Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Current status of Acropora palmata and Acropora cervicornis in the Colombian Caribbean: demography, coral cover and condition assessment

  • Primary Research Paper
  • Published:
Hydrobiologia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Acropora provides an example of reef degradation, as evidenced by population reductions in Caribbean reefs. However, data on the current status of Acropora populations in Colombia are lacking. In this study, reef habitats were surveyed for Acropora palmata and Acropora cervicornis throughout the Colombian Caribbean, and the size structure, coverage and colony conditions of their populations were evaluated. Acropora palmata size classes were negatively skewed, indicating low recruitment. This species exhibited a patch-type distribution around Tayrona, Isla Fuerte and Isla Arena; these localities exhibited the highest cover among the surveyed regions. The lowest coral cover was recorded for the Rosario Islands. Healthy colonies were dominant; however, disease and damselfish territories were common. The size class data of Acropora cervicornis indicated the persistence of small colonies; however, no recruits were observed. The distribution was dispersed, with important patches and the highest cover observed around the Urabá Gulf and Rosario Islands. Overall, the cover was lower than 10%. Few healthy colonies were observed, and macroalgae and sponges were common. Conservation and management efforts are required for both species; for Acropora palmata, efforts targeting the Rosario Islands are needed, whereas Acropora cervicornis is in critical condition throughout the Colombian Caribbean.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adjeroud, M., M. S. Pratchett, M. C. Kospartov, C. Lejeusne & L. Penin, 2007. Small-scale variability in the size structure of scleractinian corals around Moorea, French Polynesia: patterns across depths and locations. Hydrobiologia 589: 117–126.

    Google Scholar 

  • Alvarado, E. M., L. Duque, L. Flórez & R. Ramírez, 1986. Evaluación cuantitativa de los arrecifes coralinos de las islas del Rosario (Cartagena, Colombia). Boletín Econtropica 15: 1–30.

    Google Scholar 

  • Anderson, K. D. & M. S. Practchett, 2014. Variation in size-frequency distributions of branching corals between a tropical versus sub-tropical reef. Marine Ecology Progress Series 502: 117–128.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ardila, N., G. R. Navas & J. Reyes, 2002. Libro rojo de invertebrados marinos de Colombia. Bogotá, Colombia: INVEMAR y Ministerio del Medio Ambiente. La serie de Libros Rojos de Especies Amenazadas de Colombia, 180 p

  • Aronson, R. B, A. W Bruckner, J. Moore, W.F. Precht & E. Weil, 2008a. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Acropora palmata. Retrieved from www.iucnredlist.org.

  • Aronson, R. B., A. W Bruckner, J. Moore, W. F Precht & E. Weil, 2008b. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Acropora cervicornis. Retrieved from www.iucnredlist.org

  • Babcock, R. C., 1991. Comparative demography of three species of scleractinian corals using age and size dependent classifications. Ecological Monographs 61: 225–244.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baird, A. H. & T. P. Hughes, 1997. Spatial variation in coral recruitment around Lizard Island. Proceedings of 8th International Coral Reef Symposium 2: 1207–1210

  • Bak, R. P. M. & E. H. Meesters, 1998. Coral population structure: the hidden information of colony size-frequency distributions. Marine Ecology Progress Series 162: 301–306.

    Google Scholar 

  • Banaszak, A. T. & M. P. Lesser, 2009. Effects of solar ultraviolet radiation on coral reef organisms. Phothochemical Photobiology Science 8: 1276–1294.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bayraktarov, E., V. Pizarro & C. Wild, 2014. Spatial and temporal variability of water quality in the coral reefs of Tayrona National Natural Park, Colombian Caribbean. Environmental Monitory Assess 186: 3641–3659.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Buddemeier, R. W., J. R. Ware, T. A. Gardner, I. M. Côté, J. A. G. Gill, A. Grant & A. R. Watkinson, 2003. Coral reef decline in the Caribbean. Science 302: 391–393  

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Buddemeier, R. W., J. A. Kleypas, & R. B Aronson. 2004. Coral reefs & Global climate change. Potential contributions of climate change to stresses on coral reef ecosystems. Pew Center on Global Climate Change. Arlington VA. 44p

  • Bruckner, A. W. 2002. Proceedings of the Caribbean Acropora Workshop: Potential Application of the U.S. Endangered Species Act as a Conservation Strategy. NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-OPR-24, Silver Spring, MD, 199 pp.

  • Cendales, M.H., S. Zea & J.M. Díaz, 2002. Geomorfología y unidades ecológicas del complejo de arrecifes de las Islas del Rosario e Isla Barú (Mar Caribe, Colombia). Revista de la Academia Colombiana de Ciencias 26(101): 497–510.

    Google Scholar 

  • Croquer, A., F. Cavada-Blanco, A. L. Zubillaga, E. A. Agudo-Adriani & M. Sweet, 2016. Is Acropora palmata recovering? A case study in Los Roques National Park, Venezuela. PeerJ 4: 1539.

