Here you can get quick access to various reports on coral reefs status, health and threats on global, regional and national levels. Select geographic area of interest or search by source/organization.
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Search Result: 21 records
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1.
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Gerace, D.T., G.K. Ostrander and G.W. Smith,
1998
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San Salvador, Bahamas.
CARICOMP – Caribbean coral reef, seagrass and mangrove sites. Coastal region and small island papers 3, UNESCO, Paris.
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Author
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Gerace, D.T., G.K. Ostrander and G.W. Smith
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Year
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1998
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Title
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San Salvador, Bahamas.
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Source
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CARICOMP – Caribbean coral reef, seagrass and mangrove sites. Coastal region and small island papers 3, UNESCO, Paris.
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Keywords
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Caribbean coral reef, seagrass and mangrove sites
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Caption
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Abstract
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San Salvador is similar in many respects to other islands of the Bahamas Archipelago, but it is unique in its position away from the Bahama Banks. The isolation of San Salvador influences its climate and ecology as well as its cultural history. The CARICOMP mangrove sites are located along the southern coast of San Salvador, and represent the only such shoreline mangroves on the island. Data collected to date reflect the stressed nature of Bahamian mangrove systems. The seagrass sites are located in embayment areas at both the southern and northern parts of San Salvador. The data reveal the importance of Thalassia at both sites, but variations exist in its biomass between the two sites. The coral reef site is located off the west shore of the island and, while not representative of the majority of Bahamian reef systems, it does meet the criteria set up by CARICOMP. Data collected to date from the coral reef site shows little change from one monitoring to the next. Daily and weekly physical measurements at all of the sites reveal the importance of seasonal fluctuations.
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2.
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Parker, C. and H.A. Oxenford,
1998
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Barbados.
CARICOMP – Caribbean coral reef, seagrass and mangrove sites. Coastal region and small island papers 3, UNESCO. Paris
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Author
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Parker, C. and H.A. Oxenford
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Year
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1998
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Title
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Barbados.
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Source
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CARICOMP – Caribbean coral reef, seagrass and mangrove sites. Coastal region and small island papers 3, UNESCO. Paris
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Keywords
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Caribbean coral reef, seagrass and mangrove
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Caption
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Abstract
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The CARICOMP sites on Barbados include a reef site near Holetown on the west coast and, 25 km away on the south coast, a seagrass site (St. Lawrence Lagoon) and a mangrove site (Graeme Hall Swamp). The 32 ha Graeme Hall Swamp is fringed by red and white mangroves and is greatly impacted by a large population and several channel-dredging projects. The seagrass site is located in a shallow lagoon that is protected from high energy waves by a reef rubble bank; turtle and manatee grasses dominate. Shallow fringing reefs are fairly extensive along the west coast of Barbados. The reef site, the Bellairs fringing reef, extends 300 m seaward from the shoreline and is very shallow, with the base of the reef at a depth of 6 m. Agaricia agaricites is the dominant coral species, but Porites porites was dominant before Hurricane Allen in 1980.
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3.
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Garcia, E. and K. Holtermann,
1998
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Calabash Caye, Turneffe Islands Atoll, Belize.
CARICOMP – Caribbean coral reef, seagrass and mangrove sites. Coastal region and small island papers 3, UNESCO, Paris.
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Author
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Garcia, E. and K. Holtermann
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Year
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1998
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Title
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Calabash Caye, Turneffe Islands Atoll, Belize.
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Source
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CARICOMP – Caribbean coral reef, seagrass and mangrove sites. Coastal region and small island papers 3, UNESCO, Paris.
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Keywords
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Caribbean coral reef, seagrass and mangrove
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Caption
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Abstract
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Turneffe Islands Atoll is located 51 km off the coast of Belize. Calabash Caye, on the eastern rim of the atoll, is a CARICOMP site maintained by the University College of Belize Marine Research Centre. There are several subtidal mangrove cayes on the western edge of the atoll, sandy cayes on the eastern edge, and an extensive fringing reef surrounding the atoll. The chain of islands forming the atoll partially encloses two lagoons, the North Lagoon and the South Lagoon, which are dominated by seagrass beds. The mangroves, seagrass beds, and coral reefs enhance the diversity of the marine and terrestrial organisms at Calabash Caye. Over the past decade, only a few studies concerning marine resources have been carried out on the atoll.
