Skip to main content

Corals fail to recover at a Caribbean marine reserve despite ten years of reserve designation

Coral Reefs volume 30, Article number: 1077 (2011) Cite this article

Abstract

The ability of reserves to replenish fish stocks is relatively well documented, but the evidence of their ability to induce positive effects on benthic communities remains inconclusive. Here, we test whether 10 years of reserve designation have translated into positive effects on coral communities in Glover’s Reef, Belize. Surveys of 87 patch reefs inside and outside the reserve revealed no clear indication of reserve implementation benefitting coral cover, coral colony size, or abundance of juvenile corals. Furthermore, massive broadcasting coral species exhibited greater losses over time than their smaller-sized counterparts across all sites, suggesting that local management actions have not alleviated the regional trend of high mortality for these species. We detected no difference in herbivorous fish abundances or macroalgal cover between reserve and fished sites, providing a potential explanation for the lack of cascading positive effects on the coral community. We conclude that patterns of regional coral decline are evident at Glover’s Reef, including a shift in dominance from broadcasting species to brooding species and declines in mean colony size. Our findings suggest that regional stressors are overwhelming local management efforts and that additional strategies are required to improve local coral condition.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

References

  • Alvarado-Chacón EM, Acosta A (2009) Population size-structure of the reef-coral Montastraea annularis in two contrasting reefs of a marine protected area in the southern Caribbean Sea. Bull Mar Sci 85(1):61–76

    Google Scholar 

  • Aronson RB, Precht WF (2001) White-band disease and the changing face of Caribbean coral reefs. Hydrobiologia 460:25–38

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bak RPM, Meesters EH (1999) Population structure as a response of coral communities to global change. Am Zool 39:56–65

    Google Scholar 

  • Bohnsack JA, Bannerot SP (1986) A stationary visual censusing technique for quantitatively assessing community structure of coral reef fishes. NOAA Tech Report 41:1–21

    Google Scholar 

  • Burkepile DE, Hay ME (2008) Herbivore species richness and feeding complementarity affect community structure and function on a coral reef. Proc Nat Acad Sci USA 105:16201–16206

    PubMed  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Byers JE, Noonburg EG (2007) Poaching, enforcement, and the efficacy of marine reserves. Ecol Appl 17:1851–1856

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carpenter KE, Abrar M, Aeby G, Aronson RB, Banks S, Bruckner A, Chiriboga A, Cortés J, Delbeek JC, DeVantier L, Edgar GJ, Edwards AJ, Fenner D, Guzmán HM, Hoeksema BW, Hodgson G, Johan O, Licuanan WY, Livingstone SR, Lovell ER, Moore JA, Obura DO, Ochavillo D, Polidoro BA, Precht WF, Quibilan MC, Reboton C, Richards ZT, Rogers AD, Sanciangco J, Sheppard A, Sheppard C, Smith J, Stuart S, Turak E, Veron JEN, Wallace C, Weil E, Wood E (2008) One-third of reef-building corals face elevated extinction risk from climate change and local impacts. Science 321:560–563

    PubMed  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Claudet J, Osenberg CW, Benedetti-Cecchi L, Domenici P, J- García-Charton, Pérez-Ruzafa A, Badalamenti F, Bayle-Sempere J, Brito A, Bulleri F, J- Culioli, Dimech M, Falcón JM, Guala I, Milazzo M, Sánchez-Meca J, Somerfield PJ, Stobart B, Vandeperre F, Valle C, Planes S (2008) Marine reserves: Size and age do matter. Ecol Lett 11:481–489

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Diaz-Pulido G, Harii S, McCook LJ, Hoegh-Guldberg O (2010) The impact of benthic algae on the settlement of a reef-building coral. Coral Reefs 29:203–208

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dumas P, Bertaud A, Peignon C, Leopold M, Pelletier D (2009) A “quick and clean” photographic method for the description of coral reef habitats. J Exp Mar Biol Ecol 368:161–168

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Edmunds PJ (2010) Population biology of Porites astreoides and Diploria strigosa on a shallow Caribbean reef. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 418:87–104

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Edmunds PJ, Elahi R (2007) The demographics of a 15-year decline in cover of the Caribbean reef coral Montastraea annularis. Ecol Monogr 77:3–18

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Epstein N, Vermeij MJA, Bak RPM, Rinkevich B (2005) Alleviating impacts of anthropogenic activities by traditional conservation measures: Can a small reef reserve be sustainedly managed? Biol Conserv 121:243–255

