Ecological and genetic data indicate recovery of the endangered coral Acropora palmata in Los Roques, Southern Caribbean

• Published in: Coral reefs Vol. 27; no. 1; pp. 63 - 72
• Main Authors: Zubillaga, A. L., Márquez, L. M., Cróquer, A., Bastidas, C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer-Verlag 01-03-2008; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Acropora cervicornis; Acropora palmata; Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Cnidaria. Ctenaria; Coral reefs; Endangered & extinct species; Freshwater & Marine Ecology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Invertebrates; Life Sciences; Marine; Marine conservation; Marine ecology; National parks; Oceanography; Predators; Sea water ecosystems; Synecology; ASW, Caribbean Sea; ASW, Venezuela, Los Roques Is., Los Roques Natl. Park; Venezuela; ASW, Caribbean Sea, Venezuela, Los Roques National Park; Gene flow; Size classes; Sexual reproduction; Population density; Diseases; Endangered species; Disease; Loss; Coral reef; Ecology; Acropora palmata; Scleractinia; Coelenterata; Restoration; Coral; Cnidaria; Genetics; Population dynamics; Invertebrata
• ISSN: 0722-4028; 1432-0975
• DOI: 10.1007/s00338-007-0291-1

The rapid decline of
Acropora cervicornis
and
Acropora palmata
has often been linked with coral reef deterioration in the Caribbean; yet, it remains controversial whether these species are currently recovering or still declining. In this study, the status of ten populations of
A. palmata
in Los Roques National Park (LRNP), Venezuela is presented. Six of these populations showed signs of recovery. Ten 80 m
2
belt-transects were surveyed at each of the ten reef sites. Within belt-transects, each colony was measured (maximum diameter and height) and its status (healthy, diseased or injured) was recorded. Populations in recovery were defined by a dominance of small to medium-sized colonies in densities >1 colony per 10 m
2
, together with 75% undamaged colonies, a low prevalence of diseases (<10%), and a low density of predators (0.25 snails per colony). Based on allozyme analysis of seven polymorphic loci in four populations (
N
 = 30), a moderate to high-genetic connectivity among these populations (
F
ST
 = 0.048) was found with a predominance of sexual over asexual reproduction (
N*
 : 
N
 = 1;
N
go
 : 
N
 = 0.93–1). Both ecological and molecular data support a good prognosis for the recovery of this species in Los Roques.