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Online Documents
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4.
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Koltes, K.H., J.J. Tschirky and I.C. Feller,
1998
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Carrie Bow Cay, Belize.
CARICOMP – Caribbean coral reef, seagrass and mangrove sites. Coastal region and small island papers 3, UNESCO, Paris.
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Author
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Koltes, K.H., J.J. Tschirky and I.C. Feller
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Year
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1998
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Title
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Carrie Bow Cay, Belize.
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Source
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CARICOMP – Caribbean coral reef, seagrass and mangrove sites. Coastal region and small island papers 3, UNESCO, Paris.
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Keywords
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Caribbean coral reef, seagrass and mangrove
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Caption
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Abstract
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Carrie Bow Cay is located 18 km offshore in the central province of the Belize Barrier Reef complex. Although the reef-seagrass-mangrove complex near Carrie Bow Cay is representative of the entire barrier reef complex, the central province contains the most spectacular reef development. The climate in this region is subtropical, with a wet season from June to October. The present-day barrier reef seaward of Carrie Bow Cay is characterized by distinctive zones, with biological and geological development controlled primarily by water movement and depth. Coral cover along the CARICOMP transects is currently in the range of about 12-20%, down from an estimated 30-35% in the 1970s. The decline in coral cover appears to have resulted from die-off of Acropora cervicornis, one of the dominant hard corals in the 1970s, and an accompanying increase in macroalgae. The seagrass community is dominated by Thalassia testudinum, with an estimated total biomass at the CARICOMP sites varying seasonally from approximately 3,766 to 4,159 g m-2 dry weight, among the highest reported for the Caribbean. The mangrove community is dominated by Rhizophora mangle L., which forms a monospecific fringe around the peripheries of the islands. In 1995, widespread bleaching was reported in Belize for the first time. At Carrie Bow Cay, bleaching was preceded by unusually calm water conditions, high light transmittance, and high sea surface temperatures. Although the area in the vicinity of Carrie Bow Cay is generally considered pristine at present, increasing pressure from development and the rapidly expanding tourism industry pose significant threats.
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Online Documents
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5.
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Smith, S.R.,
1998
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Bermuda.
CARICOMP – Caribbean coral reef, seagrass and mangrove sites. Coastal region and small island papers 3, UNESCO. Paris
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Author
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Smith, S.R.
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Year
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1998
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Title
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Bermuda.
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Source
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CARICOMP – Caribbean coral reef, seagrass and mangrove sites. Coastal region and small island papers 3, UNESCO. Paris
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Keywords
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Caribbean coral reef, seagrass and mangrove sites
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Caption
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Abstract
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Bermuda is an isolated subtropical coral reef ecosystem in the North Atlantic. Shallow water carbonates cover an atoll-like volcanic seamount. The islands are emergent aeolianite limestone dunes that lie along the southeastern margin of the seamount. Extensive zones of coral reefs, dominated by massive corals (Diploria spp., Montastraea spp. and Porites astreoides), surround the central North Lagoon. Within the lagoon there is a complex of shallow patch reefs that support a higher diversity of corals, dominated by branching species (Oculina spp., Madracis spp.) and the hydrozoan Millepora alcicornis. Seagrass beds are distributed throughout the patch reefs, the inshore basins, and the shoreward margin of the outer rim reef. Three species of seagrasses, Thalassia testudinum, Syringodium filiforme, and Halodule bermudensis, are often intermixed or form monospecific beds. Mangrove forests have been reduced by foreshore development to small pockets and fringing communities, except at Hungry Bay. Rhizophora mangal and Avicennia germinans are the only species present. Seawater temperature fluctuates seasonally within the lagoon (14-31°C) and on the outer reef (18-29°C), which is moderated by the surrounding Sargasso Sea. Salinity remains close to oceanic values (36.5‰) due to low run-off from the porous limestone islands. Despite a high population density, human impacts are limited to over-fishing (now controlled through legislation), nutrient and trace metal loading of the inshore basins, and ship groundings.
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Online Documents
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6.
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Bush, P.G.,
1998
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Grand Cayman Island, British West Indies.
CARICOMP – Caribbean coral reef, seagrass and mangrove sites. Coastal region and small island papers 3, UNESCO, Paris.
