Publication Date
Spring 2025
Abstract
As the oceans’ largest biological structure, coral reefs provide vital ecosystem services, including coastline production, food production, tourism, and preservation of biodiversity. The calm waters provided by the Bocas del Toro archipelago protection from the Caribbeans Sea promotes many coral reefs because of the calmer waters caused by protection from the Caribbean Sea. While many reefs are present, increases in tourism and other anthropogenic threats make monitoring the health of these coral reefs and the diversity of marine organisms of the utmost importance. This study examines the percent substrate cover and the diversity and density marine organisms of two coral reefs, Big Creek Beach, and Boca del Drago. An overall decrease of 3.69 % in live coral coverage and an overall increase in algal coverage across both locations over ten years were observed. The observed changes could be due to increased nutrient pollution and decreased presence of coral reef herbivorous organisms. Marine organism diversity was greater at Boca del Drago with a Shannon Wiener Diversity of 2.34. Big Creek Beach was found to have a lower diversity of 1.3. The observed difference in diversity is likely due to the presence of live coral at Bocas del Drago. The difference in diversity is likely due to the presence of live coral at the Boca del Drago reef. However, no strong correlation was found between the percent substrate coverage type and organism presence. Increases in algal coverage at both sites may help explain the lack of strong correlation and anthropogenic causes not examined in this study future research is needed to determine why no correlation exists. Future studies are also vital to continue monitoring changes in percent coverage and marine organism diversity to ensure both reef locations maintain or increase health.
Disciplines
Life Sciences | Social and Behavioral Sciences
Recommended Citation
Cornett, Lucy, "Marine animalia diversity and coral reef condition at Big Creek Beach and Boca del Drago, Bocas del Toro, Panamá: A decade of change" (2025). Panama: Tropical Ecology, Marine Ecosystems, and Biodiversity Conservation. 8.
https://digitalcollections.sit.edu/pne/8