[CDHC] New paper: Raymundo et al
Cheryl Woodley
cheryl.woodley at noaa.gov
Fri Jul 13 20:03:21 EDT 2007
Hi CDHC Members,
Here is a paper that may interest you from Laurie Raymundo and group.
Cheryl*
Marine Pollution Bulletin 54 (2007) 1009–1019
Can dynamite-blasted reefs recover? A novel, low-tech approach to
stimulating natural recovery in fish and coral populations*
L.J. Raymundo, A.P. Maypa, E.D. Gomez, Pablina Cadiz
Abstract
Throughout Southeast Asia, blast fishing creates persistent rubble
fields with low coral cover and depauperate fish communities. We
stabilized a 20-year-old rubble field in a Marine Protected Area in the
Philippines, using plastic mesh and rock piles in replicated 17.5 m2
plots, thereby increasing topographic complexity, fish habitat, and
recruitment substrate surface area. Multivariate analysis revealed fish
community shifts within the rehabilitated area from that characteristic
of rubble fields to one similar to the adjacent healthy reef within
three years, as measured by changes in fish abundance and body size.
Coral recruitment and percent cover increased over time, with 63.5%
recruit survivorship within plots, compared with 6% on rubble. Our
low-cost approach created a stable substrate favoring natural recovery
processes. Both rehabilitation and the elimination of poaching were
integral to success, emphasizing the synergism between the two and the
need to incorporate both when considering mitigation.
--
Cheryl Woodley, Ph.D.
Coral Health and Disease Program
DOC/NOAA/NOS/NCCOS
Center for Coastal Environmental Health and Biomolecular Research
Hollings Marine Laboratory
331 Fort Johnson Rd
Charleston, SC 29412
843.762.8862 Phone
843.762.8737 Fax
cheryl.woodley at noaa.gov
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