Publicaciones

@article{Toledo-Hernández2018,

title = {Devastation of 15-year old Community-based Coral Farming and Reef-restoration Sites in Puerto Rico by Major Hurricanes Irma and María},

author = {Carlos Toledo-Hernández, Claudia P. Ruiz-Diaz, Edwin A. Hernández-Delgado, and Samuel E. Suleimán-Ramos},

year  = {2018},

date = {2018-12-12},

journal = {Caribbean Naturalist},

number = {53},

pages = {1-6},

abstract = {Category-5 hurricanes Irma and María impacted the northeastern Caribbean in September 2017 with waves in excess of 10 m. Herein we provide the frst assessment of hurricane damage to community-based coral farming and reef restoration at several locations from Culebra Island, Puerto Rico. Hurricanes destroyed 75 coral farms, killing 11,074 Acropora cervicornis (Staghorn Coral) fragments. Likewise, over 9000 recently out-planted colonies as well as most of the coral species adjacent to the outplants perished when they were buried by sand and rubble or were dislodged as a result of hurricane-generated waves. Liagora spp. (marine red algae) and other red algae rapidly colonized coral rubble and openreef substrates, threatening surviving corals of multiple species at least for several weeks after hurricane impacts.},

keywords = {Acropora cervicornis, community-based ecological rehabilitation, coral reefs},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Hernández-Delgado2014b,

title = {Bomb-cratered coral reefs in Puerto Rico, the untold story about a novel habitat: from reef destruction to community-based ecological rehabilitation},

author = {Edwin A. Hernández-Delgado, Alfredo Montañez-Acuña, Abimarie Otaño-Cruz, and Samuel

E. Suleimán-Ramos},

url = {https://www.sampr.org/sam/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Hernandez-Delgado-et-al.-Rev.-Biol.-Trop..pdf},

year  = {2014},

date = {2014-09-29},

journal = {Revista Biologia Tropical},

volume = { Vol. 62},

number = { Suppl. 3 },

pages = {183-200},

abstract = {Ecological impacts of military bombing activities in Puerto Rico have often been described as

minimal, with recurrent allegations of confounding effects by hurricanes, coral diseases and local anthropogenic stressors. Reef craters, though isolated, are associated with major colony fragmentation and framework pulverization, with a net permanent loss of reef bio-construction. In contrast, adjacent non-bombarded reef sections have significantly higher benthic spatial relief and biodiversity. We compared benthic communities on 35-50 year-old bomb-cratered coral reefs at Culebra and Vieques Islands, with adjacent non-impacted sites; 2) coral recruit density and fish community structure within and outside craters; and 3) early effects of a rehabilitation

effort using low-tech Staghorn coral Acropora cervicornis farming. Reef craters ranged in size from

approximately 50 to 400 m2 and were largely dominated by heavily fragmented, flattened benthos, with coral cover usually below 2% and dominance by non-reef building taxa (i.e., filamentous algal turfs, macroalgae). Benthic spatial heterogeneity was lower within craters which also resulted in a lowered functional value as fish nursery ground. Fish species richness, abundance and biomass, and coral recruit density were lower within craters. Low-tech, community-based approaches to culture, harvest and transplant A. cervicornis into formerly bombarded grounds have proved successful in increasing percent coral cover, benthic spatial heterogeneity, and helping rehabilitate nursery ground functions},

keywords = {Benthic community structure, bombing impacts, community-based ecological rehabilitation, coral reefs, fish community structure, military activities, novel habitats},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}