During the last 20 years, SAM has developed a multiplicity of hypothesis-driven conservation and restoration projects. Being home to the oldest Community-based coral aquaculture and reef rehabilitation program in the Caribbean, we aim to develop a variety of scientific publications that highlight our commitment towards the conservatiion of our marine resources. Most publications are freely available on our website.
Peer reviewed publications
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. Mercado-Molina, Alex E.; Montañez-Acuña, Alfredo; Rodríguez-Barreras, Ruber; Colón-Miranda, Roberto; Díaz-Ortega, Geraldine; Martínez-González, Neidibel; Schleier-Hernández, Sandra; Sabat, Alberto M. Revisiting the population status of the sea urchin Diadema antillarum in northern Puerto Rico Journal Article In: Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, pp. 1-8, 2014.2023
@article{Rodríguez-Barreras2023,
title = {Uneven demographic consequences of the 2022 disease outbreak for the sea urchin \textit{Diadema antillarum} in Puerto Rico},
author = {Ruber Rodríguez-Barreras and Claudia Patricia Ruiz-Diaz and Marcos A. Quiñones-Otero and Carlos Toledo-Hernández},
editor = {Anastazia Banaszak},
url = {https://peerj.com/articles/16675/
https://www.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 = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
2014
@article{Mercado-Molina2014,
title = {Revisiting the population status of the sea urchin \textit{Diadema antillarum} in northern Puerto Rico},
author = {Alex E. Mercado-Molina and Alfredo Montañez-Acuña and Ruber Rodríguez-Barreras and Roberto Colón-Miranda and Geraldine Díaz-Ortega and Neidibel Martínez-González and Sandra Schleier-Hernández and Alberto M. Sabat},
url = {https://www.sampr.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Mercado-Molinaetal.2014_Diadema.pdf
https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-the-marine-biological-association-of-the-united-kingdom/article/abs/revisiting-the-population-status-of-the-sea-urchin-diadema-antillarum-in-northern-puerto-rico/E27E7958C257AF819430A078AD667989
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/270160317_Revisiting_the_population_status_of_the_sea_urchin_Diadema_antillarum_in_northern_Puerto_Rico/link/54a18a1a0cf256bf8baf745c/download?_tp=eyJjb250ZXh0Ijp7ImZpcnN0UGFnZSI6InB1YmxpY2F0aW9uIiwicGFnZSI6InB1YmxpY2F0aW9uIn19
},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.1017/S002531541400188X},
year = {2014},
date = {2014-11-14},
urldate = {2014-11-14},
journal = {Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom},
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 = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
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.