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Garaway C, Esteban N (2002) The impact of marine protected areas on poorer communities living in and around them: Institutional opportunities and constraints: Appendix 4 - case study of Glover’s Reef Marine Reserve, Belize. Department for International Development, United Kingdom DFID NRSP Project R7976

    Google Scholar 

  • Gardner TA, Cote IM, Gill JA, Grant A, Watkinson AR (2003) Long-term region-wide declines in Caribbean corals. Science 301:958–960

    PubMed  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gibson J (2007) Glover’s reef marine reserve- management plan 2008–2013. Commissioned by: The Coastal Zone Management Authority and Institute (CZMAI) on Behalf of the Fisheries Department. Belize City, Belize, Central America, p 167

  • Gibson J, Hoare S (2006) Management effectiveness evaluation of the Glover’s Reef Marine Reserve. Wildlife Conservation Society, Tech Report, p 44

    Google Scholar 

  • Goreau T, McClanahan T, Hayes R, Strong A (2000) Conservation of coral reefs after the 1998 global bleaching event. Conserv Biol 14:5–15

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Green RH (1979) Sampling design and statistical methods for environmental biologists. Wiley Interscience, Chichester, England, p 257

    Google Scholar 

  • Green DH, Edmunds PJ, Carpenter RC (2008) Increasing relative abundance of Porites astreoides on Caribbean reefs mediated by an overall decline in coral cover. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 359:1–10

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guidetti P, Milazzo M, Bussotti S, Molinari A, Murenu M, Pais A, Spanņ N, Balzano R, Agardy T, Boero F (2008) Italian marine reserve effectiveness: Does enforcement matter? Biol Conserv 141:699–709

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hughes TP, Tanner JE (2000) Recruitment failure, life histories and long-term decline of Caribbean corals. Ecology 81:2250–2263

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huntington BE, Karnauskas M, Babcock E, Lirman D (2010) Untangling natural seascape variation from marine reserve effects using a landscape approach. PLoS ONE 5(8):e12327

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jameson SC, Tupper MH, Ridley JM (2002) The three screen doors: Can marine “protected” areas be effective? Mar Pollut Bull 44:1177–1183

    PubMed  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jones GP, McCormick MI, Srinivasan M, Eagle JV (2004) Coral decline threatens fish biodiversity in marine reserves. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 101:8251–8253

    PubMed  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Karnauskas M, Huntington BE, Babcock E, Lirman D (2011) Preexisting spatial patterns in fish abundance influence whether a Caribbean marine reserve increases or decreases fishing mortality. Mar Ecol Prog Ser. doi:10.3354/meps09151

  • Knowlton N (2001) The future of coral reefs. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 98:5419–5425

    PubMed  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kohler KE, Gill SM (2006) Coral point count with excel extensions (CPCe): A visual basic program for the determination of coral and substrate coverage using random point count methodology? Comput Geosci 32:1259–1269

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kramer KL, Heck KL (2007) Top-down trophic shifts in Florida Keys patch reef marine protected areas. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 349:111–123

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kramer PR, Lang JC (2003) The Atlantic and Gulf Rapid Reef Assessment (AGRRA) protocols: Former version 2.2. Atoll Res Bull 496:611–624

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuffner IB, Walters LJ, Becerro MA, Paul VJ, Ritson-Williams R, Beach KS (2006) Inhibition of coral recruitment by macroalgae and cyanobacteria. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 323:107–117

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leujak W, Ormond R (2007) Comparative accuracy and efficiency of six coral community survey methods. J Exp Mar Biol Ecol 351:168–187

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mangi S, Roberts C (2006) Quantifying the environmental impacts of artisanal fishing gear on Kenya’s coral reef ecosystems. Mar Pollut Bull 52:1646–1660

    PubMed  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McClanahan TR, Karnauskas M (2011) Relationships between benthic cover, current strength, herbivory, and a fisheries closure in Glovers Reef Atoll, Belize. Coral Reefs 30:9–19

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McClanahan TR, Muthiga NA (1998) An ecological shift in a remote coral atoll of Belize over 25 years. Environ Conserv 25:122–130

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McClanahan TR, Ateweberhan M, Omukoto J (2008) Long-term changes in coral colony size distributions on Kenyan reefs under different management regimes and across the 1998 bleaching event. Mar Biol 153:755–768

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McClanahan TR, Muthiga NA, Maina J, Kamukuru AT, Yahya SAS (2009) Changes in northern Tanzania coral reefs during a period of increased fisheries management and climatic disturbance. Aquat Conserv : Mar Freshw Ecosyst 19:758–771

