21.03.2015 Views

#Status of Coral Reefs 2002 - International Coral Reef Action Network

#Status of Coral Reefs 2002 - International Coral Reef Action Network

#Status of Coral Reefs 2002 - International Coral Reef Action Network

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

16. STATUS OF CORAL REEFS OF MESOAMERICA –<br />

MEXICO, BELIZE, GUATEMALA, HONDURAS,<br />

NICARAGUA AND EL SALVADOR<br />

PATRICIA ALMADA-VILLELA, MELANIE MCFIELD, PHILIP KRAMER,<br />

PATRICIA RICHARDS KRAMER AND ERNESTO ARIAS-GONZALEZ<br />

ABSTRACT<br />

The coral reefs <strong>of</strong> this region have changed considerably following a series <strong>of</strong> major<br />

natural disturbances and the impacts <strong>of</strong> human stresses. <strong><strong>Reef</strong>s</strong> on the Atlantic side were<br />

battered by hurricanes in 2000, 2001 and <strong>2002</strong>, which struck the reefs from the Mexican<br />

Yucatan Peninsula to Honduras, destroying corals with some losses up to 75% in Belize.<br />

These impacts follow closely on the heels <strong>of</strong> the extreme coral bleaching event and<br />

Hurricane Mitch in 1998, which also caused widespread damage to the region’s reefs.<br />

303

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!