Claro Rodolfo, Cantelar Karel, Amargós Fabián Pina, García-Arteaga Juan P
Instituto de Oceanología, Ministerio de Ciencia, Tecnología y Medio Ambiente (CITMA), La Habana, Cuba.
Rev Biol Trop. 2007 Jun;55(2):537-47.
A comparison of fish community structure in the Sabana-Camagüey Archipelago (1988-1989 and 2000) using visual census surveys (eight belt transects 2x50 m in each site) suggests a notable decrease on species richness, and a two thirds reduction in fish density and biomass on coral reefs. This decrease in fish populations may be related to the alarming decrease of scleractinian coral cover, and an enormous proliferation of algae, which currently covers 70-80% of the hard substrate, impeding the recovery of corals and other benthic organisms. High coral mortalities occurred between the study periods, which correlate with the high temperatures caused by the ENSO events of 1995, 1997 and 1998. These events caused massive bleaching of corals and subsequent algae overgrowth. Evidence of nutrient enrichment from the inner lagoons and overfishing are also present. Collectively, these effects have provoked a marked degradation of reef habitats. These changes appear to have affected the availability of refuges and food for fishes, and may be constraining individual growth potential and population size.
利用视觉普查（每个地点设置8条2×50米的带状样带）对萨巴纳-卡马圭群岛的鱼类群落结构（1988 - 1989年和2000年）进行比较，结果表明物种丰富度显著下降，珊瑚礁上的鱼类密度和生物量减少了三分之二。鱼类种群数量的减少可能与造礁石珊瑚覆盖面积惊人下降以及藻类大量繁殖有关，目前藻类覆盖了70 - 80%的硬质基质，阻碍了珊瑚和其他底栖生物的恢复。在研究期间出现了高珊瑚死亡率，这与1995年、1997年和1998年厄尔尼诺事件导致的高温相关。这些事件导致珊瑚大规模白化以及随后藻类过度生长。内泻湖养分富集和过度捕捞的证据也存在。总体而言，这些影响引发了珊瑚礁栖息地的显著退化。这些变化似乎影响了鱼类的避难所和食物供应，可能限制了个体生长潜力和种群规模。
