Abstract

ALCOLADO, Pedro M. et al. ECOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT OF THE CORAL REEFS WEST OF CAYO LARGO DEL SUR, CUBA: 1998-1999. Bol. Invest. Mar. Cost. [online]. 2001, vol.30, n.1, pp.109-132. ISSN 0122-9761.

Cayo Largo del Sur, located in the southwest of Cuba south of the Gulf of Batabanó, is a beach and diving resort, far from the main island of Cuba and from Isla de la Juventud. Therefore, it is far from important permanent human settlements and from all agricultural and industrial development. However its western reefs are suffering a gradual deterioration process.  Great scarcity of mesoherbivores (sea urchin Diadema antillarum, as well as scarid and acanthurid fishes),and high nutrient concentrations were observed.  As a consequence, an excessive algal and cyanobacterial mat proliferation occurred. It has been reinforced by high temperatures in 1998 and by the simplification of bottom relief because of coral mortality caused by diseases and cyclones. The later prevent the re-establishment of herbivore species populations. Finally, there  seems to be a local nutrient generation in the reefs from the decomposition of great amounts of algal detritus. Coinciding with high temperatures during the 1998  El Niño and La Niña, an intense coral bleaching event took place, but with very limited mortality.  The decline of coral cover in the deeper stations seems be more determined by cumulative partial deaths of the colonies, than by sudden death of whole colonies. Evidences of  massive coral mortality were observed only in the crests.

Keywords : coral reefs; status; Cuba.

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