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Author
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Bush, P.G.
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Year
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1998
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Title
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Grand Cayman Island, British West Indies.
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Source
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CARICOMP – Caribbean coral reef, seagrass and mangrove sites. Coastal region and small island papers 3, UNESCO, Paris.
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Keywords
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Caribbean coral reef, seagrass and mangrove
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Caption
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Abstract
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The Cayman Islands are situated on a major submarine ridge that extends west from the Sierra Maestra range in southeastern Cuba. The ridge parallels the Cayman Trench, which is more than 6,000 m deep and is located 6 km to the south. The islands are low-lying limestone formations of an older Bluff core of mid-Tertiary limestone origin, fringed by younger Ironshore formations, Pleistocene calcareous deposits, and recent carbonate sediments. Their narrow insular shelves support prolific coral reef communities. Grand Cayman is the largest of the three Cayman Islands, with a surface area of 197 km2. The two dominant features of Grand Cayman are the Central Swamp and the North Sound. The large Central Swamp, which has a unique geomorphology, measures 50 km2 and borders the North Sound on the east and southeast. The North Sound is a 85 km2, semi-enclosed, shallow lagoon, historically fringed with mangrove swamp to the west, south, and east, and with an exposed acroporid fringing reef to the north. Approximately 60% of the sound is covered by well developed beds of Thallassia testudinum. There is limited runoff from surrounding lands during the rainy season, May-November. The CARICOMP transect for mangroves, seagrass beds, and coral reefs begins at the coastal edge of the Central Swamp, traverses the seagrass beds of the North Sound, and finishes to the north at the outer shallow reef terrace.
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Online Documents
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7.
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Garzón-Ferreira, J.,
1998
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Bahia de Chengue, Parque Natural Tayrona, Colombia.
CARICOMP – Caribbean coral reef, seagrass and mangrove sites. Coastal region and small island papers 3, UNESCO, Paris
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Author
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Garzón-Ferreira, J.
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Year
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1998
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Title
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Bahia de Chengue, Parque Natural Tayrona, Colombia.
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Source
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CARICOMP – Caribbean coral reef, seagrass and mangrove sites. Coastal region and small island papers 3, UNESCO, Paris
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Keywords
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Caribbean coral reef, seagrass and mangrove sites
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Caption
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Abstract
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Bahía de Chengue is a small bay located on the Caribbean coast of Colombia. The shores are mainly steep and rocky and support poorly developed but diverse coral reef communities. At the inner portion of the bay there are sedimentary shallow bottoms with seagrass beds dominated by Thalassia and narrow but dense coastal fringes of small Rhizophora trees. Regional climate and oceanography are strongly determined by high coastal topography and trade wind incidence. There are two clearly distinct seasons: (1) a dry season (from December to April), when strong NE trade winds (mean 3.5 m s-1) reduce precipitation and generate an upwelling that transports water with low temperature (mean 25.5°C) from 100-200 m depth to the surface; and (2) a rainy season (from May to November), with low trade wind incidence (mean 1.5 m s-1), more than 80% of the total annual rain, reduced upwelling occurrence, and higher seawater temperature at surface (mean 28.0°C). Turbid currents of reduced salinity commonly enter the bay from the southwest during the rainy season. Chengue is part of a Natural Park but human activities in the area, although not extensive, have an impact on the marine ecosystem.
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Online Documents
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8.
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Cortés, J.,
1998
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Cahuita and Laguna Gandoca, Costa Rica.
CARICOMP – Caribbean coral reef, seagrass and mangrove sites. Coastal region and small island papers 3, UNESCO, Paris.
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Author
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Cortés, J.
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Year
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1998
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Title
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Cahuita and Laguna Gandoca, Costa Rica.
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Source
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CARICOMP – Caribbean coral reef, seagrass and mangrove sites. Coastal region and small island papers 3, UNESCO, Paris.
