Nuestro objetivo es desarrollar diversas publicaciones científicas que destaquen nuestro compromiso con la conservación de nuestros recursos marinos.
La mayoría de las publicaciones están disponibles gratuitamente en nuestro sitio web.
2026
Tebbett, Sterling B.; Kelley, Fiona E.; Ling, Scott D.; McAndrews, Ryan S.; Ocalvey, Micaiah N.; Ramos, Samuel E. Suleimán; Chase, Tory J.
Habitat zonation of algal turf sediments and herbivores on two Caribbean coral reefs with comparison to the Great Barrier Reef Journal Article
In: Coral Reefs , pp. 1-13, 2026.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Ecosystem function, Habitat gradient, Herbivorous fishes, Long sediment-laden algal turfs, Puerto Rico, Sea urchin
@article{Tebbett2026,
title = {Habitat zonation of algal turf sediments and herbivores on two Caribbean coral reefs with comparison to the Great Barrier Reef},
author = {Sterling B. Tebbett and Fiona E. Kelley and Scott D. Ling and Ryan S. McAndrews and Micaiah N. Ocalvey and Samuel E. Suleimán Ramos and Tory J. Chase},
url = {https://sampr.org/habitat-zonation-of-algal-turf-sediments-and-herbivores-on-two-caribbean-coral-reefs-with-comparison-to-the-great-barrier-reef/
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00338-026-02901-3
},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-026-02901-3},
year = {2026},
date = {2026-06-04},
urldate = {2026-06-04},
journal = {Coral Reefs },
pages = {1-13},
abstract = {Algal turfs represent the dominant benthic cover on most coral reefs globally, with the sediments they trap having a marked effect on reef functioning. Yet our quantitative understanding of these sediments remains poorly resolved for most regions. Despite habitat zonation representing one of the strongest ecological gradients on coral reefs, the distribution of turf-associated sediments across this gradient is unresolved beyond some sites on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef (GBR), where reef crests are typified by the lowest sediment loads, shortest turf lengths, and highest herbivorous fish biomass. Here, we quantified the cross-habitat (flat, crest, and slope) distribution of turf length, sediment load, and key herbivores on two Caribbean reefs off Puerto Rico. Cross-habitat distribution of sediments was congruent with previous patterns on the GBR; sediment loads were lowest on the crest and highest on the flat, with a 1.7-fold difference between these habitats. Biomass of parrotfishes and surgeonfishes was inversely correlated with turf-bound sediments across habitats, peaking on the crest. Turf length was shortest on the crest at one reef, however, at the second reef, there was no difference in turf length across habitats, with shorter-than-expected turfs on the flat. The sea urchin, Diadema antillarum, was relatively abundant on the reef flat at this second reef, suggesting that this species may play a role in curtailing long sediment-laden algal turf development. This research extends the cross-habitat understanding of turf-associated sediments to the Caribbean, and suggests the role of urchins in these dynamics warrants specific investigation.},
keywords = {Ecosystem function, Habitat gradient, Herbivorous fishes, Long sediment-laden algal turfs, Puerto Rico, Sea urchin},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Algal turfs represent the dominant benthic cover on most coral reefs globally, with the sediments they trap having a marked effect on reef functioning. Yet our quantitative understanding of these sediments remains poorly resolved for most regions. Despite habitat zonation representing one of the strongest ecological gradients on coral reefs, the distribution of turf-associated sediments across this gradient is unresolved beyond some sites on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef (GBR), where reef crests are typified by the lowest sediment loads, shortest turf lengths, and highest herbivorous fish biomass. Here, we quantified the cross-habitat (flat, crest, and slope) distribution of turf length, sediment load, and key herbivores on two Caribbean reefs off Puerto Rico. Cross-habitat distribution of sediments was congruent with previous patterns on the GBR; sediment loads were lowest on the crest and highest on the flat, with a 1.7-fold difference between these habitats. Biomass of parrotfishes and surgeonfishes was inversely correlated with turf-bound sediments across habitats, peaking on the crest. Turf length was shortest on the crest at one reef, however, at the second reef, there was no difference in turf length across habitats, with shorter-than-expected turfs on the flat. The sea urchin, Diadema antillarum, was relatively abundant on the reef flat at this second reef, suggesting that this species may play a role in curtailing long sediment-laden algal turf development. This research extends the cross-habitat understanding of turf-associated sediments to the Caribbean, and suggests the role of urchins in these dynamics warrants specific investigation.
