Benthic and fish population monitoring associated with a marine protected area in the nearshore waters of Grenada, Eastern Caribbean

Anderson, Robert; Morrall, Clare; Nimrod, Steve; Balza, Robert; Berg, Craig; Jossart, Jonathan

dc.creator	Anderson, Robert
dc.creator	Morrall, Clare
dc.creator	Nimrod, Steve
dc.creator	Balza, Robert
dc.creator	Berg, Craig
dc.creator	Jossart, Jonathan
dc.date	2015-06-25
dc.date.accessioned	2016-05-03T15:34:02Z
dc.date.available	2016-05-03T15:34:02Z
dc.identifier	http://revistas.ucr.ac.cr/index.php/rbt/article/view/19847
dc.identifier	10.15517/rbt.v60i0.19847
dc.identifier.uri	https://hdl.handle.net/10669/27525
dc.description	Annual benthic and fish population surveys were completed at five locations in the nearshore waters along Grenada´s southwest coast during 2008 - 2010. Two survey sites are located in a newly launched Marine Protected Area (MPA). Photo Quadrat (PQ) and Point Line Intercept (PLI) surveys were used to determine substrate cover. Algae was the primary live cover increasing significantly from 45.9% in 2008 to 52.7% in 2010 (PLI). Algae was also predominant (61.0% - 59.3%) in the PQ surveys although annual variation was not significant. Hard coral cover ranged from 16.5% to 15.4% (PLI) and 11.4% to12.0% (PQ) with no significant differences between years. Branching and encrusting corals occurred more frequently than massive corals. In the three annual surveys neither algal cover nor hard coral varied significantly between MPA and non-protected areas (PLI). Relative abundance of fishes along 30x2m belt transects did not vary significantly among years however density of fishes decreased significantly across years for most major groups. Chromis spp. dominated the survey sites at 65.2% in 2008 and 49.8% in 2010, followed by territorial damselfish,11.1% and 15.5%, wrasse increased from 7.3% to 15.5%. Both the substrate cover and fish survey data analyses indicated a stable but degraded community. Annual surveys are planned at these sites for the foreseeable future. Existing and future data from this project will be valuable in determining the efficacy of MPA management, guiding resource management decisions and monitoring the health status of Grenada’s valuable reef systems	en-US
dc.description	Un estudio sobre poblaciones bentónicas y de peces fue realizado en cinco localidades en la zona costera en el suroeste de Grenada entre 2008 y 2010. Dos sitios se ubicaron en una Área Marina Portegida (AMP) recientemente creada. Para determinar la cobertura se utilizaron foto-cuadrantes (FQ) y transectos de intersección de puntos (TIP). Las algas fueron el principal componente del bentos, aumentando significativamente de 45,9% en 2008 a 52,7% en 2010 (TIP). Las algas también fueron predominantes (61,9%-59,3) en los FQ, aunque las diferencias anuales no fueron significativas. La cobertura de corales pétreos tenía un ámbito de 16,5% a 15,4% (TIP) y de 11,4% a 12,0% (FQ), sin diferencias significativas entre años. Los corales ramificados e incrustantes fueron más frecuentes que los corales masivos. En los tres años no hubo diferencias significativas entre las AMPs y las áreas no protegidas. La abundancia relativa de peces a lo largo de un transecto de 30x2m no varió significativamente entre los años, sin embargo, la densidad de peces decreció significativamente a través de los años, para los grupos principales. Chromis spp. predominó con 65,2% en 2008 y 49,8% en 2012, seguido por damiselas territoriales, 11,1% y 15,5%, y los lábridos aumentaron de 7,3% a 15,5%. Tanto la coberura del sustrato como los datos de peces indican una comunidad estable pero degradada. Sondeos anuales están planeados para el futuro. Los datos existentes y futuros de este proyecto serán muy útiles para determinar la eficacia de la gestión de las AMPs y el estado de salud de los sistemas arrecifales de Grenada.	es-ES
dc.format	application/pdf
dc.language	eng
dc.publisher	Universidad de Costa Rica	en-US
dc.rights	Copyright (c) 2015 International Journal of Tropical Biology and Conservation	en-US
dc.source	Revista de Biología Tropical/International Journal of Tropical Biology and Conservation; Vol. 60 (Suplemento 1) 2012; 71-87	en-US
dc.source	Revista de Biología Tropical/International Journal of Tropical Biology and Conservation; Vol. 60 (Suplemento 1) 2012; 71-87	es-ES
dc.source	Revista Biología Tropical; Vol. 60 (Suplemento 1) 2012; 71-87	pt-PT
dc.source	2215-2075
dc.source	0034-7744
dc.source	10.15517/rbt.v60i0
dc.subject	benthic cover	en-US
dc.subject	coral	en-US
dc.subject	reef fish	en-US
dc.subject	monitoring	en-US
dc.subject	grenada	en-US
dc.subject	eastern caribbean	en-US
dc.subject	marine protected area	en-US
dc.subject	cobertura bentónica	es-ES
dc.subject	coral	es-ES
dc.subject	peces de arrecife	es-ES
dc.subject	monitoreo	es-ES
dc.subject	grenada	es-ES
dc.subject	Caribe Oriental	es-ES
dc.title	Benthic and fish population monitoring associated with a marine protected area in the nearshore waters of Grenada, Eastern Caribbean	en-US
dc.title	Benthic and fish population monitoring associated with a marine protected area in the nearshore waters of Grenada, Eastern Caribbean	es-ES
dc.type	artículo original

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