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Keywords
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Caribbean coral reef, seagrass and mangrove
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Caption
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Abstract
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The Costa Rican CARICOMP sites are located in two protected areas in the southern portion of the Caribbean coast near the border with Panama: the Refugio Nacional de Vida Silvestre Gandoca-Manzanillo (mangrove site) and the Parque Nacional Cahuita (seagrass and coral reef sites). This tectonically active area is characterized by rocky headlands, extensive wetlands, and beaches. The climate is hot and humid. This region hosts over 150,000 tourists per year. The mangrove swamp in Laguna Gandoca, which is about 250 ha in area, harbors the country’s only natural population of mangrove oysters, contains the largest patch of red mangrove, and is one of the main nursery grounds for the Atlantic tarpon. In the Parque Nacional Cahuita, the seagrass bed is one of the largest in the country, about 20 ha in area; the coral reef is the longest continuous coral reef in the country, with the outer crest extending 5 km, and contains the most number of species.
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Online Documents
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9.
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Alcolado, P.M., G. Menéndez, P. García-Parrado, D. Zúñiga, B. Martínez-Darana, M. Sosa and R. Gómez,
1998
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Cayo coco, Sabana-Camaguey Archipelago, Cuba.
Coastal region and small island papers 3,
UNESCO, Paris.
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Author
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Alcolado, P.M., G. Menéndez, P. García-Parrado, D. Zúñiga, B. Martínez-Darana, M. Sosa and R. Gómez
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Year
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1998
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Title
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Cayo coco, Sabana-Camaguey Archipelago, Cuba.
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Source
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Coastal region and small island papers 3,
UNESCO, Paris.
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Keywords
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coral reef, human impact,management
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Caption
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CARICOMP – Caribbean coral reef, seagrass and mangrove sites. Coastal region and small island papers 3, UNESCO.
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Abstract
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Cayo Coco is part of the Sabana-Camagüey Archipelago off the north coast of Cuba. The sampling site on the northern shore of the cay includes reefs, seagrass beds, and a permanently flooded red mangrove forest. Human influence on marine, coastal, and terrestrial environments is limited. Wave action and sedimentation are the most important large-scale physical stressors governing the marine ecology of the site. Freshwater runoff is limited and influences salinity only very close to the coast. The virtual absence of the black urchin Diadema antillarum probably accounts for the great proliferation of fleshy algae on rocky reef substrates. The marine and coastal ecosystems of this area remain almost pristine and are included in plans for biodiversity conservation and sustainable tourism development.
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Online Documents
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10.
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Geraldes, F.X.,
1998
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Parque Nacional del Este, Dominican Republic.
CARICOMP – Caribbean coral reef, seagrass and mangrove sites. Coastal region and small island papers 3, UNESCO, Paris.
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Author
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Geraldes, F.X.
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Year
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1998
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Title
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Parque Nacional del Este, Dominican Republic.
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Source
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CARICOMP – Caribbean coral reef, seagrass and mangrove sites. Coastal region and small island papers 3, UNESCO, Paris.
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Keywords
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Caribbean coral reef, seagrass and mangrove sites
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Caption
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Abstract
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The CARICOMP site in the Dominican Republic is located in the Parque Nacional del Este on the southeastern coast of the island of Hispaniola. The site is typical of leeward marine and coastal environments, with frequent calm seas and noticeable currents. The sunny days, average air temperature of 26.5°C, and rainfall of 1,000 mm yr-1 contribute to a tropical semi-arid forest growing on coral/limestone bedrock. There are few anthropogenic impacts; boating, diving, and fishing are the primary sources of disturbance. The ecosystems selected are located along a NW-SE transect near Palmillas. The mangrove site (Catuano), is a fringing forest type, with a dense growth of trees no taller than 5 m. The seagrass station (Hierbas los Cocos) is 1.5 km to the northwest in a sandy and rubble shallow (2-4 m) just inshore of a hard platform where soft corals dominate. The coral reef station (El Peñón) is farther north and lies at a depth of 10 m on a rocky platform where diverse species of corals form a low relief spur-and-groove reef system. The park represents one of the largest pristine marine and coastal environments in the Caribbean. It is a protected area under Dominican law, and continuous efforts are being made to maintain it. Mooring buoys are being installed and fishing and navigational regulations are being implemented to minimize the impact of users and visitors.
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Online Documents
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11.
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Gayle, P.M.H. and J.D. Woodley,
1998
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Discovery Bay, Jamaica.
CARICOMP – Caribbean coral reef, seagrass and mangrove sites. Coastal region and small island papers 3, UNESCO, Paris.
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Author
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Gayle, P.M.H. and J.D. Woodley
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Year
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1998
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Title
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Discovery Bay, Jamaica.
