Effects of hurricanes on the stability of reef-associated landscapes
The effects of Hurricane Emily (July 2005, Category 4) on nine different benthic substrates in the reef-associated landscape along the west coast of Cozumel (Mexico) were evaluated by comparing the cover of nine types of substrate on ground-truthed sites before (ten months) and after (two months) th...
| Autores: | , , |
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| Formato: | artículo |
| Estado: | Versión publicada |
| Fecha de publicación: | 2011 |
| País: | México |
| Recursos: | UNIVERSIDAD AUTÓNOMA DE BAJA CALIFORNIA |
| Repositorio: | Ciencias Marinas |
| Idioma: | inglés |
| OAI Identifier: | oai:cienciasmarinas.com.mx:article/1857 |
| Acesso em linha: | https://www.cienciasmarinas.com.mx/index.php/cmarinas/article/view/1857 |
| Access Level: | acceso abierto |
| Palavra-chave: | hurricane effects coral reef landscape Cozumel huracanes paisaje arrecifal |
| Resumo: | The effects of Hurricane Emily (July 2005, Category 4) on nine different benthic substrates in the reef-associated landscape along the west coast of Cozumel (Mexico) were evaluated by comparing the cover of nine types of substrate on ground-truthed sites before (ten months) and after (two months) the hurricane. Four substrates showed significant differences (Wilcoxon signed-rank test, P < 0.05). Coverage of sand and sand over rock increased, while that of seagrass and hard corals decreased. The effects of the hurricane on soft corals diminished below 10 m depth. Sites between 0.5 and 5.5 m were less affected towards the southwest of the island, where the reefs are more developed. Algal cover was similar to pre-hurricane values after two months, which suggests fast algal recolonization. Cozumel reefs are considered to be healthy; however, a possible increase in the abundance of macroalgae as a result of hurricanes coupled with poorly regulated tourism activities could eventually favor a phase shift in the system. |
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