Mortality, recovery, and community shifts of scleractinian corals in Puerto Rico one decade after the 2005 regional bleaching event

PeerJ

Ali Amirrezvani¹  Jorge R. García-Sais¹  Stacey M. Williams² 

[1] Department of Marine Science, Universidad de Puerto Rico, Recinto de Mayagüez, Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, Puerto Rico;Institute for Socio-Ecological Research, Lajas, Puerto Rico, Puerto Rico;

关键词: Shifts;    Coral assemblages;    Orbicella annularis;    Caribbean;    Coral reefs;    Recovery;   

DOI  :  10.7717/peerj.3611

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

This work analyzes the mortality, recovery, and shifts in the composition of scleractinian corals from Puerto Rico one decade after the 2005 regional coral bleaching event. Temporal and spatial patterns of coral community structure were examined using a stratified, non-random sampling approach based on five permanent transects per reef at 16 reef stations. A negative correlation between percent coral cover loss and light attenuation coefficient (Kd490) was observed, suggesting that light attenuation, as influenced by water turbidity and depth, played a major role in coral protection during the bleaching event (“sunblock effect”). Responses of coral assemblages varied after the bleaching event, including shifts of cover from massive corals (Orbicella spp.) to opportunistic (Porites astreoides) and branching corals (Madracis auretenra, P. porites) and/or turf algae; partial recovery of reef substrate cover by O. annularis complex; and no measurable changes in coral assemblages before and after the event.

【 授权许可】

Unknown