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Source
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CARICOMP – Caribbean coral reef, seagrass and mangrove sites. Coastal region and small island papers 3, UNESCO, Paris.
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Keywords
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Caribbean coral reef, seagrass and mangrove sites
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Caption
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Abstract
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The CARICOMP site in Jamaica is located in waters adjacent to the Discovery Bay Marine Laboratory (DBML). A rocky shoreline supports a tangled mass of Rhizophora mangle adjacent to protected euryhaline waters. Mature beds of the seagrass Thalassia testudinum grow offshore in the lagoon behind the reef flat. The fringing coral reef is a spur-and-groove system on a narrow submarine shelf; it shows the effects of natural catastrophes and anthropogenic impacts. Daytime onshore northeasterly trade winds alternate with lighter, southerly, offshore land breezes at night. Human influences on the ecology of the area, which supports a small town, include terrestrial runoff from agricultural and residential developments, the activities of about one hundred fishermen based at two small fishing beaches, and the shipping of bauxite. Current research at DBML seeks to develop community-based management of fishery resources and to define the oceanography, water chemistry, and benthic processes of Discovery Bay.
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Online Documents
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12.
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Herrera-Silveira, J.A. and J. Ramírez-Ramírez,
1998
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Laguna de celestun, Yucatan, Mexico.
CARICOMP – Caribbean coral reef, seagrass and mangrove sites. Coastal region and small island papers 3, UNESCO, Paris.
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Author
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Herrera-Silveira, J.A. and J. Ramírez-Ramírez
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Year
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1998
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Title
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Laguna de celestun, Yucatan, Mexico.
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Source
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CARICOMP – Caribbean coral reef, seagrass and mangrove sites. Coastal region and small island papers 3, UNESCO, Paris.
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Keywords
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Caribbean coral reef, seagrass and mangrove
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Caption
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Abstract
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Laguna de Celestún, on the northwest coast of the Yucatán Peninsula, is separated from the sea by a sand bar. The lagoon system is markedly affected by infiltration of cold nutrient-rich groundwater discharges and is estuarine in nature. There is an inner zone characterized by low salinity, high nitrate, and soluble reactive silica concentrations, and a seaward zone characterized by high salinity and low concentration of nutrients. The middle zone is characterized by intermediate salinity and higher concentrations of soluble reactive phosphorus and ammonium than those found in the remainder of the lagoon. Phytoplankton productivity and chlorophyll-a values show a seasonal pattern without regard to variations in salinity. The macrophyte community is represented by Chara fibrosa and Batophora oerstedi in the inner zone, Halodule wrightii and Chaetomorpha linum in the middle zone, and Halodule wrightii and Thalassia testudinum in the seaward zone. The mangrove community is represented on the sand barrier side of the lagoon by a small fringe of Rhizophora mangle, followed by Avicennia germinans, which dominates the area. Behind the fringe is a forest of Laguncularia racemosa mixed with sand dune vegetation. On the continental side of the lagoon, mangroves show a similar gradient from the seaward to the inner zone but with better structural development. There are no coral reefs in this area.
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Online Documents
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13.
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Ruíz-Rentería, F., B. I. van Tussenbroek and E. Jordán-Dahlgren,
1998
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Puerto Morelos, Quintana roo, Mexico.
CARICOMP – Caribbean coral reef, seagrass and mangrove sites. Coastal region and small island papers 3, UNESCO. Paris.
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Author
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Ruíz-Rentería, F., B. I. van Tussenbroek and E. Jordán-Dahlgren
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Year
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1998
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Title
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Puerto Morelos, Quintana roo, Mexico.
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Source
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CARICOMP – Caribbean coral reef, seagrass and mangrove sites. Coastal region and small island papers 3, UNESCO. Paris.
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Keywords
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Caribbean coral reef, seagrass and mangrove sites
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Caption
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Abstract
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Puerto Morelos is located on the northeastern coast of the Yucatán Peninsula. This rapidly growing village depends on fishing and tourism. The climate is typically Caribbean, with a warm rainy season and a slightly cooler dry season. Carbonate rocks and sediments of Tertiary to Holocene origin cover most of the peninsula. The limestone is heavily karstified which, together with the lack of soil, accounts for the scarcity of rivers. Thus, coastal zone processes are influenced primarily by oceanic rather than terrestrial inputs. The dominant ecosystems are coral reefs, seagrass meadows, and inland wetlands that are partially colonized by mangroves. While continuous interactions exist between the coral reef and seagrass ecosystems, the wetlands are isolated by a sand bar, limiting exchanges to underground brackish water seepage and occasional storm wave intrusions.