    Google Scholar 

  • Díaz, J. M., J. A. Sánchez & G. Díaz-Pulido, 1996. Geomorfología y formaciones arrecifales recientes de Isla Fuerte y Bajo Bushnell, Plataforma continental del Caribe colombiano. Boletín de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras 25: 87–105.

    Google Scholar 

  • Díaz, J. M., L. M. Bárrios, M. H. Cendales, J. Garzón-Ferreira, J. Geister, M. López-Victoria, G. H. Ospina, F. Parra-Velandia, J. Pinzón, B. Vargas-Ángel, F. Zapata & S. Zea, 2000. Áreas coralinas de Colombia. Serie Publicaciones Especiales No. 5. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras. INVEMAR 175p

  • Gardner, T., I. M. Côte, J. Gill, A. Grant & A. Watkinson, 2003. Long-term region-wide declines in Caribbean corals. Science 301: 958–960.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Garzón-Ferreira, J. & M. Cano. 1991. Tipos, distribuci6n, extensi6n y estado de conservación de los ecosistemas marinos costeros del Parque Nacional Natural Tayrona. Unpubl. Report, VII Concur. Nal. Ecol., FEN/INVEMAR, Bogotá/Santa Marta. 82 p.

  • Garzón-Ferreira, J., D. L. Gil-Agudelo, L. M. Barrios & S. Zea, 2001. Stony coral diseases observed in southwestern Caribbean reefs. Hydrobiologia 460: 65–69.

    Google Scholar 

  • Garzón-Ferreira, J., M. Moreno-Bonilla & J. M. Valderrama, 2004. Condición actual de las formaciones coralinas de Acropora palmata y A. cervicornis en el Parque Nacional Natural Tayrona (Colombia). Boletín de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras 33: 117–136.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gleason, D. F. & G. M. Wellington, 1993. Ultraviolet radiation and coral bleaching. Nature 365: 836–838.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hall, A., A. D. Miller, H. Legget, S. Roxburgh, A. Buckling & K. Shea, 2012. Diversity–disturbance relationship: frequency and intensity interact. Biological Letters 8: 768–771.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hughes, T. P., 1984a. Population dynamics based on individual size rather than age: a general model with a reef coral example. The American Naturalist 123: 778–795.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hughes, T., 1984b. Population dynamics based of individual size rather than age: a general model with a reef coral example. The American Naturalist 123: 277–293.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hughes, T. P. & J. E. Tanner, 2000. Recruitment failure, life histories and long-term decline of Caribbean corals. Ecology 81: 2250–2263.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoegh-Guldberg, O., 1999. Climate change, coral bleaching and the future of the World’s Coral Reefs. Marine Freshwater Research 50: 839–866.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kohler, K. E. & S. M. Gill, 2006. Coral point count with excel extensions (CPCe): a visual basic program for the determination of coral and substrate coverage using random point count methodology. Computer & Geoscience 32: 1259–1269.

    Google Scholar 

  • Linares, C., M. S. Pratchett & D. J. Coker, 2011. Recolonisation of Acropora hyacinthus following climate-induced coral bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef. Marine Ecology Progress Series 438: 97–104.

    Google Scholar 

  • Martínez, S. & A. Acosta, 2005. Cambio temporal en la estructura de la comunidad coralina del áres de Santa Marta-Parque Nacional Natural Tayrona (Caribe colombiano). Boletín de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras 34(161): 191.

    Google Scholar 

  • McManus, J. W. & J. F. Polsenberg, 2004. Coral–algal phase shifts on coral reefs: ecological and environmental aspects. Progress in Oceanography 60: 263–279.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meesters, E. H., M. Hilterman, E. Kardinaal, M. de Vries Keetman & R. P. M. Bak, 2001. Colony size-frequency distributions of scleractinian coral populations: spatial and interspecific variation. Marine Ecology Progress Series 209: 43–54.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meltvedt, A. & C. Jadot, 2014. Progression of the coral-algal phase shift in the Caribbean: a case study in Bonaire, Dutch Caribbean. Marine Technological Society Journal 48: 33–41.

    Google Scholar 

  • Muller, E., C. Rogers, A. Spitzack & R. van Woesik, 2008. Bleaching increases likelihood of disease on Acropora palmata (Lamarck) in Hawksnest Bay, St John, US Virgin Islands. Coral Reefs 27: 191–195.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nepote, E., C. N. Bianchi, M. Chiantore & M. Montefalcone, 2016. Pattern and intensity of human impact on coral reefs depend on depth along the reef profile and on the descriptor adopted. Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science 178: 86–91.

    Google Scholar 

  • Patterson, K. L., J. W. Porter, K. E. Ritchie, S. W. Polson & E. Mueller, 2002. The etiology of white pox, a lethal disease of the Caribbean elkhorn coral, Acropora palmata. Proccedings of the National Academy of Scienes USA 99: 8725–8730.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pinzón, J. H., A. Perdomo & J. M. Díaz, 1998. Isla Arena, una formación coralina saludable en el área de influencia de la pluma del río Magdalena, Plataforma continental del Caribe colombiano. Boletín de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras 27: 21–37.

