Status of Caribbean coral reefs after bleaching and hurricanes in 2005

7. Th e Effects o f Co r a l Bl e a c h i n g in t h eNo r t h e r n Ca r i b b e a n a n d Western AtlanticLo u r e e n e Jo n e s, Pe d ro M Al c o l a d o, Yu s e l f Ca l a, Do r k a Co b iÁn,Va n i a Co e l h o, Ay l e m He r n Án d e z, Ro s s Jo n e s, Je n n i e Mallela a n dCa r r i e Ma n f r i n oSu m m a r yzx The effects of bleaching and hurricanes on coral reefs in 2005 varied across theregion and within countries.zx Some countries experienced intense widespread coral bleaching down to 35 m, whilethe effects of increased water temperatures were moderate to low in others.zx Coral mortality rates were low on average; most corals recovered quickly when watertemperatures dropped.zx Greater human and financial resources are needed to monitor and effectively combatthe effects of natural disasters.zx Regular monitoring and analysis of data are essential components of soundmanagement strategies for sustainable environmental management and economicgrowth.In t r o d u c t i o nCoral bleaching during the hot summer of 2005 hit the reefs of the Northern Caribbean(Bahamas, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, Turks andCaicos) just as they were recovering from many damaging stresses of the past 30 years. In the1970s, the coral reefs generally had more than 50% coral cover, with large stands of branchingcorals; Acropora palmata on the reef crest, and A. cervicornis on the shallow fore-reef slopes.The first signs of over-fishing of groupers and large parrotfish were evident, but the reefs werepredominantly healthy.The Northern Caribbean reefs were degraded during the 1980s by outbreaks of coral diseases(especially white band disease of Acropora), mass mortality of the main algal grazer Diadema,nutrient and sediment pollution from activities on land, and severe coral bleaching anddamaging hurricanes. Coral cover in most places dropped to 5-10%, and was replaced by fleshyand calcareous macro-algae, with cover often 50-80%. Since then, these Caribbean reefs have73