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14.
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De Meyer, K.,
1998
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Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles.
CARICOMP – Caribbean coral reef, seagrass and mangrove sites. Coastal region and small island papers 3, UNESCO, Paris.
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Author
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De Meyer, K.
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Year
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1998
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Title
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Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles.
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Source
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CARICOMP – Caribbean coral reef, seagrass and mangrove sites. Coastal region and small island papers 3, UNESCO, Paris.
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Keywords
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status coral reef, monitoring, Caribbean coral reef, seagrass, mangrove
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Caption
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Abstract
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Online Documents
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- Copies of papers downloaded from ReefBase may be used and reproduced for non-commercial purpose only.
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15.
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Pors, L.P.J.J. and I.A. Nagelkerken,
1998
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Curacao, Netherlands Antilles.
CARICOMP – Caribbean coral reef, seagrass and mangrove sites. Coastal region and small island papers 3, UNESCO. Paris
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Author
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Pors, L.P.J.J. and I.A. Nagelkerken
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Year
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1998
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Title
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Curacao, Netherlands Antilles.
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Source
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CARICOMP – Caribbean coral reef, seagrass and mangrove sites. Coastal region and small island papers 3, UNESCO. Paris
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Keywords
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Caribbean coral reef, seagrass and mangrove sites
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Caption
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Abstract
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Curaçao, an island of the Lesser Antilles has a surface area of 443 km2 and a population of approximately 150,000. The island is completely surrounded by fringing reefs. Seagrass and mangrove communities are found in several drowned coastal valleys; the CARICOMP seagrass and mangrove monitoring sites are situated in two of these inner bays: Spaanse Water and St. Jorisbaai, respectively. Spaanse Water still contains well developed seagrass, algal, and mangrove areas, despite the threat posed by a high level of coastal development. Mean Thalassia biomass ranges from 193 g m-2 to 504 g m-2. The mean areal productivity of Thalassia ranges from 0.14 g m-2 d-1 to 1.2 g m-2 d-1. The mangrove plots are located along the western shore of St. Jorisbaai. This bay is in pristine condition. The maximum tree density per 100 m2 plot is 51, with diameter at breast height > 2.5 cm. The maximum biomass is 12.7 kg m-2. The CARICOMP reef site is located just west of the entrance to Spaanse Water. The total number of hermatypic corals found at this site is 28, and maximum hard coral cover is 36%.
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Online Documents
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- Copies of papers downloaded from ReefBase may be used and reproduced for non-commercial purpose only.
- If you encounter any problem viewing the PDF files, please use the latest version of Adobe Reader.
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16.
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Buchan, K.,
1998
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Saba, Netherlands Antilles.
CARICOMP – Caribbean coral reef, seagrass and mangrove sites. Coastal region and small island papers 3, UNESCO, Paris.
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Author
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Buchan, K.
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Year
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1998
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Title
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Saba, Netherlands Antilles.
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Source
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CARICOMP – Caribbean coral reef, seagrass and mangrove sites. Coastal region and small island papers 3, UNESCO, Paris.
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Keywords
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Caribbean coral reef, seagrass and mangrove
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Caption
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Abstract
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In comparison to other CARICOMP sites, the tiny island of Saba, in the Windward Islands arc of the Lesser Antilles, can be described as atypical in terms of its topography, geology, and marine environment. Saba has a small human population and anthropogenic impacts on the nearshore marine environment are limited. Sedimentation, dive tourism, and fishing are the three main impacts in coastal waters. Saba is devoid of mangrove stands; Thalassia seagrass beds and coral communities are restricted to a narrow shelf and offshore seamounts. CARICOMP sampling occurs only at one reef area on the leeward west coast. Physical oceanographic data are available for this site, and meteorological data are available for the island. Benthic composition is described based on CARICOMP surveys carried out to date and on a baseline monitoring program that was executed in 1993 as part of a study for the Saba Marine Park.
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Online Documents
|
- Copies of papers downloaded from ReefBase may be used and reproduced for non-commercial purpose only.
