Abstract
The Gulf of Uraba represents the southernmost portion of the Caribbean Sea. Due to the large amounts of sediment and freshwater discharged by the Atrato river and several minor streams, water conditions in the area are far from being optimal for coral settlement and growth. However, fringing and patch reefs are developed along the rocky shores of the northwest margin of the Gulf. Based on field observations performed at 44 sites (12 of them assessed quantitatively), interpretation of air photography of the area and depth profiles, the distribution, structure and zonation of the reefs are described. Classification analysis of the 12 sample sites yielded four coral assemblages: Diploria strigosa, crustose algae, Siderastrea siderea, Agaricia spp., and mixed massive corals. Other two assemblages, dominated respectively by Millepora complanata and thickets of Acropora palmata were noticed during reconnaissance dives. The distribution of these zones within the reef seems likely to be mainly controlled by wave exposure, bottom topography, sedimentation, and light penetration. Reef development, coral diversity and live coral cover increase along the coast in a SE-NW direction, with an evident maximum near to the cove of Sapzurro, suggesting an overall improvement of conditions for coral growth and settlement in that direction. A total of 33 species of hard corals were recorded during the survey. It is apparent that the live coral cover, particularly of foliose and branching species, has notably declined recently.
Highlights
The Golfo de Urabá, near the Colombia-Panama border, is a N-S embayment, roughly 85 km long and 15-30 km wide that represents the southernmost portion of the Caribbean Sea (Fig. 1)
In several sites, like at the NW margin of the embayment of the village of Capurganá and near the entrance to the cove of Sapzurro, the terrace appears overlayed by coral framework, becomes
TABLE 1. – Percent cover on hard substrate, excluding sand of species and categories of reef organisms in the four coral assemblages defined by cluster analysis
Summary
The Golfo de Urabá, near the Colombia-Panama border, is a N-S embayment, roughly 85 km long and 15-30 km wide that represents the southernmost portion of the Caribbean Sea (Fig. 1). The Golfo de Urabá corresponds to a true depression, the Bolívar Geosyncline, which extends to the south as far as the Gulf of Guayaquil off Ecuador (Haffer, 1970). The waters in the Golfo de Urabá are highly influenced by terrestrial runoff due to large amounts of sediment and freshwater discharged by the Atrato river into the southern part of the Gulf as well as by several minor streams draining the eastern watersheds of the Darién Massif (Zeigler and Athearn, 1971). Annual precipitation in the Urabá region is regular, with values above 3000 mm (Haffer, 1970)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
