Jackson2013-Status and Trendsof Caribbean Coral Reefs

Fig. 31.2 Average percent cover of
live corals (A) macroalgae (B), and
density of Diadema antillarum (C)
in Trinidad and Tobago. Dotted line
represents the average of Caribbean
data collected for this report;
solid lines are drawn through data
presented. (Codes same as in Table
31.1 and Figure 31.1)
Timeline
1963: Hurricane Flora (Category 3)
1970s: Onset of coral reef monitoring in Tobago - reef condition considered to be quite good
1973: Declaration of Buccoo Reef as a restricted no take area (MPA, ~7km 2 )
1980s-1990s: Reef walking encouraged as a tourist activity
1983: Mass mortality of Diadema antillarum
1988: Tropical Storm Isaac
1998: Mass coral bleaching
2004: Hurricane Ivan (Category 3)
2002: Mild coral bleaching event
2005: Mass coral bleaching, mean of 66% of live hard coral cover affected, with levels over 85% observed at
many sites
2008: Mild coral bleaching event
2010: Hurricane Tomas (Category 2)
2010: Mass coral bleaching, affecting 10-30% coral cover
2012: Mild coral bleaching event, affecting >5% coral cover
2012: First confirmed sighting of lionfish Pterois volitans
General Literature
Alemu I JB, Barker S (2013) An assessment of the spatial distribution reef fish assemblages in Tobago. Chaguaramas,
Trinidad and Tobago: Institute of Marine Affairs. 29 p.
Burke L, Greenhalgh S, Prager D, Copper E (2008) Coastal Capital - Economic Valuation of Coral Reefs in Tobago and
St. Lucia. Washington DC: World Resources Institute. 76 p.
Hassanali K (2009) Coastal Conservation Project - An assessment of the coral reefs of Tobago. Chaguaramas, Trinidad
and Tobago: Institute of Marine Affairs. 83 p.
Juman R (2002) Functional relationship of the Bon Accord Lagoon to the Buccoo Reef, Tobago. PhD Thesis: The
Univesity of the West Indies, St. Augustine. 225 p.
Lapointe BE, Langton R, Bedford BJ, Potts AC, Day O, et al. (2010) Land-based nutrient enrichment of the Buccoo
Reef Complex and fringing coral reefs of Tobago, West Indies. Marine Pollution Bulletin 60: 334-343.
Lapointe BE, Langton R, Day O, Potts AC (2002) Integrated water quality and coral reef monitoring on fringing reefs
of Tobago: Chemical and ecological evidence of sewage-driven eutrophication in the Buccoo Reef Complex.
American Chamber of Commerce’s 6th Annual Safety, Health and Environment Conference and Exhibition, 21-
22 May 2002.
STATUS AND TRENDS OF CARIBBEAN CORAL REEFS: 1969-2012
227