Publication Date
Fall 2024
Abstract
Coral extraction in the Guna Yala comarca of Panama is a practice driven by the need for land expansion in response to rising sea levels and growing population pressures. This study investigates the reef fish community structure and benthic composition of coral reef areas that were previously extracted while also exploring the Guna community's perspectives on the practice. The research involved visual censuses of reef fish and benthic substrate surveys at two undisturbed and two extracted sites, along with interviews from 10 community members. Significant differences in live and dead coral cover (p< 0.05) were found between extracted and undisturbed sites. Reef fish communities also varied, with differences in species abundances, diversity, and trophic structure across sites. However, inconsistencies in the data across sites hindered definitive conclusions about the direct impacts of coral extraction. Interviews revealed that while the community acknowledges coral extraction, opinions about its ongoing practice and impacts are mixed. These findings underscore the need for more comprehensive research, including greater site replication and better documentation of coral extraction activities, to fully understand the environmental impact of coral extraction and the Guna community’s perspective on the practice.
Disciplines
Life Sciences
Recommended Citation
Ready, John, "Exploring variations in coral reef composition and fish community structure across coral extraction-affected sites in Western Guna Yala: a multi-method approach" (2024). Panama: Tropical Ecology, Marine Ecosystems, and Biodiversity Conservation. 4.
https://digitalcollections.sit.edu/pne/4
