Abstract
Long-term monitoring data provide a basis to recognize changes in coral reef communities and to implement appropriate management strategies. Unfortunately, coral reef dynamics have been poorly documented at any temporal scale in the Southern Caribbean. Through the "National Monitoring System of Coral Reefs in Colombia" (Spanish acronym: SIMAC), we assessed 32 permanent plots at different depth levels in six reefs areas of the Colombian Caribbean from 1998 to 2004. Temporal trends in coral and algal cover were evaluated by repeated measures ANOVA. The model included the effect of depth levels (a fixed effect), monitoring plots (a random effect) as a nested factor within depths, and time (repeated factor). We found high spatial variability in major benthic components. Overall means indicated that algae were the most abundant biotic component in nearly all areas, ranging from 30.3% at Rosario to 53.3% at San Andrés. Live coral cover varied considerably from 10.1% at Santa Marta up to 43.5% at Urabá. Coral and algae cover per se are not always accurate reef indicators and therefore they need supplementary information. Temporal analyses suggested relative stability of coral and algal cover along the study but the causes for the observed trends were rarely identified. A significant decrease (p = 0.042) in coral cover was only identified for some monitoring plots in Tayrona-time x plot (depth level) interaction, and importantly, few coral species explained this trend. Significant increase (p = 0.005) in algal cover was observed over time for most plots in Rosario. Temporal trajectories in algal cover were influenced by depth-significant time x depth interaction-in San Andrés (increase, p = 0.004) and Urabá (decrease, p = 0.027). Algae trends were mainly explained by changes in algal turfs. Monitoring programs must focus on the mechanisms mediating the changes, in particular those concerning coral recovery and reef resilience in the current context of climate change.
Highlights
(Aronson & Precht 1997, 2001, Garzón-Ferreira et al 2001, Sutherland et al 2004) among others have contributed to coral reductions
In this paper we present the first attempt to analyze on spatio-temporal scales the information gathered by SIMAC monitoring program (“Sistema Nacional de Monitoreo de Arrecifes Coralinos en Colombia”) between 1998 and 2004
We aimed to identify the reef condition, overall spatial patterns of benthic components, and temporal variations in algal and coral cover at six Caribbean reef areas
Summary
(Aronson & Precht 1997, 2001, Garzón-Ferreira et al 2001, Sutherland et al 2004) among others have contributed to coral reductions. Natural and anthropogenic factors have contributed to coral decline during the last decades in Colombia (Garzón-Ferreira & Díaz 2003). In the last few decades for instance, live coral cover declined more than 50% on the oceanic island of San Andrés, while Acropora spp. lost about 80-90% on the mainland coast at Islas del Rosario (GarzónFerreira & Kielman 1994, Garzón-Ferreira & Díaz 2003). We aimed to identify the reef condition, overall spatial patterns of benthic components, and temporal variations in algal and coral cover at six Caribbean reef areas. This analysis provides insights on local dynamics of coral reefs after major changes were registered across the Colombian reefs. Based on the findings of this research, we outline some recommendations for the long-term reef monitoring programs
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