Abstract
The 1995 coral bleaching event in the western Caribbean was the first reported episode that significantly affected the Belize barrier and lagoonal patch reefs. Bleaching was attributed to a 2 mo period of warm water temperatures above 30°C. Near Ambergris Caye, barrier and patch reefs experienced up to 50% bleaching. At Mexico Rocks patch reef complex, the bleaching resulted in changes in reef health, community, and physical structure. Prior to the hyperthermal episode, patch reef surface area consisted of 47% healthy framework coral coverage, 12% secondarily colonized biotic coverage, 35% dead coral surfaces that were degraded by biological activity and physical erosion, and 6%cavities. six months after bleaching, most corals had regained their color, but, owing to coral mortality, areas of surface degradation had increased to an average 49% (p=0.029 based on Kruskal–Wallis analyses). Eighteen months after bleaching, degraded surface areas expanded to 53% (p=0.0366). Although re-coloring indicates rapid recovery for surviving corals, the persistence in dead coral surfaces suggests that reef skeletal structure recovery lags behind that of individual corals. Initial results of framework measurements indicate that bleaching events may result in an ‘imbalance’ in the carbonate production rate of coral reefs and produce mass wasting of the skeletal structure. Remapping of reef skeletal structure should establish quantitative measures for the long-term effects of bleaching on patch reef frameworks.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
R. Acevedo C. Goenaga (1986) ArticleTitleNote on coral bleaching after chronic flooding in southwestern Puerto Rico Caribbean Journal of Science 22 225
B. E. Brown K. W. Suharsono (1990) ArticleTitleDamage and recovery of coral reefs affected by El Nino related seawater warming in the Thousand Islands, Indonesia Coral Reefs 8 163–170 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF00265007
C. D. Burke T. M. McHenry S. J. Mazzullo W. D. Bischoff (1998) ArticleTitleCoral abundance and distribution on patch reefs at Mexico Rocks, Northern Belize shelf, Central America Carbonates and Evaporites 13 32–42 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF03175432
CARICOMP (1997) Studies on the Caribbean Coral Bleaching, 1995–1996 Center for Marine Studies Kingston, Jamaica: 1–6
C. M. Eakin (1991) The damselfish-algal lawn symbiosis and its influence on the bioerosion of an El Nino impacted coral reef, Uva Island, Pacific Panama PhD Dissertation University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida
Gleason, D. F. & G. M. Wellington,1993. Ultraviolet radiation and coral bleaching. Nature 365: 836–838.
P. W. Glynn (1988a) ArticleTitleEl Nino-Southern Oscillation 1982–1993: near shore population, community and ecosystem responses Annual Review Ecology and Systematics 19 309–345
P. W. Glynn (1988b) ArticleTitleEl Nino warming, coral mortality, and reef framework destruction by echinoid bioerosion in the eastern Pacific Galaxea 7 129–160
P. W. Glynn (1990) ArticleTitleCoral mortality and disturbances to coral reefs in the tropical eastern Pacific In Glynn, P. W. (ed.), Global Ecological Consequences of the 1982–83 El Niño-Southern Oscillation. Elsevier, Amsterdam 55–126
P. W. Glynn (1991) ArticleTitleCoral bleaching in the 1980’s and possible connections with global warming Trends in Ecology Evolution 6 175–179 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0169-5347(91)90208-F
P. W. Glynn (1993) ArticleTitleCoral reef bleaching: ecological perspectives Coral Reefs 12 1–17 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF00303779
I. Goodbody (1961) ArticleTitleMass mortality of marine fauna following tropical rain Ecology 42 150 Occurrence Handle10.2307/1933276
T. F. Goreau (1964) ArticleTitleMass expulsion of zooxanthellae from Jamaican reef communities after Hurricane Flora Science 145 383–386 Occurrence Handle17816975 Occurrence Handle10.1126/science.145.3630.383
T. J. Goreau A. H. MacFarlane (1990) ArticleTitleReduced growth rate of Montastrea annularis following the 1987–1988 coral bleaching event Coral Reefs 8 211–215 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF00265013