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McClanahan TR, Huntington BE, Cokos B (2011) Coral responses to macroalgal reduction and fishery closure on Caribbean patch reefs. Mar Ecol Prog Ser. doi:10.3354/meps09286

  • McCook LJ, Jompa J, Diaz-Pulido G (2001) Competition between corals and algae on coral reefs: A review of evidence and mechanisms. Coral Reefs 19:400–417

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mora C, Andréfouët S, Costello MJ, Kranenburg C, Rollo A, Veron J, Gaston KJ, Myers RA (2006) Coral reefs and the global network of marine protected areas. Science 312:1750–1751

    PubMed  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mumby PJ, Harborne AR (2010) Marine reserves enhance the recovery of corals on Caribbean reefs. PLoS ONE 5(1):1–7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mumby PJ, Hastings A, Edwards HJ (2007a) Thresholds and the resilience of Caribbean coral reefs. Nature 450:98–101

    PubMed  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mumby PJ, Harborne AR, Williams J, Kappel CV, Brumbaugh DR, Micheli F, Holmes KE, Dahlgren CP, Paris CB, Blackwell PG (2007b) Trophic cascade facilitates coral recruitment in a marine reserve Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 104:8362–8367

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Precht WF, Miller S (2006) Ecological shifts along the Florida reef tract. In: Aronson RB (ed) Geological approaches to coral reef ecology. Springer, New York, pp 237–312

    Google Scholar 

  • Precht WF, Aronson RB, Moody RM, Kaufman L (2010) Changing patterns of microhabitat utilization by the threespot damselfish, Stegastes planifrons, on caribbean reefs. PLoS One 5(5):e10835

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rasher DB, Hay ME (2010) Chemically rich seaweeds poison corals when not controlled by herbivores. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 107:9683–9688

    PubMed  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Samoilys MA, Martin-Smith KM, Giles BG, Cabrera B, Anticamara JA, Brunio EO, Vincent ACJ (2007) Effectiveness of five small Philippines’ coral reef reserves for fish populations depends on site-specific factors, particularly enforcement history. Biol Conserv 136:584–601

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schutte VGW, Selig ER, Bruno JF (2010) Regional spatio-temporal trends in Caribbean coral reef benthic communities. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 402:115–122

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sethi SA, Hilborn R (2008) Interactions between poaching and management policy affect marine reserves as conservation tools. Biol Conserv 141:506–516

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith JE, Shaw M, Edwards RA, Obura D, Pantos O, Sala E, Sandin SA, Smriga S, Hatay M, Rohwer FL (2006) Indirect effects of algae on coral: Algae-mediated, microbe-induced coral mortality. Ecol Lett 9:835–845

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thoney DA (2001) Glovers reef survey in Belize, a multi-aquarium project. Bulletin De l’Institut Océanographique 20:1–20

    Google Scholar 

  • Vermeij MJA, Frade PR, Jacinto RIR, Debrot AO, Bak RPM (2007) Effects of reproductive mode on habitat-related differences in the population structure of eight Caribbean coral species. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 351:91–102

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wallace RJ (1974) A reconnaissance of the sedimentology and ecology of Glovers Reef Atoll, Belize (British Honduras). Ph.D. Thesis, Princeton University, Princeton, p 140

  • Zvuloni A, Artzy-Randrup Y, Stone L, Van Woesik R, Loya Y (2008) Ecological size-frequency distributions: How to prevent and correct biases in spatial sampling. Limnol Oceanogr Methods 6:144–152

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank the research staff of Glover’s Reef Marine Station for assistance with data collection and D. A. Thoney for making available reef community data from 1998–1999. MK and BEH were supported by University of Miami Fellowships and University of Miami Citizens Board.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, FL, 33133, USA

    B. E. Huntington, M. Karnauskas & D. Lirman

Authors
  1. B. E. Huntington
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M. Karnauskas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. D. Lirman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to B. E. Huntington.

Additional information

Communicated by Ecology Editor Prof. Mark Hay

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary material 1 (DOC 40 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Huntington, B.E., Karnauskas, M. & Lirman, D. Corals fail to recover at a Caribbean marine reserve despite ten years of reserve designation. Coral Reefs 30, 1077 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-011-0809-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-011-0809-4

Keywords

  • Herbivory
  • Marine protected area
  • Resilience
  • Trophic cascades
  • Coral recruitment