- If you encounter any problem viewing the PDF files, please use the latest version of Adobe Reader.
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17.
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Ryan J.D., L.J. Miller, Y. Zapata, O. Downs and R. Chan,
1998
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Great Corn Island, Nicaragua.
CARICOMP – Caribbean coral reef, seagrass and mangrove sites. Coastal region and small island papers 3, UNESCO. Paris.
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Author
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Ryan J.D., L.J. Miller, Y. Zapata, O. Downs and R. Chan
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Year
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1998
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Title
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Great Corn Island, Nicaragua.
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Source
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CARICOMP – Caribbean coral reef, seagrass and mangrove sites. Coastal region and small island papers 3, UNESCO. Paris.
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Keywords
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Caribbean coral reef, seagrass and mangrove sites
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Caption
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Abstract
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Mangrove wetlands, seagrass beds, and coral reefs are found throughout Nicaragua’s Caribbean coastal zone, but few scientific studies have been carried out to identify their distribution, productivity, or general physical condition. Preliminary data indicate that live coral coverage of several large coral reefs on the Nicaraguan shelf is declining. In view of the ecological importance of these habitats in sustaining east coast fisheries, Nicaragua joined the CARICOMP program in 1992. Great Corn Island was selected as the site for carrying out coral reef and seagrass monitoring. Although mangrove forests occur on the island, they are cut off from the sea except during short periods during the rainy season. To date, work at Great Corn Island has been limited to the coral reef site, which has been monitored for four years (1993-1997).
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Online Documents
|
- Copies of papers downloaded from ReefBase may be used and reproduced for non-commercial purpose only.
- If you encounter any problem viewing the PDF files, please use the latest version of Adobe Reader.
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18.
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García, J.R., C. Schmitt, C. Heberer and A. Winter,
1998
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La Parguera, Puerto Rico, USA.
CARICOMP – Caribbean coral reef, seagrass and mangrove sites. Coastal region and small island papers 3, UNESCO, Paris.
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Author
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García, J.R., C. Schmitt, C. Heberer and A. Winter
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Year
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1998
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Title
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La Parguera, Puerto Rico, USA.
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Source
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CARICOMP – Caribbean coral reef, seagrass and mangrove sites. Coastal region and small island papers 3, UNESCO, Paris.
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Keywords
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Caribbean coral reef, seagrass and mangrove
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Caption
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Abstract
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The insular shelf of La Parguera, on the southwest coast of Puerto Rico, is characterized by an extensive development of coral reefs, seagrass beds, and mangrove forests. The dry, warm, and relatively stable climate, low wave energy, high water transparency, relatively wide shelf, oligotrophic offshore waters, and low urban coastal development are some of the factors that contribute to the conditions of the marine ecosystem of La Parguera. Interactions among coral reef, seagrass, and mangrove communities provide for a highly productive, structurally complex, and biologically diverse ecosystem. Coastal development and associated anthropogenic impact, technologically advanced exploitation of fisheries, global climatic change, and natural events all have potentially detrimental effects on marine ecosystems and need to be analyzed from a regional perspective. We review and summarize information leading to a baseline characterization of the ecosystem of La Parguera.
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Online Documents
|
- Copies of papers downloaded from ReefBase may be used and reproduced for non-commercial purpose only.
- If you encounter any problem viewing the PDF files, please use the latest version of Adobe Reader.
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19.
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Laydoo, R.S., K. Bonair and G. Alleng,
1998
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Buccoo Reef and Bon Accord Lagoon, Tobago, Republic of Trinidad & Tobago.
CARICOMP – Caribbean coral reef, seagrass and mangrove sites. Coastal region and small island papers 3, UNESCO. Paris.
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Author
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Laydoo, R.S., K. Bonair and G. Alleng
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Year
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1998
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Title
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Buccoo Reef and Bon Accord Lagoon, Tobago, Republic of Trinidad & Tobago.
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Source
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CARICOMP – Caribbean coral reef, seagrass and mangrove sites. Coastal region and small island papers 3, UNESCO. Paris.
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Keywords
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Caribbean coral reef, seagrass and mangrove sites
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Caption
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Abstract
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Online Documents
|
- Copies of papers downloaded from ReefBase may be used and reproduced for non-commercial purpose only.