2024
Ruiz-Barrionuevo, Juliana M.; Kardas, Elif; Rodríguez-Barreras, Ruber; Quiñones-Otero, Marcos A.; Ruiz-Diaz, Claudia P.; Toledo-Hernández, Carlos; Godoy-Vitorino, Filipa
Shifts in the gut microbiota of sea urchin Diadema antillarum associated with the 2022 disease outbreak Journal Article
In: Frontiers, vol. 15, pp. 1-11, 2024.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: 165 rRNA, Diadema antillarum, gut microbiota, outbreak, Puerto Rico, Sea urchin
@article{Ruiz-Barrionuevo2024,
title = {Shifts in the gut microbiota of sea urchin \textit{Diadema antillarum} associated with the 2022 disease outbreak},
author = {Ruiz-Barrionuevo, Juliana M. and Kardas, Elif and Rodríguez-Barreras, Ruber and Quiñones-Otero, Marcos A. and Ruiz-Diaz, Claudia P. and Toledo-Hernández, Carlos and Godoy-Vitorino, Filipa},
editor = {Eria Alaide Rebollar and Mirna Vázquez-Rosas-Landa and Emanuel Martinez},
url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2024.1409729/full
https://sampr.org/shifts-in-the-gut-microbiota-of-sea-urchin-diadema-antillarum-associated-with-the-2022-disease-outbreak/
},
doi = {doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1409729},
year = {2024},
date = {2024-07-29},
urldate = {2024-07-29},
journal = {Frontiers},
volume = {15},
pages = {1-11},
abstract = {In recent decades, Caribbean coral reefs have lost many vital marine species due to diseases. The well-documented mass mortality event of the long-spined black sea urchin \textit{Diadema antillarum} in the early 1980s stands out among these collapses. This die-off killed over 90% of \textit{D. antillarum} changing the reefscape from coral to algal-dominated. Nearly 40 years later, \textit{D. antillarum} populations have yet to recover. In early 2022, a new mortality event of \textit{D. antillarum} was reported along the Caribbean, including Puerto Rico.},
keywords = {165 rRNA, Diadema antillarum, gut microbiota, outbreak, Puerto Rico, Sea urchin},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
In recent decades, Caribbean coral reefs have lost many vital marine species due to diseases. The well-documented mass mortality event of the long-spined black sea urchin Diadema antillarum in the early 1980s stands out among these collapses. This die-off killed over 90% of D. antillarum changing the reefscape from coral to algal-dominated. Nearly 40 years later, D. antillarum populations have yet to recover. In early 2022, a new mortality event of D. antillarum was reported along the Caribbean, including Puerto Rico.
