Publication Date
Fall 2024
Abstract
Coral reefs are crucial marine ecosystems in the Caribbean Sea, but they are in decline and facing increasing threat from local and global anthropogenic stressors. This study employed a collection of reef health indicators to develop a holistic view of the health of four reefs in the Bocas del Toro archipelago of Panama. Photo and video transect methodology were used to survey fish assemblages, benthic cover, coral bleaching, and coral disease in two reefs exposed to the open ocean and two reefs sheltered in a semi-enclosed bay. Results revealed that the health of sheltered reefs surveyed was generally better than exposed reefs across health metrics. Health of the exposed reef ecosystems studied varied widely based on surrounding ecosystems and hydrology. These findings illustrate the roles of exposure, hydrography, and history on health of the four reefs studied and underscore the need for targeted conservation strategies to address the unique network of threats that each reef ecosystem faces.
Disciplines
Life Sciences
Recommended Citation
Clarke, Rose, "Coral reef health assessments at four reefs near Isla Colón and Isla Bastimentos in Bocas del Toro, Panama" (2024). Panama: Tropical Ecology, Marine Ecosystems, and Biodiversity Conservation. 2.
https://digitalcollections.sit.edu/pne/2