- If you encounter any problem viewing the PDF files, please use the latest version of Adobe Reader.
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20.
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Bone, D., D. Perez, A. Villamizar, P.E. Penchaszadeh and E. Klein,
1998
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Parque Nacional Morrocoy, Venezuela.
CARICOMP – Caribbean coral reef, seagrass and mangrove sites. Coastal region and small island papers 3, UNESCO. Paris
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Author
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Bone, D., D. Perez, A. Villamizar, P.E. Penchaszadeh and E. Klein
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Year
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1998
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Title
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Parque Nacional Morrocoy, Venezuela.
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Source
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CARICOMP – Caribbean coral reef, seagrass and mangrove sites. Coastal region and small island papers 3, UNESCO. Paris
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Keywords
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Caribbean coral reef, seagrass and mangrove
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Caption
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Abstract
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The CARICOMP site in Parque Nacional Morrocoy is located on the northwestern coast of Golfo Triste, a large inlet on the west-central coast of Venezuela (10°52'N, 69°16'W). The 32,090 ha park includes continental, insular, and marine ecosystems, and two marine zones are distinguished within the park. The seaward zone is connected to the open ocean and is characterized by coraline communities, moderate swells, low turbidity, and 20 m water depths. The inshore zone is characterized by low wave activity, higher turbidity, and shallow waters with mangrove (mainly Rhizophora mangle) and sea grass (Thalassia testudinum) communities developed primarily along the lee sides of keys and on sandy bottoms of the internal lagoons. Since 1974, the park has been subject to intense tourism, which extensively stresses the coral reefs. At present, the park is still being used for recreational purposes, but efforts are underway to preserve it and to carry out scientific research with international cooperation. Our aim is to monitor Morrocoy ecosystems to allow comparison with other coastal sites in the Caribbean.
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Online Documents
|
- Copies of papers downloaded from ReefBase may be used and reproduced for non-commercial purpose only.
- If you encounter any problem viewing the PDF files, please use the latest version of Adobe Reader.
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21.
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Varela, R., M. Llano, J.C. Capelo and Y. Velasquez,
1998
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Punta de Mangle, Isla de Margarita, Venezuela.
CARICOMP – Caribbean coral reef, seagrass and mangrove sites. Coastal region and small island papers 3, UNESCO. Paris
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Author
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Varela, R., M. Llano, J.C. Capelo and Y. Velasquez
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Year
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1998
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Title
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Punta de Mangle, Isla de Margarita, Venezuela.
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Source
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CARICOMP – Caribbean coral reef, seagrass and mangrove sites. Coastal region and small island papers 3, UNESCO. Paris
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Keywords
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Caribbean coral reef, seagrass and mangrove sites
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Caption
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Abstract
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The CARICOMP site at Isla de Margarita is a sandy spit covered by 16 ha of mangroves and 36 ha of seagrass beds. Coral reefs are not present at Punta de Mangle and are scarce around the island. Human activity at the site has been insignificant, historically, although there are harbor facilities nearby. The climate is semi-arid and strongly influenced by trade winds throughout the year (11-25 km h-1); the strongest winds occur February through June. The daily range of air temperature is equal to or greater than the seasonal variation (monthly average of 24.7-30.6°C). Total monthly precipitation is in the range 0-250 mm. Precipitation is most frequent in the months July-September and November-December. The driest months are March-May. Fringe-type mangroves are found along the coast: Rhizophora mangle, Avicennia germinans, and Laguncularia racemosa. Studies on mangroves began in May 1992 with one plot; two more plots were established during 1995. Tree heights range from 7 to 12 m; trunk diameters range from 26 cm to 119 cm. The total litterfall analyzed over 3.5 years exhibit seasonality: maximum during May-July, 6.0 to 9.8 g m-2 d-1; minimum during November-February, 3.0 to 4.0 g m-2 d-1. Thalassia grows vigorously in most parts of the area. The biomass of the green parts ranges from 190 to 840 g m-2, with an increase in biomass during May. Production shows a large variation, from 2.88 to 11.03 g m-2 d-1; the greatest production coincides with the greatest part biomass recorded and with the times of flowering (May) and fruiting (July).
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Online Documents
|
- Copies of papers downloaded from ReefBase may be used and reproduced for non-commercial purpose only.
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