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Recovery slows at Culebra coral reef
July 28, 1998
Webposted at 10:55 AM EDT
By Environmental News Network staff
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| With its vast coral reefs, Culebra is a prime destination for divers, snorkelers and underwater photographers. | |
Rafael W. Rodriguez, Caribbean district chief for USGS, reported this finding based on observations made by scientists who revisited permanent monitoring sites established on the reefs in 1991.
During the week of July 13-17, the team photographed coral reefs at three sites to gain an understanding of how the corals have recuperated since Hurricane Hugo.
The Island of Culebra is 20 miles east of Puerto Rico. Until 1975, Culebra was an active Navy range for training. As such, the area was off-limits to boating and marine activities. With its vast coral reefs, the island is now a prime destination for divers, snorkelers and underwater photographers.
Coral reefs are sources of carbonate sand production, buffers to storm-wave induced coastal erosion, sites of high biologic productivity (important to local fisheries) and tourist attractions.
In 1991, direct observation by divers showed extensive hurricane damage to the coral reefs on the east and southeast sides of Culebra. The most obvious effect of the storm was the near total destruction of the elkhorn coral, a principal reef builder in the Caribbean. Virtually all colonies larger than one meter were overturned and fragmented. Finger and staghorn corals were also greatly affected. Large quantities of these delicate branching corals had been reduced to gravel-size rubble, forming steep slopes that buried other corals.
Despite extensive damage to the reefs, abundant evidence of post-hurricane recruitment and regrowth was noted during 1991 and 1994.
The preliminary results of last week's study indicate that the rapid initial recovery by the reefs has now slowed. Similar studies by the USGS in Florida and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and by scientists elsewhere in the Caribbean have shown that corals throughout the region are being stressed.
Nevertheless, the reefs in Culebra are in very good condition as compared to reefs in other parts of Puerto Rico, Florida and the U.S. Virgin Islands, according to the scientists.
Copyright 1998, Environmental News Network, All Rights Reserved
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