    Google Scholar 

  • Porter, J. W., P. Dustan, W. C. Jaap, K. L. Patterson, V. Kosmynin, O. W. Meier, M. E. Patterson & M. Parsons, 2001. Patterns of spread of coral disease in the Florida Keys. In Porter, J. (ed.), The ecology and etiology of newly emerging marine diseases. Springer, Netherlands: 1–24.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rodríguez-Ramírez, A., M. C. Reyes-Nivia, R. Navas-Camacho, S. Bejarano, J. Garzón-Ferreira & F. Zapata, 2006. Status of the coral reefs of Colombia in 2003. Proceedings 10th International Coral reef symposium 976–981

  • Rodríguez-Ramirez, A., M. C. Reyes-Nivia, S. Zea, R. Navas-Camacho, J. Garzón-Ferreira, S. Bejarano, P. Herrón & C. Orozco, 2010. Recent dynamics and condition of coral reefs in the Colombian Caribbean. Revista Biologica Tropical 58: 107–131.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rodríguez-Martínez, R. E., A. T. Banaszak, M. D. McField, A. U. Beltrán-Torres & L. Álvarez-Filip, 2014. Assessment of Acropora palmata in the Mesoamerican Reef System. PLoS ONE 9: e96140.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Rogers, C. S. & E. M. Muller, 2012. Bleaching, disease and recovery in the threatened scleractinian coral Acropora palmata in St. John, US Virgin Islands: 2003–2010. Coral Reefs 31: 807–819.

    Google Scholar 

  • SiSMAC. Sistema de Soporte al Monitoreo de las Áreas Coralinas. (Datos Monitoreo Áreas Coralinas). http://siam.invemar.org.co/sismac

  • Smith, L. D., M. Devlin, D. Haynes & J. P. Gilmoure, 2005. A demographic approach to monitoring the health of coral reefs. Marine Pollution Bulletin 51: 399–407.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Vega-Sequeda, J., A. Rodríguez-Ramírez, M. C. Reyes-Nivia & R. Navas-Camacho, 2008. Formaciones coralinas del area de Santa Marta: estado y Patrones de distribución espacial de la comunidad béntica. Boletín de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras 37: 87–105.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vermeij, M. J. A. & R. B. Bak, 2003. Species-specific populations structure of closely related coral morphospecies along a depth gradient (5–60 M) over a Caribbean reef slope. Bulletin of Marine Science 73: 725–744.

    Google Scholar 

  • Walker, B. K. & D. S. Gilliam, 2013. Determining the extent and characterizing coral reef habitats of the Northern Latitudes of the Florida reef tract (Martin county). PLoS ONE 8(11): e80439

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Wallace, C. C., 1985. Reproduction, recruitment and fragmentation in nine sympatric species of the coral genus Acropora. Marine Biology 88: 217–233.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wirt, K. E., P. Hallock, D. Palandro & K. L. Daly, 2013. Potential habitat of Acropora spp. on Florida reefs. Applied Geography 39: 118–127.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wirt, K. E., P. Hallock, D. Palandro, K. D. Semon & K. Lunz, 2015. Potential Habitat of Acropora spp. on Reefs of Florida, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands. Global Ecology and Conservation 3: 242–255.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yap, H. T., P. M. Aliño & E. D. Gomez, 1992. Trends in growth and mortality of three coral species (Anthozoa: Scleractinia), including effects of transplantation. Marine Ecology Progress 83: 91–101.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zubillaga, A. L., L. M. Márquez, A. Cróquer & C. Bastidas, 2008. Ecological and genetic data indicate recovery of the endangered coral Acropora palmata in Los Roques, Southern Caribbean. Coral Reefs 27: 63–72.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work was funded by the project “Acropora: a key genus for conservation. Genetic diversity, connectivity and ecological updating of Acropora populations in the Colombian Caribbean” COLCIENCIAS (code 11177141011) and the University of Magdalena. We are grateful to the National Natural Parks Unit of Colombia (permit 001, March 6, 2017) and the research group Ecology and Diversity of Marine Algae and Coral Reefs.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Magdalena, Santa Marta, 470004, Colombia

    Rocío García-Urueña & Marco A. Garzón-Machado

Authors
  1. Rocío García-Urueña
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Marco A. Garzón-Machado
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rocío García-Urueña.

Additional information

Handling editor: Iacopo Bertocci

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

10750_2020_4238_MOESM1_ESM.xls

Supplementary material S1. Reef sites at which Acropora palmata and A. cervicornis were recorded along the Colombian Caribbean from 2016-2018 (XLS 35 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

García-Urueña, R., Garzón-Machado, M.A. Current status of Acropora palmata and Acropora cervicornis in the Colombian Caribbean: demography, coral cover and condition assessment. Hydrobiologia 847, 2141–2153 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-020-04238-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-020-04238-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation