Publicaciones

@article{Hernández-Delgado2020,

title = {Hurricane Impacts and the Resilience of the Invasive Sea Vine, Halophila stipulacea: a Case Study from Puerto Rico.},

author = { E.A. Hernández-Delgado, C. Toledo-Hernández, C.P. Ruíz-Díaz, N. Gómez-Andújar, J.L. Medina-Muñiz, M.F. Canals-Silander, S.E. Suleimán-Ramos. Estuaries and Coasts, },

doi = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s12237-019-00673-4},

year  = {2020},

date = {2020-01-08},

journal = {Estuaries and Coasts},

volume = {43},

pages = {1263–1283},

abstract = {Category five hurricanes Irma and María (September 2017) caused significant damage to shallow seagrass communities across Puerto Rico. The magnitude and spatial extent of hurricane impacts on representative seagrass habitats of Culebra Island were addressed using a combination of random photo-quadrats and before–after hurricanes GIS-based imagery analyses. There was a significant loss of shallow seagrasses across all nine surveyed locations. Most of the documented impacts were associated with sediment bedload (horizontal transport), which resulted in burial and suffocation. There was also localized physical disruption of the seagrass habitat matrix across locations exposed to stronger wave action, creating major scars and exposing below-ground structure to further disintegration by future storm events. Displaced coral rubble also caused seagrass burial. Aerial imagery analyses (2007, 2010, 2017) showed a significant decline in seagrass percent cover. Seagrass decline was positively correlated with wave exposure (p < 0.05). Seagrass cover, density, and changes in benthic community structure were documented across five of the surveyed locations during 2018, and these data were further compared to data collected in 2004 at these same sites. There was a decline in percent seagrass cover and density and a change in benthic community structure favoring habitat homogenization. A remarkable finding was the rapid recovery, expansion, and increased localized dominance of the invasive seagrass, Halophila stipulacea. This was particularly evident in areas impacted by recurrent land-based runoff pulses, anchoring, sediment resuspension due to navigation, trampling or by the accumulation of decaying Sargassum mats. Hurricanes triggered a localized shift in marine vegetation, favoring the invasion of H. stipulacea, with potentially significant consequences on ecosystem resilience and on the ability of native in seagrasses to persist and adapt to projected climate change impacts.},

keywords = {Halophila stipulacea, Puerto Rico, Resilience},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Weil2019,

title = {Spread of the new coral disease “SCTLD” into the Caribbean: implications for Puerto Rico.},

author = {E. Weil, E.A. Hernández-Delgado, M. González, S. Williams, S.E. Suleimán-Ramos, M. Figuerola, and T Metz-Estrella. },

url = {https://www.researchgate.net/publication/342477916_REEF_ENCOUNTER_Spread_of_the_new_coral_disease_SCTLD_into_the_Caribbean_implications_for_Puerto_Rico},

year  = {2019},

date = {2019-12-01},

journal = {Reef Encounter},

volume = {34},

pages = {38-43},

abstract = {The article presents a summary of the current situation and spread of the new coral disease Scleractinian Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD) in the Caribbean and in Puerto. Rico.},

keywords = {coral diseases, coral reefs, Puerto Rico},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{toonDynamics2019,

title = {Caribbean Near-Shore Coral Reef Benthic Community Response to Changes on Sedimentation Dynamics and Environmental Conditions.},

author = { Abimarie Otaño-Cruz, Alfredo A. Montañez-Acuña, Noelia M. García-Rodríguez, Dakeishla M. Díaz-Morales, Elizabeth Benson, Elvira Cuevas, Jorge Ortiz-Zayas, and Edwin A. Hernández-Delgado.},

