in the fore reef zone of the reef crests of the JRNP, which stretches off the southern coast of the provinces of Sancti Spiritus, Ciego de Ávila and Camagüey (Fig. 1)

  • Surveys were performed along some 55 kilometers; approximately the linear distance of the reef crests of the JRNP, out of a total of about 120 km, and roughly the distance from Cabeza del Este to Cayo Bretón

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Summary

Introduction

The Jardines de la Reina Archipelago, established as the Jardines de la Reina National Park (JRNP) by the Executive Committee of the Council of Ministers of Cuba in 2010 (6803/2010), has marine and terrestrial ecosystems of high ecological values. Coral reefs are important in the area. Acropora palmata Lamarck, 1816; one of the most representative species of the Caribbean region (Bruckner, 2003), is relatively common. We observed colonies of A. cervicornis Lamarck, 1816 (HernándezFernández, Bustamante-López & Dulce-Sotolongo, 2016) and A. prolifera Lamarck, 1816 B. Dulce-Sotolongo, 2016, personal observation) considered an F1 hybrid of the species A. palmata and A. cervicornis (Vollmer & Palumbi, 2002). Zlatarski & Martínez-Estalella (1980) described the distribution, variability, taxonomy and associated fauna of A. palmata and A. cervicornis in Cuba Dulce-Sotolongo, 2016, personal observation) considered an F1 hybrid of the species A. palmata and A. cervicornis (Vollmer & Palumbi, 2002). Zlatarski & Martínez-Estalella (1980) described the distribution, variability, taxonomy and associated fauna of A. palmata and A. cervicornis in Cuba

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