2023
Rodríguez-Barreras, Ruber; Ruiz-Diaz, Claudia Patricia; Quiñones-Otero, Marcos A.; Toledo-Hernández, Carlos
Uneven demographic consequences of the 2022 disease outbreak for the sea urchin Diadema antillarum in Puerto Rico Journal Article
In: PeerJ, vol. 11, no. e16675, pp. 1-16, 2023.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: demography, Diadema antillarum, Mass mortality, Puerto Rico, Sea urchin
@article{Rodríguez-Barreras2023,
title = {Uneven demographic consequences of the 2022 disease outbreak for the sea urchin \textit{Diadema antillarum} in Puerto Rico},
author = {Rodríguez-Barreras, Ruber and Ruiz-Diaz, Claudia Patricia and Quiñones-Otero, Marcos A. and Toledo-Hernández, Carlos},
editor = {Anastazia Banaszak},
url = {https://peerj.com/articles/16675/
https://sampr.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Uneven-demographic-consequences-of-the-2022-disease-outbreak-for-the-sea-urchin-Diadema-antillarum-in-Puerto-Rico-peerj-16675.pdf},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.16675},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-12-20},
urldate = {2023-12-20},
journal = {PeerJ},
volume = {11},
number = {e16675},
pages = {1-16},
abstract = {Pervasive epizootic events have had a significant impact on marine invertebrates throughout the Caribbean, leading to severe population declines and consequential ecological implications. One such event was the regional collapse of herbivory, partly caused by the Diadema antillarum mortality event in 1983–84, resulting in a trophic cascade and altering the structure of reef communities. Consequently, there was a notable decrease in coral recruitment and an increase in the coverage of macroalgae. Nearly four decades later, in early 2022, the Caribbean basin experienced another widespread mass mortality event, further reducing the populations of D. antillarum. To assess the effects of this recent mortality event on the current demographics of D. antillarum, we surveyed eight populations along the eastern, northeastern, northern, and northwestern coast of Puerto Rico from May to July 2022, estimating their population density, size distribution, and disease prevalence. Additionally, the study compared these population parameters with data from four sites previously surveyed in 2012 and 2017 to understand the impact of the recent mortality event. The survey conducted in 2022 showed varying population densities at the surveyed reefs. Some populations exhibited mean densities of nearly one individual per square meter, while others had extremely low or no living individuals per square meter. The four populations with the highest density showed no evidence of disease, whereas the four populations with the lowest D. antillarum densities exhibited moderate to high disease prevalence. However, when considering all sites, the estimated disease prevalence remained below 5%. Nevertheless, the comparison with data from 2012 and 2017 indicated that the recent mortality event had a negative impact on D. antillarum demographics at multiple sites, as the densities in 2022 were reduced by 60.19% compared to those from the previous years. However, it is still too early to determine the severity of this new mortality event compared to the 1983–84 mortality event. Therefore, it is imperative to continue monitoring these populations.},
keywords = {demography, Diadema antillarum, Mass mortality, Puerto Rico, Sea urchin},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Pervasive epizootic events have had a significant impact on marine invertebrates throughout the Caribbean, leading to severe population declines and consequential ecological implications. One such event was the regional collapse of herbivory, partly caused by the Diadema antillarum mortality event in 1983–84, resulting in a trophic cascade and altering the structure of reef communities. Consequently, there was a notable decrease in coral recruitment and an increase in the coverage of macroalgae. Nearly four decades later, in early 2022, the Caribbean basin experienced another widespread mass mortality event, further reducing the populations of D. antillarum. To assess the effects of this recent mortality event on the current demographics of D. antillarum, we surveyed eight populations along the eastern, northeastern, northern, and northwestern coast of Puerto Rico from May to July 2022, estimating their population density, size distribution, and disease prevalence. Additionally, the study compared these population parameters with data from four sites previously surveyed in 2012 and 2017 to understand the impact of the recent mortality event. The survey conducted in 2022 showed varying population densities at the surveyed reefs. Some populations exhibited mean densities of nearly one individual per square meter, while others had extremely low or no living individuals per square meter. The four populations with the highest density showed no evidence of disease, whereas the four populations with the lowest D. antillarum densities exhibited moderate to high disease prevalence. However, when considering all sites, the estimated disease prevalence remained below 5%. Nevertheless, the comparison with data from 2012 and 2017 indicated that the recent mortality event had a negative impact on D. antillarum demographics at multiple sites, as the densities in 2022 were reduced by 60.19% compared to those from the previous years. However, it is still too early to determine the severity of this new mortality event compared to the 1983–84 mortality event. Therefore, it is imperative to continue monitoring these populations.