editor = {Douglas Fenner

},

doi = { https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2019.00551},

year  = {2019},

date = {2019-09-06},

journal = {Frontiers in Marine Science},

volume = { 6},

pages = {551},

abstract = {Coral reefs are facing unprecedented global, regional and local threats that continue to degrade near-shore habitats. Water quality degradation, due to unsustainable development practices at coastal watersheds, is one of the greatest stressors across multiple spatial scales. The goal of this study was to assess near-shore coral reef benthic community spatio-temporal response to sedimentation patterns, weather, and oceanographic dynamics at Bahía Tamarindo and Punta Soldado in Culebra Island, Puerto Rico. Benthic data were collected across a distance gradient from the shore through high-resolution images at marked belt transects. Environmental data were assessed and contrasted with benthic assemblages using multivariate correlations and multiple linear regression. Coral colony abundance and coral recruit assemblages showed significant variation among seasons, sites and distance zones (PERMANOVA, p < 0.01). Species diversity (H’n) increased at both study sites with distance from shore, and the most conspicuous coral recruit species were stress-tolerant Porites astreoides, P. porites, and Siderastrea radians. Difference in coral abundance and coral recruits per site had a strong significant negative relationship with sediment characteristics and depth (p < 0.05). Near-shore coral reef benthic community structure was significantly different between sites and distance zones from shore, with depth having an important role in shaping reef zonation. Changes in benthic community structure were associated with local sediment distribution patterns emerging from human alteration of coastal watersheds and natural events that cause terrigenous sediment deposition and sand resuspension across the reef. Coral cover was significantly lower at zones more exposed to recurrent sedimentation stress (p < 0.01). It was also correlated with sediment texture (p = 0.006) and terrigenous sediment deposition (p = 0.016). Scleractinian coral cover had an inverse relationship with gorgonian and macroalgae cover. In a short-term period, a pattern of increased dominance of encrusting calcareous algae Ramicrusta textilis and invasive sponge Dictyonella funicularis were documented. Changing land use and increased frequency of extreme weather events, as a consequence of global patterns of climate change, may play an important role shaping near-shore coral reefs benthic communities and could threaten the resilience of coastal regions. Therefore, collaborative and trans-disciplinary ecosystem-based management efforts are urgently needed to effectively reduce land-based stressors and foster near-shore coral reef recovery.},

keywords = {coral reefs, Puerto Rico},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Mercado-Molina2018,

title = {Growth facilitation by the octocoral Gorgonia ventalina explains spatial difference in the population size structure of the common demosponge Ircinia felix},

author = {Alex E. Mercado-Molina, Fabiola Rivera-Irizarry, Jaime Fonseca-Miranda, & Yesenia Bruno-Laureano },

editor = {Paco Cárdenas},

url = {https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17451000.2017.1367098},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.1080/17451000.2017.1367098},

year  = {2018},

date = {2018-11-07},

journal = {Marine Biology Research  },

volume = {14, 2018},

number = {1},

pages = {41 - 51},

abstract = {In this study, the demography of the common demosponge Ircinia felix was examined at Tamarindo, a coral reef located in the island municipality of Culebra, Puerto Rico. A preliminary study comparing the size structure of two subpopulations within the reef, Tamarindo Norte (TN) and Tamarindo Sur (TS), indicated that sponges at TN are significantly larger than sponges at TS. This result served as a baseline for the present comparative study in which we aimed to determine whether the spatial differences in population size structure can be explained either by a difference in rates of survival, growth, or recruitment, or a combination of these. To accomplish our goal, we followed the growth, survival and recruitment of I. felix at the two localities for one year. Growth was the only demographic parameter that differed significantly between localities. Because the most obvious distinction between the study sites was the absence of the octocoral Gorgonia ventalina at TS, we hypothesized that the faster overall growth rate of sponges at TN was related to the presence of the octocoral. To test this hypothesis, we compared growth rates between sponges associated with the octocoral and those individuals not associated. We found that sponges growing near G. ventalina grew significantly faster than non-associated sponges. This result suggests that the octocoral facilitates the growth of I. felix and therefore may account, at least in part, for the spatial differences in population size structure.},

keywords = {Acropora cervicornis, Caribbean, Climate change, Coral Reef Decline, coral reefs, Corals, Land-Based Source Pollution, Marine Protected Areas, Puerto Rico, Reef Restoration},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Mercado-Molina2014,

title = {Revisiting the population status of the sea urchin Diadema antillarum in northern Puerto Rico},

author = {Alex E. Mercado-Molina, Alfredo Montanez-Acuna, Ruber Rodri’guez-Barreras,

