Publicaciones

@article{Delgado2026,

title = {Extreme flooding, water quality and mass bleaching compounded impacts in wild and restored Elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata) populations in contrasting urban coral reefs in Puerto Rico},

author = {Hernández Delgado, Edwin A. and Ramos Rosado, Aliany N. and Fonseca-Miranda, Jaime S. and Laureano, Ricardo and Hernández Rodríguez, Sebastián A. and Birriel Ramos, Ana G. and Suleimán Ramos, Samuel E. },

url = {https://revistas.ucr.ac.cr/index.php/rrbt/article/view/10957

https://sampr.org/a20v74s1-hernandez-e202610957/

https://revistas.ucr.ac.cr/index.php/rrbt/article/view/10957/17840},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.15517/0c15pc82},

issn = {2215-2075},

year  = {2026},

date = {2026-07-16},

journal = {Revista Biología Tropical},

volume = {74},

issue = {1},

abstract = {Introduction: Recurrent marine heatwaves, stronger hurricanes, and degraded water quality represent increasingly compounded threats to Caribbean coral reefs. These stressors may compromise the persistence of wild endangered Elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata) populations and the demographic performance of restored populations.



Objectives: This study examined three climate-driven impact scenarios affecting A. palmata in Puerto Rico: (1) extreme rainfall and flooding from Tropical Storm Isaías affecting wild A. palmata colonies at the urban reef of El Escambrón; (2) compounded bleaching events during 2023–2024 affecting restored colonies at El Escambrón; and (3) the 2024 bleaching event affecting restored colonies at Punta Melones, Culebra, previously fragmented by Hurricane Beryl.



Methods: Case 1 used line photo-transects from El Escambrón (2005-2022) to assess long-term spatial and temporal changes in benthic community structure and wild A. palmata populations. Cases 2 and 3 monitored restored colonies monthly across ten replicate plots per site, measuring survival, live tissue cover, size metrics, and colony condition. Coral metrics were correlated with water quality parameters.



Results: Across El Escambrón and Punta Melones, A. palmata colonies experienced catastrophic mortality of 98–100% associated with recurrent thermal stress, low-salinity urban runoff pulses, and compounded bleaching. Sea surface temperature anomaly, 2024 Bleaching Alert Level 4 conditions, chlorophyll-a, particulate organic carbon, and dissolved oxygen were significantly associated with mortality.



Conclusions: Coral mortality reflects combined acute and chronic stressors, especially in shallow reefs with degraded water quality and reduced thermal tolerance. With limited recruitment, increasing colony isolation, and low genetic diversity, the species may approach functional extinction without a refugia-based restoration framework.},

key = {Acropora palmata; marine heatwaves; mass bleaching; mortality; restoration},

keywords = {Acropora palmata, marine heatwaves, mass bleaching, mortality, restoration, SAMPR, Sociedad Ambiente Marino},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Ruiz-Diaz2024,

title = {A successful method to restore seagrass habitats in coastal areas affected by consecutive natural events},

author = {Ruiz-Diaz, Claudia Patricia and Toledo-Hernández, Carlos and Sánchez-González, Juan Luis and Mercado-Molina, Alex E.},

editor = {Haider Mahmood},

url = {https://peerj.com/articles/16700/

},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.16700},

year  = {2024},

date = {2024-01-02},

urldate = {2024-01-02},

journal = {PeerJ},

pages = {1-17},

abstract = {Seagrass meadows, known for providing essential ecosystem services like supporting fishing, coastline protection from erosion, and acting as carbon sinks to mitigate climate change effects, are facing severe degradation. The current deteriorating state can be attributed to the combination of anthropogenic activities, biological factors (i.e., invasive species), and natural forces (i.e., hurricanes). Indeed, the global seagrass cover is diminishing at an alarming mean rate of 7% annually, jeopardizing the health of these vital ecosystems. However, in the Island Municipality of Culebra, Puerto Rico, losses are occurring at a faster pace. For instance, hurricanes have caused over 10% of cover seagrass losses, and the natural recovery of seagrasses across Culebra’s coast has been slow due to the low growth rates of native seagrasses (Thalassia testudinum and Syringodium filiforme) and the invasion of the invasive species Halophila stipulacea. Restoration programs are, thus, necessary to revitalize the native seagrass communities and associated fauna while limiting the spread of the invasive species.},

keywords = {Carbon storage, Caribbean, Halophila stipulacea, Hurricanes, Plug propagation units (PUS), restoration, Syringodium filiforme, Thalassia testudinum},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Vardi2021,

title = {Six priorities to advance the science and practice of coral reef restoration worldwide},

author = {Vardi, Tali and Hoot, Whitney C. and Levy, Jessica and Shaver, Elizabeth and Winters, R. Scott and Banaszak, Anastazia T. and Baums, Iliana B. and Chamberland, Valérie F. and Cook, Nathan and Gulko, David and Hein, Margaux Y. and Kaufman, Les and Loewe, Michelle and Lundgren, Petra and Lustic, Caitlin and MacGowan, Petra and Matz, Mikhail V. and McGonigle, Miles and McLeod, Ian and Moore, Jennifer and Moore, Tom and Pivard, Sandrine and Pollock, F. Joseph and Rinkevich, Baruch and Suggett, David J. and Suleimán-Ramos, Samuel E. and Viehman, T. Shay and Villalobos, Tatiana and Weis, Virginia M. and Wolke, Chelsea and Montoya-Maya, Phanor H.},

url = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/rec.13498

https://sampr.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Restoration-Ecology-2021-Vardi-Six-priorities-to-advance-the-science-and-practice-of-coral-reef-restoration-worldwide.pdf},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.1111/rec.13498},

issn = {1061-2971},

year  = {2021},

date = {2021-11-29},

urldate = {2021-11-29},

journal = {Restoration Ecology},

volume = {29},

number = {e13498},

issue = {8},

pages = {1-7},

abstract = {Coral reef restoration is a rapidly growing movement galvanized by the accelerating degradation of the world's tropical coral reefs. The need for concerted and collaborative action focused on the recovery of coral reef ecosystems coalesced in the creation of the Coral Restoration Consortium (CRC) in 2017. In March 2020, the CRC leadership team met for a biennial review of international coral reef restoration efforts and a discussion of perceived knowledge and implementation bottlenecks that may impair scalability and efficacy. Herein we present six priorities wherein the CRC will foster scientific advancement and collaboration to: (1) increase restoration efficiency, focusing on scale and cost-effectiveness of deployment; (2) scale up larval-based coral restoration efforts, emphasizing recruit health, growth, and survival; (3) ensure restoration of threatened coral species proceeds within a population-genetics management context; (4) support a holistic approach to coral reef ecosystem restoration; (5) develop and promote the use of standardized terms and metrics for coral reef restoration; and (6) support coral reef restoration practitioners working in diverse geographic locations. These priorities are not exhaustive nor do we imply that accomplishing these tasks alone will be sufficient to restore coral reefs globally; rather these are topics where we feel the CRC community of practice can make timely and significant contributions to facilitate the growth of coral reef restoration as a practical conservation strategy. The goal for these collective actions is to provide tangible, local-scale advancements in reef condition that offset declines resulting from local and global stressors including climate change.},

keywords = {coral interventions, coral reefs, coral restoration, Corals, reefs, restoration},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}