R. L. Hays P. G. Bush (1990) ArticleTitleMicroscopic observations of recovery of the reef-building scleractinian coral, Montastrea annularis, after bleaching on a Cayman reef Coral Reefs 8 203–209 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF00265012
C. Holden (1995) ArticleTitleReef bleaching spreads in Caribbean Science 270 919
T. P. Hughes (1989) ArticleTitleCommunity structure and diversity of coral reefs: the role of history Ecology 70 275–279 Occurrence Handle10.2307/1938434
T. P. Hughes (1994) ArticleTitleCatastrophes, phase shifts and large-scale degradation of a Caribbean coral reef Science 265 1547–1551 Occurrence Handle17801530 Occurrence Handle10.1126/science.265.5178.1547
P. L. Jokiel S. J. Coles (1977) ArticleTitleEffects of temperature on the mortality and growth of Hawaiian reef corals Marine Biology 43 201–208 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF00402312
P. L. Jokiel S. J. Coles (1990) ArticleTitleResponse of Hawaii and other Indo-Pacific reef corals to elevated temperature Coral Reefs 8 155–162 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF00265006
P. L. Jokiel R. H. York (1984) ArticleTitleSolar ultraviolet photobiology of the reef coral Pocillopora damicornis and symbiotic zooxanthellae Bulletin Marine Science 32 301–315
A. Kushmaro Y. Loyola M. Fine E. Rosenberg (1966) ArticleTitleBacterial infection and coral bleaching Nature 380 396 Occurrence Handle10.1038/380396a0
J. Lang (1973) ArticleTitleInterspecific aggression by scleractinian corals: why the race is not only to the swift Bulletin Marine Science 23 260–279
S. J. Mazzullo E. Anderson-Underwood C. D. Burke W. D. Bischoff (1992) ArticleTitleHolocene coral patch reef ecology and sedimentary architecture, northern Belize, Central America Palaios 7 591–601 Occurrence Handle10.2307/3514871
S. J. Mazzullo C. D. Burke T. M. McHenry W. D. Bischoff (1993) ArticleTitleHolocene coral patch reef ecology and sedimentary architecture: comment and reply Palaios 8 503–506
L. J. McCook (1999) ArticleTitleMacroalgae, nutrients and phase shifts on coral reefs: scientific issues and management consequences for the Great Barrier Reef Coral Reefs 18 357–367 Occurrence Handle10.1007/s003380050213
T. M. McHenry (1996) Ecology of Mexico Rocks Modern Patch Reef Complex, Belize, Central America Master Science Thesis. Wichita State University Wichita, Kansas: 1–179
J. M. Neff J. W. Anderson (1981) Response of Marine Animals to Petroleum and Specific Petroleum Hydrocarbons Applied Science London: 77–115
E. Pennisi (1997) ArticleTitleBrighter prospects for the world’s coral reefs Science 275 491–494 Occurrence Handle10.1126/science.277.5325.491
K. B. Ritchie J. H. Dennis T. McGrath G. W. Smith (1993) ArticleTitleBacteria associated with bleached and non-bleached areas of Montastrea annularis Proceedings Symposium Natural History Bahamas 5 75–80
S. V. Smith R. W. Buddemeier (1992) ArticleTitleGlobal change and coral reef ecosystems Annual Review Ecology and Systematics 23 89–118 Occurrence Handle10.1146/annurev.es.23.110192.000513
Sprowls, E. D., 1995. Coral bleaching at Bacalar Chico: an assessment of hard coral species using multiple survey methods. CZMP and Fisheries Dept Field Report: 1–22.
M. Stout (1995) Coral reef bleaching found in Belize for the first time NOAA Coral Health and Monitoring Program http://coral.aoml.noaa.gov
A. M. Szmant N. J. Gassman (1990) ArticleTitleThe effects of prolonged␣“bleaching” on the tissue biomass and reproduction of the reef coral Montastrea annularis Coral Reefs 8 217–224 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF00265014
P. Viets (1998) Coral reef bleaching in Indian Ocean unprecedented NOAA Coral Health and Monitoring Program http://coral.aoml.noaa.gov
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Burke, C.D., McHenry, T.M., Bischoff, W.D. et al. Coral mortality, recovery and reef degradation at Mexico Rocks Patch Reef Complex, Northern Belize, Central America: 1995–1997. Hydrobiologia 530, 481–487 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-004-2669-1
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-004-2669-1