Roberto Colon-Miranda, Geraldine Diaz-Ortega, Neidibel Martinez-Gonzalez,

Sandra Schleier-Herna’ndez and Alberto M. Sabat},

url = {https://www.sampr.org/sam/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Mercado-Molina-et-al.-2014_Diadema.pdf},

year  = {2014},

date = {2014-11-14},

journal = {Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom},

number = {doi:10.1017/S002531541400188X},

pages = {1-8},

abstract = {The mass mortality suffered by the sea urchin Diadema antillarum between 1983–1984 is considered one of the major causes of coral reef degradation in the Caribbean. Its near disappearance resulted in a disproportionate growth of macroalgae that has led to a ‘phase shift’ from coral-to-algal dominated reefs. The close relationship between this echinoid and the functioning of coral reef ecosystems makes it imperative to better understand the potential for recovery of its populations. From 2009 to

2011, we assessed the density and size structure of D. antillarum in various reefs where previous population data were available. Results indicate a modest increase in density in all localities with respect to the last time they were surveyed in 2003/2004. Nevertheless, density values are still lower than values reported for the island prior to the die-off. Overall density did not surpass 1.49 ind. per m2, and did not change considerably during the studied period. Lack of population growth coincided with a lack of juveniles; suggesting that population growth at the studied sites may be limited by the number of individuals recruiting into the juvenile stage.},

keywords = {Caribbean, coral reefs, Diadema antillarum, population recovery, Puerto Rico},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Hernández-Delgado2014,

title = {Large-scale coral recruitment patterns on Mona Island, Puerto Rico: evidence of a transitional community trajectory after massive coral bleaching and mortality},

author = {Edwin A. Hernández-Delgado, Carmen M. González-Ramos, and Pedro J. Alejandro-Camis},

url = {https://www.sampr.org/sam/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Hernandez-Delgado-Gonzalez-Ramos-and-Alejandro-Camis-2014.pdf},

year  = {2014},

date = {2014-09-30},

journal = {Revista Biologia Tropical},

volume = { Vol. 62 },

number = {Supl.3 },

pages = { 49-64},

abstract = {Coral reefs have largely declined across the northeastern Caribbean following the 2005 massive

bleaching event. Climate change-related sea surface warming and coral disease outbreaks of a white plague-like syndrome and of yellow band disease (YBD) have caused significant coral decline affecting massive reef building species (i.e., Orbicella annularis species complex) which show no apparent signs of recovery through larval sexual recruitment. We addressed coral recruit densities across three spur and groove reef locations along the western shelf of remote Mona Island, Puerto Rico: Punta Capitán (PCA), Pasa de Las Carmelitas (PLC), and Las Carmelitas-South (LCS). Data were collected during November 2012 along 93 haphazard transects across three depth zones (<5m, 5-10m, 10-15m). A total of 32 coral species (9 octocorals, 1 hydrocoral, 22 scleractinians) were documented among the recruit community. Communities had low densities and dominance by short-lived brooder species seven years after the 2005 event. Mean coral recruit density ranged from 1.2 to 10.5/m2 at PCA,

6.3 to 7.2/m2 at LCS, 4.5 to 9.5/m2 at PLC. Differences in coral recruit community structure can be attributed to slight variation in percent macroalgal cover and composition as study sites had nearly similar benthic spatial heterogeneity. Dominance by ephemeral coral species was widespread. Recovery of largely declining massive reef-building species such as the O. annularis species complex was limited or non-existent. The lack of recovery could be the combined result of several mechanisms involving climate change, YBD disease, macroalgae, fishing, urchins and Mona Island’s reefs limited connectivity to other reef systems. There is also for rehabilitation of fish trophic structure, with emphasis in recovering herbivore guilds and depleted populations of D. antillarum. Failing to recognize the importance of ecosystem-based management and resilience rehabilitation may deem remote coral reefs recovery unlikely. },

keywords = {Climate change, community trajectory, coral decline, coral recruitment, Mona Island, Puerto Rico, transitional state},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}