Jackson2013-Status and Trendsof Caribbean Coral Reefs

Map Contributor Location Time Period Year Coral Diadema Macroalgae Fish
Code
Count antillarum
6 Cubit et al. 1986 8 Punta 1973-1976 3 X
Galeta
7 Lessios 1988 9 Galeta, 1982-1984 3 X
San Blas
8 Lessios et al. 1984 10 Galeta, 1980-1984 4 X
San Blas
9 Lessios 2005 11 San Blas 1980, 1982- 20 X
1997, 1999-
2003
a Lessios 1995 12 San Blas 1982-1993 12 X
b Reef Check* 1997-1998, 3 X
2005
c Maté, Juan/
IUCN-CCCR*
Bocas
Del Toro
2009 1 X X
Fig. 25.2 Average percent cover of
live corals and macroalgae, density
of Diadema antillarum, and total
fish biomass in Panama. Dotted
line represents the average of
Caribbean data collected for this
report. (Codes same as in Table
25.1 and Figure 25.1)
Timeline
Late-1500s: Large-scale extraction of coral colonies in Costa Arriba for construction of Spanish fortresses and
settlements
1870s: Excavation and dredging of reefs in Bahia Las Minas, Costa Arriba for construction of Panama Canal
Early 1800s: Coral mining and land filling in San Blas by Kuna Indians to expand island areas
Early-1900s: Dredging of coral reefs and filling in of mangrove swamps in Bahia Las Minas for construction of US
military facilities
1958-1974: Dredging of coral reefs in Bahia Las Minas for construction of oil refinery
1968: Oil spill in Bahia Las Minas from grounding of tanker Witwater
1980s: Mass mortality of Acropora species across Panama
1982/1983: Coral bleaching on San Blas reefs
1983: Mass mortality of Diadema antillarum across Panama
1986: Oil spill in Bahia Las Minas, Costa Arriba
1987: Coral mortality event (mostly affecting Acropora species) in Costa Arriba
Mid-1980s: Octocoral mortality event from Aspergillosis (fungal disease)
Late-1980s: White-band, black-band, and yellow-blotch/yellow-band coral disease outbreaks
2010: Anoxic event causing mortality of reef corals and other sessile benthic organisms within Bahia Almirante,
Bocas del Toro
STATUS AND TRENDS OF CARIBBEAN CORAL REEFS: 1969-2012
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